The truth behind the town was super sinister indeed and pretty scary, I’ll admit. That was all so well done and really added to the depth of this story. The incorporation of the family’s Mexican heritage, the grief they were experiencing after the loss of their family member, as well as the difficulties of moving and leaving friends behind. These weren’t parents who disappeared into the background like in many children’s stories, but they also weren’t there to solve everything either giving the kids supported independence.Īdditionally, I enjoyed how McCall explored real-life topics in addition to the main, spooky storyline. I also found the parents to be believable. At first it seems James and Ava are always at each other, as many siblings are, but when it really counted they were there for each other 100%. I really enjoy Spooky Middle Grade stories and this one was the perfect blend of Horror and Mystery. They’ll need to figure this out on their own.ĭiving into the history of their new town, James and Ava discover the charming ambiance may be covering up something much more terrifying. Someone wants them out of their house and out of town, but no one believes them. It’s clear from the threatening nature of the letters that the siblings are in danger. Signed by The Watcher, the letter is creepy, but knowing his sister is behind it makes it easy to ignore.īut when the second sinister letter appears, again signed by The Watcher, Ava is with him and she seems just as shocked about it as James. So when the first spooky letter appears in his bedroom, James assumes Ava is playing a prank on him. Honestly, that’s what occupies most of their time these days. Much to the chagrin of their parents, the siblings are currently in the midst of a heated prank battle.

His parents are supportive and even though he hasn’t made any new friends yet, he always has Ava. Homesickness and grief are not necessarily a great recipe for success at their new home. Making the move even more difficult is the fact that James is still grieving the loss of his beloved Grandmother. Moving from Texas to Oregon was a big transition for James and his younger sister, Ava.

The Keeper by Guadalupe Garcia McCall