May 20, 2024
Her whole life, a formless ghost has haunted seventh grader Sadie Rivera,
violently preventing her from making friends—when Sadie befriends classmate Anna, Anna dies under mysterious circumstances caused by Sadie’s ghost. Having moved with her father from Arizona to the small Idaho town where she was born, Sadie determines not to make another friend, until she meets charismatic Mal, whose presence somehow keeps the ghost at bay. Initially, Sadie is happy to have a friend without invoking the ghost’s wrath, but her relationship with Mal gradually grows toxic: Mal
is jealous when Sadie bonds with others and encourages her to pull increasingly cruel pranks on their classmates. Sadie must now make a choice: forge her own path despite her fears or remain in Mal’s destructive thrall. Mejia (the Paola Santiago series) utilizes myriad horror elements to explore grief, anxiety, and depression, as well as dissociation and suicidal ideation. Though the central twist is heavily telegraphed, and Mal is somewhat underdeveloped, Sadie’s journey toward self-acceptance is unflinching yet encouraging in this spine-tingling ode to the bravery it takes to heal. Sadie is half white and half Mexican; other characters cue as white. Ages 8–12. Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret.
June 1, 2024
Sadie Rivera can't recall a time when she wasn't haunted by the jealous ghost who threatens those she loves. In the wake of the sudden death of Anna, her best--and only--friend in Arizona, Sadie is reluctant to forge new relationships, fearing that the ghost will hurt them like she did Anna. Raised by her pale-skinned single dad after her Mexican mom left the family, Sadie feels like she lives "in a different world than any other seventh grader," and she withdraws "into her cloud of fog and numbness" to cope with her loneliness. That is, until she meets Charlotte and Mal, two polar-opposite girls at her new school in Idaho who both take an interest in befriending her. Strangely, the ghost doesn't make an appearance; Mal, however, makes it clear that being her best friend means being her only friend. She isolates Sadie from Charlotte while taking advantage of her guilt and grief to push her to do things she's uncomfortable with, such as executing cruel pranks that escalate. Mejia deftly navigates the pitfalls, pressures, and pleasures of girlhood during the middle school years. Sadie deals with tough issues faced by many young people, including grief, parental abandonment, self-esteem struggles, and toxic friendships, using horror elements as metaphors for anxiety and depression. A spooky cautionary tale about the toll of unhealthy relationships and an ode to the power of true friendship. (Paranormal. 8-12)
COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Starred review from June 1, 2024
Grades 5-8 *Starred Review* Sadie has always had the ghost, and the ghost doesn't want Sadie to have any friends. She tried once, but the ghost made sure that friend--Anna--met a grisly demise. Now Sadie, grief stricken and starting at a new school, is determined never to have a friend again, much to the frustration of her father, teachers, and therapist. When she meets Mal, a mysterious but very cool girl at her new school whom the ghost doesn't seem to mind, Sadie leans into the friendship, even as Mal gets possessive and jealous and encourages Sadie to play some mean pranks on her kind new classmates. Sadie's not comfortable with the pranks, but she's afraid of losing yet another friend, especially since the ghost returns when she doesn't go along with Mal's plans. This eerie ghost story smoothly explores some of the tough social dynamics kids face in middle school, such as peer pressure, toxic friendships, and sharing genuine feelings with others, and Mejia cultivates lots of creepy atmosphere in descriptions of Sadie's nightmares and the ghost's lurking menace. Sadie's tendency to isolate herself becomes as big a problem as the ghost haunting her, and as she learns to open herself up to others, she finds the strength to fight back. A thoughtful story about emotional growth, balanced gracefully with plenty of spine-tingling scares sure to satisfy middle-grade horror fans.
COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
November 1, 2024
At her new school, Sadie is determined not to make any friends. She'd like someone to talk to, but her last best friend, Anna, died tragically in an accident Sadie blames on the ghost that has haunted her since childhood. This ghost makes lightbulbs explode and cold winds blow whenever Sadie starts getting close to another person, so she thinks it best to avoid friendly, welcoming Charlotte. When Sadie meets caustic Mal, though, her ghost does not seem to protest. Mal is attentive, funny, and ultimately extremely possessive of Sadie's affections. She quickly deems them "best friends" and encourages Sadie to play cruel pranks on her classmates as a test of her loyalty. When their relationship grows too stifling for Sadie, Mal reveals herself to be something far more sinister than just an overbearing friend. This is an unnerving and emotionally involving novel. Sadie's unhealthy internal monologue contrasts beautifully with the concern exhibited by her father and Charlotte, and it is empowering to witness her transformation into someone who believes she deserves to be loved. Mejia has captured the inner workings and outer environment of a middle school student deftly, weaving a taut and compelling supernatural story that will appeal to introspective, inquisitive readers while helping them contemplate what it means to be a true friend. Sarah Berman
(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
December 13, 2024
Gr 3-7-Sadie Rivera is a preteen with a lifelong ghost problem and this particular ghost does not want her to make friends. The ghost is so hateful they caused an accident, killing her best friend, Anna. Now, at Sadie's new school, Mal wants to be her friend, and the ghost seems fine with that. But Mal is possessive and begins to pressure Sadie into pulling mean pranks on fellow students. This is a delightfully spooky read for tweens that addresses topics like making new friends, bullying, and toxic dynamics. Pranks are becoming more popular due to social media, and this book shows some of the consequences of these acts. Sadie's relationship with her ghost may be relatable, as preteens can feel pressured or isolated by their peers at times. There are scares, but not too much violence, making it accessible for its intended age group. VERDICT This is an age-relevant horror novel for tweens with a spooky twist.-Maeve Dodds
Copyright 2025 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2024
At her new school, Sadie is determined not to make any friends. She'd like someone to talk to, but her last best friend, Anna, died tragically in an accident Sadie blames on the ghost that has haunted her since childhood. This ghost makes lightbulbs explode and cold winds blow whenever Sadie starts getting close to another person, so she thinks it best to avoid friendly, welcoming Charlotte. When Sadie meets caustic Mal, though, her ghost does not seem to protest. Mal is attentive, funny, and ultimately extremely possessive of Sadie's affections. She quickly deems them "best friends" and encourages Sadie to play cruel pranks on her classmates as a test of her loyalty. When their relationship grows too stifling for Sadie, Mal reveals herself to be something far more sinister than just an overbearing friend. This is an unnerving and emotionally involving novel. Sadie's unhealthy internal monologue contrasts beautifully with the concern exhibited by her father and Charlotte, and it is empowering to witness her transformation into someone who believes she deserves to be loved. Mejia has captured the inner workings and outer environment of a middle school student deftly, weaving a taut and compelling supernatural story that will appeal to introspective, inquisitive readers while helping them contemplate what it means to be a true friend.
(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)