The premise immediately sparked my attention–kids inventing a story about a sea monster from Ojibwe legend mixed with a little Nessie charm to stay in their homes along the shores of Sparhawk Point, Michigan. The setting was great, the nods to how WWII affected the small town on an important lake, and the mix of Ojibwe and Swedish cultures brought a lot of interesting layers to the novel. The way its written feels a lot like the old Trixie Belden and other children’s classics which sets the tone for the kids’ adventures and the morally heavy message. I felt like the kids didn’t really do anything bad since they weren’t 100 percent sure what they saw and therefore, it couldn’t be a lie, but I guess it’s all about intention–even though their hearts were in the right place.
Secrets at Sparhawk Point by Anna Rose Johnson, (List Price: $18.99, Holiday House, 9780823462339, August 2026)
Reviewed by Candice, The Haunted Book Shop (C) in Mobile, Alabama