Based on 7 Goodreads ratings
SAVING THORNWOOD
by their cruel aunt. When Anne encounters what appears to be Mary’s ghost in 2022, Mary asks for help. Here, the narrative upends the typical ghost story. Mary and Anne are very real to each other, and they wind up meeting on a regular basis. Mary even gets to try modern ice cream for some comic relief. But how does one help someone who has been dead for over a century? Rust and Surface’s inventive setup alternates between Mary’s and Anne’s narrations and mixes elements of time travel, mental health awareness, harsh 19th\u002Dcentury mental health “treatments” (such as locking patients in a box for “several hours up to several days”), teenage drama, and the supernatural. It’s a unique mélange that keeps readers guessing about what comes next and in which century it will occur. Occasionally, the dialogue drifts toward the obvious. At one point, Anne observes, “My heart is beating erratically now.” Elsewhere Mary says, “On my way to the graveyard, I try to quell the fluttering in my stomach, but I can’t.” Still, the pages fly by as readers race to learn the fate of Thornwood and all its residents."
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This middle-grade mystery delivers a classic adventure where four determined kids must solve their town's oldest secret to save their beloved forest from destruction. When developers threaten to pave...
Our Review
This middle-grade mystery delivers a classic adventure where four determined kids must solve their town's oldest secret to save their beloved forest from destruction. When developers threaten to pave over Thornwood, siblings Leo and Maya team up with their friends to follow cryptic clues left by the town's founder, racing against bulldozers and unraveling coded messages hidden in historical landmarks. The fast-paced plot keeps pages turning as the young heroes decipher puzzles in abandoned libraries, uncover hidden passages in local museums, and face very real consequences if they fail.
What makes this environmental thriller stand out is how it balances genuine suspense with thoughtful themes about community action and conservation. Young readers will connect with the authentic friendship dynamics and the satisfying intellectual challenge of piecing together historical puzzles alongside the characters. The story empowers its protagonists—and by extension its audience—to recognize that kids can drive real change when they work together and trust their intelligence. This eco-adventure ultimately leaves readers with both an exciting story and the inspiring message that ordinary children can accomplish extraordinary things when they fight for what they love.
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