DEETJEN'S CLOSET

A 10-year-old girl’s belief that magic is real receives a ghostly confirmation in Black’s middle-grade fantasy novel.

After a move to a small California coastal town of Edna for her mother’s new job, fourth-grader Sara says her life is “crummy…with a capital C.” She has no friends at school, and worse, two girl bullies target her for ridicule and torment after they learn of her belief in magic. It doesn’t help that Sara’s mom, stepdad, and older brother have all happily adjusted to their new surroundings. At least Sara has a road trip with Mom to visit to her Gramsy’s farm to look forward to. On the lookout for magic along the way, Sara almost gives up, until they stop for an overnight stay at the old, rustic (and real-life) Deetjen’s Inn in the Big Sur redwood forest. Sara hears sounds in her room’s dark closet and discovers the magic she sought: a collection of ghostly clothing talking about their histories, led by Silas, a Civil War Union Army jacket. In this promising middle-grade novel debut, the author gives a fascinating, original supernatural twist to historical facts, adding real-world substance with coastal travel highlights, a grade-schooler’s relatable issues, and a touch of romance and mystery from the distant past. Framing educational content as conversational stories told by shoes, shirts, jackets, jeans, hats, and dresses—each with a colorful, individual personality—the author brings history to life. The book disappoints only in its treatment of bullying: When Sara finally reveals what her bullies have done (including a inflicting a slight physical injury, the destruction of property, and taunting), her mom unhelpfully asks what she plans to do about it and suggests she try to understand her bullies: “Sometimes it helps everybody involved if you can put yourself in the other person’s shoes.” Following the story’s suspenseful conclusion, Black gives readers some bonus material: a teaser for the next book in the series, more facts about the real places and people in the story, and some hands-on activities, including a recipe for fortune cookies.

An engaging young hero leads this inventive, intelligently mounted fantasy.