SCRIMSHAW

Nev Tallow returns for another adventure at Deephaven Academy.

Immediately following their previous adventure, Nev finds themself alone (but for one of the prefects) at the academy over winter break. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore the school’s spooky subbasement, which is full of strange magical items. Nev finds a human skull with scrimshaw etchings in its front teeth, but they also discover that they can’t get rid of it, no matter what they do. On top of that, bad things begin happening that seem to have been foretold by the images on the teeth. This second series entry is both tighter and scarier than the first, building on the spooky atmosphere and characters developed in the earlier book and written in the same quick-moving prose that’s full of evocative imagery. Notably, though the story revolves around the supernatural, Aldridge takes a pragmatic approach toward practices that occur in the real world, such as prophecy and astrology. Nev, who presents white, is a clever protagonist, relatable for readers who feel a little bit like outcasts. Their best friend, Danny, who reads Black, is a likable supporting character who deserves more page time. As in the first book, there are illustrations throughout that recall gothic etchings but in a modern, graphic-novel style. Though this mystery is resolved, we’re lucky that Nev has a number of school years left at Deephaven as well as a basement full of unexplored occult artifacts.

Good, spooky fun.