MOJO CITY

The sixth installment of Paavola’s middle-grade mystery series offers a vivid glimpse into a secret history of Memphis, Tennessee.

Thirteen-year-olds Sonny and Breanne share some unique skills: Sonny sees ghosts, and Breanne hears them—and together, they can do both at once. When a ghostly presence haunts their school bully, Sonny and Breanne meet Leticia Gonzales, the ghost of a Mexican American elementary school student who died in the year 2000. The pair’s interactions with Leticia soon attract more spirits, including Kenzo Nakamura, a Japanese American first grader who passed on in 1998, and Ms. Dub, a woman who “worked at this school for generations” and died more than a half-century ago. As Sonny and Breanne investigate their new ghost friends’ origins, Sonny’s amulet, a family heirloom, begins to vibrate, and Breanne is tormented by prophetic dreams. The mystery deepens when Sonny discovers Ms. Dub’s connection to him, and the duo follow their visions to a historic general store, where they encounter Flora, who also has a connection to Sonny. All threads converge in an emotional, multigenerational reunion that brings the characters well-earned closure. Paavola’s novel has an exciting premise, and the author develops his characters with impressive specificity that makes them feel realistic and relatable. However, the story also leans heavily on exposition. As the sixth book in a series, it frequently summarizes past events for newcomers, slowing the pace; also, several major story events in this installment are discussed but not shown, making some sections feel rushed. The novel features a diverse cast, although Leticia and Kenzo’s cultural identities are only superficially addressed. Some inconsistencies, such as Sonny’s surname changing from Etherly to Elliott, create distractions that undermine an otherwise thoughtful work. Despite this, readers drawn to friendship-centered mysteries will find plenty to enjoy, including engaging history lessons and engaging supernatural suspense.

An ambitious and atmospheric paranormal mystery that charms, even as its storytelling stumbles.