THE GHOSTS BEHIND THE DOOR

A tween learns the truth about her family’s magick.

After relocating with her family from Brooklyn to small-town Oak Grove to help care for her Nana, 12-year-old white girl Maggie Havercroft has a chance to start fresh at a new middle school. But, as it turns out, being a Havercroft in Oak Grove means having a target on your back because everyone thinks you’re a witch. The rumors start immediately, and school bullies lock onto Maggie and her new friend, Ivy, a bleached-blond Wednesday Addams. Meanwhile, something creepy is going on at Nana’s house. The walls seem to breathe. Lights flicker on and off, revealing dark figures. Nightmares that feel like actual memories make Maggie wonder if it’s the house that’s haunted—or her. It turns out her family is just cursed. It’s up to Maggie and Ivy to find a way to break the curse for good. Wilde’s atmospheric writing combined with Maggie’s tight first-person narration makes for deliciously slow reveals and goosebump-inducing scenes. The overall plot may feel familiar, yet the queer and feminist overtones and inclusive cast make this a fresh, witchy brew. Maggie’s autism, ADHD, and anxiety are thoughtfully depicted, with the notable inclusion of details like noise-canceling headphones. Ivy is trans, and one of Maggie’s parents is nonbinary. The story contains some transphobia, homophobia, and ableism, but the central prejudice explored in the book is “witchphobia.”

Toil and trouble with a satisfying dash of just deserts.