I really enjoyed this spooky mystery book. There were actually a lot of heartfelt and heartwarming moments in this story, which was a surprise, but I loved it. The writing was very descriptive and immersive. I really felt like I was there with the main character. It’s set on a haunted farm in Iowa, and being a midwestern gal from Ohio, I appreciated the setting with its spooky cornfields and big, old farmhouses. 

While reading this novel, I got the same feelings I get when I read R.L. Stine’s middle grade books. It felt very reminiscent of his stories, which I enjoyed because I grew up reading his books. I would label this book as light horror, which is spooky and eerie but not so creepy that it would give kids nightmares. 

This book is your classic ghostly haunted house story with some fictional historical elements added in. I enjoyed the story within a story concept when Rebecca is learning about the past and her family through old letters and a diary. We are introduced to quite a bit of backstory and learn about what happened to a few of her family members. It helped to add depth to the book. 

Rebecca was a likable character as our main protagonist. She didn’t come across as angsty or bratty. In fact, my heart went out to her because she was dealing with a lot. She had lost a parent, her dad, at such a young age, and then her mom moved them to a new city and state for the summer to stay with some estranged relatives that she didn’t really know. So this book touches on grief and loss as she and her mom try to pick up the pieces of their lives and move on. A few other themes or tropes that are explored in this book are friendship, family secrets, coming-of-age, and a mystery to solve. 

I also loved how Rebecca was into the supernatural and paranormal, like her father when he was younger, which made her feel closer to him. To me, she was a brave, courageous little girl. There are many scenes where she interacts with ghosts or paranormal elements, and I would’ve been scared out of my mind at her age, but she is determined to find out what happened in the past and solve this family mystery. She’s a great little investigator. 

This is also a very short and quick read. If you’re a fast reader, you could probably get through it in one day. It has a good amount of spookiness and creepiness to it, which is perfect for a Halloween read. Definitely recommend!