The Sleepover

October 15, 2021
Grades 4-7 After the sudden death of their beloved nanny, Ruby, Matthew and his little sister, Judy, struggle with grief in their own ways. Matthew has an especially hard time and gets upset when his mother, needing to return to her night job, hires a new nanny. Enter Miss Swan. While Judy gets along well with Miss Swan, Matthew suspects her of being the witch rumored to live in the woods behind his house. On their first night together, Matthew's three best friends come over for a sleepover, and he quickly wins them over to his witchy way of thinking--but not before Miss Swan begins exacting her vengeance for an age-old tragedy. The kids, all geared up to fight a supernatural being, bring a Stranger Things vibe to the action-packed story. Shadowy art ominously peppered with crows and cut with flashlight beams creates an eerie atmosphere, and sepia flashbacks provide important backstory elements to the narrative. Though the story holds no real surprises, kids after a spooky, backyard adventure will find plenty to enjoy.

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September 1, 2021
A grieving boy goes up against a local ghost story. Ruby was more than just Matt and Judy's nanny; she was a beloved family member and indispensable to their struggling single mom. After Ruby's sudden death, Matt withdraws into deep sadness, icing out his younger sister and isolating himself from friends. It's that grief--and the belief that he's hearing Ruby's voice calling him--that leads him, with Judy following, into a forested area that is said to be the lair of the Witch of the Woods, someone who lures children in and then later comes to collect them. Then, a new nanny arrives. Miss Swan lets the kids (plus Matt's friends Mario, Charlie, and Teo, who come over for a sleepover on her first night on the job) run wild, but Matt is convinced there's something wrong with her, something evil. The '90s setting captures the feel of vintage horror, and the genre-savvy kids manage to hit classic beats in a way that's rewarding instead of derivative, especially as they have to take matters in their own hands to save one of their own. The themes--grief's rendering a person unrecognizable, feeling forgotten, and the meaning of family--come through clearly, though some elements of the raven-themed witch and her magic don't fit so neatly. The art's blocking and framing enhance tension in quieter moments as well as action. Ruby reads as Black; other characters appear White. An excellent flashlight-under-the-blanket read. (Graphic horror. 8-13)

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September 1, 2021

Gr 4-6-Like many horror films, Regina's middle grade graphic novel, a touching meditation on the loss of a caregiver, explores grief that grows monstrous. Matt and Judy are thrown into confusion when their longtime nanny Ruby dies. Their mom, in danger of losing her job, hastily hires Miss Swan, a taciturn, dark-haired nanny who raises Matt's suspicions when an unkindness of ravens arrive with her. Matt's search to uncover the mystery of Miss Swan's identity is mixed with tender memories of Ruby and comedic commentary from Matt's horror flick-loving friends, who are in attendance at the titular sleepover. The story builds to a cinematic chase that checks the spooky boxes: a cabin in the woods, a murky lake, and a historical tragedy, to name a few-it's familiar territory but suitably scary nonetheless. Regina's art is reminiscent of Matt Kindt's-flat yet emotive, with shadowy earth tones setting a dark mood. Ruby is an older Black woman, and the children and Miss Swan are white. VERDICT This graphic novel offers spooky entertainment and a serious message, and though it doesn't perfectly meld the two, both prove compelling themes.-Emilia Packard, Tokyo

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