From the author of Josephine against the Sea (2021) comes a new eerie tale. Serenity Noah, a boisterous 12-year-old, is obsessed with making horror movies and is able to hear people's musical scores (the "unique soundtrack" that accompanies every individual). After her family moves to a plantation where "one of our ancestors worked," Serenity's calm little brother, Peace, has an unexpected outburst about seeing ghosts. To help their troubled son, Serenity's parents decide to take Peace to a clinic on Duppy Island (a place named for evil spirits) d leave Serenity with her grandmother. Thrilled by the island's gruesome history, Serenity decides to secretly tag along. Once on the island, she discovers her much-changed brother, an evil doctor, and creepy douens (evil, faceless children). It's up to Serenity to save Peace while capturing the perfect shot for her movie. Bourne's dark fantasy incorporates Afro-Caribbean folklore and utilizes sound in an original way. Although the plot is overly drawn out, fans of horror will enjoy the descriptions of disfigured creatures and their captivating mythology.

A 12-year-old discovers more than she bargained for as she determinedly faces her fears.Serenity Noah is a Black girl from "a mysterious Caribbean island" who's plagued by a recurring nightmare. Consequently, she's decided to face her fears, developing an obsession with horror movies and even making her own with the help of her younger brother, Peace. Calm, well-behaved Peace is the opposite of Serenity, whose loud voice makes her soft-spoken parents anxious. That is, until the day when Peace has a screaming meltdown; later he says shadows called his name and were trying to take him away. Now he's unable to sleep alone. Serenity's parents take him away for a silent retreat on Duppy Island, alarming Serenity-after all, duppies are "malicious spirits that haunt people at night." She stows away on a boat and, arriving on the island, uncovers secrets that both excite and scare her about Dr. Whisper, who is running the retreat; evil douens, faceless spirits of children; and her own ancestral lineage. Bourne's sophomore novel for young readers delivers a thrilling storyline filled with twists and turns. Readers will be captivated by Serenity's voice, original perspective, curiosity, and bravery as they eagerly follow her journey.A horror story with strong appeal for fans of the genre featuring a bold, intriguing protagonist. (Paranormal. 8-12)

Horror movie–obsessed Serenity Noah, a Black 12-year-old, longs to meet a monster scarier than the ones in her recurring nightmares. But her passions and boisterous personality often make her feel out of place in her soft-spoken family, especially compared to her calm, artistic younger brother Peace. When Peace suddenly develops his own night terrors, her parents blame Serenity’s monster flicks, and plan a trip to a silent retreat on Duppy Island—a locale that Serenity believes harbors malicious spirits—to cure his nightmares without her. Determined not to be left behind, Serenity stows away on the next boat to Duppy Island; once there, she encounters the creatures from her dreams. That’s not the only worrying thing she uncovers, however: the retreat’s shady director seems eager to get her off the island, a forgetting spell has befallen the rest of the adults, and douens—faceless children with backward feet—are haunting the land. Even as she faces fears of her own, Serenity endeavors to save Peace from the island’s horrors. Occasionally awkward worldbuilding dampens the anticipatory atmosphere, but Bourne (Josephine Against the Sea) nevertheless delivers a chilling adventure steeped in Afro-Caribbean mythology that teems with twists, turns, and propulsive action. Ages 8–12. (June)