Starred Review ALA Booklist (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Starred Review It's not easy being the only person who can see monsters, much less ignoring them when they pop up in class or take up residence under your bed, but River Rydell does their best to strap on blinders and blend in with the crowd. The latter is harder after River comes out as nonbinary at the start of fifth grade, a step that marks them as "different" from their fellow students and can't be helped by talking about it. The Otherwoods, where the monsters live, has been trying to lure in River their whole life, but they have simply noped out of its enticements, choosing the company of their faithful cat, Mr. Fluffy Pancakes, over human friendships that monsters could use against River. Unfortunately, River's careful system is obliterated when their crush, Avery, extends an offer of friendship d is promptly snatched by a monster. River knows they are the only one who can save her, so they nauseously step through a portal to the Otherwoods companied by Pancakes, of course. Winans' nightmarish monster realm holds horrors and revelations as River endeavors to find Avery without dying first. River's sarcasm injects welcome humor into the narrative, which is as much about their personal journey toward self-confidence and silencing bullies as it is about surviving literal monsters. This reluctant hero will mean the world to many readers and be beloved by all.

School Library Journal Starred Review (Wed Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Gr 4–7 —Reluctant seer River Rydell is haunted by spirits, grotesque monsters, and unexpected portals to The Otherwoods: an eerie, spectral forest that seems bent on luring them into its depths. A naturally anxious person, River is overwhelmed by everyday tween fears like talking to their crush, Avery, or standing up to their cruel teacher, Mrs. Deery, who insists on deadnaming them. In comparison, facing Charles—the drooling insectoid monster who lives under their bed—seems impossible, and so River suffers through the constant stream of ghosts, beasts, and portals the only way they can: by actively ignoring them. When Avery is dragged away by a monster into The Otherwoods, River must gather all their strength and their cat, Mr. Fluffy Pancakes, and venture through a dark portal for the first time to bring her back. River's very human struggles with facing fears, learning to trust in allies, and being truthful about themself will resonate with many tweens, even the non-magical kind. Mr. Fluffy Pancakes, River's heroic sidekick, leaps off the page with humorous body language and expressions that speak louder than actual words. Although the monsters and spirits are very one-dimensional throughout the story, the author sticks the landing with a big, final reveal, adding some complexity to their general scariness and leaving the window open just a crack for a possible sequel. River is nonbinary and described as having light skin, while Avery is pansexual and Mexican American. VERDICT A first purchase for middle school libraries, this underdog hero fantasy is recommended for fans of Tae Keller's work and Roshani Chokshi's "Aru Shah" series.—Catherine Cote

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Monsters lure a human and their cat on a spirit realm rescue mission.Born with the "freaking terrifying" ability to see spirits-and monsters-nonbinary 12-year-old River Rydell is cursed. Nobody believes them, least of all about the giant bug monster living under their bed. Enter Avery, the popular girl who gives River "strange butterflies in their stomach" and just might be their first real friend. Getting closer to someone unfortunately confirms River's worst fears when a monster abducts Avery and takes her to The Otherwoods. River follows, with cat Mr. Fluffy Pancakes in tow. Uncountable dangers lurk in the realm of "monsters and never-quite-alive beings." But can River brave it all with the help of a teenage ghost named Xavier-including facing their own self-doubt-to get the girl? Winans' middle-grade debut is an otherworldly, atmospheric tale of self-actualization despite a doomed destiny. Gigantic animal-hybrid monsters and cryptic messages consistently up the ante. River's winning personality and their playful friendship with Xavier alleviate the tension with humor. River and Xavier are both white; Avery is described as having a Mexican mom and American dad. Multiple characters are queer. The ending hints at a sequel while also keeping the story arc neatly contained.Spooky, funny, and queer-what's not to love? (Horror. 8-12)

Publishers Weekly (Thu Oct 03 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Born with the ability to see spirits, the “spiritish,” and monsters, a nonbinary 12-year-old attempts to avoid the otherworldly in this emotionally complex portal fantasy. Despite its near-constant beckoning, River Rydell has so far managed to resist the call of the Otherwoods, a monster-ruled realm “where the darkness of magic runs free.” Though River firmly believes that “the call of adventure was better left ignored,” everything changes abruptly when the ever-pursuing Otherwoods snatches new friend and crush Avery Davis. Accompanied by feline sidekick Pancakes, River ignores self-preservation instincts and launches a rescue mission, navigating a cursed bridge, braving monsters including a deadnaming schoolteacher, and developing a sibling-like rapport with teenage spirit Xavier, their Otherwoods guide. Balancing gruesome creature encounters with an empowering meditation on bravery, this middle grade debut from Winans (Bianca Torre Is Afraid of Everything) offers up a panoply of nightmarish ghouls and harrowing perils, but the real appeal comes from tender interpersonal ties and themes of self-discovery. Pansexual Avery is Mexican American; River defaults to white. Ages 8–12. Agent: Patricia Nelson, Marsal Lyon. (Sept.)