Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

In the forest outside Crook's Falls lies an unnaturally still body of black water that hides-until it's hungryLegends say that the pond is connected to the Ragged Man, who lurks in the shadows: "Walk with him, and you don't come back." When Avery, a Kanyen'kehá:ka (Mohawk) high school athlete with a white dad, defies warnings and ventures off the trail during a run, she discovers the deep black water that awakens endless nightmares. Sensing an eerie presence, Avery flees but can't escape the water's calls. She's never felt connected to "the culture [that's] supposed to be mine" and hesitates to seek the truth until the danger becomes undeniable as her nightmares intensify and people begin to disappear. When Key, the boy who's her best friend and romantic interest, vanishes, Avery seeks guidance from Elders and learns more about the black water and the Ragged Man. In a desperate attempt to save Key and her town, she navigates a chilling mystery, torn between following wisdom passed down by her Elders and risking everything for love. Against a haunting backdrop, debut novelist Isaacs, who is Kanyen'kehá:ka and white, skillfully portrays a young woman's struggles with the fallout of having distanced herself from her ancestors, showing how she comes to acknowledge this disconnect-grounded in avoidance of pain and discomfort-and wrestles with the resulting regret.A harrowing work that combines suspense with a coming-of-age journey of cultural exploration. (Kanyen'kéha glossary, note from Cynthia Leitich Smith)(Supernatural. 13-18)

ALA Booklist (Thu Oct 31 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Don't ever leave the trail. That's what Avery's mom has always told her about the woods that surround their little town. There's a Kanyen'kehá:ka (Mohawk) legend that speaks of a pond with black water, where evil lurks, hidden somewhere within the trees. When Avery steps off the path for just a minute in search of a better place to run, she stumbles across the black water and awakens it from its sleep. As townspeople begin to go missing, the black water haunts Avery, giving her nightmares and hallucinations of rising waters and terrifying unfinished people. She has never felt completely connected with her Kanyen'kehá:ka heritage, but when Key, her best friend and secret crush, disappears, she must connect with her Indigenous community and the Elders who may know how to save the town. Eerie monsters and beautiful folklore blend together with a spot-on grumpy teenage voice in Isaacs' horror debut about buried secrets and unspoken truths.

Kirkus Reviews

In the forest outside Crook's Falls lies an unnaturally still body of black water that hides-until it's hungryLegends say that the pond is connected to the Ragged Man, who lurks in the shadows: "Walk with him, and you don't come back." When Avery, a Kanyen'kehá:ka (Mohawk) high school athlete with a white dad, defies warnings and ventures off the trail during a run, she discovers the deep black water that awakens endless nightmares. Sensing an eerie presence, Avery flees but can't escape the water's calls. She's never felt connected to "the culture [that's] supposed to be mine" and hesitates to seek the truth until the danger becomes undeniable as her nightmares intensify and people begin to disappear. When Key, the boy who's her best friend and romantic interest, vanishes, Avery seeks guidance from Elders and learns more about the black water and the Ragged Man. In a desperate attempt to save Key and her town, she navigates a chilling mystery, torn between following wisdom passed down by her Elders and risking everything for love. Against a haunting backdrop, debut novelist Isaacs, who is Kanyen'kehá:ka and white, skillfully portrays a young woman's struggles with the fallout of having distanced herself from her ancestors, showing how she comes to acknowledge this disconnect-grounded in avoidance of pain and discomfort-and wrestles with the resulting regret.A harrowing work that combines suspense with a coming-of-age journey of cultural exploration. (Kanyen'kéha glossary, note from Cynthia Leitich Smith)(Supernatural. 13-18)

School Library Journal (Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Gr 7–10 —Avid high school runner Avery, who is Kanyen'keh&5;:ka (Mohawk), finds comfort striding through the trails in the big forest of her small town, Crook Falls. While trail running, she must never leave the trail, which she always abides by—except this one time. Avery unexpectedly wakes something in the black water. She tries to conceal the truth about this new haunting figure from everyone. The hauntings become her worst nightmare when her best friend Key disappears and the reason for it seems to align with the terrifying figure. Before it becomes too late to save Key or worse, Avery seeks out her elders to gather clues on how to stop the terror and heal past trauma from the Ragged Man. Fright slowly escalates as more is revealed about the lore of the forbidden aqua void. With this fright brings bravery, a push to connect, and acceptance of change. This level of introspection may bore and drag out the plot for some. This chilling quest to save a best friend (and perhaps the town) reveals the bravery that Avery needs to come face to face with her greatest fears. Readers will finish this feeling spooked and reflective of their own secure attachments. VERDICT The eerie imagery is not extremely explicit, making this spooky read a tantalizing addition to middle school shelves.—Kaitlin Srader