The Library of the Dead

May 15, 2021
Ropa dropped out after a year of secondary school, and now works as a ghostalker, taking messages from the recently dead to their living families for a fee. She's adamant that she gets paid, even when a ghost named Nicola asks for help finding her son, Ollie. Ropa's gran, though, gently reminds her that there needs to be more to life than the pursuit of money--and that she is paying Nicola's fee. It's not just Ollie, though; there are other children who have disappeared, and the few who have returned are drained of all their vitality. Ropa asks her friend Jomo for help, because he works in a library--but it's a magical library, and the consequences for getting caught sneaking in are potentially dire. Of course they get caught. Events spiral from there, leading Ropa on a journey through Edinburgh to find secrets and danger, new friends, and the beginnings of a fascinating magical education. There are plenty of loose ends to fill further volumes, and the excerpts from Ropa's magical reading promise some interesting worldbuilding possibilities; the excellent characters keep the story engaging.

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Starred review from December 1, 2021

Fourteen-year-old high school dropout Ropa is barely hanging on as she tries to support her Gran and her younger sister with her licensed ghost-talker business. However, the money she gets for delivering messages between the living and the dead is barely enough to pay the rent on their trailer. Although Ropa seems to be a tough-as-nails young businesswoman, when one of her ghostly clients begs for help investigating her missing child, Ropa's conscience won't let her ignore the mother's plea, despite the fact that she can't pay the fee. Ropa's search starts at a very unique magical library where she uncovers a hidden talent inside of her which leads her across the seedier parts of Edinburgh, Scotland, and into several life-threatening situations. Readers must remain on their toes as they keep up with a large cast of characters both living and dead, while following the physics of magic and references from Scottish history, Zimbabwean culture, and Greek mythology. However, Ropa's snarky, noir-ish first-person narration keeps the plot moving along quickly. Enough closure is provided to satisfy readers in the end, although plenty is left open for a whole new series to develop. VERDICT This supernatural thriller is a natural crossover title for teens who like fantastical elements mixed in with their scares.-Carrie Shaurette, Dwight-Englewood Sch., Englewood, NJ

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