From the critically acclaimed author of Midnight at the Barclay Hotel comes a thrilling new middle grade mystery novel inspired by Alcatraz Prison.
Tori, Marvin, and Noah would rather be anywhere else than on the seventh grade class field trip to Raven Island prison. Tori would rather be on the soccer field, but her bad grades have benched her until further notice; Marvin would rather be at the first day of a film festival with his best friend, Kevin; and Noah isn't looking forward to having to make small talk with his classmates at this new school.
But when the three of them stumble upon a dead body in the woods, miss the last ferry back home, and then have to spend the night on Raven Island, they find that they need each other now more than ever. They must work together to uncover a killer, outrun a motley ghost-hunting crew, and expose the age-old secrets of the island all before daybreak.
Tori, Marvin and Noah find themselves on a field trip to an isolated island that used to house a prison. The currents around the island are so treacherous that there are only two short periods a day when a boat can reach the island. The island is creepy, with a decaying prison, a spooky caretaker and ravens watching them from the silent woods. When it comes time for the class to leave the island Marvin hops off the ferry determined to stay the night and film a spooky move. As field trip buddies Tori and Noah feel they have to follow him. As they explore they run into a film crew from a ghost hunter show as well as see actual ghosts. Then one of the film crew is murdered and, trapped on the island, the kids decide to solve the mystery.
The three kids are diverse - Tori, a white girl. Marvin a Korean-American boy, and Noah a black American boy - and they each have a secret but feel they have no one to share it with. Tori’s brother is in jail, unjustly accused of being part of a robbery, Marvin’s best friend moved away and they don’t really talk anymore while Noah’s mother has died leaving him afraid of, well, pretty much everything and each of them feels alone and friendless. As the night runs on they find friendship, share their secrets, overcome their fears and learn the secret of Raven Island.
Aimed at children aged 8 to 12 this was also a compelling read for this adult. The author weaves a spooky story with some surprising twists while also making the case for prison reform. Parents will want to read this as well and have a conversation with the children about justice in America. I was semi-sure of who the murderer was though I think the end reveal will be a surprise to the target audience. Recommended for both middle grade readers and their parents. ~~ Stephanie L Bannon
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