Grave Mistakes

Looking for something to quench the Wednesday-thirst for kids who maybe aren’t into the goriest of murder, or who are but also want a family story that’s got a little mystery and friendship? Grave Mistakes by Kitty Curran it is—this is a lower middle grade novel, something I could easily hand to a strong reader in the 4th grade but would also entertain an 8th grader, mostly. It’s got ghosts and ghouls and a tween protagonist throwing around accusations and a town’s sordid history with witch trials, but it’s also a middle grade novel, so there’s nothing too intense, a few loose ends, and a lot of hearty friendship. 

Molly Dade has not been a “normal” kid since the explosion of her mom’s studio last year that killed her mother and twin brother, because they are both still around, as a ghost and a poltergeist, and Molly’s home life is a little confusing. They live on a possibly cursed graveyard, they’ve adopted a zombie toddler, and Molly is just trying to be a normal middle schooler with friends and violin auditions and class projects, which just happen to be about the Roehampton Witch Trials that killed a woman who is buried just off her property line.  Molly and her brother Marty decide they have to figure out who is targeting them when the Christmas concert goes off the rails, new podcasters come to town, and there’s clearly someone out for the living, and unliving, Dades. 

What ensues is the usual chaos of a middle grade supernatural novel: everyone’s the enemy/evil one, until they’re not. There’s an unlikely ally, or two, revealed along the way. The big reveal of evil is a bit drawn out and over-summarized, but ultimately it’s a fun, quick read and perfect for kids who want something with supernatural and spooky elements, and maybe even a little murder that isn’t actually gory or really scary. 

Is this the best book I’ve ever read? No. Do I think there will be a sequel? Probably. Will I read it? Eh, maybe. It’s kind of what I would suspect from a book in the Melissa de la Cruz imprint: great concept, some strong starts and good characters, and going a bit off the tracks towards the end, but ultimately landing somewhere to keep you interested til the next book.