Review Detail

Reader reviewed by C. J. Walsh

During the early 1800s, several children disappeared from the sleepy hamlet of Blackhawk Bay. Blamed for their disappearance, a hermit, known for his collection of birds, is burned to death, but as he died, the hermit unleashed a curse. Now, two hundred years later, a group of teens battle that curse.

Set in northern Michigan, this collection of five interrelated stories for young adults features protagonists that must rely on their wits to overcome evil. Sally battles creatures that lurk on the bottom of Lake Trillium, while Kate is stalked by vultures. A wheelchair-bound boy is promised the gift of flight, and Owen fights for his life as he hunts for a missing friend.

The stores are fast-paced with well-developed characters, and the author gives Michigans northern woods an eerie feeling while still capturing the beauty of the area.