Deephaven by Ethan M. Aldridge (review)

Reviewed by: Deephaven by Ethan M. Aldridge Amanda Toledo Aldridge, Ethan M. Deephaven. Quill Tree/HarperCollins, 2023 [240p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780063283169 $18.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780063283176 $10.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 5-7 With little beyond a clever mind, a few bits and bobs tucked away in coat pockets, and a skill at seeing how mechanics click together to build something new, Guinevere "Nev" Tallow arrives on the crooked doorstep of the gothic Deephaven Academy after receiving a mysterious scholarship. The school seems invigoratingly odd, with course offerings like "History of Alternative Societies" and teachers who happily hand over books translating languages purportedly spoken by demons. Nev has a well-founded distrust of adults after a short but full lifetime of disappointments—their mother abandoning them literally, their father emotionally—so it makes sense that after being chased by a wailing, long-clawed beast, Nev and their new friend forego the help of teachers when they decide to unearth Deephaven's secrets. Aldridge employs tremendous skill both in effective pacing and evocative imagery, from the "autumn-soaked forest" surrounding Deephaven to the hairraising descriptions of the monsters within it. The promise of mystical horror pays off early and remains consistent, with Deephaven's mysteries unfolding with maximum tension. While sharp and awkward Nev is an easy hero to cheer for, everyone, including some of the duplicitous classmates, builds further fun and wrinkles to the story. Refreshingly, Nev is not the only nonbinary person in the school, and their pronouns are used automatically by others without having to be explained (even mean-spirited kids gender them correctly while being unkind). Between the sumptuous prose, the thrilling frights, and the well-paced plot, this book is sure to thrill middle graders with a taste for magic and goosebumps. Copyright © 2023 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois