Ghost in the Headlights

Gr 5 Up–In this contemporary retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Brianna, who is white, must stay with her uncle for a few months while her mother completes her job training. Upon arriving, Brianna is haunted by dreams of a young local girl who vanished, and is warned by kids about the road in front of her uncle’s house, though they won’t say why. Brianna must figure out the mystery behind the vanished girl before she becomes the next victim. In this horror mystery, Brianna must investigate the town’s supernatural secrets while being challenged at every turn. Unfortunately, the novel’s suspense is hampered by a rushed plot and lack of character development. Brianna as a character falls flat, as do most of her relationships with others, making it difficult for readers to stay invested in what’s happening to her. Plot points seem to be thrown in so rapidly there is no time for readers to digest them before the next thing happens. The premise is fun and engaging, but the hurried plot and underdeveloped cast leave something to be desired.