The Lies of Alma Blackwell

Gr 8 Up–Nev Blackwell spends her days managing the Salem-esque tours of her familial home. The west coast town has been overshadowed by a series of tragic, untimely deaths presumed to be caused by evil forces which must be held at bay. Nev’s grandma has been fulfilling this role for more than her fair share ever since Nev’s mom disappeared rather than taking her own vow to protect the town, as the women of her family have done for generations. As her grandma’s health fails, the evil powers are moving in and it’s clear Nev must forsake her opportunity to go to college and take her own Vow and assume her role in protecting the town. Grandma has been coaching her and her skills are improving. As the Vow date approaches, however, Nev has a series of visions and time jumps which help her realize that everything is not as it seems and that perhaps her mother had the same revelations before she opted not to take her Vow. There is no discussion of race, and the characters are presumed to be white. There is a mixture of romantic interest—both with the new young man (who is oddly familiar) and between two historical female ancestors. The writing is excellent: good details and unique phrasing keep readers wanting more. Add a witchy house with elaborate secret passageways and we are all in.