Topher

Nikki Tate-Stratton writes novels for pre-teens; her latest books are
Jessa Be Nimble, Rebel Be Quick; Raven’s Revenge; and Tarragon Island.

Set in cottage country, Topher is a juvenile suspense novel with a
supernatural twist.

Christopher and his younger sister, Stacie, are reluctantly helping
their father get the family cabin ready to sell. Strange, ominous
happenings plague the threesome right from the start. Somehow Stacie is
able to “see” scenes from her father’s childhood (though nobody
believes her when she tries to share this information). As she pieces
together the meaning of her visions, she and her brother slowly come to
understand why their father so despises the family retreat.

Anita Horrocks writes convincingly about complex family dynamics. Her
characters lead rich emotional lives and this believability allows
readers to fully connect with her characters.

Flashbacks are handled well—movement back and forth in time is
seamless, and Horrocks’s descriptions are rich in sensory detail. This
is an exciting page-turner in which the young protagonists are given the
room they need to solve an old family mystery. Recommended.