Pixarâs Coco meets Neil Gaiman in this âterrifically eerie and atmosphericâŠa skillful mix of scary, sweet, and sillyâ (Booklist) middle grade novel about a girl whose quest to ensure her deceased grandmother is resting peacefully leads her to the magical and perilous kingdoms of the underworld.
Everyone in Whispering Pines knows their town is full of ghosts, but Helena Novak hasnât seen a trace of her late grandmother, Babi. Helena and her best friend, Ben, spend most of their free time in the cemetery, yet no amount of gifts on Babiâs grave has lured her spirit out. But someone else has been paying attention.
Helena feels sheâs being followed, and one day, all Babiâs grave gifts disappear. When Helena and Ben investigate, they find a secret door in a crypt that leads to the underworld itself. The sprawling subterranean world is a maze of eerie kingdoms, piercing castles, creepy forests, swirling seas, and crowded marketplaces full of unsavory characters. While the living can visit, if they get lostâor taken by the mysterious Nightmareâthey wonât be able to leave. Despite the danger, Helena is set on finding her grandmother and seeing for herself that Babi is doing well in this strange place.
So when eccentric underworld guide Grumbones offers to help Helena and Ben find their way, they think itâs their lucky break. Sure, he looks like Santaâs skinny evil brother and some of the memento mori spilling out of his pockets look awfully familiar, but better a slightly suspicious helper than none at allâŠright?