A Guide to the Other Side

July 15, 2016
A pair of twins, one living and one dead, facilitate communication between the two communities.The dead appreciate Baylor Bosco for his help communicating with their loved ones. The living struggle to understand or embrace those messages, especially if they involve a botched family recipe. Living white boy Baylor and his ghost twin sister, Kristina, have set a clear afterlife arrangement. Baylor relays the messages, and Kristina handles crowd control. One night their supernatural bond is threatened when a dark spirit visits Baylor in his bedroom. Unsettled and unable to get answers, Kristina and Baylor search both worlds for answers. Whatever problems lie ahead, they will face them together. In his debut, Imfeld creates in Baylor, Kristina, and their band of friends kids who could be found in any middle school. Well-rounded but not perfect, each main character has a moment to shine. However, for all the depth of the white protagonists, the side characters are given short shrift and occasionally even reduced to stereotype. Evoking a Latina's accent with rolled R's and phonetic spellings and describing a black character's hair as "out-of-control" distract readers and mar this work. Baylor's adventures will intrigue, excite, and captivate young readers, but they also risk alienating young brown and black children looking for adventure. This series opener is funny, mystical, and endearing, if flawed; here's hoping Baylor continues his journey with a more multidimensional cast. (Fantasy. 10-14)

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September 1, 2016

Gr 5-8-Thirteen-year-old Baylor Bosco has a strange connection to dead people. Though Baylor truly dislikes the ghosts he constantly encounters, his twin sister, Kristina, faithfully helps him handle this special gift. Kristina's powers are even more extraordinary than her brother's because she herself is a ghost. When a ghoulish spirit shows up close to Halloween-covered by a single sheet and wearing brown buckled shoes-Kristina is mysteriously ghostnapped and evil forces run amok. Armed with odd talismans and accompanied by supportive spiritual guides, Baylor courageously faces a dark and threatening unknown to save his twin. This first installment in a new series features goofy ghost humor and spooky, spine-tingling suspense. Baylor's quirky dialogue with pesky ghosts is a highlight, as many bombard him with hilarious requests to relay to the living. The narrative lags a bit after Baylor connects the sheet man with an ex-wife and girlfriend. There is also a romantic side story between Baylor's two friends, which is somewhat out of sync with the main plot. Despite this, fans of anything otherworldly should be instantly entranced. VERDICT A unique ghost story loaded with just the right blend of laugh-out-loud humor and suspense. Anticipate high demand for this series starter.-Etta Anton, Yeshiva of Central Queens, NY

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