Mystic of the Midway by A. A. Blair is a teen supernatural-suspense novel where the readers are taken on a journey in the small port town of Crystal Beach. It is here our protagonist, Effie, is involved in an accident and starts experiencing chills and hearing voices all around her. Shortly after a mysterious young girl starts following her but disappears when she try’s to approach. Effie and her friends decide to set out to uncover what is happening to her and why.

Effie’s life before the accident was normal, she had a happy family and normal childhood. Now, however, she hears whispers, knows secrets that she isn’t supposed to know, and starts having cryptic dreams that may be the answer to what is going on. One of the traits in Effie that is relatable to preteen kids is the struggle to express themselves. Effie doesn’t know how to explain what is going on and the feelings she has about the supernatural experiences. This struggle with her emotions and expression adds realism to the story. What child wouldn’t be afraid to tell people they hear and see things others can not. Seeing this in Effie makes her a dynamic character that readers will be able to connect with. Her determination to prove she is not making up the voices or the girl following her gives readers someone to root for, the desire to have her prove it is in fact all real.

A. A. Blair does a superb job with scenery and setting. One of the key settings is arcades. The author was able to accurately portray the excitement and energy from this venue. Included were old pictures that will help modern readers really get a feel for what these old arcade environment’s were like. It is like stepping back in time for older readers, they will enjoy the nostalgia.

Mystic of the Midway is a gripping paranormal mystery for older elementary level and early teens. With suspense and thrill, the author has really captured the emotion for the audience in the writing. The action was fast paced, the dialogue was relevant and entertaining, and the characters were written accurately for their ages. This is a great supernatural thriller that will keep kids engaged.

Pages: 136 | ISBN: 1592111181