In an effort to blog more often, I am hoping to write a short review of each book I read this year.

I was lucky to start 2021 with Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger. It takes place in what is essentially a parallel present, but there’s magic. The main character – Ellie – can raise the ghost of dead animals. This skill has been passed down through her Lipan Apache family. I was in love with her ghost dog from the moment we met him!

The heart of the story is a murder mystery; Ellie is trying to prove her cousin’s death wasn’t an accident. There’s a lot about Ellie’s family history, including a fascinating storyline that includes her sixth-great grandmother. I really enjoyed the friendship between Ellie and Jay. I don’t want to give too much away other than to say it’s a must read!

I think any 7th grader or up with a love of fantasy or mystery will enjoy this one! I was able to listen to the audiobook and read the e-book through my local public library, but here’s the link to Bookshop if you’d like to purchase a copy and support a local book store.

Have you read Elatsoe? Let me know what you thought about it!