Publishers Weekly
★ 12/04/2023
Grit and compassion bolster this exhilarating folkloric adventure by debut author Netz. After a period of upheaval following the death of her father, disabled 11-year-old Jerry Blum and her mother settle at the Slumbering Giant Motel in rural Georgia. There, Jerry’s mother begins a new job while Jerry acclimates herself to the relatively wheelchair-friendly environment. Bored and lonely, Jerry grows suspicious of her mother’s mysterious new gig, which sends her into the nearby woods where loggers have recently disappeared. Accompanied by her imaginary Yiddish-speaking dragon friend Paul, Jerry embarks on an investigation. Much of this bewitching story hinges on the formidable nerve and charisma of the Jewish, olive-skinned protagonist, whose adventure takes on a positive spin after she befriends Chapel Bell, a Black sixth grader living in the motel with her family following a house fire. The two girls bond over being treated differently and, after Jerry’s mother vanishes, find themselves lost in the woods and vulnerable to the shadowy creatures that dwell there. Using vivid supernatural phenomena to facilitate deep human connection, Netz crafts a succinct tale with memorable characters, a fearsome mythology, and dark charm. Ages 8–12. (Mar.)
From the Publisher
"Using vivid supernatural phenomena to facilitate deep human connection, Netz crafts a succinct tale with memorable characters, a fearsome mythology, and dark charm." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"An action-packed, heartwarming tale of friendship, family, monsters, and magic." — Kirkus Reviews
"With a satisfying emotional arc, Jerry's story sensitively tackles such topics as ableism and bullying, and her sharp intellect, paired with Paul's wit, adds humor and levity." — Booklist
Kirkus Reviews
2023-12-16
A Jewish girl who uses a wheelchair faces demons when she and her mother move to a former mining town in Georgia.
Ever since Daddy died and they lost their house, 11-year-old Jerusha (Jerry) and Mama have drifted from motel to motel. Moving so often makes it hard to make friends, but Jerry finds kids her own age “overrated”—especially after a bully at her last school pushed her down the stairs. Now homeschooled, Jerry prefers spending time with her books—and with Paul, her imaginary dragon. At first, the Slumbering Giant seems like every other motel they’ve stayed in. But then the radio starts broadcasting eerie messages such as “THEY’RE COMING” and “ALERT THE REST OF THE GUARDIANS.” Plus, Mama’s being unusually cryptic about her new housekeeping job and has secretly been venturing into the woods—where loggers have been disappearing and Jerry’s forbidden to go. When Mama doesn’t come home one morning, Jerry resolves to find her…and discovers that the woods are full of demons. Can Jerry and her new friend, Chapel, evade their pursuit and rescue Mama? Netz, also a wheelchair user, offers a refreshingly authentic depiction of physical disability, vividly describing Jerry’s maneuvers, the obstacles she encounters, and the advantages of vanquishing demons while in a wheelchair. Readers will empathize with Jerry’s loneliness, while Paul’s droll, Yiddish-peppered commentary adds humor. Jerry and Mama are cued white; Chapel is Black.
An action-packed, heartwarming tale of friendship, family, monsters, and magic. (Paranormal adventure. 8-12)
