e-Audio, 06:02:25
Narrated by: Shayna Small
Release Date: July 30, 2024
Published by: Books on Tape
Read from: July 16-18, 2024
Stand-Alone
Source: PRH Audio App (I received a copy of this e-audio from the publisher and their influencer app in exchange for a just and honest review. This did nothing to influence my review.)
Content Warning: Racism, Kidnapping, Gaslighting
For Readers Interested In: Horror, Mystery, Great Outdoors, MG, Thrillers, Racial/Ethnic Diversity (Black)The legend of Bigfoot gets a bone-chilling update in this scary story about a young girl and her scout troop who are willing to brave the woods to find her missing friend when no one else will. Perfect for fans of Daka Hermon and Claribel A. Ortega!
The wilderness is in Jenna’s blood. Her Pap was the first Black park ranger at Sturbridge Reservation, and she practically knows the Owlet Survival Handbook by heart. But she’s never encountered a creature like the one that took her best friend Reese. Her parents don’t believe her; the police are worthless, following the wrong leads; and the media isn’t connecting the dots between Reese’s disappearance and a string of other attacks. Determined to save her friend, Jenna joins a new local scout troop, and ventures back into the woods.
When the troop stumbles across suspicious huge human-like footprints near the camp, scratch marks on trees, and ominous sounds from the woods, Jenna worries that whatever took Reese is back to take her too. Can she trust her new scout leader? And will her new friend Norrie—who makes her laugh and reminds her so much of Reese—believe her?
After the unthinkable happens, the scouts, armed with their wits and toiletries, band together to fight the monster and survive the night.
*MY THOUGHTS*
Ok so when I found out about this book it was from just looking up horror books that were coming out this year. So imagine my surprise when I saw that this one was not only about Big Foot, but it was also written by a Black woman. And let me tell you that was all I needed tom know to add this to my TBR.
And when I finally got to it, I was pleasantly surprised that there was some social media aspects to it. There is an online forum that she finds out more about the creature that’s found in the trees. And the sound effects did a wonderful job of letting us know the difference via audio. It made for a great listening experience.
I also enjoyed that the book was actually creepy! I cringed every time they talked about this thing lol For a kid I think I would compare this to Goosebumps and say its about the same level as creepy as the originals. The actual thing itself wasn’t as scary, I think it was more so the vibes, and I loved that.
I said the thing wasn’t that scary because we don’t really get a lot of interaction with it. And we only get a super clear view at the end. I do wish we had more time with it, even if they were mostly just running. But for the most part the thing is confined to hiding behind trees the whole book. And that was ok, but it got a bit repetitive. I would have liked to see it chasing the car or being summoned by the fire or peeking around them when the troop leader was knocked out or ignoring them.
I also liked the Girl Scout things they were. I was a Girl Scout for 6 weeks in elementary school, but once they stopped coming to my after school program, I quit going. So this was fun to learn about different things they did and got like patches for. Now, did I like the way they were treating them? Absolutely not. And let me tell you I wanted to jump into this books and pluck all those mean girl campers out of the book and pluck them in the forehead. Who acts like that to a child? Ugh. But I was glad that they got put in their place.
As for the mystery, I did enjoy that. I was very worried about the missing girl because one she was Black and no one else seemed to be worried about her, and two because I know nothing about the great outdoors, so I was already terrified of this part lol And then when they find the red herring (I don’t want to say what for spoilers) I wanted to scream. It definitely gave the creepy, weird vibes to the forest.
This was so much fun and was a great creepy read for middle grade readers. This will make the perfect addition to those scary season reads for the fall. If that fits your vibe, don’t hesitate to pick this up!
Overall, I give this
I gave this 4 stars on Goodreads!