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Reviewed by: Heather Maneiro, High School Librarian Title: So Witches We Became Author: Jill Baguchinsky Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Year: 2024 Good for Grades: 9-12 Genre/Type of Book: Horror
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: LGBTQ+ Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: Cybils Review Reading If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be: Beware the girls who have had enough!
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Review:
Nell is looking forward to the week away for spring break with her girlfriends. As they enter the home stretch of their senior year, the girls need to time to reconnect before going their separate ways upon graduation. Tris especially wants to reconnect with Harper, her best friend since primary school, as they have been drifting farther and farther apart since Harper and Gavin started dating. A girl’s week alone on a private island seems to be just what is needed.
Dia is a new addition to the friend group. She is quiet and reserved, but fits in well with Nell and Harper. Dia is glad that Harry, Harper’s older brother, has been assigned to be their chaperone for the week as has really started connecting with him after his recent break-up with his girlfriend. She worries though whether Nell and Harper would approve if her friendship with Harry turns into something more.
Tris is the island owner’s daughter. She comes out to check out things and do some minor repairs, but she and Nell instantly form a connection.
As tends to happen, once the boys, Gavin and his best friend, appear – all goes wrong. A mysterious sludge appears preventing anyone from leaving the island. Nell hesitates to explain to the girls why Gavin’s appearance truly sets her on edge, but it seems that it is her nightmare that has come to be and must be defeated.
Verdict: Definitely a slow burn on this one. The background and reveal of the nightmares and witches takes a while to come to fruition. Towards the end the reveal of the “boys will be boys” felt a bit preachy (even though I felt it coming), but the acknowledgements at the end turned me back around to appreciating this reveal. This is marketed as a female “The Mist” which unfortunately is one of the few Stephen King’s I haven’t read or watched, so now I must go catch up there! Not sure whether that would add or subtract from the connections. I think that this is a perfect YA horror – just the right scare level and not too scary or gory!
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