The Carrefour Curse by Dianne K. Salerni

Abstract

Reviewed by: The Carrefour Curse by Dianne K. Salerni Danica Ronquillo Salerni, Dianne K. The Carrefour Curse. Holiday House, 2023 [224p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780823452675 $18.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780823455027 $11.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 4-6 Twelve-year-old Garnet Carrefour is eager to learn more about the magical extended family her mother has hidden away from her, but when she finally visits the Carrefour House, she is greeted “with its peeling wallpaper and falling-down porch, the burned-out wing clinging to its side like a parasite.” While unexplained events and accidents leave vulnerable relatives trapped on the cursed premises, Garnet starts having visions of other times, including one of a vanished girl connected to the curse. With newfound support from her cousins and family members from the past, Garnet desperately searches for evidence to reveal the truth about a decades-old mystery. The peculiar and cantankerous personalities of the Carrefours are reminiscent of the Addams Family, with the addition of magic in their spellbinding of natural elements. Suspenseful dialogue and pauses allow characters and readers to speculate on clues dating back from the 1700’s, and cliffhangers build tension to creepily escalate the plot and conflicts. Fans of The Haunting of Hill House or Schwab’s Gallant (BCCB 03/22) will surely stay up late at night reading this heart-pounding novel. Includes a map of the mansion, Carrefour family tree illustrations, and gemstone descriptions and properties. Copyright © 2022 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois