Six of Sorrow by Amanda Linsmeier - ADVISABLE

Six of Sorrow by Amanda Linsmeier, 274 pages. Delacorte Press (Random House), 2024. $20 

Language: PG (7 swears, 2 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (Mom drinking excessively, characters smoking); Violence: PG (The violence involves supernatural occurrences and mysterious incidents that cause pain and suffering to the characters. The violence is more eerie and psychological than graphic.)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

17yo Isabeau and her four best friends were all born on the same day in a cursed village plagued by six mysterious sorrows. As their 18yo birthday approaches, strange and tragic events unfold, pushing Isabeau to confront her unique ability to see and communicate with spirits. She and her friends uncover dark secrets about the curse that has haunted their village for generations, and their shared birthdate seems to be at the heart of the mystery. With each sorrow tied to grief and death, Isabeau must use her powers to break the cycle before it claims them. 

Themes of friendship, loss, and the supernatural are woven throughout, creating an eerie and suspenseful narrative. I appreciated the dark, atmospheric writing the author tried to create and the dynamic between Isabeau and her friends. The blend of horror, mystery, and fantasy, along with the curse and sorrows, kept me engaged. However, I felt the pacing was slow, especially in the beginning, and I felt that some of the side characters could have been more developed. While Isabeau's journey was compelling, parts of the plot were very predictable, and the world-building behind the curse lacked depth.  I wanted more information about the mothers of the five girls, but maybe the author left that open for a prequel.  Overall, the novel’s strength lies in its mood and mystery, and most high/middle school students would enjoy this enough to read it. Bridger is part Chinese and Black, Solaina is Hispanic

Jessica Nelson CTHS Librarian