Something's Up With Arlo
Sponsored - Thanks to HarperCollins Canada and Read With Sprout for sending along this book for review.
A scary middle grade novel, Something’s Up With Arlo by Matteo L. Cerilli leaves readers eager to explore their own family ghost stories.
Emily Nero’s best friend is Arlo. For as long as she can remember Arlo has been there, a spectre keeping her safe from her workaholic mother, over protective father and even the bullies at school. When Nero moves to a fancy private school she’s hoping for the opportunity to start over and reinvent herself. Unfortunately, Arlo has other plans. Arlo’s jealousy bubbles to the surface and Nero must now try to figure out what is up with Arlo.
Matteo L. Cerilli delivers on the spooky factor in this middle grade novel. A classic ghost story with modern elements that middle grade readers will find extremely engaging. I love that this story is about self discovery. Nero, throughout the novel, is on a path to figure out who they are, who they want to be and how they can foster friendships in the real world. They are also looking for answers amidst a family situation that is really kind of terrible.
I appreciated the conflict between Nero and the other Emily. There is a really fun dynamic that plays out throughout the story with these two characters that is very authentic and very middle school. The story also features a diverse cast of characters whose identities are mentioned throughout the story but do not define their actions or their choices. They simply are and they are important characters to the flow and action of the narrative.
The ghostly elements throughout the story as well as the theme of multigenerational stories is wonderfully engaging. Readers may be inspired to learn a little more about their own family history and family stories. Readers may also be inspired to look inward and reflect on who they are and how they want to walk through their world, ghosts and all.
