THE DOORS TO NOWHERE

Things take a dark turn for a tween in a magical world.

Willow and her friends from summer camp return in this sequel to Secrets of Camp Whatever (2021), and the stakes are even higher. With a new enemy, a spell book, and a revealed connection to a family lineage, Willow has much more on her plate in this installment. Picking up after her otherworldly experiences at camp, readers meet blue-haired Willow as she is pulled even further into the paranormal world of Nowhere thanks to a century-old prophecy. Along the way, she comes face to face with supernatural creatures, some of whom turn out to be friendly, while others are foes. Thankfully, her friends, each with their own powers and passions, become a major help to Willow as she tries to unravel the mysteries. Grine’s dialogue is as accessible as before, with panels and speech bubbles that are easy for readers to follow while maintaining interest through pleasing variety. The illustrations are clean, vibrantly colorful, and appealing. Though there is a more menacing tone this time around, it is balanced by touches of humor and the soft pastel color palette. Willow is deaf and uses hearing aids; the first volume cued her as White and Latine. Most characters read White, and one of Willow’s friends is Black.

An engaging, spooky adventure for existing fans and new readers alike.