There is regret across Jamie's family as they holiday in Yorkshire. His mother still has writer's block, his father has been laid off in a P&O-styled massed redundancy/swap for agency workers, and his brother is turning into a bolshy, sullen teenager. They have something to do that is making them less than sunny – and the weather is certainly that too. Can Jamie turn their frowns upside down, as it were, and bring the family closer together – in just a few short days?

I could have responded to this in several different ways – joy at the fact it's a volume that quotes an earlier review of mine, dismay at guessing the twist on page 30-something. Interest in how the twist is revealed a lot earlier than I had expected. Intrigue at the socialist leanings of the piece, pointing out as it does that those mass dismissals have always been a thing from the days of the industrial revolution – which clearly is not the standard content of a novel for pre-teens, but there you go.

The end result however was delight, for this was a joy to read. Yes, you have to see the author struggle to keep the secret from us, or at least play along as if he has to – I could tell there was something off from the get-go, with the character of Jamie lagging behind and panting so much I wondered if he wasn't the family dog. But there is so much message and emotion packed into the drama, and not in a heavy-handed, indoctrinating kind of way. This has a sucker punch that is appropriate for adults, and certainly won't feel like it's talking down to the intended reader. Once again Mr Sedgwick has provided a publisher working to provide volumes for dyslexic audiences and those with other reading issues, with something that is a sterling piece of fiction mature and high-quality enough for all-comers.

This novella will really make you think about the after life. Spoiler...

A boy who doesn't know he lost his life until the end of the book, is frustrated that his family is seemingly ignoring him. Until he finds out that he is dead and helps his family find him and accept that he is dead and try to help them process.

James and his family are on vacation in the English countryside. It is, perhaps, ill-advised since James’ dad just lost his job, but the family is there to scatter Granny’s ashes amongst the hills and villages where her ancestors lived. Dad claims to feel a connection to the area, but James isn’t so sure. In fact, he’s a little bored with this vacation…until the ghost of a girl appears and commands that he follow her. James is startled and a little afraid. After all, his mom is the one who sees ghosts, not him. James realizes that he feels compelled to follow her, but he soon realizes that she will show him things that maybe he doesn’t want to know.

I really don’t know how you can fit a story of this complexity into less than 125 pages. It has everything: an atmospheric setting, torrential rains, a family on edge, sullen teens, dealing with loss, and connecting to who you are. Don’t miss this one.

This story is great for readers who enjoy mysteries and stories of family and finding your way in the world. “Ravencave” is part of an ongoing series of books that are formatted to support those who have reading challenges, including dyslexia. I read the e-ARC of this story, but have seen physical copies of other titles in this series in my local bookstore. The books are short, generally less than 150 pages. As promised in the blurb, the paper is cream-colored and the font is more dyslexia-friendly than what you would find in a typical book.

I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and Union Square & Co., and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

An evocative novella that paints a vivid portrait of its setting and a haunting tale. I enjoyed how it explores themes of love, loss, grief, fractured family dynamics and more through engaging and well-written prose. Even though I guessed the twist halfway through, this book still gave me the feels.