This middle grade, with its rich imagery and world-building fills a niche in children's fantasy that is reminiscent of Lloyd Alexander or Brain Jacques with the unfortunately evergreen topics of bullying and misinformation. This novel would work very well in a classroom to teach about perspective taking, groupthink, as one of the antagonists uses subterfuge to spread lies and discord among a previously harmonious community. The addition of the ghosts and the evolution of their rather tragic backstories allow for discussion about how tradition can become warped over time and how important it is to ask questions. Identity and the trauma of living in an abusive household are also delicately touched on.

Hartman is a phenomenal world builder. This book is really anchored in its vivid imagery and that can almost make up for what the story lacks in depth, Charl is easy to bond with and feel sympathy for but solving problems that arise in the book often feels too easy for him. It seem that he relies very heavily on the ghosts to do it for him, This makes the back half of the book feel very rushed as all the major conflict is solved very quickly within the last threeish chapters. It is still however a very good book about identity and our ties to those around us both living and dead.