Deja Ross Speaks to Freaks

Gr 3-6–Seventh grader Deja Ross is a committed cryptozoologist—a researcher of creatures rumored to exist despite the lack of solid proof. A road trip through Texas, Louisiana, and South Carolina with her parents and older brother gives Deja the opportunity to seek out El Chupacabra, the Lake Worth Monster, and other cryptids. Deja meets El Chupacabra, and once he understands she is a fan and only wants to learn about them, not harm or exploit them, he agrees to act as liaison and introduce her to other cryptids. However, the sketchy owner of a cryptid roadside attraction and some teen monster hunters find out what she’s doing, putting her new friends in danger. How can Deja protect them? This enjoyable story has the right amount of fun, action, and suspense for younger readers. The cryptids Deja meets all have interesting personalities and very humanlike concerns. On a deeper level, readers will likely relate to being misunderstood and wanting to be accepted for who they are. The art is lively, bright, and colorful. It brings dynamic energy to the story, making both the humans and the cryptids very appealing. Deja, her brother, and father have brown skin and her mother has fair skin. Other characters vary widely in skin tone and hair texture.