The Other Ones

Gr 9 Up–Sal’s father passed away five years ago, but the memory of him still haunts Sal’s family to this day. Not to mention that Sal’s house is known throughout the village for being allegedly haunted, bringing his family much unwanted attention. One day a strange boy named Pax moves into the graveyard cottage and takes a liking to both Sal and the ghosts that haunt him. What follows is a cozy story that recreates the feeling of falling in love for the first time that feels authentically sweet. Hart succeeds in balancing heft and romance without overstaying her welcome in either area. The plot balances both Sal’s budding romance with Pax and the dynamics of a family still reeling in grief. Death looms over the entirety of the story, and it plays an integral role in bringing Sal closer to his friends, family, and eventual boyfriend, Pax. This book is a perfect read for fall and winter as Hart does a masterful job of providing the right amount of details of the season and environment that could otherwise be easily overdone. Sal and his sister Asha are biracial Egyptian and white while the supporting cast read as white.