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Reviewed by Erick Ramos for Readers' Favorite
Cemetery Ridge by Barbara Eckholdt Johnstone follows Brooke, a young girl sent by her mother to live with a woman named Helena. This arrangement was meant to be temporary, as her mother was undergoing cancer treatment, but for over a year, Brooke had not heard from her mother or older brother. Now, Brooke is stuck living with Helena and a man named Tucker in an old trailer, always hiding and on the move, until they arrive in Cemetery Ridge, Ohio. We meet Lacey, a twelve-year-old girl who moves from Pittsburgh with her twin brother, Logan, and their parents. Things start to get interesting when Lacey and her friend have an encounter with Brooke in a resale store. Lacey is curious about Brooke and buys the puzzle box she has left behind. These friends have a mystery to unravel. Will Lacey be able to decipher the clues? And will Brooke ever manage to escape and reunite with her family?
Cemetery Ridge by Barbara Eckholdt Johnstone got my attention with the character development and setting. The suspense gradually built, drawing me deeper into the story. The characters have diverse roles, and I believe that the manipulative Tucker was perfectly depicted by the author. I enjoyed that the book leans toward psychological and emotional tension, especially in the chapters about Brooke. Lacey was a lively character and added humor and insight to the story, and I loved reading about her role in the story. Brooke is very courageous and smart for her age to carefully leave clues in the hope that someone would find them and help her escape. The themes covered are curiosity, courage, mystery, friendship, and more. I recommend this book to middle-grade and young adult readers because they will relate to and enjoy it.
