Content warnings: Murder of a dog on-page about 9% of the way in, physical abuse of a child, emotional abuse/manipulation of a child, food insecurity, some gore.

This took me by surprise, but in a good way. From the summary I expected more of a young adult urban fantasy/paranormal read, but Bad Witch Burning ended up being more of a contemporary novel with heavy horror elements. Readers expecting a fast paced novel will be disappointed as there's more of a character driven focus for the plot. Which is fine because Katrell and the supporting cast are well written and I didn't mind spending time with them (save for her abusers).

Katrell herself is a worthy main character, although near the end she did end up having to hand part of the reins over to her best friend, Will. However, I didn't mind this, as Katrell's whole story was about having to always fend for herself and believing no one was there for her. The fact that she has to learn to depend on her friend and allow Will to help save her was a satisfying conclusion to her arc. This may not be some readers' preference, however, as it might come across as Katrell becoming a little passive.

The paranormal aspects are likely what will disappoint some readers; we're never given any kind of explanation as to why Katrell's powers suddenly change, or whether she was always able to bring a person back to life and just didn't know until she was desperate enough to try. Personally I would have preferred a bit more explanation in this, but it may not bother others.

The only criticisms I have concern the pacing for the first part of the novel, which seems to meander just slightly, and the fact that Katrell is warned about her powers by Will's deceased grandmother in one of the first chapters. At this point Katrell can only bring a shade back for about ten minutes. Will's grandmother waits until the very end of these ten minutes to tell Katrell not to do any more summoning, and won't explain why. Lewis does poke fun at this a bit in the end by having Will say her grandmother could have given a better warning, but it was a bit late, so the scene mostly came across as a contrived way to build suspense.

Bad Witch Burning isn't perfect, but I enjoyed it and it even made me cry at the end. I look forward to what comes next from Jessica Lewis.

This was definitely different from my usual reads, but I loved it!

Katrell should be enjoying her high school years, but instead she has to work 30 hours a week to support her mom and loser boyfriend. She can also talk to the dead. She makes extra money letting people talk to their loved ones that have passed. However, the last time she talked to a ghost, she was warned to stop or things were going to get really bad for her. But how can she stop when she has rent due?

This was such a great story. Katrell has a horrible life and tries everything she can to make it better. I loved her character. It's also perfect for the spooky season!

My Take:

Bad Witch Burning is a gripping tale that had me reading straight through. This is a novel of many things: coming-of-age, poverty, friendship, and rage. Katrell has grown up in a completely unstable house… Her mom is without a job and her mom’s boyfriend has a part-time job as Wendy’s, but all that money goes towards alcohol. Many months it is solely Katrell who is able to provide for the family. Rent. Food. Where doesn’t this money come from?

Katrell has the power to speak to the dead and people will pay big money to communicate with their dead grandmother or son or in the case of the local drug dealer, his daughter. Yet, even her mom and her abusive other half’s greed knows no bounds, and when the rent is paid, an extra couple hundred may help them take a trip or an investment, or any other means to lose the cash. And that puts Katrell in a really tough spot. She needs more money. An opportunity arises when her next summonings goes horrible wrong… and instead of getting a ghost to come back, a corpse crawls out of the ground…

This sets up a tight rope walk for our protagonist between her friend’s and counselor’s concern, her mother’s wrath, and her own failing health, a consequence of her dabbling in reanimation. Katrell is spinning… she needs to keep the money coming in, but things are getting worse…

This book! It has the thrills, the horror feels, and the emotions… I was caught up in this read from the first page. Pick up Bad Witch Burning for an awesome debut. Lewis’s writing pushed me in all sorts of ways. A great book!

5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Delacorte Publishing, and the author for an advanced copy for review.

Katrell can speak to the dead, and uses her power to cover bills for herself and her mother when her minimum wage job isn't enough to make ends meet. After a traumatic loss, Katrell discovers that she can raise the dead as well, though the consequences are dire. Great for fans of creepy supernatural stories with dark emotional elements. Dedicated to kids in Katrell's position, Bad Witch Burning illustrates the desperation and hopelessness of life as an abused teen. Note: I sobbed through the last third of the book, it struck so true.

Disclaimer: I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. This is a very unique story. I've never read anything like it ever! It's one of a kind. The story is about a homeless, overworked and anxious teen named Katrell, who lives in extreme poverty. She has a “gift” that allows her to speak to the dead by writing letters. She does this for profit. I don’t want to spoil the book but it’s definitely a page turner. One of the best parts of the book was the friendship between Trell and Will. This is a moral tale and a tale of what’s the worst that could happen. I enjoyed the rollercoaster of emotions I felt while reading this book.



Content warning: neglect, manipulation, verbal, emotional and physical abuse, homelessness, extreme poverty, animal death, gun violence and death/murder.

Book Review

Title: Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis

Genre: Young Adult, Horror, Fantasy

Rating: 4.5 Stars

I want to start this review off by saying that I have many young adult books labelled as horror or thrillers that have completely missed the mark but Jessica Lewis hits a bullseye with Bad Witch Burning. I honestly wasn’t expecting much when I picked it up and it completely blew me away, it was dark, grim and extremely scary in certain parts and it definitely doesn’t lack violence as well as a lot of physical and emotional trauma so definitely read the trigger warnings before picking it up. We are introduced to Katrell who is coming from a really bad environment as she is abused and neglected by her mother and her numerous boyfriends as well as working over 30 hours a week to keep the household running as her mother puts a lot of pressure on her to do this. The only person who has any positive influence on Kat’s life is her best friend Will who is a former foster kid and has been through many of the same situations Katrell finds herself in but there is more to her than we expect.

We learn that Katrell has the ability to talk to ghosts and her mother exploits this to make money by making her write letters that let people communicate with their dead loved ones. From the very beginning I sympathised with Katrell who deserved much more than what she was given in life but after a fight with her mother’s current boyfriend, Gerald he murders her dog, Conrad, which leaves Kat feeling broken and I will warn you that this scene is very graphic. This is the point where things begin to get really interesting as Katrell uncovers something new about her gift that she had no idea about and as she begins testing it out we see her walk down a darker path. It doesn’t take long after this for things to get really bad and Katrell soon finds her life spiralling completely out of control with no way to stop it. Honestly at the beginning of this book where it focused on Katrell struggling to make ends meet and sometimes going days without being able to get I thought it was going to be another young adult novel where the main character overcomes their situation and the neglect and abuse they suffered is completely washed over. However, I really liked Katrell’s situation is one of the main reasons for her action throughout the novel and how Lewis explored Kat’s need to get out of her abusive situation while continuing to try and protect the mother who doesn’t really care about her. I also really enjoyed the fact that Lewis acknowledge that Katrell can see positive examples of adults like her guidance counsellor, Mike and Will’s adoptive mother and that all the adults are lumped together.

At its core Bad Witch Burning is a story about how desperate people try to get out of a bad situation only to find themselves in an even worse situation with no idea how they got there. However, Katrell remains completely true to who she is making her one of the most interesting protagonist I have followed in years especially in young adult literature. I can honestly say I related to Katrell’s feelings of feeling left out with nowhere to turn and how many people including myself find an unhealthy way of coping when left to their own devices. Overall, Bad Witch Burning was really well done and was an accurate portrayal of parental neglect and abusive without washing over or immediately correcting everything that was wrong with the situation. The way the book is written also leads me to believe that Lewis has had some personal experience with these topics which makes a huge difference to how it came across to me as a reader. This book was sad, depressing, exciting and much more and it is honestly such a unique read that I would highly recommend to people looking for something that completely breaks away from the typical tropes found in young adult horror books.

DNF at 20%.

Unfortunately, I am going to have to just stop at this point. This book ended up being so much darker than I was anticipated. Between Katrell's dog being shot at gun point, the physical and emotional abuse that Katrell suffers, the gaslighting from Katrell's mom, and the food insecurity, I just can't keep going.

This is one of those stories where I really question who is the target audience here.

Is the point that you want to show privileged white kids what it's like for poor BIPOC? If that's the case, please unpack so much of what's happening so that these kids don't just sit here and think that Katrell is stupid for not leaving her abusive mother even though her mother allows her to be abused by her boyfriends.

Is the point that you want this to be a story for us? That works too but just know that this is incredibly triggering for those of us who have had rough childhoods that we'd like to forget.

I really want into this one thinking it was going to be about a badass Black witch, and instead, it was Black trauma. Pass.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to TBR & Beyond Tours, Netgalley, and Delacorte for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.


If I was able to talk to the dead, or even anything remotely supernatural that was rare, I would probably do the same thing that Katrell did: find a way to make money off of it. Nothing wrong with a side hustle, okay? Isn’t that what everyone keeps talking about these days? Can’t even have a fun hobby without people telling you to make that a side hustle, so here you go.

I also understand why she went to such lengths, and why when she finds out that she’s somehow able to bring the dead back to life and make even more money off of it, she doesn’t heed the previous warning she got about burning everything down. People will do whatever they can to survive, especially when they are one of the main sources of income for their family. I understand that, and I don’t even blame Katrell for pushing the boundaries as far as she can with her powers. It just sucks that that warning may actually turn out to be valid, and things may turn for the worse if she keeps it up.


It doesn’t help that I recently finished another book with a daughter dealing with abuse from her mother’s numerous boyfriends – although in The Girls I’ve Been, the boyfriends were marks until the final one… but that’s another story of course – but reading about these kinds of relationships has been super hard for me. Katrell has been dealing with a string of her mother’s boyfriends abusing her until they’ve had their fill. On to the next, the abuse doesn’t seem to end. It also doesn’t help that Katrell’s mother doesn’t seem to actually care since this constant stream of boyfriends hasn’t actually improved in personality. I mean, the main reason why Katrell resorted to using her powers to make money is because that’s what her mother makes her do in order to support both of them. So not only is Katrell having to deal with the repercussions of her powers in the supernatural world, but dealing the natural world of a negligent mother and men that shouldn’t have ever been in that household in the first place.

Is it almost some sort of reprieve for her to deal with her clients and the dead? You tell me.

I’ve seen Goodreads also label this story as a horror novel, and I totally agree with that one. Not just because of what happens when you use magic to bring the dead back to life – the Monkey’s Paw, anyone? – but just Katrell’s home life. It is horrible, and something that nobody should have to deal with, but is more common than it should be. This will be something to keep in mind as you read it, and since all magic comes at a price, don’t trust all that you see. Let’s just leave it as that. It’s still giving me chills!

Bad Witch Burning isn't my typical genre but once I got into this book, I was hooked. It was so easy to sympathize with Katrell and root for her (even though she made me mad sometimes!) and as she continued to raise people from the dead, the suspense just kept building. It's difficult for me to get invested enough in a story or character to actually tear up and cry, but that's exactly what happened near the end of this story. It ripped my heart out, but I loved it. Highly recommend.

This book wrecked me.

Like, full on ugly crying, breath shaking, chest aching the whole last like 10 chapters of the book.

I need a minute before I give this review.

* * * * *

Katrell is a 16 year old girl who can summon ghosts by writing them letters. She uses her gift to make some extra cash to support herself and her mom. But Katrell’s mom still won’t go out and get a job, and Gerald (moms boyfriend of the week) isn’t helping matters. Then Katrell’s powers change, and suddenly she can resurrect the dead…and that pays a whole lot more than letter writing to grandma. At first, things might be looking up for Katrell. She’ll be able to keep the lights on and have a place to live, and even food to eat. But things start to unravel a bit quickly, and Katrell’s best friend Will thinks she needs to stop. Only problem is- it might be too late.

So there are content warnings for Bad Witch Burning, and you should definitely be aware of them when picking up this book. If you decide to continue and read this book, you won’t be disappointed.

Lewis tells a gut wrenching story but it’s full of Black girl magic, knowing that your anger is valid, learning to let go of the lies that you believe, being brave enough to hope, and choosing to stay- to not give up the fight and to remember you’re not alone.

Will is a literal life saver. She’s Katrell’s best friend, who’s had a hard past herself, but constantly reminds Trell that she’s there no matter what. This girl is a beautiful soul. She’s artistic and kind and smart, and even though the world has tried so hard to bring her down, she keeps going and she lends that strength to Trell, even when she doesn’t see it. I absolutely love Wilhelmina!

Bad Witch Burning is full of vivid storytelling. I just fell right into the pages and could see the words playing out before me. Lewis tells a solid magical fantasy thriller that will have you turning page after page for hours. Her world building is solid, her magic is solid, and her characters are so well developed I wish some of them were fixtures in my own life.

Bad Witch Burning is a must read for every YA reader. And be sure to read the note to readers before starting the book. Lewis tells a powerful story, and I hope everyone who needs this story has the chance to hold in their hands and their hearts.

Sometimes there are books that are just... Not written for you. As a white woman who grew up in a middle-class household, I am not the intended audience for this book and that does a disservice to my experience of the book.

But the question I have is: who is this book for? It's bleak, with Katrell's trauma and desperation compounding one on top of the other with no hope in sight. Anyone who experienced something similar in their lifetime wouldn't feel "empowered" - at least not in the beginning when everything is going wrong - they might instead feel triggered. And to hear Katrell over and over again reject offers of help or good sense but not take the time to unpack the behind-the-scenes reasons for this distrust will give readers who don't have similar experiences an unrealistic understanding of the situation. Instead of seeing someone who is trapped, we might instead see someone who is just stubborn.

If this book was written, as is kind of hinted at in the author's note, for the author's own catharsis, that's awesome. More power to her. But I was expecting Black Girl (dark) Magic and some badass necromancy, not Black girl doing whatever she has to in order to survive in a world that's just piling trauma down on top of her.

Bad Witch Burning made me feel all kinds of stuff, which is a big part of why I loved it. I mean the story itself is awesome, don't get me wrong. The fact that Katrell is suddenly bringing back folks from the dead? Obviously, I am in! And it is a great story in itself, even before we add in the emotions. But the emotions are what put this book over the top for me, making it go from a good book to a freaking fantastic one.

From the start, I was mad for Katrell. She has gone through more awfulness in her young lifetime than anyone should have to encounter ever. Her mom's boyfriend du jour is quite possibly one of the most awful creatures I have read about, and the fact that mom actively chooses the boyfriend's side over Katrell's over and over is gutting. Katrell has always had the ability to communicate with the deceased, via letter, and can even make a few bucks to support herself (and her mom and her mom's array of deadbeat paramours, unfortunately). One has even warned her that she needs to be careful, but some bad stuff goes down (thanks a lot Gerald) and she finds herself able to resurrect the dead, the warnings go to the back of her mind.

Katrell begins to think that the resurrections may be a way out for her. A way out from the pain, and poverty, and neglect. And this kills me, because you know just by the warnings that she's headed down a slippery slope, but you also a million percent understand why she's doing it. So obviously, a lot of the story is figuring out the mystery behind the dead, and what it will mean to Katrell.

So there is mystery and suspense and a ton of heartbreak, but there is also so, so much hope. Katrell has been through a lot, but she is such an incredible young woman. She's not perfect, not by any means, but she is lovable. And I think that is the journey she needs to undertake. She has an amazing best friend Will, and a counselor who she kind of won the counselor lottery with, Mike. And they see the Katrell that her mother turns away from, in a way that the reader hopes Katrell will see herself. And I don't want to say too much, but I promise that this book will satisfy you wholly.

Bottom Line: It is a great paranormal mystery, sure, but Bad Witch Burning is so much more. It's beautiful and heart-wrenching and hopeful.

This is a snippet from a blog post I wrote about 2 books that triggered serious therapy sessions but Bad Witch Burning got it's own dedicated post, the links are provided: Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis: This book has been one that I have been anticipating since I saw the cover. I knew from the moment that I saw it (#BookishSpideySense), that I had to read it and I was beyond ecstatic that I was approved for it on Netgalley! I completely ate up this book in a day, which is a running record for me when it comes to books I’m completely into. I didn’t want to put my Amazon Fire Down for a moment and I even had a series of tweets about this book. I will say, don’t be surprised if you find a blog post dedicated to BWB the week it releases (8/24/2021 so go ahead and pre-order it.)

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Bad Witch Burning

Author: Jessica Lewis

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Diversity: Black MC, Fat side character

Recommended For...: young adult readers, paranormal, fantasy, urban fantasy, witches, horror

Publication Date: August 24, 2021

Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy

Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, gore, child abuse, emotional abuse, alcohol abuse, slight language, grief, animal death TW, domestic violence TW)

Explanation of CWs: Animal Death scene played out, it’s a tear-jerker and a pain inducer. There is also graphic descriptions of domestic violence, child abuse, and emotional abuse. There’s also gun violence and gore.

Publisher: Delacorte

Pages: 352

Synopsis: Katrell doesn’t mind talking to the dead; she just wishes it made more money. Clients pay her to talk to their deceased loved ones, but it isn’t enough to support her unemployed mother and Mom’s deadbeat boyfriend-of-the-week. Things get worse, when a ghost warns her to stop the summonings or she’ll “burn everything down.” Katrell is willing to call them on their bluff, though. She has no choice. What do ghosts know about eating peanut butter for dinner?

However, when her next summoning accidentally raises someone from the dead, Katrell realizes that a live body is worth a lot more than a dead apparition. And, warning or not, she has no intention of letting this lucrative new business go.

But magic doesn’t come for free, and soon dark forces are closing in on Katrell. The further she goes, the more she risks the lives of not only herself, but those she loves. Katrell faces a choice: resign herself to poverty, or confront the darkness before it’s too late.

Review: I fell in love with this book from the first page. This book is so well done and it’s one of the best witchy books I’ve read in my life. The book has well done character development and the world building is immaculate. I loved how well the magic system was detailed and how realistic it is from what I hear from my real life witchy friends (that it takes a part of you to do it and can cause you pain/some future issues). The writing is very well done as well and this book is very evenly paced. I do have to warn you though, you’ll be consumed by this book and the overwhelming sadness in it. This book is such a tear-jerker and it’s so haunting that it’ll make you think about it for days or weeks to come.

The trigger warnings in this book are recommended to read and self-consult with. The animal death scene royally effed me up because I was so distraught with myself over it. The author had an amazing way with words and makes you feel like the characters are actually there, but damn it hits hard when death happens.

Verdict: It was so good and so sad and so good.

I received this book as an eARC from Netgalley. All opinions are my own!

Please check trigger warnings for this book!!

Katrell doesn't really mind that she can talk to ghosts, but when her powers change and she accidentally brings someone back from the dead, she's suddenly found a way to make enough money to save her family from poverty. But power always comes at a price. Is Katrell really willing to pay it?

I was very excited to read this book and I loved the premise of it! The idea that Katrell suddenly could raise people from the dead and its moral implications were so intriguing to me, and I loved the moral issues that were brought up throughout the book. It was a book that kept you thinking about life and death and everything in between, and I really enjoyed that part of it!

The book also did such a fantastic job of talking about the issues of poverty and abuse. It painted such a beautiful picture of Katrell's life and how these things actually practically impacted her. Watching her character growth even in the midst of her suffering was so satisfying and it was an amazing story to be part of! And not to mention Will's development and the way that she is so beautifully woven into the book!

My issue with the book is that it felt very repetitive. Katrell would raise someone from the dead, and then an issue would happen at home. Then rinse and repeat for the majority of the book. It felt like the story really only picked up at maybe 75% through. I was also able to predict the majority of the plot points, which is not something I am generally able to do, and this made me enjoy the overall plot a bit less.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story and being part of the character's lives if just for a moment! If you're looking for a thought-provoking fantasy book, this is the book for you!

Overall: If Jessica Lewis can start the urban fantasy revival of my dreams, I’d be grateful.

Pros:
Emotions. This book is the definition of making me emotional.
Urban Fantasy. This is the urban fantasy revival that I have been hoping for.
Necromancy Vibes. This type of magic always gets me pumped!

Cons:
Pacing. The pacing in this may not to be everyone’s taste.

What can I say about Trell? I love her. She’s frustrating and terrifying and good and bad and everything mixed together. She’s dealt with so much and my heart absolutely broke for her a hundred times over while reading. I rooted for her, I empathized with her, and I was angry with her and FOR her all at the same time. The author did an amazing job with her depth.

The friendship between Will and Trell = goals. To have someone there for you through thick and thin, even when you think they’re gone, is the dream.

I was on the edge of my seat reading. Each chapter ending was a cliffhanger, and I had to keep turning the page. Each piece of Trell having their own take was amazing. I loved the numbers and the way everything pieced together so perfectly.

Loved the book so, so much. I won’t be FORGETTING any of them any time soon.

Also, to Conrad – you’re the best boy <3

♥♥ ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ♥♥

16 year old Katrell has a gift. She can talk to dead people. She doesn’t know how she has the gift but she does and she uses it to her advantage. What started out as her simply seeing ghosts turned into a business as she’s learned that she can talk to ghosts briefly by writing a letter to summon them and sign her name. Along with working a job after school she charges a small fee for the ghost writing as a side hustle. However one day she gets an ominous warning to stop writing letters.

Katrell home life is horrible. Her mom’s boyfriend is abusive and an asshole. And her mom is almost even worse in my opinion hiding her manipulative actions behind fake smiles and words. I could not stand her and wanted to put punch her through the screen. Katrell is the one essentially keeping the home going as he mom lost her job and hasn’t bothered to get another one and the boyfriend has a job but refuses to pitch in but would rather be a freeloader. Because of the lack of parental responsibility Katrell carries a lot on her shoulders working herself to the bone at 30 hours a week. A 16 year should not have to be struggling like that on her own. Her friend Will is always there to help her and often let’s her crash at her home and her mom packs an extra lunch for Katrell. Will was such a sweetheart with her own horrible last experiences which keep her distant at times from her adoptive parents.


The night she gets that warning to stop writing letters a fight breaks out at her house and her poor dog gets in the middle of the crossfire getting killed. Heartbroken and desperate she tries to write a letter to talk to him one more time but it doesn’t work. That is until she ends up summoning him back from the dead. Will warns her that nothing good can come out of this new power and she shouldn’t mess with the dead. But when money is Joey at home and her work hours are cute, Katrell is desperate and realizes people will charge a lot to get their loved ones back. So she begins a new business that racks in a lot of money for her, and for once in her life she doesn’t have to worry about going without a meal or being the cheapest food. Instead she can splurge a little and save the rest for the car she wants. While it’s clear from the beginning that raising dead people can never go right, I couldn’t fault her for continuing with her plan because this money she made was a security that she had never had her in life and I understood her desperation.

The whole business seemed to be going okay till of course it isn’t. Her original powers always took a toll on her, but this new power is even worse. Not only is the physical toll on her not going well. But the repercussions of bringing the dead back are making themselves known and her life gets crazier. The question becomes can she control the mess she made before things get completely out of hand.
This books deals with some hard topics and Katrell faced a various forms of abuse at home. Yet her loyalty to her mother couldn’t be torn from her all the way. Despite the mistakes her mother made she kept making excuses for her because it had always been them. Her guidance counselor, Mike, made valiant efforts to help her and it was nice to see that she had a few people in her corner there to help her out.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me this ARC. All opinions stated here are my own.

If I had to use two words to describe Bad Witch Burning they would be unputdownable greatness! This book is indescribable and I highly recommend just picking this up and reading because you wont be able to stop. I absolutely cannot wait to read more from Jessica Lewis. The complexity, emotions and action combined to create something magical, literally! Thanks so much for the opportunity to read this book.

This book wasn't at all what I expected when I picked it up. There was a lot of physical and emotional as well as flat out violence and harmful thoughts. And though some parts were tough too read I was very engaged once this story started to take off.

Katrell is a teen living in the hood and working 30 hours a week to provide for her household. Her mother is currently unemployed and heavily leaning on her to be the provider. On top of that her mother has Gerald, one of many in a string of horrible boyfriends in the picture. She has her sole friend Will who is there for her when life gets to be too much to bear. Will is a former foster child who has been through many of the same things. Katrell has a special gift. She's not sure where it originated from but she has the ability to talk to ghosts. She writes these letters that let people communicate for their dead loved ones and that's how she makes extra money.

Katrell is left feeling broken after a blowout fight with Gerald results in the death of her beloved dog, Conrad. And despite a previous warning not write anymore letters she writes an emotional letter to her dog. She is shocked when Conrad ends up returning with no sign of being killed. Though he doesn't have a heartbeat and he's not his usual self. This leads Katrell to test out this newfound power which later leads her to charging people to resurrect their loved ones. It doesn't take long for thing to get back quick with these remnants and soon Katrell finds her life spiraling out of control.

At first when Katrell was talking about struggling to make ends meet and going whole days without eating I was afraid this would be another YA where a poor character gets a come up and we ignore and wash over their neglectful parents abuse when they find a way out of their misery. I was wondering why Katrell and her mother aren't on welfare and receiving food stamps or receiving any other forms of government assistance. And I was so glad that Katrell was able to acknowledge that her mother didn't give a damn about her. And that this story explored Katrell's need to get out of her abusive situation while also trying to protect her mother because she believes she has to love her and she's afraid of being put into the foster care system. I also liked that she was able to see positive examples of adults who care in both her school guidance counselor, Mike and Will's adopted mother.

This book was really well done and I could really hear that Jessica Lewis had personal experience with these topics which I think made a world of difference. We always hear the writing advice to write what you know. But sometimes when I read books that tackle social issues I feel the writer is a little out of her element. This story really resonated with me and it's one that I'm proud to recommend.