Maggie is still reeling from her mother’s disappearance. Everyone thinks her mom died in a car accident, but Maggie doesn’t. When the private investigator wants too much money, Maggie decides to do her own investigating. Working with two classmates, Griffin-a social media influencer and Petra. They decide to film everything and create a web series about their investigation. Things take a weird turn when the trio are pulled into the world where Korean folktales are real. As they try to find her mother, Maggie and her friends start getting threats from a mysterious man called the Reaper. Why does the Reaper not want Maggie to find her mom? What happened to Maggie’s mom?

The plot is engaging, well developed, and full of adventure. The characters are likable, authentic, and well rounded. The world building is complex, believable, and draws the readers into the story. Readers who like fantasy, folklore, mythology, and adventure. Recommended for most library collections. 5 stars, Gr 5 to 9.

Maggie’s mom disappeared. Everyone thinks she died in a car accident, but Maggie knows better. Determined to figure out what happened to her mother, her and her friend, Petra strike up a deal with a social media influencer to help them solve the case. In exchange for using her mother’s investigation as a web series, Maggie gets a portion of the profits and help finding her mother. As they delve into her mother’s disappearance, they discover a whole world where every story every told turns out to be real. The more they investigate, the more they get threats from a mysterious man called the Reaper. What really happened to Maggie’s mother? Why is the Reaper determined to stop them?

The plot is well written, intriguing, and enchanting. The characters are complex, realistic, and easy to relate to. The world building is well drawn and draws the readers into Maggie’s world. Readers who like fantasy, mythology, folklore, adventure, and fantasy will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections.

I received an electronic ARC from Disney Publishing Worldwide through NetGalley.
Readers meet Maggie as she copes with her mom's disappearance. We have more knowledge as we see what happened to her but not whether she died or was taken. Everyone believes she died in a car accident but Maggie knows she is still alive and coming to visit in her dreams. She decides to trust a couple of classmates and together they delve into Korean folklore to learn more about characters and what could have happened to her mom. I appreciate how Oh wove legends and folklore throughout the story including the story bag and bearer story. Middle grade readers will enjoy the adventures and ways the characters interact. They will identify with the various middle school students involved. The author slowly reveals more about her characters as the story progresses. This offers enough twists to keep readers guessing about the conclusion. The ending itself offers huge hints of the next story to come.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. I’ve always enjoyed myths and fairytales. I had fun reading this one. There’s action and adventure jam packed in here. I like how Maggie and her friends stay true to each other even when they don’t agree and things can change quickly; even if everything looks bleak. I can’t wait for the next book!