The artwork for this book was so cute! Chelsea’s family had the cutest nose.

Chelsea’s trying to desperately fit in with two, sometimey friends and hide her dad’s ghost-hunting business to no avail. I still think her friends sucked big time and couldn’t put up with those two sneak-dissing me all the time. But they did have some depth. They weren’t completely bad and some part of them genuinely liked Chelsea. You could tell they were insecure high schoolers and acting out because of it.

I liked the story and the New Orleans setting. New Orleanian history plays a large role in the ghosty business here. At first, I thought it was certainly a choice to have the Black lead crushing/attracted to a slave master’s son though, of course, he’s got abolitionist beliefs. I’m immediately put off by those types of dynamics, but the basis of this is pretty integral for the plot. Because…

Subverted. Oliver’s passing and actually the son of a black man, unbeknownst to him.

The book doesn’t skirt around the implication of slavery and acknowledges Chelsea’s uncomfortableness with Oliver’s connection to it. 

The ending wrapped up nicely with a bow though I didn't care how they tried to reason with

Oliver's raggedy uncle. Even the lady had to tell them the man was too far gone in racism to make any change. Boo hoo, you're a forgotten Confederate soldier, and people like your abolitionistic nephew better

(and I saw those shoujo flowers – you cannot hide from me! <3) I’d read more from the authors. I feel like there could be more entries in this story – a whole series.

Extremely slow-paced but it's charming. I absolutely love the blend of the fantastical and the mundane.

The first book in this series is still the best of the whole trilogy. Mainly because it delivered an engaging plot, good pacing, and memorable characters. 

Unfortunately, the final book couldn't maintain the momentum from the first one and stayed at the okay-ness of the second. Our trio couldn’t keep my interest though I liked what each character arc represented. I thought the premise for this one would’ve been a lot more fun. Despite it being understandable, it’s mostly just self-loathing. As a person who has had pity parties before, wallowing in despair isn't fun to read.

The first part dragged to the point where I wanted to dnf it, but the story finally picked up steam in part 2 and held it until the end. We get Found Family vibes albeit a bit forced. Also, because I just finished the whole Trolls trilogy, I can make this apt reference Wesley is Branch and

Rubin

is Poppy.

The initial attraction was there but their connection was instalovey though to be fair for a celeb/influencer(finally, a man with a nontoxic podcast) x fan couple it worked better than others due to the circumstances.

 

In addition, the dialogue felt unnatural. I’m not saying people don’t express their emotions or traumas,” but it’s usually not neat, organized, and conclusive like this at their age. Some of the characters' responses sounded therapist-like, but maybe they were more well-adjusted than the average human teenager as aliens.

But I adore the story's message and themes. I will always love the large role music plays in each book. Dow is as wonderful a songwriter as a writer in my opinion. The conversation about how a lot of people suck and look the other way when injustice happens, but some are willing to change, some are willing to fight, and some are simply willing to exist and practice kindness in a messed up world. That’s reassuring to keep doing the right thing.

Concerning the ending, it’s like the Avengers assembled in a good way with all the other characters from the first two books showing up and playing their part. The ending is fitting and wrapped up tightly with a bow though it took too many pages for me to become fully invested.

SN:  You can ignore. I'm rambling. Nappy vs Kinky usage

Wesley refers to his hair as nappy a few times and not in an uplifting way. Nappy has a negative connotation though some (mostly black people as it tends to be used to disparage our hair) have reclaimed the word. Does it hold the same negativity for aliens? If Welsey hates his hair/has a low self-image, this doesn't get addressed, which makes me think it was intended to be making a statement or anything. It's just used as is.

Kinky as in hair type, which is a lot more common and I used myself often, was used as well in the story. Is this an intended distinction? Zaira seems to like her hair. 

Maybe this is done to show the two words as interchangeable. I don't know.

Listen. The chins were chinning here, but more importantly, the message was great and timeless! We need freedom of the press, and it takes bravery to tell the truth and live with the consequences.

 I was very much engulfed. It’s difficult to make educational, environmental content engaging, but that’s what happens here 

 Oh, I absolutely loved this! Right away, the adorable art style and Charlie’s struggle to make friends drew me in. She goes through embarrassing mishaps and so much lying trying to be accepted. Charlie, like a lot of us, is in her head a lot. There’s also a cute crush in the background. 

Something unique is the book addresses what happens when a parent who has been absent (as in work, deployment, etc) changes the dynamic of the home once they return full-time. I don’t think I have seen many children’s stories cover this. OR, having a social butterfly for a parent as a child who has difficulty connecting to others.  Sometimes, the parent doesn't realize social interactions don't come easy to the child. 

Moral: You don’t have to pretend to be someone else to be liked. 

 I loved the fluidity and charm of the artwork. It was so flexible like a windup toy or a microwaved cartoon. It just fit right.

But I found Jay to be DULL though their passiveness was most certainly intended. The friendship drama was the highlight and showcased how some friends can be very overpowering, and that it’s okay to speak up and keep your voice.

Concerning Beah, there was a definite undercurrent of control and/or anger issues. It didn't get resolved either, in favor of fixing the communication issues. 

 Not for me but the pure zaniness may endear other readers. There’s a bit of toilet humor here so be aware. 

I liked the mention of how popularity can sway other’s opinions; that some people have advantages aiding them, and it’s okay to acknowledge that.