A review by xangemtheelibrarian
The Ghosts of Rancho Espanto by Adrianna Cuevas

emotional funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This was SO wholesome. The author touches on grief, loss, and trauma in such a tender way. Rafa, Marcus, and Jennie are wonderful characters that I found so easy to root for. Most stunning of all is Rafa's natural sense of empathy and care for others. Maybe it's just because he knows, with his mom being sick and Beto's brother dealing with trauma, but whenever Marcus struggles with his PTSD, he immediately goes into empathy mode and gives Marcus exactly the space he needs to ground himself again.

Do I think that it is absolutely terrible for a 12 year old to be acting like a fully mature adult? Yeah, I do. Rafa shouldn't know what it's like to watch someone struggle with their mental health or their past. He's only 12. But I love how he has chosen to respond to the people around him. Gentle soul I want to give him a hug.
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