A new novel from author Tiffany D. Jackson usually means a thriller full of mystery and suspense. This time around, Jackson decided to include horror in this year's White Smoke. A new town means a new start for a teen with a difficult past, but the house she and her family have moved into has a past of its own.
The Situation: Mari must continually tell herself that change is good, necessary, and needed. This reminder will hopefully come in handy as she moves to a strange new town, far away from her best friend in California, and the beach she loves. When her mother accepts a job with the Sterling Foundation, it means a new start in Cedarville, a town looking for a fresh start of its own. Mari more or less blames herself for her family having to move, but this could be the change they all need. The house is free, though in a strange neighborhood with less than friendly neighbors. And it is clear that making the most of this new opportunity will be rough with Mari's annoying and bratty ten year-old stepsister, Piper.
The Problem: Mari may have her own secrets she is trying to keep hidden from any new friends she may make, but Cedarville has a few as well. Even though the house Mari's family has moved into has been freshly renovated, it is clear that its own past cannot be painted over. Objects keep disappearing; footsteps are heard at night; a strange and horrid smell keeps coming from the locked basement; and even Buddy, the family dog, keeps reacting to things no one else sees. Mari was hoping this move would mean a new start for her, but these strange events have only triggered her anxiety, and she desperately wants to fall back onto her old habits of coping. Dealing with her own ghosts, as well as the ghosts of the house, and indeed the entire town of Cedarville, may prove to be too much.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult horror novel that follows 16 year-old Marigold as she moves into the town of Cedarville with her family. The move to Cedarville means a new start for everyone involved, though tensions are certainly high. Mari is pretty open (to the reader at least) about what she is running from, which includes a past opioid addiction, as well as a traumatic incident involving bedbugs. The book even touches on the impact of seemingly well-intentioned new laws on an established urban population, and the effects revitalization efforts have on the existing population, especially when those efforts stem from greed. And then of course, there are the ghosts. It is rumored that the house Mari has moved into is haunted, and she would love for that to not be true. But Piper keeps talking to someone, insisting that whoever it is does not want Mari there. And the more Mari learns about Cedarville, the less sure she is of her and her family's safety.
My Verdict: This is certainly a book worth reading during the Halloween season. The new family in town accepts a deal that is too good to be true, and moves into the local haunted house...sure, we have heard that story before, but this one puts a different twist on it. There is even a teenager with a troubled past, a creepy kid, and a mysterious benefactor. While the horror elements of the book are pretty scary, what I found the most terrifying was how easy it was for Mari's mother to not trust her, and for her stepfather to side with Mari's clearly troubled stepsister. The parents' lack of awareness is truly something to behold. However, they were not the most infuriating part of the experience. For me, the ending leaves as lot to be desired. In the middle of the action, it feels like that story just stops. There are still so many questions, and so many issues left unresolved. The book could have easily been 25+ pages longer, if only to allow for more closure.
Favorite Moment: There are a few times (though not nearly enough of them) when Mari's mom puts the stepfather in his place.
Favorite Character: Sammy is the little brother Mari needs. Without him, she would certainly spiral out of control more easily and more often.
Recommended Reading: I recommend Jackson's Monday's Not Coming, as well as Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley.
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