The Devil and Winnie Flynn - YA Book Review

If you need a good ghost story to read this Halloween, then check out the new YA novel The Devil and Winnie Flynn. It's written and illustrated by sister/brother team Micol and David Ostow.

The story takes place in New Jersey, home of many scary legends such as the Jersey Devil. (Driving in New Jersey is also scary but sadly, it is real and not fictional.) New Jersey is where we find our heroine Winnie Flynn. Winnie is a 17-year-old who is interning for her aunt Maggie on Maggie's popular television series that explores the supernatural and paranormal. Winnie, a fan of horror movies, doesn't really believe in the paranormal until she finds herself immersed in a paranormal tale involving her aunt and her late mother.

What will Winnie discover about how she fits into this strange family history? And can she fight all the demons around her and inside her?

I enjoyed how this story was told as a long letter to Winnie's friend Lucia. There are also illustrations throughout that give fun little details to the setting and different important pieces to the story. It's sort of like a step up from a graphic novel, with more text and less illustrations, perfect for kids who are ready to take on more reading.

There is a bit of language and some underage drinking, but I think this would be fine for kids in 8th grade and up.

The Devil and Winnie Flynn is published by Soho Teen and is on bookstore shelves now. I received a free ARC at Book Expo America with no obligation to review.

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