Hannah is a 12 year old girl whose life has been sheltered. She and her mother are care takers of a no longer used lighthouse. It has been her families job for generations. Not only are they care takers, but guardians as well. The lighthouse has a special door in it. One that leads to the underworld or City of the Dead as it is known in this tale.

Life is mundane for Hannah, but things take a sudden and drastic turn when Kyle and his guardian show up one night. Mom is found dead and Hannah decides that she can save mom- bring her back to life – if she can just find her in the City of the Dead and bring her back to our world. The plot moves quickly as Hannah tries to find mom in the underworld. The reader is treated to a whole new fantastic world as our protagonist travels throughout the city. Along the way Hannah looses three of her imaginary friends (who have inexplicably come to life), but gains two new, loyal friends.

Pros: Hannah is a unique character. She has an obsession with counting stairs and performing certain moves as she trods the staircases (skip every odd step, double tap with your big toe on the seventh step, etc…). She speaks her thoughts without realizing that she is saying them out loud. And she has three imaginary friends: her “twin” Nancy,  an old lady, Belinda, who is a bit bossy but knows a lot and a boy named Albert who is actually the personification of the ocean that surrounds her house. I also liked the fresh aspects of the City of the Dead (3_D paint, rivers that float and are used for transport, a talking paint chameleon are just a few).

Cons: Some of the details were overwhelming to the point I lost track of what was going on. However, this brought to mind how great it would look on the big screen. The ending felt rushed and too quaint. It also leaves the reader hanging. So many unanswered questions. I was looking for this to be a series but no further books have been published.

For middle grade readers and strong upper elementary readers.

Sensitive topics: mom drinks wine often to calm down and is depressed. Hannah is the one to find her mom’s body in a crumpled heap.