And please! Someone bake me a red velvet cake ASAP. So southern, OMG! Reminded me of the trouble I got “up to” with my cousins when we had sleepovers at my grandma’s.Special shout out for the things that made this book truly special: Great voice, historical perspective, and a tenacious main character with a huge heart. Though it took me a few chapters to really settle into the story, when I was in, I was in in a BIG way. The way the three were combined was masterful. The historical elements are well-done and an important conversation starter. The spooky elements made the hair stand up on my arms. With her cranky old grandma being dead-set against their efforts and the escalating tension within their family, she must find a way to heal those old family wounds before she can enact her plan to help the unsettled spirits finally find a home.

To set those spirits to rest, Sarah will have to uncover family secrets and open up family wounds. They find out the spirits are at risk for being overtaken by evil forces if they aren’t dealt with quickly. When unsettled spirits who were killed over a hundred years ago by the Klu Klux Klan begin to haunt them, Sarah believes they’ve been cursed because of her troublemaker cousin’s thievery. Janie’s got a case of sticky fingers and can’t stop herself from stealing an ancient cameo from the graveyard. But she had NO idea how much trouble that might be.

Sarah’s brother Ellis and his best friend tag along, but Sarah’s terrified they’re all going to get into trouble. Janie’s understandably miserable, so when she asks Sarah to take her to Creek Church, a haunted spot in their small southern town, Sarah has a hard time saying no, even though it’s off limits. Due to a change in plans, Sarah’s cousin Janie must stay with her family instead of going to Paris with her mom.

Just South of Home by Karen Strong