Nobel certainly isn’t the first kidlit author to explore the idea of misfits banding together or schoolmates forming the loving family they wish they had at home, but she does it with such clear-eyed empathy that it truly resonates with the reader. More than anything, though, it is the found family theme at the heart of The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane that makes it a book to remember. There’s no supernatural element to the story, as in Bellairs’s work, but it still gave me the chills and intrigue I was hoping for - the mystery is fascinating, and author Julia Nobel has me eager for the next book in the series. When I requested this title for review, I told the publisher that I was getting strong John Bellairs vibes from the book, with its middle grade mystery, Gorey-esque cover, and promises of secret passageways and clues hidden in medieval relics. I’d like to thank Sourcebooks Jabberwocky for providing an advance copy via Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review. Cover Artist: Hannah Peck, illustration Jordan Kost, design.Illustrator: Hannah Peck, art Ashley Holstrom, design.Series: The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane, Book 1.Title: The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane.Emmy can’t help but think that the society had something to do with her dad’s disappearance, and that there may be more than just dark secrets in the halls of Wellsworth.
When she arrives at school, she finds the strange symbols from the medallions etched into walls and books, which leads Emmy and her new friends Jack and Lola to Wellsworth’s secret society: the Order of Black Hollow Lane. Her father who may have gone to Wellsworth. With a dad who disappeared years ago and a mother who’s a bit too busy to parent, Emmy is shipped off to Wellsworth, a prestigious boarding school in England, where she’s sure she won’t fit in.īut before she leaves, Emmy finds a box of mysterious medallions in the attic of her home - medallions that belonged to her father.
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