A review by thedizzyreader
A Properly Unhaunted Place by William Alexander

5.0

*Actual Rating 4.5/5 stars*

This was such a fun, fast-paced paranormal adventure! Libraries, diverse main characters, ghosts... this book has it all!

The whole concept of library appeasement specialists felt fresh and original. I just loved the premise and how the plot unfolded, as well as the deeper message underneath about facing your ghosts and fears. The point is to make peace, not forget and hide away.

The chapters are short and easy to read, making this easy to fly through but also highly accessible to struggling readers.

A few small complaints: while I appreciated the diversity of the main characters, it felt like almost everyone else in the town was white. Also, Rosa's reaction to learning that Jasper was biracial didn't feel authentic for someone who supposedly grew up in a big city. So she can take rampaging trees attached to lion heads in stride, but is surprised by a black and white couple? Really?

Also... ENOUGH WITH THE LITTLE OLD LADY LIBRARIAN STEREOTYPES. That is all.