Wonders of Shadow Key

by J.J. Fleming

In a near-future world where hurricanes are weekly events, Eleanor escapes with her family to an abandoned beach town on Shadow Key after a storm destroys her school. There, she stumbles upon a strange and eerie discovery—a small colony of ghosts, each with their own peculiar a homesick pirate, a lovesick countess, the mysterious Nameless Mute Gentleman, and The Fabulous Singing Siren Sisters.



But the ghosts are in danger. Tentacled sea monsters called Oldies are stalking their souls, and with rising sea levels and more storms on the way, the ghosts' time is running out. As a terrifying new storm approaches, Eleanor must rescue a ghost lost at sea and save her friends from the Oldies in a final, storm-chased battle of song against darkness. Wonders of Shadow Key is a quirky, suspenseful tale of one girl's fight to use her voice for good.

186 pages, Paperback

Expected publication March 31, 2026

Reviews

[Jazz Nightingale · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's kind of like if Coraline went to the beach...


It's only been five minutes and I already want to go back to Shadow Key!

Endless thank yous to J.J. Fleming, Victory Editing & NetGalley for allowing me the privilege of reading this book 💕

During an impromptu holiday* (*actually on the run from the Doorknockers), El finds herself on a creepy, crab infested, seaweed soaked* (THE SMELL!) beach with not an awful lot to do. After a quick conversation with Mrs Grapefruit Head, whom El assumes to be the village crazy lady*, (she wasn't far off) things take quite the turn.

El is welcomed with open arms into a patchwork quilt of a friend group full of marvellous and mysterious characters who may be vastly different in personality, but all have the same fear. The Oldies.

Will El be able to help her new friends to defeat The Oldies and live in safety, while also not tipping her parents off to what she's up to? Will the seaweed ever stop stinking? Will El see the baby better if she squints?

There's only one way to find out!

For your viewing pleasure, some of my favourite quotes from the book, COMPLETELY out of context 😊


"abandon hope all ye who enter here"

"Hon, no one ever called me normal my whole life."

"It's like a party on your neck!"

"KkkkkCCCCCChhhhhhcccccc!"

"lighthouses are a beacon of boredom for all"

And, my personal favourite:

"some angry child with dog-teeth."

Thank you again for this incredibly well written book. I'm not ashamed to say I shed a tear when it was time to leave Shadow Key, but I will be back many many times, just to check in with Mrs Grapefruit Head, The Captain, The Countess, The Siren Sisters and the rest of the gang. 💕

[Lilly Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun book about ghosts, Florida, and storms. I 100% recommend this book, especially if you’re intrigued by all these topics like I am. Eleanor is a compelling young adventurer in a time when Florida has been taken over by storms and when moving to a new place finds a colony of ghosts with whom she befriends and goes on adventures with. Not only is this an interesting topic, but a well-written book too!

[LitPick Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonders of Shadow Key by J.J. Fleming is the story of one girl, Eleanor, and her unique vacation to an island off the coast of Florida. Set in the future, the climate crisis has caused so many hurricanes and disastrous storms that school is online, and most people have fled inland. But Eleanor’s parents have always loved the beach, and when debt collectors keep showing up at their door, they decide to take a vacation at a motel on beachfront property. The place that they thought was abandoned actually has a large crowd of ghosts. Ghosts of many people who have died at sea have congregated at Shadow Key as the only land they could find. Eleanor, who is shocked that she can see them, befriends the ghosts and helps to save them from the Oldies, soul-stealing eldritch horrors at the bottom of the sea

Opinion:
This was a very well-written book, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The writing style reminded me a lot of Sharon Creech’s books, like Walk Two Moons, The Wanderer, and Bloomability. Wonders of Shadow Key dealt with some pretty heavy issues in a relatable and empathetic way. Eleanor is courageous, kind, and remarkably introspective for a twelve-year-old. She has to face her own anxiety and fears while also helping her ghostly friends with her insight and perspective. Even through all the chaos and uncertainty, Eleanor finds a way to help everyone around her. She’s a strong character and a fantastic role model, while also just being a kid. She felt so real, so human.

I would definitely recommend this book for middle-grade readers, but also for anyone who enjoys stories of growing up and learning about the world around you. While Eleanor learns that the world around her is paranormal in nature, the book’s lessons about helping others and working together through crises can be applied to the real world. It helps its readers to find hope in seemingly hopeless situations, which is a much-needed skill in our world today.

[Winnona Pasquini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicious! Wonders of Shadow Key by J. J. Fleming invites the reader into a fantasy world where ghosts live and happiness can be found even when tropical storms and debt collectors upend a family’s life. Eleanor tells the story of her family’s temporary migration to an abandoned island already devastated by storms. She dances with ghosts, collects storm shells to help her mother’s business, and does school work online. At the same time, Eleanor emerges as a heroine who learns to balance her parents’ concern for her safety and her own concern for the safety of others. Rich with the flavor of Florida, this book is carefully crafted and complete with Easter eggs in song references. It captures the post-pandemic world of those still in school without over sentimentality or drama.

Peel an orange. Florida sunshine wafts from its scent. That’s how this book reads. It doesn’t disappoint.

[Barbara Ness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonders of Shadow Key is a fast-paced read, full of incredible beachy imagery. Living in relatively active hurricane territory, myself, the obstacles faced by Eleanor and her family, as well as their overall resilience, rang true for me. I loved the colorful cast of ghosts and Eleanor's desire to protect them from The Oldies! Multiple plot twists kept me guessing, which was fortunate because I can often predict the ending to books. Also, Eleanor is so creative and funny! It's a great book. Enjoy!

[Robin Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

WONDERS OF SHADOW KEY is the delightful tale of a young girl discovering her abilities and resourcefulness in order to help a whole (ghostly) community stand up to the threat of climate disasters (and monsters). The quirky characters (supernatural and parental) are charming and the plot is engaging and suspenseful. Perfect inspiration and entertainment for any young person. (And this older person couldn’t put it down!)

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book that handles some real threats with a fantastical eye. Of the many, many books that cross my desk, this one goes in my permanent collection. It’s exceptionally well-written and exceptionally fun to read.

[Kameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a joy to read Fleming’s work — thank you for the ARC!
A lovely mid-grade book, this was lovely to read :) more in-depth review coming soon!

[Claire Brantley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonders of Shadow Key is a great YA novel -- but I'm 58 and I loved it, too
If you ever went to the beach with your family, and stayed in a modest hotel or condo unit -- you'll recognize this world, placed in a recognizable dystopian future here on the beaches of Central Florida.
Author JJ Fleming gives his story color and spark and humor and hope-- to save us from the grim darkness. It reminded me of the best Pixar films that work for young people as well as their parents.
Our tough young gal Eleanor takes on a cast of characters that reminded me of A Confederacy of Dunces - with a sprinkle of the supernatural. From the kooky Mabel Frobisher, Captain John Halsey, The Rodrigos, and the Nameless Mute Gentleman (NMG) -- they're all wonderfully inventive creations -- but my favorites were the Fabulous Singing Siren Sisters.
Plus 1 for a Talking Heads ref for us Olds.
Fleming's writing is perfect for middle grade readers, but appealing to any reader -- we all want a good ghost story -- sitting around a campfire, getting a little scared (but not too scared), a bit of darkness saved by the good humor and joy in our main character's resourcefulness and smarts -- it's a wonderful story for right now.
Also Fleming captures something about kids this age -- they are more aware of their parents' worries than we realize -- they hear bits of conversations and add their own worries to it -- this story reminded me of that feeling but also reminded me that even young folks have agency to make changes in their world -- they have amazing powers of their own, if just given a little encouragement.
I'm looking forward to sharing copies with my friends as well as their tween and YA kiddos.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonders of Shadow Key is a fast-paced middle grade adventure that blends mystery, friendship, and just enough magic to keep young readers turning the pages. Fans of Small Spaces by Katherine Arden who prefer a less intense scare will find this a perfect pick.

At its heart, this is a story about climate change and loneliness. The author draws clear inspiration from the COVID era. Particularly, the way fear and safety measures created distance between people. That emotional undercurrent gives the story surprising depth. Beneath the adventure and supernatural elements lies a quiet reflection on isolation, misunderstanding, and the longing for connection. It’s also a story about friendship, an unconventional one, perhaps, but a powerful reminder that bonds can form in unexpected places.

Eleanor stands out as a brave and fiercely loyal protagonist. Her determination to help the ghosts and protect them from the Oldies shows both courage and compassion. She isn’t fearless, but she acts despite her fear, which makes her easy to root for.

There’s also a strong Cthulhu-mythos vibe running through the book almost like Lovecraft for children. The monster feels as though it could have slipped straight out of one of Lovecraft’s stories, yet it’s shaped in a way that suits a middle grade audience: unsettling, mysterious, but not overwhelming.

Overall, Wonders of Shadow Key is an engaging, imaginative read that will appeal to fans of adventure-driven middle grade stories with a touch of magic and suspense.

[Terry Engel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eleanor has fond memories of the family beach vacations she took as a young child with her family. So, when a hurricane damages her school and everyone has to go online, what could possibly be better than moving to a beachside condo on Florida’s Shadow Key? It turns out a lot.
In J.J. Fleming’s Wonders of Shadow Key, the wonder is hard to find at first. Hurricane season runs year-round, her parents are out of work, the bill collectors are hounding day and night, and the internet doesn’t work well at home. But when Eleanor and her parents get to the condo, they find out why it’s so cheap. Storms have blasted the condo, dead fish and rotting flotsam line the beach, and the dilapidated first floor houses nothing but ghosts who only Eleanor can see and talk to. While Eleanor’s parents try to move forward with their lives, she tries to keep up with schoolwork despite the undependable Wi-Fi and her ancient cell phone. Everything changes when she befriends Mrs. Frobisher, an eccentric ghost who hosts outrageous parties for the other ghosts on the first floor. But underneath that gaiety, the ghosts worry about the strengthening storms and the dangers that the sea holds as the ocean advances toward the condo.
The story, told through Eleanor’s perspective, is fast paced and funny. Middle school readers will readily relate to school closures and online study, as well as Eleanor’s sense of isolation and loneliness. She is a plucky, courageous, and genuine hero.

[Andrea Rinard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part thriller, part ghost story, part coming-of-age, Wonders of Shadow Key is absolutely wonder-full!

In an increasingly dystopian Florida, disturbingly familiar to the future my home state is barreling toward, Eleanor has a lot to deal with. Instead of starting middle school, she must face devastating storms that have closed her school, the threat of her family losing their home to foreclosure, an impromptu vacation to a dilapidated condo on deserted and nearly destroyed Shadow Key, the discovery that she can see and talk to ghosts, and the sinister forces threatening her new undead friends—all while keeping up with virtual school assignments.

With sparklingly great writing, vivid characters, surprising plot twists, and lots of laughs, the story illuminates the loneliness and isolation of living through not only the tween years but also genuinely disastrous events. Through it all, though, Eleanor’s resilience, compassion, and imagination show how hope, humor, and friendship can light even the darkest days. This rollicking novel is destined to become a favorite for even the most reluctant middle school readers.

[Jude Atwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the near future, in hurricane-ravaged Florida, middle-schooler Eleanor finds herself vacationing with her parents in a deserted beach town. But when Eleanor meets a pink-haired lady sipping an umbrella drink, she discovers Shadow Key has a hidden community of residents that only she can see.

WONDERS OF SHADOW KEY is the most fun surreal semi-apocalyptic middle-grade novel you’ll read this year. Part CORALINE, part Ray Bradbury, with a dash of Lovecraft, this book delivers just the right mix of spooky mystery and more subtle horrors—like family vacations, friends moving away, and online school. JJ Fleming serves up colorful ghosts and eldritch terrors with a lot of heart and a clever sense of humor.