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Where the Lost Ones Go
In this middle grade contemporary fantasy by critically acclaimed author Akemi Dawn Bowman, a twelve-year-old biracial Japanese American girl grieves the loss of her beloved grandma and attempts to contact her beyond the grave.
Eliot is grieving Babung, her paternal grandmother who just passed away, and she feels like she's the only one. She's less than excited to move to her new house, which smells like lemons and deception, and is searching for a sign, any sign, that ghosts are real. Because if ghosts are real, it means she can find a way back to Babung.
When Eliot chases the promise of paranormal activity to the presumably haunted Honeyfield Hall, she finds her proof of spirits. But these ghosts are losing their memory, stuck between this world and the next, waiting to cross over. With the help of Hazel, the granddaughter of Honeyfield's owner (and Eliot's new crush), she attempts to uncover the mystery behind Honeyfield Hall and the ghosts residing within.
And as Eliot fits the pieces together, she may just be able to help the spirits remember their pasts, and hold on to her grandmother's memory.
Eliot is grieving Babung, her paternal grandmother who just passed away, and she feels like she's the only one. She's less than excited to move to her new house, which smells like lemons and deception, and is searching for a sign, any sign, that ghosts are real. Because if ghosts are real, it means she can find a way back to Babung.
When Eliot chases the promise of paranormal activity to the presumably haunted Honeyfield Hall, she finds her proof of spirits. But these ghosts are losing their memory, stuck between this world and the next, waiting to cross over. With the help of Hazel, the granddaughter of Honeyfield's owner (and Eliot's new crush), she attempts to uncover the mystery behind Honeyfield Hall and the ghosts residing within.
And as Eliot fits the pieces together, she may just be able to help the spirits remember their pasts, and hold on to her grandmother's memory.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published October 11, 2022
11 people are currently reading
1371 people want to read
About the author
Akemi Dawn Bowman
16 books1,407 followersAkemi Dawn Bowman is a critically-acclaimed author who writes across genres. Her novels have received multiple accolades and award nominations, and her debut novel, STARFISH, was a William C. Morris Award Finalist. She has a BA in social sciences from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and currently lives in Scotland with her family. She overthinks everything, including this bio. You can find Akemi on Instagram @AkemiDawnBowman.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
September 6, 2022
This is by far my favourite middlegrade I've read so far this year, and a definite all-time favourite. It's both a ghost story about a haunted house and a story about a girl grieving her grandmother and trying to find closure and come to terms with her loss, and these aspects of the story are combined in the most phenomenal of ways. Parts of the story are really fun, but it's also a really heartfelt, emotional read. Particularly the ending made me tear up.
October 17, 2022
Too boring for a middle grade book
And it’s about paranormal too. So …. No.
And it’s about paranormal too. So …. No.
Want to read
December 16, 2021a story about a biracial japanese american girl helping the local spirits of her new home to remember their pasts, so she can easier hold on to the memory of her receantly deceased grandmother. and she has help from her crush, a local girl!!!
a middle grade i would have needed when i was that age, very excited to read this. the cover is gorgeous as well!!
a middle grade i would have needed when i was that age, very excited to read this. the cover is gorgeous as well!!
January 3, 2023
This was shaping up to be a three-star read but the ending brought it up to a four. A tender and beautiful look at grief, especially grief complicated by dementia.
April 18, 2023
"I don't think I'll ever stop thinking how unfair that is, that some people get a hundred years to be awful, and others get the tiniest blip. But I guess death is never fair--it just is."
As someone who's lost a parent, this book really hit me hard. The feelings and message to some extent superseded the plot for me in importance. But I think that's okay. Sometimes books just make you feel and that creates a meaning exclusive and personal to the reader. I hope young readers experiencing a loss take comfort while reading this story like I did.
April 27, 2023
A beautiful middle grade story exploring grief
August 27, 2023
rep: lesbian japanese-american MC
stories surrounding loss and grief are always hard to read and i think akemi dawn bowman did a great job in balancing out that aspect of eliot's life and the mystery she was trying to solve. moving away from the home that she has always known after grandma passed was hard. even worse, her parents aren't willing to talk about babung at all. so eliot found some solace in figuring out if she could speak to her grandmother's ghost. at a new place, eliot couldn't just to the environment and making friends is tough. when she finally found a friend in hazel, eliot was ecstatic. this is a ghost story with lots of love and grief, queerness, and paranormal activities.
stories surrounding loss and grief are always hard to read and i think akemi dawn bowman did a great job in balancing out that aspect of eliot's life and the mystery she was trying to solve. moving away from the home that she has always known after grandma passed was hard. even worse, her parents aren't willing to talk about babung at all. so eliot found some solace in figuring out if she could speak to her grandmother's ghost. at a new place, eliot couldn't just to the environment and making friends is tough. when she finally found a friend in hazel, eliot was ecstatic. this is a ghost story with lots of love and grief, queerness, and paranormal activities.
October 19, 2022
This was so so so good! Truly a magical and moving middle grade that I look forward to rereading. It's honestly better the less you know but there is a whole shit ton of queerness and there's ghosts and there's a haunted house and there's a lot of grief but I cannot get over how much I love this one.
May 14, 2024
In classic Cara fashion, the number of tears I shed at the end bumped this from a 4.5 to a 5 star, lol.
CW: Grief, dementia, loss of child
CW: Grief, dementia, loss of child
July 16, 2023
I’m not usually one to write reviews, but I absolutely loved this story! It brought to life the importance of memories and family. A ghost story that ends with peace and love.
February 22, 2024
Amazing.
March 15, 2023
(3.5)
February 14, 2023
One of the best, most hopeful books I’ve ever read about coping with death and dying. I loved all aspects of this book, I loved how it incorporated mystery, supernatural and family all into one beautiful package. Don’t knock books for young readers, because this was a hidden gem 🥰
November 30, 2022
I absolutely loved this! One of my favourite middle grade novels, for sure.
We follow Eliot, who has just moved to a new town after her Babung, her grandmother, passed away. Eliot has been struggling with grief and wants to contact her Babung's ghost. But it's upon other ghosts that she stumbled upon in the creepy house she's now gardening at. With the help of Hazel, the girl staying at the strange house, she has to help the ghosts get their memories back if they want to pass to the other side serenely.
This story is about a girl trying to process grief and accept to move on in a new town.
It's about the ghosts she helps and their stories.
It's about family and friendship and crushes on girls.
It was beautiful.
The vibes were perfect for me: sweet well developed characters, a strange house with a magical key, magical objects and wonderful lost souls.
We follow Eliot, who has just moved to a new town after her Babung, her grandmother, passed away. Eliot has been struggling with grief and wants to contact her Babung's ghost. But it's upon other ghosts that she stumbled upon in the creepy house she's now gardening at. With the help of Hazel, the girl staying at the strange house, she has to help the ghosts get their memories back if they want to pass to the other side serenely.
This story is about a girl trying to process grief and accept to move on in a new town.
It's about the ghosts she helps and their stories.
It's about family and friendship and crushes on girls.
It was beautiful.
The vibes were perfect for me: sweet well developed characters, a strange house with a magical key, magical objects and wonderful lost souls.
November 19, 2022
I cried during the last chapters of this so that says something. This is a cute but sad ghost story that mainly deals with grief and how memory is tied to life. It's not super adventurous or heavy on the mystery, rather spending most of its time with these themes and characters. It's also sapphic, there isn't much of a romance and none of the characters outright come out but it is crystal clear the protagonist Eliot and supporting character Hazel are lesbians.
TWs: death, dementia, grief, and some homophobic bullying.
TWs: death, dementia, grief, and some homophobic bullying.
May 9, 2025
4.5⭐️
Where the Lost Ones Go is one of the most moving middle grade novels I've read in a long time! Akemi Dawn Bowman has created a beautiful combination of spooky ghost story and tender exploration of grief that kept me invested and connected from beginning to end.
Perfect for readers who loved Victoria Schwab's Cassidy Blake series!
Where the Lost Ones Go is one of the most moving middle grade novels I've read in a long time! Akemi Dawn Bowman has created a beautiful combination of spooky ghost story and tender exploration of grief that kept me invested and connected from beginning to end.
Perfect for readers who loved Victoria Schwab's Cassidy Blake series!
January 30, 2023
First of all, i cried a bit at the end. I may not have had the sobbing experience I had with some other books of Akemi, which is probably due to it being a middle grade, it's still an amazing story about grief, loss, friendship and family bonds.
November 12, 2022
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Eliot and her parents move from California to Maine after the death of her father's mother, whom she calls Babung. The parents claim they have wanted to move for a while, but Eliot considers it their attempt to forget her grandmother. Since Babung suffered from dementia and forgot Eliot, Eliot doesn't want to forget the one person who understood her. She's sure if she can learn more about ghosts, and perhaps even meet one, that she can find a way to reconnect with Babung and get a sense of closure. Her parents are busy with the new house, and her mother tries to rope neighborhood girls into hanging out with her, but that doesn't work well. When the girls point out a "creepy" house that might be haunted, Eliot is a bit interested in the haunted aspect of the residence, and also is tired of the girls and wants to show them she is not afraid. She takes their challenge to knock on the back door, and when a girl her own age answers, Eliot is so surprised that she falls off the porch into a strawberry bed. When she gets home covered in strawberries, her parents are disappointed that she trespassed and caused damage, and take her back to apologize to the elderly Mrs. Delvaux. This meeting ends with Eliot agreeing to help Mrs. Delvaux with the gardens and perhaps meet her granddaughter, Hazel. The work on the garden goes slowly, but when Eliot finds an old skeleton key, she finds that it takes her into a spirit world called the Hollow peopled by ghosts who are tethered to the house but have lost the memories they need to be freed. There is also a monster who seems eager to attack her. Eliot, with Hazel's occasional help, tries to find these memories. She researches at the public library and asks Mrs. Delvaux questions. She hopes that the ghosts can somehow connect her to Babung. Will she be able to solve the mysteries of Honeyfield Hall without being attacked by the monster, send the ghosts on their way, and find some peace about Babung's death and her family's move?
Strengths: Moving stories often involve a tween moving into a haunted house, so it was a nice twist to make it the home of an elderly neighbor that was haunted instead. I liked that Eliot was willing to work with her neighbor, learn some of the history of the area, and interact with Hazel. Hazel was an interesting character, and I knew her secret right away, but young readers might not. The ghosts all have interesting stories, and the identity of the "monster" provides a nice twist. There is a good resolution at the end. This is labeled as LGBTQIA+, but be aware that there is only the briefest mention of Eliot's feelings.
Weaknesses: The author's young adult background is evident in the length of the book and the repeated discussion of Eliot's grief.
What I really think: Eliot needs counseling desperately. I'm all for the parents wanting to not talk about the grandmother, but Eliot clearly needs to process things. This was more a book about grief than a ghost mystery, so I think I will pass on purchase. I can see this appealing to readers who want more young adult style angst instead of murderous ghosts.
Eliot and her parents move from California to Maine after the death of her father's mother, whom she calls Babung. The parents claim they have wanted to move for a while, but Eliot considers it their attempt to forget her grandmother. Since Babung suffered from dementia and forgot Eliot, Eliot doesn't want to forget the one person who understood her. She's sure if she can learn more about ghosts, and perhaps even meet one, that she can find a way to reconnect with Babung and get a sense of closure. Her parents are busy with the new house, and her mother tries to rope neighborhood girls into hanging out with her, but that doesn't work well. When the girls point out a "creepy" house that might be haunted, Eliot is a bit interested in the haunted aspect of the residence, and also is tired of the girls and wants to show them she is not afraid. She takes their challenge to knock on the back door, and when a girl her own age answers, Eliot is so surprised that she falls off the porch into a strawberry bed. When she gets home covered in strawberries, her parents are disappointed that she trespassed and caused damage, and take her back to apologize to the elderly Mrs. Delvaux. This meeting ends with Eliot agreeing to help Mrs. Delvaux with the gardens and perhaps meet her granddaughter, Hazel. The work on the garden goes slowly, but when Eliot finds an old skeleton key, she finds that it takes her into a spirit world called the Hollow peopled by ghosts who are tethered to the house but have lost the memories they need to be freed. There is also a monster who seems eager to attack her. Eliot, with Hazel's occasional help, tries to find these memories. She researches at the public library and asks Mrs. Delvaux questions. She hopes that the ghosts can somehow connect her to Babung. Will she be able to solve the mysteries of Honeyfield Hall without being attacked by the monster, send the ghosts on their way, and find some peace about Babung's death and her family's move?
Strengths: Moving stories often involve a tween moving into a haunted house, so it was a nice twist to make it the home of an elderly neighbor that was haunted instead. I liked that Eliot was willing to work with her neighbor, learn some of the history of the area, and interact with Hazel. Hazel was an interesting character, and I knew her secret right away, but young readers might not. The ghosts all have interesting stories, and the identity of the "monster" provides a nice twist. There is a good resolution at the end. This is labeled as LGBTQIA+, but be aware that there is only the briefest mention of Eliot's feelings.
Weaknesses: The author's young adult background is evident in the length of the book and the repeated discussion of Eliot's grief.
What I really think: Eliot needs counseling desperately. I'm all for the parents wanting to not talk about the grandmother, but Eliot clearly needs to process things. This was more a book about grief than a ghost mystery, so I think I will pass on purchase. I can see this appealing to readers who want more young adult style angst instead of murderous ghosts.
January 14, 2023
👻🥀🌿Where the Lost Ones Go🌿🥀👻
1.5 Stars
Eliot misses her Babung more than anything, and her parents just can't understand what she is feeling. So, when she intrudes on the property of an extravagant house known for its witches and ghosts, Eliot is ready to explore. Her parents are overjoyed that she has found a new passion other than ghost hunting. However, the true secret of what Eliot does at Honeyfield Hall is a mystery to her parents. Along with her new friend Hazel, they are determined to restore the memories of the ghosts inhabiting the place in order for them to go into the afterlife. Yet the missing ghosts' memories may be lying in plain sight . . . as well as the intricate fates that time them together.
*Every single person in this world can view a work of literature and have completely different thoughts and opinions. My opinion is not meant to offend you. If you do not want to see a review criticizing your favorite book (or a book you enjoyed), then I recommend not to proceed with reading this review.
Where the Lost Ones Go-had me utterly lost. While this only took me a couple of hours to read . . . I felt as though that time had stretched infinitely. Akemi Dawn Bowman is an author. I have read five books, and all of them vary in my opinion. This is probably my least favorite book of hers . . . which is an utter shame as I was so excited about reading it. The cover art is gorgeous . . .and the synopsis was intriguing.
While I sped through the first half in one sitting, I had this detached feeling as though the words were passing through my soul rather than etching the story in my heart. Everything just seemed to blur together by the end. Eliot just felt like a very unmemorable protagonist. The grim reaper dude is far from cool and is more lazy, randomly saying ominous things that don't really matter.
Hazel was a character who was involved in the plot but didn't seem to do much. I felt as though Eliot was constantly telling the reader how much she missed her Babung, and how her Babung would do this and that and was different than other people. But it wasn't shown to the extent that I could feel the emotional connection.
I don't like dragging out book reviews of books I don't have really strong feelings about. I just didn't like this book and I would have tabbed some quotes to rant about but I never expected I would give it this rating. Overall, the story didn't have an impact on me at all . . .but it is perfect for fans of ghost stories, mysteries, and When Marnie Was There.
🆗PLOT
⛔🆗CHARACTERS
🆗PLOT TWISTS
1.5 Stars
Eliot misses her Babung more than anything, and her parents just can't understand what she is feeling. So, when she intrudes on the property of an extravagant house known for its witches and ghosts, Eliot is ready to explore. Her parents are overjoyed that she has found a new passion other than ghost hunting. However, the true secret of what Eliot does at Honeyfield Hall is a mystery to her parents. Along with her new friend Hazel, they are determined to restore the memories of the ghosts inhabiting the place in order for them to go into the afterlife. Yet the missing ghosts' memories may be lying in plain sight . . . as well as the intricate fates that time them together.
*Every single person in this world can view a work of literature and have completely different thoughts and opinions. My opinion is not meant to offend you. If you do not want to see a review criticizing your favorite book (or a book you enjoyed), then I recommend not to proceed with reading this review.
Where the Lost Ones Go-had me utterly lost. While this only took me a couple of hours to read . . . I felt as though that time had stretched infinitely. Akemi Dawn Bowman is an author. I have read five books, and all of them vary in my opinion. This is probably my least favorite book of hers . . . which is an utter shame as I was so excited about reading it. The cover art is gorgeous . . .and the synopsis was intriguing.
While I sped through the first half in one sitting, I had this detached feeling as though the words were passing through my soul rather than etching the story in my heart. Everything just seemed to blur together by the end. Eliot just felt like a very unmemorable protagonist. The grim reaper dude is far from cool and is more lazy, randomly saying ominous things that don't really matter.
Hazel was a character who was involved in the plot but didn't seem to do much. I felt as though Eliot was constantly telling the reader how much she missed her Babung, and how her Babung would do this and that and was different than other people. But it wasn't shown to the extent that I could feel the emotional connection.
I don't like dragging out book reviews of books I don't have really strong feelings about. I just didn't like this book and I would have tabbed some quotes to rant about but I never expected I would give it this rating. Overall, the story didn't have an impact on me at all . . .but it is perfect for fans of ghost stories, mysteries, and When Marnie Was There.
🆗PLOT
⛔🆗CHARACTERS
🆗PLOT TWISTS
May 23, 2024
Eliot's family moves from California to Maine after the death of her beloved grandmother, Babung. Part of Eliot's grieving process includes developing an interest in the paranormal and an obsession with the idea of getting a final message to Babung. An awkward introduction with the local girls leads her to a gardening job for the Mrs. Delvaux, the elderly owner of Honeyfield Hall. Eliot finds a skeleton key in the greenhouse which leads her 'beyond the veil' into 'The Hollow' where the ghosts of the Honeyfield family need her help remembering who they are so they can pass on. The final ghost is able to pass on with a message for Babung. In a twist at the very end, a minor character named Graham is revealed to be the Reaper. The ghosts Eliot helped interceed to delay her death.
A few elements make this more than just a ghost story. Eliot is a dual heritage kid who wants to make a Japanese ancestral altar for her grandmother but her mother is pretty uncomfortable about it. Conflict around different ways to grieve and express grief are hot topics in her family life. A large portion of this book deals with how Babung's dementia made Eliot feel, to be forgotten repeatedly by someone she knew loved her so much. I think it intends to coach young readers not to force awareness if it will cause someone pain, by reminding Babung of the death of her grandfather for example. (This is kind and practical advice, but doesn't make for very enjoyable pleasure reading.)
There's also a subplot featuring Eliot's sexual identity. (At her old school, she sent a candygram to her best friend who was feeling left out and then kind of outed herself when she didn't want to say it was a 'just friends' gesture. She gets rejected.) Eliot has some of the same feelings for a tween ghost character, Hazel. Hazel's restored memory is of a girl she admired at her dance class suggests that she's was a lesbian too. They aren't destined to be together but there's some gentle advice about being brave and living a full life.
I read this book aloud to my 10yo sons but I think it's too wordy to be a great read-aloud selection. We aren't really the target demographic. I didn't think it was too scary for middle graders, but it also wasn't very relevant to their lived experiences to date. I don't really like ghosts or the paranormal (beyond a teen affinity for the X-Files) so it's kind of a function of Barcelona library's small English collection that we read this one. But it is a well-written, insightful book that might be exactly what some young reader needs if the themes are relevant to her life.
A few elements make this more than just a ghost story. Eliot is a dual heritage kid who wants to make a Japanese ancestral altar for her grandmother but her mother is pretty uncomfortable about it. Conflict around different ways to grieve and express grief are hot topics in her family life. A large portion of this book deals with how Babung's dementia made Eliot feel, to be forgotten repeatedly by someone she knew loved her so much. I think it intends to coach young readers not to force awareness if it will cause someone pain, by reminding Babung of the death of her grandfather for example. (This is kind and practical advice, but doesn't make for very enjoyable pleasure reading.)
There's also a subplot featuring Eliot's sexual identity. (At her old school, she sent a candygram to her best friend who was feeling left out and then kind of outed herself when she didn't want to say it was a 'just friends' gesture. She gets rejected.) Eliot has some of the same feelings for a tween ghost character, Hazel. Hazel's restored memory is of a girl she admired at her dance class suggests that she's was a lesbian too. They aren't destined to be together but there's some gentle advice about being brave and living a full life.
I read this book aloud to my 10yo sons but I think it's too wordy to be a great read-aloud selection. We aren't really the target demographic. I didn't think it was too scary for middle graders, but it also wasn't very relevant to their lived experiences to date. I don't really like ghosts or the paranormal (beyond a teen affinity for the X-Files) so it's kind of a function of Barcelona library's small English collection that we read this one. But it is a well-written, insightful book that might be exactly what some young reader needs if the themes are relevant to her life.
September 28, 2022
Eliot is still grieving Babung, her grandmother, when her parents move her across the country. She's not sure why it seems like her parents have moved on so quickly. Eliot isn't ready to let her grandmother go. That's why she's so determined to prove that ghosts are real. If they're real, that means she can get back Babung.
When Eliot's paranormal investigation leads her to Honeyfield Hall, she finds proof that ghosts are real. However, she also learns that ghosts can lose their memories. In order to help them crossover, she needs to help them remember. With the help of Hazel, a resident of Honeyfield Hall and Eliot's new crush, they might be able to help the ghosts move on.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's for an advanced copy of Where the Lost Ones Go by Akemi Dawn Bowman to review! I don't know how she gets so lucky, but Bowman always has the best covers. They are all absolutely breathtaking, including this one!
This isn't Bowman's first middle grade, but it's the first middle grade of hers that I've read. And I'm not surprised that I loved it! Bowman nails the voice in this, authentically communicating Eliot's feelings and her struggles with grief. It could be a great jumping off point to discuss death and grief with kids or tweens. You can feel how much Eliot is hurting and trying to figure out how to move forward from that hurt. I do wish some sort of therapy would have been represented, because that could have been such a positive thing. I get why it wasn't, plotwise, but including would have given the book that extra edge.
We also get some twists on the classic ghost story for middle grade. While some of the plot twists were easy for me to spot, they might not be as easy for kids reading it. Bowman plays with your expectations throughout the book, and it really makes the entire story engaging. It made me want to see what Bowman was going to do next!
All in all, if you're looking for a new middle grade to jump into that might deal with some difficult topics, I would recommend this!
When Eliot's paranormal investigation leads her to Honeyfield Hall, she finds proof that ghosts are real. However, she also learns that ghosts can lose their memories. In order to help them crossover, she needs to help them remember. With the help of Hazel, a resident of Honeyfield Hall and Eliot's new crush, they might be able to help the ghosts move on.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's for an advanced copy of Where the Lost Ones Go by Akemi Dawn Bowman to review! I don't know how she gets so lucky, but Bowman always has the best covers. They are all absolutely breathtaking, including this one!
This isn't Bowman's first middle grade, but it's the first middle grade of hers that I've read. And I'm not surprised that I loved it! Bowman nails the voice in this, authentically communicating Eliot's feelings and her struggles with grief. It could be a great jumping off point to discuss death and grief with kids or tweens. You can feel how much Eliot is hurting and trying to figure out how to move forward from that hurt. I do wish some sort of therapy would have been represented, because that could have been such a positive thing. I get why it wasn't, plotwise, but including would have given the book that extra edge.
We also get some twists on the classic ghost story for middle grade. While some of the plot twists were easy for me to spot, they might not be as easy for kids reading it. Bowman plays with your expectations throughout the book, and it really makes the entire story engaging. It made me want to see what Bowman was going to do next!
All in all, if you're looking for a new middle grade to jump into that might deal with some difficult topics, I would recommend this!
October 8, 2022
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I have heard a lot of good things about Akemi Dawn Bowman’s work, although I have never picked up one of her books until now. However, if they’re all as good as Where the Lost Ones Go, I’m excited to explore more.
Having just read a book about expressions of grief mingled with paranormal elements, I find it continually fascinating how people worry about stories being “too similar,” for whatever reason, especially from marginalized voices, as apart from those elements, they’re so different…even the expressions of grief are different! I loved following Eliot on her journey as she reckoned with her grandmother’s passing, including attempting to make contact with her spirit.
Eliot is very easy to relate to, as I also lost my grandmother around a similar age as she did. This was a very nostalgic read for me as a result, and while my process of grieving wasn’t identical to hers, I couldn’t help but enjoy living vicariously through her.
I enjoyed the “haunted house” aspect and the twist on the ghost story. It’s subtly creepy and atmospheric, and I enjoyed following Eliot as she explored and unearthed the Hall’s secrets.
I also love the romance that develops between her and Hazel. It starts as a friendship, and blossoms slowly into something more. There’s a twist where Hazel is concerned, and while I found it pretty obvious, I’m also not the target audience, and I appreciate how it was written in a clever way without overly spoon feeding it to the audience.
This is a fun paranormal middle grade, and one that for the most part, holds appeal for older audiences as well. If you enjoy ghost stories that also explore grief and loss, I recommend keeping an eye out for this one.
I have heard a lot of good things about Akemi Dawn Bowman’s work, although I have never picked up one of her books until now. However, if they’re all as good as Where the Lost Ones Go, I’m excited to explore more.
Having just read a book about expressions of grief mingled with paranormal elements, I find it continually fascinating how people worry about stories being “too similar,” for whatever reason, especially from marginalized voices, as apart from those elements, they’re so different…even the expressions of grief are different! I loved following Eliot on her journey as she reckoned with her grandmother’s passing, including attempting to make contact with her spirit.
Eliot is very easy to relate to, as I also lost my grandmother around a similar age as she did. This was a very nostalgic read for me as a result, and while my process of grieving wasn’t identical to hers, I couldn’t help but enjoy living vicariously through her.
I enjoyed the “haunted house” aspect and the twist on the ghost story. It’s subtly creepy and atmospheric, and I enjoyed following Eliot as she explored and unearthed the Hall’s secrets.
I also love the romance that develops between her and Hazel. It starts as a friendship, and blossoms slowly into something more. There’s a twist where Hazel is concerned, and while I found it pretty obvious, I’m also not the target audience, and I appreciate how it was written in a clever way without overly spoon feeding it to the audience.
This is a fun paranormal middle grade, and one that for the most part, holds appeal for older audiences as well. If you enjoy ghost stories that also explore grief and loss, I recommend keeping an eye out for this one.
October 14, 2022
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Eliot is grieving Babung, her paternal grandmother and she is not happy that her parents have uprooted her from where they all lived. The new house just isn't right and she feels like she can't even speak of her Babung without being chastised. So what if she's looking for a way to speak to ghosts so that she can finally say a proper goodbye to her grandmother...
It also doesn't help that the first girls her age she meets are less than friendly and taunt her by telling her Honeyfield Hall, an old house on a hill is haunted and that Mrs Delvaux, her owner, is a witch. Because of that encounter, Eliot finds herself having to help Mrs Delvaux fix up her garden. But this punition turns out to be a blessing in disguise when Eliot realizes there's more to this old house and Mrs Delvaux's granddaughter, Hazel, is actually very nice (and cute.)
This was all kinds of great. I loved how it approached grief and family and friendship even. I also loved the main character and how the town felt so real.
I also loved the friendship Eliot had with Hazel.
The ghost stories also captivated me, it was just so different and interesting. I honestly loved everything about this book.
The parents were also complex and flawed but in such an interesting way. They kinda infuriated me at times but they meant well and I could tell.
Basically, this was a great ghost story in a very grounded way, and it was captivating. I definitely recommend it, it made me want to catch her on the Akemi Dawn Bowman books I've missed in the last couple years.
Eliot is grieving Babung, her paternal grandmother and she is not happy that her parents have uprooted her from where they all lived. The new house just isn't right and she feels like she can't even speak of her Babung without being chastised. So what if she's looking for a way to speak to ghosts so that she can finally say a proper goodbye to her grandmother...
It also doesn't help that the first girls her age she meets are less than friendly and taunt her by telling her Honeyfield Hall, an old house on a hill is haunted and that Mrs Delvaux, her owner, is a witch. Because of that encounter, Eliot finds herself having to help Mrs Delvaux fix up her garden. But this punition turns out to be a blessing in disguise when Eliot realizes there's more to this old house and Mrs Delvaux's granddaughter, Hazel, is actually very nice (and cute.)
This was all kinds of great. I loved how it approached grief and family and friendship even. I also loved the main character and how the town felt so real.
I also loved the friendship Eliot had with Hazel.
The ghost stories also captivated me, it was just so different and interesting. I honestly loved everything about this book.
The parents were also complex and flawed but in such an interesting way. They kinda infuriated me at times but they meant well and I could tell.
Basically, this was a great ghost story in a very grounded way, and it was captivating. I definitely recommend it, it made me want to catch her on the Akemi Dawn Bowman books I've missed in the last couple years.
October 11, 2022
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.
Where the Lost Ones Go follows twelve year old Japanese American girl Eliot, who struggles with grieving her recently departed grandmother, Babung. When Eliot’s parents move their family across the country, Eliot searches for signs of ghosts on the chance she may get to see Babung again. Instead, she finds a house rife with ghosts, and embarks on a journey to solve the mystery behind the ghosts’ lives.
If you’re a fan of Coco or if you’ve lost a grandparent, this book is going to hit particularly hard. As someone who fits both criteria, though neither grandparent I lost struggled with severe memory loss in their final days, the story of Eliot’s grief and loss often felt like looking in a mirror, and her journey throughout the novel did offer a small sense of healing. This story is one of loss, but it is also one of love and of family, of joy and of hope.
This story really did work for me at every level. The ghosts and their riddle was a fun primary plot to follow, especially as Eliot began figuring things out and discovering the ghosts’ memories. The twist was surprising, yet very evident in retrospect (in my opinion the best twist is the one you’ll never see coming but that ends up making more sense than anything you could think of). The story was often fun and fast paced, yet still took the time and care to foster depth and nuance in its characters and themes. Just overall a really, really spectacular middle grade read.
Where the Lost Ones Go follows twelve year old Japanese American girl Eliot, who struggles with grieving her recently departed grandmother, Babung. When Eliot’s parents move their family across the country, Eliot searches for signs of ghosts on the chance she may get to see Babung again. Instead, she finds a house rife with ghosts, and embarks on a journey to solve the mystery behind the ghosts’ lives.
If you’re a fan of Coco or if you’ve lost a grandparent, this book is going to hit particularly hard. As someone who fits both criteria, though neither grandparent I lost struggled with severe memory loss in their final days, the story of Eliot’s grief and loss often felt like looking in a mirror, and her journey throughout the novel did offer a small sense of healing. This story is one of loss, but it is also one of love and of family, of joy and of hope.
This story really did work for me at every level. The ghosts and their riddle was a fun primary plot to follow, especially as Eliot began figuring things out and discovering the ghosts’ memories. The twist was surprising, yet very evident in retrospect (in my opinion the best twist is the one you’ll never see coming but that ends up making more sense than anything you could think of). The story was often fun and fast paced, yet still took the time and care to foster depth and nuance in its characters and themes. Just overall a really, really spectacular middle grade read.
January 7, 2023
Really enjoyed this! I loved the theme surrounding death, memory, loss, and grief and all the main characters were great!
SPOILERS BELOW
SPOILERS BELOW
December 17, 2023
Although her parents have moved their family across the country after Grandma's death, Eliot is determined to find a way to meet Grandma's ghost so they can have a proper goodbye. Dementia stole many of their last moments, but Eliot's parents don't seem to understand and feel that her obsession with ghosts is an unhealthy coping mechanism. When a silly prank goes wrong, Eliot meets their elderly neighbor and her granddaughter, which leads Eliot to a mysterious key that takes her to a crumbling in-between world. Grandma isn't there, but perhaps if Eliot can figure out what's keeping these souls tethered to her neighbor's house, she can get a message through. But memories are slippery things, and not everything is as it seems.
Some of Bowman's best books have been on the topic of grief and coping, and this one hits that mark brilliantly. It holds with the idea that if someone is forgotten, their soul disappears, which blends brilliantly with the topic of dementia/Alzheimer's. My only complaint is that the book takes a good while to become interesting. We did not start at the last possible second. But at 1/4, the story picks up and soon becomes impossible to put down. I love the subtle nods toward aging and queer attraction, but this book is definitely among the more thoughtful spooky stories I've read this year.
Some of Bowman's best books have been on the topic of grief and coping, and this one hits that mark brilliantly. It holds with the idea that if someone is forgotten, their soul disappears, which blends brilliantly with the topic of dementia/Alzheimer's. My only complaint is that the book takes a good while to become interesting. We did not start at the last possible second. But at 1/4, the story picks up and soon becomes impossible to put down. I love the subtle nods toward aging and queer attraction, but this book is definitely among the more thoughtful spooky stories I've read this year.
October 16, 2024
I liked this book. I liked that the book deals with both grief and with the reality that difficult conversation and different approaches to grief can make it feel even heavier. The fantastical elements were creatively done, but they felt a bit disjointed to me at first, and I was concerned that it would take away from the real crux of the story. But, I felt that Akemi Dawn Bowman did a good job of weaving a story that included that supernatural without pulling out the emotional impact and without making the "real world" feel flat or boring by comparison. I also liked the main character. Eliot is very relatable in her frustration and in the ways she reacts; she doesn't give off the "bratty teen" trope, despite being imperfect and reacting poorly at times. She is real about acknowledging her faults and that makes her likable. I also loved the way that Bowman made her identity a relevant part of the story without turning the whole book into an "identity" story--i.e. including a more diverse character who is just another normal human being (the way I wish more stories were told). Overall a good read for middle school age kids, especially those interested in the supernatural or those who may be dealing with grief (or who know someone who is).
March 14, 2023
Where the Lost Ones Go by Akemi Dawn Bowman truly has healing powers. In it, we meet Eliot. She is reeling from her grandmother’s decline and ultimate death from dementia and is devastated when her parents decide to move her across the country from California to Maine is an attempt to make a fresh start. But Eliot cannot leave her grief behind. She is determined to connect with her Babung in the afterworld. She’s terrified that Babung’s memory loss will impact her in the world beyond. If she had no memories when she dies, how will she find her way in her new world? Much to her parents’ dismay, she becomes obsessed with all things ghosts and spirits in an attempt to find Babung. This obsession leads her to Honeyfield Hall, Mrs. Dalvaux and Hazel. But not everything is as it seems and Eliot just may get what she hoped for. It’s for readers who understand the pain and suffering that dementia can bring to a family. It’s for readers who have experienced loss and are having difficulty moving on. And it’s for readers who don’t always feel seen by those who love them and are trying to find their way. This book pulls at all the heartstrings.
April 19, 2023
I would have loved this book when I was younger: full of ghosts and a mysterious house and magic keys. I can see it being adored by the 9-12 year age group, especially if they liked The House with a Clock in Its Walls.
Eliot misses her Babung who died six months earlier. Babung was her favourite person in the world, but had dementia so Eliot never got to say a real goodbye. But Eliot knows if she finds Babung’s ghost, she’ll be able to set everything right. Her parents have moved them to the other side of the country, but she’s determined to find her grandmother, whatever it takes.
This was a sad but sweet story about grief and coping with loss, and really just feeling lost in life and learning to find your words. The fantasy was woven perfectly into the narrative, with a bit of that old world charm and historical elegance. It ends with the possibility of a sequel, but everything is still wrapped up nicely and resolved with an uplifting message of hope and love.
Eliot misses her Babung who died six months earlier. Babung was her favourite person in the world, but had dementia so Eliot never got to say a real goodbye. But Eliot knows if she finds Babung’s ghost, she’ll be able to set everything right. Her parents have moved them to the other side of the country, but she’s determined to find her grandmother, whatever it takes.
This was a sad but sweet story about grief and coping with loss, and really just feeling lost in life and learning to find your words. The fantasy was woven perfectly into the narrative, with a bit of that old world charm and historical elegance. It ends with the possibility of a sequel, but everything is still wrapped up nicely and resolved with an uplifting message of hope and love.
March 14, 2023
Eliot is grieving Babung, her paternal grandmother who just passes away, and she feels like she's the only one. She's not excited to move to a new house away from all of Babung's favorite places and she's searching for a sign that ghosts are real. Because if ghosts are real that means she can find a way back to Babung. When Eliot chases the promise of paranormal activity to the presumed haunted Honeyfield Hall she finds proof of the ghosts she's looking for. But these ghosts are losing their memory and are unable to pass. With the help of Hazel, the grandaughter of Honeyfield's owner (and Eliot's new crush) she attempts to uncover the mystery and free the ghosts.
This is definitely a ghosty-mystery but it's got a lot more to it as well. Lots of discussion of family and generational trauma (though its not named as such) and the importance of memory. Definitely recommend giving this a read if someone's looking for a ghosty-mystery.
This is definitely a ghosty-mystery but it's got a lot more to it as well. Lots of discussion of family and generational trauma (though its not named as such) and the importance of memory. Definitely recommend giving this a read if someone's looking for a ghosty-mystery.
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