Beware the Heartman by Shakirah Bourne

What worked:

One of the main characters is autistic but the author includes him from a different angle. Ahkai doesn’t like physical contact or interacting with others but Jo is his best friend and neighbor. In some ways, Jo has more difficulty dealing with human relationships than him. She’s anxious about starting a new school year but becomes especially fearful when she learns Ahkai will be going to a different building. She’s desperate to get her assignment changed but she’ll need to convince her father first. To complicate matters, the daughter of a family friend is staying with Ahkai and his grandmother so Jo is afraid she’s losing her best friend.

There is a supernatural element to the story set in Barbados but the author introduces it gradually. Jo senses things are off and recalls a clash with a malevolent creature named Mariss from a previous book. Tales are told around town about the Heartman but Jo suspects they’re just stories to scare kids into behaving. However, she hears rattling sounds in the long grass and sees shapes in the night which makes her imagination take over. A magical tree holds malevolent spirits and she wonders if something wicked may have escaped. Could Mariss somehow be the one responsible for the disappearances of Jo’s cricket coach and teammate?

The strange things are unsettling but readers will become suspicious of two characters. Lynne has a problem with Jo even before they meet and it’s unclear why. She makes snide comments and amused facial expressions when Jo is upset. Jo overhears a conversation where Lynne says she doesn’t understand why Ahkai puts up with Jo. Readers will wonder about the untold secrets behind Lynne’s presence and wonder if she’s good or bad. Mr. Atkins is a teacher and he’s been behaving oddly. One of Jo’s teachers is dating her dad and Mr. Atkins has been treating the woman poorly. He can be found patrolling the streets each night and he seems nervous around the magical tree. Lynne and Mr. Atkins are behaving suspiciously which allows readers to speculate about what they are hiding.

What didn’t work as well:

Ahkai is described as being on the autistic spectrum but he doesn’t seem much different from other characters. As mentioned, he helps Jo deal with anxiety and offers her suggestions on how she might interact with others. There’s nothing wrong with this per se but I’m not sure why the concept of autism is attached to Ahkai. Maybe he behaves differently in the first book of the series.

The final verdict:

The concept of the Heartman is gory but the author adds an unexpected twist to the tale. The character relationships highlight the book, especially the clash between Jo and Lynne. Overall, I recommend you give this exciting book a shot.