This was set around the time of the Civil War, but as I said, it took place in a fictional town and a fictional forest. And yet, the reality is that there may be some people (and young children) who may be able to see ghosts. Because our protagonist sees and interacts with ghosts, while others just think he is touched in the head. But this story was realistic fiction set in a historical setting (but fictional time and place) with supernatural realism. How you treat people is definitely important. That is not to say that kindness is not an addressed theme in this book. I wasn't sure what to expect, because how do you live up to a book like Wonder? The answer is you don't-you write a different kind of novel. Oh man, it's been a couple of years since I've read Wonder, which I like to revisit every once in a while. Thank you to Random House Children's and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. To get in the mood for this book, here is a link for the book trailer:

This book is more suited for older middle grade readers - definitely a more advanced text that that of Wonder. Includes extensive author's notes on themes in the book like photography, the violin, and spiritism. The chapter heads include black and white daguerreotypes and classic quotes from Plutarch, Homer, and Telemachus. Will Silas and his father be reunited? Why does Mittenwool's ghost remain with Silas when his own mother's did not? Why do the men think Silas's father is someone else, a criminal with a huge bounty on his head? This reminded me of True Grit and Liesl & Po. Along the way, there are ghosts in the bog and deadly peril in many forms. When that pony returns alone, Silas and Mittenwool journey into the woods to find the missing father. One day three men take Silas's father away promising to return him in 24 hours. His closest friend, besides his father, is Mittenwool - a ghost.

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