Bee Bakshi and the Gingerbread Sisters

A family vacation to a lakeside cottage goes awry in this “Hansel & Gretel”–inspired ghost story, Pinto’s debut. Indian Canadian 12-year-old Binita Bakshi has always felt embarrassed by her family (“If there was a prize for Most Embarrassing Things Parents Say, Bee’s mom would be the undisputed champion,” she thinks). And as one of the only brown-skinned families vacationing in the predominantly white town of Storm Lake, Bee’s desire to fit in feels even more out of reach. She soon discovers a magical house across the lake where she can be “the version of yourself you want to be.” There, she meets local girl Alina, who also has brown skin. Bee revels in their immediate friendship, but when Alina tells Bee about the legendary Gingerbread Witch who lives near Storm Lake, things around town take on a sinister aura. As her vacation becomes plagued by unsettling happenings, Bee endeavors to unravel the mystery behind the witch with the help of Alina and new friend Lucas, who reads as white. Bee’s self-effacing personality and her embarrassment of her family is occasionally overwrought, distracting from the lively plot and multifaceted tween cast. Ages 8–12. (Sept.)