The Last Rhee Witch

While attending Camp Foster in central Washington, Veronica “Ronnie” Miller—who has never felt particularly Korean, especially because her single father was raised by white parents—spots a Korean ghost, called a gwishin. Then she learns that Camp Foster is also home to Rhee Manor, where six members of the Rhee family were mysteriously killed, and every female victim was “found with a long, red, silk scarf wrapped loosely... around their necks.” But Ronnie is skeptical of these paranormal occurrences; she only believes in things 99% and likes to leave 1% open to chance. So, with her half white and half Korean best friend Jack, she investigates the mystery, unravels her inexplicable connection to the camp and the ghost in the forest, and navigates new dangers such as a witch-hunting dokkaebi who has returned to take care of some unfinished business. Though slow pacing sometimes stymies narrative build up, things pick up as Ronnie gets closer to uncovering the truth. The protagonist’s cultural insecurities and her unprocessed grief surrounding her late mother are deftly woven throughout, adding emotional heft to Lee-Yun’s lengthy supernatural debut. Supporting characters are racially diverse. Ages 8–12. Agent: Emily Forney, BookEnds Literary. (May)