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Description
Ivy, who made a shocking discovery in her small western Pennsylvania town when she was seven years old and learned a surprising secret nine years later, questions whether she has inherited the Rumbaugh curse of having excessive love for one’s mother.
Quick Summary
If you're into stories that mix a weird family curse with dark humor and a coming-of-age heart, Jack Gantos' latest will grab you. Ivy's journey begins with a startling secret she uncovered as a kid and resurfaces when she's sixteen, forcing her to wonder whether the "excessive love" that seems to bind her family is a real curse or just a quirky way of looking at mother-daughter bonds. The book balances creepy, almost gothic moments with laugh-out-loud scenes, making it a good fit for readers who like their thrills with a side of sarcasm and genuine emotion. It's especially appealing to teens who love quirky mysteries, fans of Gantos' earlier *Dead End in Norvelt*, and anyone who enjoys a story where the supernatural is used to explore everyday feelings of love, guilt, and identity. Parents will appreciate that the scares are more spooky-fun than truly horrifying, and the underlying message about healthy love is subtle but warm.