Climate change has caused a complete disruption in the life of twelve-year-old Eleanor. The time is in the near future and Florida is the setting. Hurricanes now happen weekly and have destroyed everything in their path, including Eleanor’s school.

She and her parents escape to a beach community that seems deserted but has had less damage than other parts of the coastline (This didn’t sound like a very good plan to me with more hurricanes on the way, but Dad is a die hard Floridian).

The real story begins when Eleanor finds a colony of ghosts living in the same apartment complex as her family. She first meets Mrs. Mabel Frobisher sitting in a lawn chair happily sipping an umbrella drink. Mabel is thrilled that Eleanor can see her and eventually introduces her to the other ghostly residents.

The ghosts’ time here is in danger of ending as sea monsters with tentacles are trying to take away their souls. They get closer with each passing storm. Eleanor tries to find a way to save her new ghostly friends and also rescue another ghost lost at sea.

WONDERS OF SHADOW KEY is a unique, fast moving plot sure to keep your attention throughout. Eleanor is a fantastic main character and her first person narration shines. The mark of a good writer. Eleanor doesn’t seem like a fictional character but someone who could be your next door neighbor. There are a few scary moments but nothing terrifying for young readers. Family, friendship, and the motivation to help others takes center stage in this endearing tale.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: March 31, 2026 PAGES: 186

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: WONDERS OF SHADOW KEY by JJ Fleming

1. The parents are also memorable. Dad is trying to find work while also trying to get rich in the stock market. Mom makes jewelry out of shells. They both provide the perfect parental support to Eleanor.
2. Although this is a story about growing up in the uncertain future, it also provides fuel for the present about working together even in a crisis.
3. The quirky ghosts are a fun group. The Fabulous Singing Siren Sisters always have a song while a homesick pirate refuses to believe he is dead. There’s also a family and Eleanor volunteers to play with the two kids. You’ll hope these ghosts find their way by the final page.
4. Yes, kids worry about their parents and the choices they make. Family is not a one way street as brilliantly portrayed here.
5. This will hit home for readers who recall the upturn in our lives from COVID. Friendships and school classes were never in person and it was tough dealing with those changes. You’ll feel sad but also happy the way Eleanor tackles the uncertainty, especially through her writing assignments.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JJ Fleming is the “marvelously inventive” and “highly entertaining” author of the middle grade novel Wonders of Shadow Key as well as books and stories for adults (writing as John Henry Fleming). He directs the creative writing program at the University of South Florida, where he founded the literary magazine Saw Palm: Florida Literature and Art. He’s a two-time recipient of Florida Literature Fellowships and winner of the International Book Award. (JJ Fleming’s Website)

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