Raising the Horseman

Gr 6 Up--Spinning the story of the Headless Horseman from the perspective of Ichabod Crane's love interest with a twist of feminism and LGBTQIA+ positivity, Valentino retells one of the most ubiquitous cautionary tales of gothic horror, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, with authenticity and ingenuity. Eighteen-year-old Kat longs to attend a distant college but is bound to inherit Katrina Van Tassel's legacy when she marries and accepts the mantle of matriarch as the "reigning Katrina." Tethered by tradition and superstition, Kat's feelings for childhood crush and assumed fiancé, Blake, sour in the face of her blossoming autonomy and skepticism toward the town's morbid obsession with the Headless Horseman. On the 200th anniversary of Katrina's demise, Kat is nowhere to be found; her absence does not go unnoticed, nor does her budding romance with newcomer Isadora Crow, who harbors secrets about the town's mythology and her place in it. Fleeing the entrapment of a loveless marriage, Kat seeks more than friendship with Isadora, but when lies are revealed, her trust waivers; Blake further complicates matters. The townspeople's blind acceptance of the supernatural Katrina lineage is inexplicable, but authentic dialogue and animated storytelling render the parallel story of Kat and Katrina an apt retelling of Irving's classic morality tale, weaving past and present to mirror the original themes of greed, folly, and the threat of superstition trumping reason. VERDICT Recommended for a mildly macabre Halloween-themed read for younger teens who enjoy Marissa Meyer and Jane Yolen, and a good addition where fractured fairy tales and gothic horror are popular.--Rebecca Jung

There are more charms than terrors in this reimagining of a supernatural tale. Valentino's eye for lavish detail focuses on Kat Van Tassel, an 18-year-old at Ichabod Crane High, named after Sleepy Hollow's most infamous figure. Trapped in a life that feels all too planned out and a skeptic surrounded by those who believe in ghosts, Kat chafes at the way she's fated to marry childhood sweetheart Blake, help run the family estate, and fulfill townspeople's expectations. Kat has other aspirations, and her modern-day story mirrors the past she uncovers while reading Katrina Van Tassel's diary entries, which are presented in chapters interspersed with the contemporary timeline. Katrina is a distant relative whose life was the source for many of the town's myths and rituals. Blake attempts a spell with his friends, pushing Kat to participate against her wishes. Increasingly frustrated with him, Kat becomes fast friends with Isadora Crow, a mysterious, dark-haired classmate whom Blake dislikes. As Isadora and Kat explore Katrina's diary, they begin to have feelings that are stronger than friendship. The young women's curiosity about the diary grows--alongside their romance, which becomes more than a crush. Mild chills and dual timelines drive the plot; the latter at times are too neatly mirrored. Horror readers hungry for a retelling will find few scares, but the same-sex relationship breathes some new life into the legend. Most characters default to White. A sweet retelling of a spooky classic. (Paranormal romance. 12-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.