THE SASQUATCH OF HAWTHORNE ELEMENTARY
Since Gramps told Jake about his Sasquatch encounter, Jake has been interested in cryptids. When his single mom decides they are moving from Orlando, Florida, to Gramps’ home in Washington state, Jake realizes this will give him better access to the legendary beast. Sixth grade at Hawthorne Elementary is off to a rough start when Jake makes an enemy, but eventually his unique interest leads to him becoming friends with pretty, popular Jasmine and smart third grader Lanny. The trio form Sasquatch Hunters of Washington, Inc., and make plans to seek out stories of other encounters and find proof that Sasquatch is real. The premise takes a bait-and-switch approach and winds up being less about cryptids and more about human connections, especially when Jake makes a discovery about his absent father. It’s not entirely successful, however, as the familial drama feels too quickly and easily resolved, while the Sasquatch story is left open, presumably to be explored in future books. Jake, his family, and Jasmine are cued White; Lanny is Indian American, and there is some racial diversity among incidental characters. The characters are decently developed, but sometimes the way the race or ethnicity of characters of color is revealed is clumsy or rooted in stereotypes.
