Tomi Oyemakinde’s The Changing Man is listed as YA thriller mystery, & no spoilers here, but once you hit a certain point this book definitely gives off more fantastical horror vibes. That being said, it is an original story written in a fresh tone of voice about a “local lore” that has cursed the school area it is set in. The book has the versatility of reading more middle grade than YA in terms of the content & storyline as well, making it an okay read for the stronger readers in that age group too.
While the subject matter is certainly creepy, there is an often an undercurrent of some lightheartedness between the character interactions shared by Ife, Ben & Bilal which keeps it from feeling too dark. The second half of the mystery goes by much quicker than the first, picking up in the plot making you want to keep turning pages. Then once you get to the "end", it leaves off with the feeling there will be a second book. This is certainly the right time of year to have received this book & it would be a Fall recommendation for those who enjoy this genre for sure!
While the subject matter is certainly creepy, there is an often an undercurrent of some lightheartedness between the character interactions shared by Ife, Ben & Bilal which keeps it from feeling too dark. The second half of the mystery goes by much quicker than the first, picking up in the plot making you want to keep turning pages. Then once you get to the "end", it leaves off with the feeling there will be a second book. This is certainly the right time of year to have received this book & it would be a Fall recommendation for those who enjoy this genre for sure!