Persephone’s Curse

Gr 7 Up–Winnie has been told her whole life that she and her sisters are descended from the gods, specifically Persephone, Queen of the Underworld and Goddess of the Spring. Each of the Farthing girls has a gift: Clara can paint, Evelyn can play the piano, Bernadette can write, and Winnie has the gift of seeing ghosts. Each sister was born two years apart and they have lived all their lives in their family’s inherited brownstone. The dwelling just so happens to come with its very own ghost, Henry, whom all the sisters can all see. Soon it becomes clear that Evelyn has no intention of ever leaving their house—she has fallen in love with Henry and wants to devote her life to the undead boy. After some worrying developments, Winnie discovers that not only does she have the power to see spirits, but she can also banish them to the underworld. This newfound power sets in motion events that may or may not usher in the end of the world—or at least New York City. While the story is oftentimes slow and meandering, readers get to visit museums and other locations around New York City with the sisters. The story is reminiscent of the 1990s TV drama Charmed and movie Practical Magic, which the author fully embraces, as the girls watch the film together in a cozy domestic scene.