Sundown Girls

Gr 8 Up–A combination of thrills, history, mystery, and the supernatural in a story that manages to be both chilling and heartwarming. Naomi, 16, struggles with identity and belonging. Recently “rescued” from the only mother she remembers—a woman who kidnapped her at age two—Naomi must now learn to live with her biological parents and siblings. Her parents plan a family vacation to a small rural resort town in Virginia, but the town harbors a dark legacy: it was once a “sundown town,” a place that violently barred Black Americans after dark. From the moment they arrive, Naomi senses danger. When two local girls go missing, Naomi—herself once a “missing girl”—discovers a new sense of purpose. Determined to uncover the truth, she unearths long-buried crimes and exposes the lingering pain of America’s history of sundown towns. Along the way, Naomi begins to heal. Naomi is a standout protagonist: resilient, vulnerable, and deeply human. Her struggle to reconcile her past with her present, and to carve out her place in both her family and community, will resonate with readers. Stratton portrays Naomi’s family with nuance, showing their love and guilt, confusion and growth, leading to a conclusion that feels both earned and satisfying. The writing style is immersive, filled with vivid imagery that sustains a mood of unease and suspense while balancing supernatural horror with contemporary issues. Stratton’s (In Deadly Company) greatest strength, however, lies in her ability to connect the present to the past. By weaving the violent legacy of sundown towns into the narrative, she underscores how unresolved histories of racism echo across generations—reminding readers that the past is never truly past. Naomi and her family are Black.