The Deep Well

Gr 9 Up–Loosely inspired by the “Well to Hell” urban legend, this second book from Creedle follows April, one of the few survivors of a mass casualty event at a mine when she was five. Little is known about what precipitated the violence that day, but April is still haunted by her father’s disappearance and by echoes of a childish voice insisting “it’s time to fly.” Now 16, she has been hounded for years by conspiracy theorists, fans of a cult horror film based on the tragedy, and cult members who believe she will open a portal to another dimension on her 17th birthday. When April’s reclusive aunt presents her with a jumbled collection of journals, maps, and other documents about the mine’s history, April joins with best friend Grace and potential love interest Zach to investigate her father’s disappearance and finally unearth her fractured memories. Creedle uses flashbacks and frequent twists to craft a gripping and unsettling read that’s thoroughly engaging, especially for readers with a special interest in urban legends or cults. However, they may ultimately be disappointed by a resolution rooted in the mundane that leaves plot threads dangling. Though April is a sympathetic character forced to endure constant invasions of privacy and tied down by responsibility to care for a younger sister and chronically ill mother, her frequent and often nonsensical leaps in logic as she investigates strain belief and are difficult to follow. All characters are white.