L.J. Tracosas and Turine Tran's The Cursed Castle invites readers to be heroes as they follow a series of clues to lift the curse on the castle and locate its missing occupants. Each double-page spread represents one of 18 castle rooms: pantry, kitchen, garden, etc. Seekers must use the written and illustrated clues in tandem to determine which of the room's many doors is the correct exit. Puzzle types vary widely (there is a puzzle glossary in back) and pull-tabs offer further hints.
Tracosas's cleverly worded clues combined with Tran's detailed illustrations create an ideal experience for middle-grade readers who welcome a challenge. (And, luckily for caretakers and those less interested in overcoming obstacles, answers are included at the end.) --Kieran Slattery, freelance reviewer, teacher, co-creator of Gender Inclusive Classrooms