TRICK-OR-TREATING IN THE CITY

An upbeat young New Yorker finds a way to have a happy Halloween.

Janelle has her doctor costume, her trick-or-treat bucket, and a pumpkin ready to be carved. Usually, her mother drives her to the suburbs to trick-or-treat, but this year, both her parents are working. At school, Janelle asks her friends how they’ll be celebrating. Niko tells her that he trick-or-treats in his cousin’s 30-story building, while Nayara walks down Court Street, where shop owners pass out treats—including, in true New York City fashion, mini-bagels. That night, as they carve their pumpkin, Janelle’s father tells her that when he was a child, he stayed home out of fear of “real monsters.” Some of his neighbors opted to stay home even when his community tried to have a safe candy-sharing and costumed event at the nearby playground. YA novelist Jackson conveys the pleasures of Halloween while acknowledging that, due to safety reasons, many city dwellers find their own ways to observe the holiday. Janelle’s compromise—giving out candy from her dad’s store—is a realistic and, ultimately, joy-filled solution. Cloud’s soft cartoon artwork depicts an urban neighborhood full of supportive residents and business owners. Janelle, Niko, and Nayara present Black; their community is diverse.

In a sea of trick-or-treat books, this one keeps it real.