Heartwood Box - Ann Aguirre

Book: Heartwood Box

Author: Ann Aquirre

Publisher: Macmillan- Tor/Forge

Publish Date: July 9, 2019

Teenager Araceli Flores Harper's parents have a dangerous job that resulted in them sending Araceli to live with her Great Aunt Ottilie and her outdated, presumably haunted Victorian house. Tia Ottilie lives in a small town where the local stay in after dark, steer clear of the woods, and disappear into thin air. The plan was simple. Araceli would go to high school and get ready for college. Tia Ottilie's husband has been gone for 20 years, but she still leaves food for him on the table. Strange things go in in this little town and it seems like no one is doing anything to find the missing people from town. Araceli finally gets to meet one of her longest--virtual--friends and is quickly inducted into a small friend group. One of her new friend's little brother is among the missing while another one of her friend's dad is the town sheriff. 

Araceli thought her aunt was strange, leaving food out in the house for his husband that was missing. Turns out, it's a common thing around the small town. People have come up missing but it's like they never left. The lab hidden away in the woods seems to be the likely culprit, but there is no proof. Araceli, coming from two great reporters, takes matters into her own hands to find the missing and find out why.

Tia Ottilie gives Araceli free range of the attic and tells her if she finds anything worthwhile, she can keep it. Araceli is magically drawn to a heartwood box. At first, we all think it's just a box. Turns out, this box is more than an ordinary box. It's a prototype for moving things across time. Araceli finds a letter hidden in the box and decides to write back for a school project. When the letter comes up missing, she thinks it's a prank. 

Araceli is a different character. I loved so many traits about her, but I didn't fall in love with her. I loved her determination to get to the bottom of the disappearing act of the population. I wasn't a fan of how she put everyone and everything at risk for a love that was long gone.

Logan, the Sheriff's son, is almost the best character from the book. He had a harsh upbringing. He brushes everything off by acting out in a way no one would ever be able to tell what was actually going on. 

As much as I want to say the friend's group didn't have much personality, I think the author did a great job at peppering in personalities for the characters that had much smaller roles. 

Verdict: This was a decent book. If you liked the movie The Lake House with Sandra Bullock, you will like this book. In many ways, this book reminds me over the movie and the characters even bring the movie up. 

Rate: 3/5