March 24, 2026 by Greenwillow Books
Basil's family is morning the death of her grandfather, chef Claude, who has run Theriot's Cajun restaurant in New Orleans for fifty years. At his funeral, Basil is worried to see his ghost, although her best friend Tommy, who wants to be a ghost hunter, thinks this is great. Basil's father, Etienne, is stepping up to be the head chef, but can't quite get the signature dish, stuffed mirlitons, quite right. One of the first things Basil asked G'pere about is the recipe, but he gives her cryptic answers. He encourages her to go out on an airboat with his young friend Cameron, which she is able to do under the guise of research for Career Day at her school. Basil is expected to take over the restaurant, but doesn't want to, so is looking for another career on which to report. On the tour of the swamp, G'Pere shows up, and asks Basil to feel the swamp in her soul. The area has seen a lot of devastation from storms and climate change, and the more Basil is able to experience the local areas, the more concerned she grows. Traveling out with the restaurant's shrimp supplier, Miss Babette, she sees even more evidence that things like the logging of cypress trees and the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet initiative are ruining bayou life. She decides for Career Day that she will report on being a coastal scientist, and interviews Dr. Colleen Matherne. She volunteers with Dr. Matherne's group and helps plant trees. When Tommy runs off to investigate a supposedly haunted cabin in the wetlands, even Basil's parents are able to see G'pere's ghost swamp; a version of the swamp from his youth that he hopes will be restored. When Basil fights with her parents about working to save the restaurant that she doesn't want to inherit, this helps them understand her desire to be a coastal scientist instead. Tommy ends up being a good cook, and the missing ingredient for the mirlitons is uncovered.
Strengths: This was a well constructed book that delivers an important message about climate change, family dynamics, and personal identity. These are all topics that resonate with young readers. It's hard to believe that its been 20 years since Hurricane Katrina; I've certainly read a lot of middle grade novels about that event in that time! The threads of the grandfather's death, Tommy's interest in ghost, the fact that Basil doesn't want to run the restaurant, and the school Career Day were all woven together very well. Basil's parents are busy but involved in her life, and I loved how concerned Basil was about not disappointing them. The virtual trip to the bayou was interesting, and the climate change message is very timely
Weaknesses: It would have been helpful to have a map of Basil's stomping grounds so that I had a better understanding for where things took place. On a personal level, I would have enjoyed this more if G'pere had been alive and taking Basil to the swamp himself, but given his busy restaurant lifestyle, that really wasn't possible.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed other Louisa tales like this author's Rougarou Magic, Rhodes's Bayou Magic or Guillory's Nowhere Better Than Here, or ghostly grandparent stories like Iriarte's Benny RamÃrez and the Nearly Departed.
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