Milford, Kate. Rialto. Clarion, 04/2026. 480pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-3284-6691-4. GRADES 4–6. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Milford, the author of the Greenglass House series, returns with a new mystery aimed at older middle-grade readers. Sisters Ivy, age fourteen, and Dahlia, age twelve, travel with their parents to Rialto, an abandoned theme park, to visit their Mom’s best friend, Sally. Dahlia, recently diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, feels smothered by her sister’s hyperattention. Ivy, in turn, doesn’t like change and can feel Dahlia drawing away. The novel’s strength lies in its nuanced portrayal of an anxiety disorder. Once they reach the park and make friends with Sally’s son, Remy, they find themselves drawn into a complicated mystery surrounding Rialto Park. However, the pacing drags as Milford adds unending layers to Rialto’s magic and history. The adult characters tend to overshadow the relationship between Ivy and Dahlia. While patient readers will discover gorgeous prose, those seeking a more straightforward mystery may find the tempo of the novel frustrating. Ivy and Dahlia present as white, while Remy is Black.
Kristin Shaw-Hall—Belvedere Tiburon Library