Horseman

Henry (Alice) brings readers a story inspired by the tale of Ichabod Crane and Sleepy Hollow. Taking place more than a generation after the first sighting of the headless horseman, the story follows Ben Van Brunt, grandchild of Abraham and Katrina, who are never interested in reliving the past. Ben and best friend Sander spend their days exploring in the woods. But when they discover the gruesome murder of a child, the horseman and his curse are once again a plague on the town. Narrator Em Grosland is effective as Ben and Sander but struggles with the darker characters. Ben’s queerness is slightly mishandled during the final stages of the story, as the narration turns from Ben’s unwavering admiration of his grandfather and desperation to be just like him, to his insistence that he is a boy. The conclusion takes quite some time, but interested readers will hang in till the end.