Publisher's Weekly Review
Casey Whitecroft, who is Black, used to live alongside the affluent, largely white population of her Langston, Ga., town, until her father's business went belly up and the family had to move into her late grandmother's house. There, she lives among most of Langston's financially imperiled, ethnically diverse residents. Though she's skeptical of any chances to attend Barnard, her dream school, she's started waiting tables at the country club she used to belong to, hoping to beef up her extremely diminished college fund. But when the county threatens to seize their house, Casey is determined to do whatever it takes to keep her family from ending up on the streets. Seeking a solution, she finds allies in her coworkers, who are convinced that the stories of an abandoned mining town submerged in the reservoir that's said to contain hidden treasure is more than a tall tale for tourists. As Casey and her coconspirators dig deeper into the history behind this legend, however, they uncover secrets that some people will do anything to keep buried. By keeping the circumstances behind Langston's founding close to the vest and juxtaposing Casey's previously privileged life with that of her peers on the other side of town, Buford (Kneel) develops a tightly plotted mystery with high stakes and nail-biting tension. Ages 12--up. Agent: Carrie Pestritto, Laura Dail Literary. (June)
Kirkus Review
While trying to save her family, a Black girl tugs on a string that will unravel her small town and the lies that built it. Casey Whitecroft's life has been going downhill since the failure of her father's business and their subsequent decline in social status. Formerly part of the "charmies"--a subset of the rich, primarily White people in their small town of Langston, Georgia--she is now one of the "downstreamers." Her demoralized father won't leave the house, her mother is constantly angry, and her sister, a Spelman College junior, is keeping her distance--leaving Casey with few options as she adjusts to her new reality. When they face losing their home, Casey reaches out to attractive co-worker Tanner for help selling her last remaining valuables at his parents' pawn shop. In the process, she discovers a rust-covered coin she picked up in the local lake may matter more than she thought and may lead to discovering secrets behind Langston's legend of buried treasure. However, Casey and Tanner aren't the only ones searching for the treasure--and they are in real danger. The closer they get to the truth, the more they uncover about Langston's founding. This thrilling coming-of-age story unfolds briskly, keeping readers engaged in the details of the 100-year-old mystery. Through her multiracial cast of characters, Buford examines the impacts of racism and revisionist history through the generations. A riveting examination of power and the importance of history. (Mystery. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and high-school senior Casey is willing to try anything to keep her Ivy League-plans on track. Her seemingly perfect life is upended when her father loses his job, ousting her from the popular crowd and jeopardizing her ability to afford college tuition. Here the story takes an unexpected twist, as Casey and a group of new friends decide to look for the sunken treasure rumored to exist in their touristy lake town, Langston. Readers will find themselves invested in the progress of the search and its possible outcomes. Buford's contemporary novel engagingly mixes mystery with adventure and buzzes with ethereal elements, but it is anchored in the realistic challenges Casey faces. Her desire to get out of Langston and spread her wings will be relatable to most teens, and her efforts to help ease her family's struggles, form genuine friendships, and go the extra distance to reach her goals glitter brighter than any gold that might be lurking in Langston.
