In “Ava Wrestles the Alligator”, Karen Russel breathes life into the lonely world of two sisters through her ability to keep readers intrigued (intrigant), impactful characters, and haunting atmosphere, leaving readers marveling at the feat. The story seizes the reader’s attention straightaway as Ava conveys that this is her and her sister’s first summer alone. Immediately, readers are asking questions-why are these girls alone? Should they be alone?-and they read more to be recompense with answers