Publishers Weekly
04/29/2019
This spooky supernatural tale by Vega (the Merciless series) follows a well-trod horror arc: high school student Hendricks moves with her parents from Pennsylvania to a small New York town, where she senses a sinister presence in rambling old Steele House—the infamous site of a murder-suicide. The move follows Hendricks’s toxic relationship with her controlling ex-boyfriend, Grayson, whose behavior escalated into violence and stalking. Though Hendricks settles into a new social life quickly, with a cast of distinguishable characters, she wrestles with unease at the house and sees visions of Grayson’s reappearance. When Hendricks’s baby brother is physically attacked by a ghost, she approaches outsider Eddie, who lost both his siblings to Steele House. Vega’s narrative is at its best when Hendricks’s haunted past foreshadows and mirrors the paranormal events, raising questions about the impact of trauma on the present. The intrigue unravels into familiar scares and cinematic genre tropes (a child ghost with inky black eyes, a visit to a tarot shop), but Vega maintains psychological tension up until the uncertain conclusion, leaving enough loose ends to suggest a sequel. Ages 14–up. Agent: Josh Bank and Joelle Hobeika, Alloy Entertainment. (June)
From the Publisher
"Vega's take on the haunted house subgenre features an eclectic, well-fitted mix of supernatural spookiness and gore...A gently horrid reminder that some ghosts can be very real."—Kirkus Reviews
"Even the most diehard aficionados of horror may find themselves leaving the lights on after reading this one."—BCCB
Library Journal - Audio
01/01/2020
Haunted by a bad experience with her ex-boyfriend, Hendricks Becker-O'Malley suffers from PTSD. To help her start over, her family moves to Drearfield, NY. She quickly makes friends and even starts developing a crush or two. Much to her chagrin, however, Becker discovers Steele House, the fixer-upper her parents bought, is a local legend. People say the house is haunted by a murderous, vengeful ghost. When things fall off shelves without explanation and Hendricks starts seeing things that aren't there and hearing maniacal laughter, she wonders if the house is haunted or if it's her PTSD. Narrator Holly Linneman's character voices are easy to distinguish. The story is slightly predictable, but the characters are likable, well-developed, and sympathetic. VERDICT Readers who like Mary Downing Hahn, ghost stories, and horror fiction will enjoy this listen. Recommend for libraries where supernatural fiction is in demand.—Kira Moody, Salt Lake Cty. Lib. Services
School Library Journal
06/01/2019
Gr 9 Up—Hendricks arrives in the small New York town of Drearford with her baby brother, her house-flipping parents, and major baggage from her hometown of Philly. Escalating incidents with her former boyfriend Grayson forced her family to relocate with the goal of renovating a run-down old house, which Hendricks soon learns has a macabre history. Several teens, curious about the new girl, quickly fold her into their close-knit group, and even more quickly, school hottie Connor makes it clear he is interested. But with flashbacks and references to troubles with her ex, Hendricks isn't jumping into anything soon. As she learns more about the history of the house, as well as the connections between it and her enigmatic neighbor Eddie, disturbances in the house turn from scary to violent. Ultimately Hendricks and Eddie must battle the house and the hungry spirits that inhabit it. Interplay and dialogue between the teens ring true, more so than the almost nonexistent relationship between Hendricks and her apparently oblivious parents. Allusions to cruel bullying as the catalyst to events almost get lost as the story culminates in a finale that, while dramatic, feels rushed and overcrowded with explanations. The relationship with Grayson and the role alcohol played are intriguing yet used as a red herring rather than fully explored. Socioeconomic status, poverty, and mental illness are examined through the equally haunted Eddie, who feels that there is something "rotten" with the entire town. VERDICT Teens will relate to the characters and enjoy the creepiness, making this a strong choice where horror is in demand.—Lee De Groft, Jamestown High School, Williamsburg, VA
