ONE OF ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY‘S “BIGGEST AND BEST YA BOOKS OF THE SUMMER”From Danielle Vega, YA’s answer to Stephen King, comes a new paranormal novel about dark family secrets, deep-seated vengeance, and the horrifying truth that evil often lurks in the unlikeliest of places.Clean slate. That’s what Hendricks Becker-O’Malley’s parents said when they moved their family to the tiny town of … said when they moved their family to the tiny town of Drearfield, New York. Hendricks wants to lay low and forget her dark, traumatic past. Forget him. But things don’t go as planned.
Hendricks learns from new friends at school that Steele House–the fixer upper her parents are so excited about–is notorious in town. Local legend says it’s haunted. But Hendricks isn’t sure if it’s the demons of her past haunting her …or of the present. Voices whisper in her ear as she lays in bed. Doors lock on their own. And, then, one night, things take a violent turn.
With help from the mysterious boy next door, Hendricks makes it her mission to take down the ghosts . . . if they don’t take her first.
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I read from an arc from the Amazon Vine Review program.
This was an excellent YA ghost story it takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions all the way through to the end. For me, this was an easy one sit read as it was very hard to put the book down. I found myself to be protective of Hendricks as she tries to find her way in a new town while dealing with some major baggage. She makes friends easily enough but soon finds herself living a double life as her new home begins to show signs of being haunted. Part mystery and part ghost story it kept me enthralled as Hendricks with the help of Eddie, a neighbor trying to overcome his own tragic past, tries to unravel the past of her home and her own baggage that is weighing her down. If your a fan of Ya and ghosts stories give this book a go.
I’ve been looking forward to reading this book for what feels like years! I think it was just the one though! lol the cover caught my attention the first time I saw it on Goodreads in a giveaway, then I read about it and knew I had I get it!
It took me a while to find it but finally I got my hands on it and it was great! I really liked the characters, but the parents and bradly felt very distanced/flat? but I understand why and a lot happened for the length of the book.
I really liked the ending, it wasn’t your average ending! wish it would have had some more follow up but at least it told us what happened with the 3 popular kids Hendricks left outside, like yikes! I do know this is a series tho so hoping maybe it says something about what happens to them legal/cop wise.
Hendricks and her family have moved to a small town in New York to get away from a troubling situation. While trying to find her place in a new high school she begins to learn some town secrets. Most of the secrets lie around her family’s new home. There are ghosts in the past and in the present and Hendricks must learn how to fight them all.
I decided to read this book after getting a recommendation for a spooky read from Penguin Teen Publisher (@penquinteen). I am glad I did. This was a great book to get started into the pre-Halloween festivity. The ability for the author to describe in detail the scary scenes made you feel like you were part of the action. I was able to visually imagine what the characters were going through like it was a movie. I believe I was right there beside Hendricks during the whole ordeal, maybe not helping, but there non the less. Then came the end and I was not expecting the twist, even as an adult reader. This made the book even more worthy of my high praise. I recommend this book to those of all ages who are ready to get involved in a story that will take you on a wild ride.