Author: John David Anderson
Genre: horror
Similar books: What Lives in the Woods by Lindsay Currie
Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol
Rating:
Summary (provided by publisher): Riley Flynn is alone.
It feels like she’s been on her own since sixth grade, when her best friend, Emily, ditched her for the cool girls. Girls who don’t like Riley. Girls who decide one day to lock Riley in the science closet after hours, after everyone else has gone home.
When she is finally able to escape, however, she finds that her horror story is only just beginning. All the school doors are locked, the windows won’t budge, the phones are dead, and the lights aren't working. Through halls lit only by the narrow beam of her flashlight, Riley roams the building, seeking a way out, an answer, an explanation. And as she does, she starts to suspect she isn’t alone after all.
While she’s always liked a good scary story, Riley knows there is no such thing as ghosts. But what else could explain the things happening in the school, the haunting force that seems to lurk in every shadow, around every corner? As she tries to find answers, she starts reliving moments that brought her to this night. Moments from her own life...and a life that is not her own.
My opinion: The set up here is a solid one. The haunting of the school is clearly intended as a parallel for Riley's own sense of isolation. The thing is, it doesn't really feel very scary. Riley never feels properly threatened. She's not really at risk or targeted. She's just trapped. The atmosphere is more strange than frightening. It has more of a literal nightmare vibe than an actual scary story. While the whole scenario is fully explained, the ghost's motivation in picking Riley doesn't feel like enough. And since Riley is the only character with any depth, there isn't a lot of drive or motivation here. If you're looking for a scare or a psychological exploration you're probably better off looking elsewhere.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
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