The World Inside

by Jan Fields

With her best friends off enjoying Paris and her mom expressing disapproval at every turn, Tamika Warren knows her summer can’t get any worse. Then her family gets the news that her great-aunt has fallen into a coma. Tamika is stuck joining her mom in Virginia to prepare Aunt Lati’s old farmhouse for when she wakes up. As if that weren’t bad enough, a friendly neighbor describes the farmhouse as “haunted.”

Tamika is stunned from the moment she steps into the farmhouse–but from the beautiful landscape paintings covering every wall, all of them done by Aunt Lati. A developing artist herself, Tamika is eager to know the great-aunt who created these amazing paintings. But Aunt Lati still hasn’t woken up from her coma. And the longer Tamika and her mom stay in the farmhouse, the stranger things become. The paintings within the farmhouse seem to react to Tamika’s presence, hinting at disturbing secrets, until it seems like the paintings themselves long to ooze out into the real world. But that’s not possible, is it?

Characterized by exciting, fast-paced plots and themes that are relevant for high school students, Horizon’s Hi-Lo books are both engaging and easy to read. Short chapters, simple sentence structures, and an accessible format make these books perfect for teen reluctant readers. Horizon books are written at a 2nd- to 3rd-grade reading level with an interest level of ages 14 and up.

Genres: Horror, Paranormal

159 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2025

Reviews

[Constance · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The World Inside makes for a pretty quick read, but the writing style seems like it’s meant for younger children. Considering this was marketed as a young adult book, I was expecting a bit more substance- but then again, I am a 23 year old woman. Perhaps my frontal lobe is developing.

Tamika is angry at her mother for forbidding her from going to Paris for the summer with her two best friends. When her mother gets a call about a great aunt Tamika has never met being in a coma, the mother-daughter duo go on a road trip to get Aunt Lati’s affairs in order. Aunt Lati’s house is full of paintings, and rumors swirl about the house being haunted, or Lati being a witch, and as Tamika explores the worlds within these paintings, she starts to discover there may be more truth to these rumors than she thought.

As time starts to run out, will Aunt Lati ever wake up? Or will she be stuck in the paintings with the rest of her ghosts? Thank you to Jolly Fish Press and Netgalley for the arc!

[TheGreatandWonderfulBookWitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because the cover and title reminded me of an old Are You Afraid of the Dark episode. I love the cover art and it evokes exactly the storyline that this book has.

I was surprised at how much story was packed into this super short read. Nothing was unnecessary, nothing was fluff. The characters were well built, and the storyline had great pacing. I could actually see having a sequel to this one as the main character learns to handle her talent.

I would definitely recommend this one to others, it will absolutely live rent free in my head for years, and I definitely want to read more from this author!

[Adam Sorensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

With The World Inside, Jan Fields writes a contained, modern gotchic horror that's a perfect gateway to the genre for younger readers.

The story opens with Tamika having the worst summer break whilst her friends are away in Paris. Things become worse when she travels with her mother to her great-aunt Lati's farmhouse interstate. Lati is in hospital with a coma, and so Tamika and her mum are tasked with taking care of the old house while she recovers. Lati's house isn't the typical house though; it's filled with paintings covering every wall in the house. As Tamika explores the house and the paintings, she learns that they may be aware of her than she realises...

This is a great little spooky story about pushing through fear and exploring the unknown. It's about those times when you're away from home and discover yourself in the mysterious, and seeing the ones you love in a new light.

This is the first time I've read a title targeted at younger readers in a really long time, and I had a great time with it! It's a super breezy read, and yet I still found myself invested in the characters and moved by the end of the story. As an avid fan of horror and champion for the genre, I think it's so important that we have stories like these that give people an entryway without it being overly scary or violent. This is a perfect way for young readers to experience something spooky, so I gotta recommend it!

many thanks to North Star Editions for providing a digital ARC of this one!

[librarilynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Jolly Fish Press!

This is a great choice for growing readers who are interested in a good scare. The end of each chapter keeps you turning pages, and this was genuinely was of the most unique horror concepts I've read. Tamika is such a sweet and grounded main character. Her passion and artistry emanate so organically through the writing. Some of the plot shifts are sudden--less spooky, more confusing, but the overall effect is there, and I would highly recommend this for school libraries.

[Tori North · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, thank you to NetGalley and North Star Editions | Jolly Fish Press for the eARC copy of The World Inside for review.

Review: 3.75 ⭐ rounded up to 4

The World Inside follows 15-year-old Tamika during a summer vacation that wasn't going as she had hoped. While her two best friends are in Paris, she has been left home as her mom has deemed the two other girls 'bad influences'. Early on in the summer, they receive a call that Tamika's great-aunt is in a coma, so mother and daughter pack up and drive out to Virginia from Chicago to make sure that the house is ready for Great-Aunt Lati to come home. Tamika, a young artist, is immediately intrigued by the aunt she has never met as the home is completely filled with artwork, all created by Aunt Lati.

But Tamika knows that something is off with the paints and begins to realize she may not be as 'normal' or 'overly imaginative' as her mother insists she is.

At the surface, Tamika is an absolutely normal teenager. She feels her mother doesn't treat her like she's almost 16 years old (and I do largely agree), she's moody, and extremely curious.

As for her mother...I had some issues with her character. She is extremely vocal about every single person that Tamika wants to spend time with. Her two best friends who went to Paris (and invited Tamika) are too spoiled and too wild (which Tamika does explain they really aren't). Semora, who she meets at her great-aunt's house is a bad influence for BELIEVING IN GHOSTS. Yup, believing in ghosts and nothing more has equated to her being a bad influence on Tamika. She also did not communicate to almost any degree with Tamika and constantly brushed off questions and concerns from her daughter and boiled it down to her daughter having nothing more than a vivid imagination.

But Tamika knows she sees things in the mirrors and that there are definitely people in the paintings and they are moving.

The atmosphere for The World Inside was delightfully spooky for being such a quick read and while I do wish there was more information provided (such as Tamika seeing things in the mirror), I did really enjoy how things ended.

There were a few choppy spots where pacing felt just a bit off, but honestly, the plot line for this was fun and engaging to the point I could easily look over that.

[Tim Huitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tamika Warren is stuck at home while her friends are vacationing in Paris. Fearing that Summer can’t get any worse, her mom receives a call that her Great Aunt is in the hospital and this is the first she’s hearing about this relative. Tamika and her mother make their way to Virginia to make arrangements. Upon entering the home of Aunt Lati, Tamika notices the walls are covered with paintings. Mysterious and eerie subjects start appearing in the paintings and Tamika is left to figure out what it is they want.
I love young adult fiction ever since I read Harry Potter as an adult. There is so much symbolism and ultimately our protagonist ends up discovering who they are throughout the novels plot.
Fields main character, Tamika, is a teenager who is artistic, struggles in school and with reading so lacks confidence, constantly fights and blames her mother for being too protective, and is struggling with a “gift” that she doesn’t understand. The novel focuses on her self discovery while also painting a nice little ghost story for its readers. The ending of this novel fell short and felt a little quick to finish leaving me wanting more ghosts and a scarier antagonist that helps Tamika reach her climatic ending and truly discover who she is; but, I have to keep in mind that this novel is meant for 12-14 year olds. Fields was on point with the atmosphere created by always feeling like someone is watching you. The feeling was claustrophobic and I really wish more came about the ghosts in the paintings. In the end we have a story about family, finding oneself, and the burning question of what really happens after we die.
I want to thank NetGalley and Northstar Editions for this ARC in exchange for a honest review of the novel.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tamika thought she was going to be in Paris with her best friends. Her mother said no to Paris. Tamika is angry at her mother. Her mother has a phone call that her Aunt Lati’s is in the hospital in Virginia Mom decides that she and Tamika will go to Virginia to take care of her aunt. She learns that Aunt Lati is in a coma. She and Tamika go to Aunt Lati’s house. Tamika shrugs off a neighbor’s assertion that Lati’s house is haunted, but the shadowy figures she sees moving in the paintings hanging in her home suggest that the rumors may be true. To help awaken Lati from the coma, Tamika decides to put her own developing art skills to use. Tamika’s discoveries in Lati’s house compile at breakneck pace, amping up the thrills with each flash of movement in a mirror or portrait’s mouth opening to speak. Her empathy and curiosity push her to learn more about Lati’s paintings in spite of her fear. She realizes that she is more like her determined mother than she’d

The cast’s strong-minded women characters play off against each other. Field expertly uses the short chapters and accessible language of a novel to frame a tale that’s rich in both eerie elements and emotional nuance.. It is an enticingly strange novel. I loved it especially how Tamika wants to help her aunt recover and help free the ghosts. “The World Inside”is a chilling supernatural novel in which a girl wields her love of art as a tool to help ghosts move on.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are my own.

[☾ ashlee ༉‧₊˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

i liked the writing! though the ending definitely left me wanting for more, and the twist was kinda just, fine. that’s all. i did like how the book was wrapped up, but i think it was just a shy too short. it would do no harm to extend the plot by a few good pages. there just wasn’t much that was explained? some plot points were left unresolved. tbh i could really see this being a series considering there is more that could be explored.

i found the relationship between Tamika and her mom to be pretty realistic to a restless teen girl and a parent just trying to get by. the mom’s behaviour can be pretty frustrating
whenever she’s present though— there were times i felt like she was downright awful and dismissive towards her daughter, and she had zero redeeming qualities. Tamika herself was alright, i don’t have too much of an opinion on her.

overall, it was sweet and simple for what it was. its geared towards a younger audience, so it makes sense that the story can’t be dark as it possibly could’ve been, and part of the reason why i felt the ending was sorta lackluster. would recommend anybody in the targeted audience for a quick and fun read, for despite its flaws it was still somewhat intriguing.

thank you to NetGalley, Jan Fields, and Jolly Fish Press for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

[bookreader_nix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for providing a complimentary copy of this title in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Tamika Warren is a 15-year old artist whose mother refused to let her go to Paris with her two best friends for the summer and she's less than pleased. When her mother gets notified that her aunt has entered into a coma, so now Tamika and her mom are thrust into the woes of handling an farmhouse estate in Virginia while Aunt Lati is in a coma. What Tamika doesn't know is that her great aunt Lati is also an artist and her house is FULL of paintings. Tamika learns from Aunt Lati's neighbor, Samora, rumor has it that Aunt Lati used to advertise that she could trap people's deceased loved ones in her paintings; Tamika's mother is against any kind of talk about ghosts or spirits. As Tamika navigates Aunt Lati's farmhouse and learns more about her paintings, she realizes that she also has a similar gift as Aunt Lati and she's going to have to use it.

I really enjoyed this story. The whole premise was promising. The writing, while it felt a bit juvenile, was pretty good and made the story interesting. There were a few plot holes I noticed, but they weren't too big and could be brushed off pretty quickly. The big reveal at the end wasn't what I was expecting at all, and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. If the ending was better, this would have been 5 stars.

[Joey Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Jolly Fish Press and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Tamika didn’t get to go to Paris with her best friends for the summer. Soon her mom is whisking her off to Virginia to her great-aunts house, everyone says it’s haunted, that she trapped ghosts in painting. Tamika doesn’t believe in ghosts, until she sees the paintings move and must learn to understand them.

This was really unique and creative, I liked the idea of ghosts being trapped inside of the paintings and how each painting her aunt did held a ghost. It’s something I’ve not read about before and found it fascinating as a concept.

Tamika worked really hard not to believe because her mom didn’t, but she found she couldn’t shake her gift no matter how hard she tried too. I liked how eventually she and her new friend together tried to figure everything out, learning the intricacies of her aunts paintings and how and why the ghost and the doors are there.

It’s a great teen book, it’s easy enough to read, it’s gripping as you want to understand the art work, the ghosts, the gift of seeing and trapping them, how she’s going to save her aunt. It really makes you want to figure everything out as you read it.

[Tegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I somehow missed the memo that this book (and others published by Horizon’s Hi-Lo books) are aimed at reluctant teen readers and are written at a 2nd- to 3rd-grade reading level, with an interest level of ages 14 and up. The chapters are short, and the sentences are very simple. Due to the cover (that I am deeply obsessed with, by the way) and the description, I was expecting this to be an upper-YA thriller/horror, and this book fell short based on the expectations I invented for myself rather than the book itself.

Overall, it's an interesting and engaging concept, but I was left with a lot of unanswered questions due to the short page count and there not being enough room for further development. The secrets are not overly disturbing, as promised in the description. We don't find out how the paintings were created or if the paintings had the potential to ooze out into the real world. I would love to read an upper-YA/adult version of this that can commit to the horror I was expecting. But it's fast-paced, and the characters are as interesting as they can be for the time they were given, and I imagine the intended audience will be able to enjoy the story to its full potential.

[Kamiye · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/4.5

I will never look at a painting the same way...

I always love a good ghost book. I think that, among all the "horror" themes, ghosts isthe one theme I sincerely find truly terrifying, can't see them, can't touch them.

The book is relatively short: 160 pages, but it is well-paced, and we turn every page wanting to know more. Given the fact that the book is recommended for a younger audience, I think they can identify with the main character, Tamika, and her mom. Also, as non native English speaker I recommend this book to anyone who might want to read something easy in English.

Pick it up if you like:
- Ghost Stories
- Art with a twist
- Short and easy reads

A note from the publisher: Horizon books are written at a 2nd- to 3rd-grade reading level with an interest level of ages 14 and up.

I received an e-copy from the Publisher Flux, an imprint of North Star Editions via NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. This review is my own and I'm leaving it voluntarily.

[Silas · Rating 5 out of 5]

୧‿̩͙ ˖︵ ꕀ⠀ 🖼️⠀ ꕀ ︵˖ ‿̩͙୨
4.7 / 5
I personally really enjoyed this book. Simple, eerie, and from an author that clearly knows what they’re doing. I’ve been a huge fan of these simpler written spooky stories lately. I’m an adult, but they’ve been grabbing my attention and making it much easier to get into reading again, even on the days that I don’t feel like reading otherwise.

It’s beyond unfair to the author about the lower star complaining about the simplicity of the writing- the description literally says “written at a 2nd- to 3rd-grade reading level”. It is not the author’s fault if people miss that.
This book is perfect if you are:
🖼️ Looking for a simple, creepy read- but nothing intense
🖼️ Introducing yourself to scary stories
🖼️ Reluctant to get into reading
I just wish it was slightly longer so the ending could be wrapped up less abruptly. Other than that, I enjoyed it!


Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC for an honest review!
୧‿̩͙ ˖︵ ꕀ⠀ 🖼️⠀ ꕀ ︵˖ ‿̩͙୨

[Diane Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The World Inside is a ghost story written with teens in mind. However, since the prose is at a third grade level, per the publisher, even younger children might enjoy it too.

Fifteen-year-old Tamika’s mother won’t let her join her friends in Paris for a summer vacation. Instead, she is forced to go with her mom to clean up her Aunt Lati’s supposedly haunted house while Lati lies in a coma at a nearby hospital. Tamika is prepared to be miserable until she meets a next door neighbor and begins to see frightening visions in some of her Aunt’s many paintings. Can Tamika figure out whether she is imagining things or are the ghosts really trapped? Will her aunt come out of the coma to explain what is going on?

The World Inside reminds me of a Goosebumps-style plot combined with a psychological suspense novel. The author does a good job blending the genres together. Teens and those who aspire to be teens will enjoy this ghostly book. 4 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley and Jolly Fish Press for providing me with an advanced review copy.

[Pakou · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really intrigued by the title of this book and the cover. I was given the opportunity as an ARC reader through Netgalley and voluntarily chose to read this book. I will say I read this book in 1 sitting because I could not put it down. It was so good! The story is face paced and very easy to read. Every interaction, every description, every scene felt very purposeful to the overall story line. I really loved the MFC Tamika and felt she was very relatable. The story progresses and flows meaningful. I really enjoyed this story and felt it felt like I was watching a movie. It was beautiful, a bit spooky, and heart warming. My only regret is that its not a cold October fall evening with the leaves falling down - because this would have been the perfect book to read. I give this a 5 star because I would buy this book, reread it and recommend it. And although it's a younger grade book, I felt any age would appreciate this story. Thanks for the opportunity to read this story!

[Flutter By Night · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spooky cozy horror read with immersive descriptions, a nice writing style, a compelling premise and intriguing plot that’s executed with skill. Tamika’s mom doesn’t like her friends or her plans, and Tamika is more than a little frustrated. When Tamika learns she has a great-aunt in a coma, she sets out on a road trip with her mom which brings secrets to light. Her great-aunt is an incredible artist whose house reveals to Tamika some creepy and sneaky truths. This book nails slow-burn atmosphere, builds psychological dread, and ultimately transports the reader through shifting plays of colors, shadows, and light. The premise of this quiet horror morsel is intriguing, A quick yet satisfying read, unease lingers long after the final page. You may catch yourself doing double-takes when looking at images.

4.25/5

[Brynx · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another quick read! I really enjoyed this YA novella. At 160 pages, it can be difficult telling a full story, but the meat of the story was there. It did wrap up really quickly though. At the heart, The World Inside is a ghost story that also contains generational supernatural abilities. There is also a found family trope which always gives me the warm and fuzzies. The language was consistent with the YA genre.

One issue that bothered me is there is so much emphasis on Tamika being a poor reader which is fine, but it was discussed so much that I anticipated some sort of growth in that area or some resolution with it and there was none. It seems like a personality trait that didn't progress the story and could have been cut.

Thank you NetGalley and North Star Editions for the ARC read in exchange for an honest review!

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I did find the book enjoyable and suspenseful, I felt that it was a bit too short for my liking and some of the chapters were long winded (in particular the first half of the book) which kept reiterating the overall creepiness of the paintings and the surreal atmosphere of the houses in said paintings as a whole.
The characters were all well written although the main character of Tamika (whilst mature in some parts of the story in other parts she came across as immature and whiny which kind of grated on me as the story progressed.) However, the setting in the story was both creepy and enticing throughout the book which encouraged me to keep reading until the end.
Thankyou to Net galley and North Star Editions for an arc of this book.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will admit that I judged this book by the beautiful cover, but I'm glad I did because it was a great read! This felt longer than its 160 page count due to the descriptive writing and how much is packed into the story. Even though this book is geared towards a younger audience, I think it is a great book for adults who are looking for something heartwarming, with a bit of a spooky atmosphere for an October fall reading day.


Thank you to NetGalley and North Star Editions for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Roo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know we aren’t supposed to judge books by there covers but I was absolutely intrigued from the moment I saw this cover! A gloriously twisted summer story where a young girl goes with her mother to look after her Great Aunts house…that’s filled with paintings… what could make this summer any worse or weirder?

This is an interesting story, probably better for high schoolers but still an interesting story nonetheless!

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Tiffannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, just not super memorable So I gave The World Inside a shot because the description sounded cool, and honestly, it wasn’t a bad time. The world the author built was kinda weird in a fun way, and there were moments that kept me interested. The characters didn’t really grab me, and a few parts felt a little rushed. Like, I kept waiting for it to really take off, and it didn't. It’s a quick read though

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Tamika can see ghosts and her great-aunt Lati paints them. I really enjoyed the paranormal and creepy aspects of this story, and the family ties made it even better.

The pacing was quick and while I wish it had been a bit longer, Fields has crafted a solid stand alone that's perfect for a quick summer read.

3.5/5 rounded to 4

[pluto_bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a soft and eerie little read. It gave me that quiet, haunted summer vibe without going too dark. I really liked Tamika as a main character, she felt real and creative, and her emotional journey blended beautifully with the ghostly mystery.

The pacing was quick, the atmosphere was strong, and the whole story felt like a gentle whisper of something bigger underneath. Perfect if you're in the mood for a light, spooky escape with heart.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance ebook copy of The World Inside by Jan Fields from netgalley.

A perfect spooky YA read for those on the younger side. After reading (and enjoying it at 35) I think my 12 and 14 year olds will also like this book.

Its spooky. But, it's also heartfelt with the family connections and character growth.

The idea behind the story is interesting and came to life in my imagination.

Recommend!!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a fast read. I enjoyed this book a lot, the characters were easy to follow and the story was unique. Not a huge horror book but still a good creepy read. The ending felt a little rushed to me. I loved the cover, it reminded me of a 90s story for some reason.

Thank you to North Star Editions and NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for a review.

[Lianna Kendig · Rating 4 out of 5]

70/100 or 3.5 stars

This was a good YA/Teen story for a traget audience of readers that need a quick and easy writing style and story! I love the cover, and thought this was a nice ghost story!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quirky YA novel filled with intrigue, secrets, and possibly ghosts. It was a quick read, perfect for a rainy afternoon. For readers who enjoy art speckled with a dose of the unnatural, this book is for you.

[Céline Badaroux · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very original and interesting take on "ghost hunting".

[J R · Rating 5 out of 5]

good and surprisingly warm vibes throughout. a quick read that feels even faster than it is. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

[Jessica Hecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a quick and easy read with a solid cast of characters and a decent plot. I’d probably describe this story as horror lite or maybe horror adjacent (think the Yellow Wallpaper, because let’s be real- I read that short story 10+ years ago and it still lives rent free in my mind) but it ultimately has a happy ending for everyone involved. I’d recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a short, intriguing read from start to finish. There was not a single dull moment!
*I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily left a review.*