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The Silenced
When a group of childhood friends meet in an abandoned reform school for girls, Hazel Perez is accidentally knocked unconscious and awakes with the desire for payback that isn’t her own. Tackling the Troubled Teen Industry, THE SILENCED features the last crop of girls who were sent to The Farm in 1995, and the modern-day teens who are haunted by this tragic history.
384 pages, Paperback
Published September 16, 2025
39 people are currently reading
1229 people want to read
About the author
Diana Rodriguez Wallach
13 books271 followersDiana Rodriguez Wallach is a multi-published author of young adult novels, most recently YA horror novels. Her next book, THE SILENCED, described as Girl Interrupted meets Poltergeist, comes out in Fall 2025 through Random House/Delacorte. In October 2023, she released HATCHET GIRLS, a modern twist on Lizzie Borden, and in 2021, she published SMALL TOWN MONSTERS, named one of the “13 Scariest Books of 2021” by Kirkus Reviews (both Random House).
Additionally, Diana is the author of the Anastasia Phoenix Series, a trilogy of young adult spy thrillers. The first book in the series, Proof of Lies, has been optioned for film and was chosen as a finalist for the 2018 International Thriller Awards for Best Young Adult Novel. Additionally, Bustle listed her as one of the “Top Nine Latinx Authors to Read for Women’s History Month.”
In 2011, she published a highly regarded essay in Dear Bully: 70 Authors Tell Their Stories (HarperCollins). It was the only essay chosen from the anthology by Scholastic to be used in its classroom materials. Diana has previously penned YA contemporary Latina novels, a YA short-story collection, and is featured in the anthology, Latina Authors and Their Muses (Twilight Times Books, 2015).
She currently teaches a writing workshop annually through the Highlights Foundation, and she has been a mentor for SCBWI and Las Musas. Diana previously taught Creative Writing through Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth for six years. She currently speaks at schools and libraries throughout the Northeast. She holds a B.S. in Journalism from Boston University, and lives in the Philadelphia area with her husband, two kids, and two cats.
Social Media Links
Website: www.dianarodriguezwallach.com
TikTok: @dianarodriguezwallach
Instagram: @dianawallachauthor
Threads: @dianawallachauthor
Twitter/X: @dianarwallach (less active)
Additionally, Diana is the author of the Anastasia Phoenix Series, a trilogy of young adult spy thrillers. The first book in the series, Proof of Lies, has been optioned for film and was chosen as a finalist for the 2018 International Thriller Awards for Best Young Adult Novel. Additionally, Bustle listed her as one of the “Top Nine Latinx Authors to Read for Women’s History Month.”
In 2011, she published a highly regarded essay in Dear Bully: 70 Authors Tell Their Stories (HarperCollins). It was the only essay chosen from the anthology by Scholastic to be used in its classroom materials. Diana has previously penned YA contemporary Latina novels, a YA short-story collection, and is featured in the anthology, Latina Authors and Their Muses (Twilight Times Books, 2015).
She currently teaches a writing workshop annually through the Highlights Foundation, and she has been a mentor for SCBWI and Las Musas. Diana previously taught Creative Writing through Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth for six years. She currently speaks at schools and libraries throughout the Northeast. She holds a B.S. in Journalism from Boston University, and lives in the Philadelphia area with her husband, two kids, and two cats.
Social Media Links
Website: www.dianarodriguezwallach.com
TikTok: @dianarodriguezwallach
Instagram: @dianawallachauthor
Threads: @dianawallachauthor
Twitter/X: @dianarwallach (less active)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
February 19, 2025
A chilling and important read, Diana Rodriguez Wallach’s The Silenced is a gripping horror novel that delivers more than just scares—it carries a crucial, terrifying message about the realities of the Troubled Teen Industry (TTI) programs and other institutions that have harmed countless youths. Youths who were left to fend for themselves at the hands of so much evil. We likely will never even know the worst of it, sadly..
With the discoveries in recent years of Canada’s Residential Schools that I followed a lot—where thousands of Indigenous children suffered and died, left in unmarked graves—it’s heartbreaking to see stories that echo such real-world tragedies. The way The Silenced mirrors the experiences of teens worldwide who have been subjected to similar abuse makes it all the more impactful. This is something that needs to be talked about more and, even more importantly, governed a lot more.
I really enjoyed Wallach’s writing style; it was engaging and made for a quick read. The haunting aspect of the story did feel a bit cliché and predictable, though, reminiscent of many horror movies I’ve seen before (particularly the Japanese version of "Shutter" that I watched a decade back with that ghost on his back. I never forget her. I can't watch those anymore lol). While it added to the eerie atmosphere, it wasn’t the most original part of the book for me.
Overall, The Silenced is a strong, thought-provoking novel that horror fans will appreciate. While some elements feel familiar, its message is deeply important, making it a worthwhile and unsettling read.
With the discoveries in recent years of Canada’s Residential Schools that I followed a lot—where thousands of Indigenous children suffered and died, left in unmarked graves—it’s heartbreaking to see stories that echo such real-world tragedies. The way The Silenced mirrors the experiences of teens worldwide who have been subjected to similar abuse makes it all the more impactful. This is something that needs to be talked about more and, even more importantly, governed a lot more.
I really enjoyed Wallach’s writing style; it was engaging and made for a quick read. The haunting aspect of the story did feel a bit cliché and predictable, though, reminiscent of many horror movies I’ve seen before (particularly the Japanese version of "Shutter" that I watched a decade back with that ghost on his back. I never forget her. I can't watch those anymore lol). While it added to the eerie atmosphere, it wasn’t the most original part of the book for me.
Overall, The Silenced is a strong, thought-provoking novel that horror fans will appreciate. While some elements feel familiar, its message is deeply important, making it a worthwhile and unsettling read.
October 2, 2025
Wow!! This was unsettling but SO GOOD! A YA horror book that revolves around reform schools or Schools for Girls. It starts out at a slower pace , but let me tell you, it picks up and grabs you. It's tense and gripping!
Hazel is doing a group class project about the abandoned Oakwell Farms School for Girls. While on a research trip to this old school, she has an accident and becomes unconscious. When she awakens, she has brought back a ghost that is connected to her. She feels a sense of wanting revenge, and the truth to be revealed. Alternating between the past and present, you see the horrors of what happened at this school, and Hazel's days as a high schooler and what she goes through. It's an atmospheric and creepy read, and it's a perfect book to read during spooky season! Highly recommend!
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Hazel is doing a group class project about the abandoned Oakwell Farms School for Girls. While on a research trip to this old school, she has an accident and becomes unconscious. When she awakens, she has brought back a ghost that is connected to her. She feels a sense of wanting revenge, and the truth to be revealed. Alternating between the past and present, you see the horrors of what happened at this school, and Hazel's days as a high schooler and what she goes through. It's an atmospheric and creepy read, and it's a perfect book to read during spooky season! Highly recommend!
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
September 13, 2025
I never really thought much about the troubled teen industry or the correctional facilities kids were forced into back in the day. The brutal conditions they endured and the rampant abuse are not something most of us focus on, unless something else of similar magnitude brings them to light. It wasn’t until joining Bookstagram that I discovered 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 by Tananarive Due. The emotional impact of that book, and the way it paid tribute to boys (and I’m sure girls as well) who suffered in real life because of the color of their skin, often worse than any fictional depiction could convey, with many not even surviving, left an indelible mark on me. Then I read 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 by Diana Rodriguez Wallach and a new, deeper sadness was instilled in me. Although it strongly differs from 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 similarly stands as a testament to those who endured systemic cruelty in more recent times. It scared me in a way that feels painfully immediate and too close to home.
Reading this book made me particularly sad in how it expands the scope of injustice. It is not just historical racism or cruelty. It is the layered discrimination against vulnerable groups in an ostensibly modern era: foster youth, LGBTQ+, runaways, and children labeled as “different.” That systemic cruelty, often hidden in plain sight within the troubled teen industry, is as terrifying as any haunting. Hazel, the FMC’s, journey to uncover the truth becomes an act of empathy and remembrance, giving voice to those erased by neglect and abuse.
In the end, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 lingers not because of jump scares or ghostly apparitions, but because of its tenderness toward the unseen. It asks readers to listen to the echoes of past injustices, to confront haunted histories with compassion, and to recognize that some spirits remain restless not out of malice, but because they were never given a voice in life. Wallach’s novel is a haunting, deeply empathetic, and ultimately necessary testament to the importance of remembering and bearing witness.
(𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝘿𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨, 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠!)
Reading this book made me particularly sad in how it expands the scope of injustice. It is not just historical racism or cruelty. It is the layered discrimination against vulnerable groups in an ostensibly modern era: foster youth, LGBTQ+, runaways, and children labeled as “different.” That systemic cruelty, often hidden in plain sight within the troubled teen industry, is as terrifying as any haunting. Hazel, the FMC’s, journey to uncover the truth becomes an act of empathy and remembrance, giving voice to those erased by neglect and abuse.
In the end, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 lingers not because of jump scares or ghostly apparitions, but because of its tenderness toward the unseen. It asks readers to listen to the echoes of past injustices, to confront haunted histories with compassion, and to recognize that some spirits remain restless not out of malice, but because they were never given a voice in life. Wallach’s novel is a haunting, deeply empathetic, and ultimately necessary testament to the importance of remembering and bearing witness.
(𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝘿𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨, 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠!)
September 23, 2025
I graduated high school in 2000, but I never knew about the extent of the reform schools that made up the troubled teen industry at that time, schools that claimed to be tough love summer camps but were abusing and murdering children behind closed doors. This is a YA Latinx horror in the vein of The Reformatory that was inspired by two real-life reform schools, The Sleighton Farm School and The Glen Mills Schools.
The story switches POVs between Hazel, a teenager in the present day, who is doing a school history project on an abandoned farm school, and 1995, flashing back to the past when her aunt, Dierdre, was incarcerated there at 16. The past chapters detail the brutality of these schools in creepy, lurid detail, starting when Dierdre was kidnapped from her home and placed in solitary confinement after coming out to her parents as gay.
In the present day, Hazel falls through the roof when her project group visits the farm, and becomes possessed by the spirit of Dierdre, who won't rest until all the dirty secrets of The Farm are literally unburied.
I was drawn to these characters and their typical teen social dramas set against the backdrop of a harrowing part of near history that has been hidden. It did an excellent job at layering real life horrors with the supernatural, and building the dread of the haunting. I love books about complicated family relationships and dark secrets, and this had that in spades.
I hope more of these books and documentaries come out like this to expose this very recent past of the horrors of the troubled teen industry. This industry is also not a thing of the past and receives little oversight. Perhaps the greatest horror of all is when an adult in a position of trust turns out to betray you in the worst way possible.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story switches POVs between Hazel, a teenager in the present day, who is doing a school history project on an abandoned farm school, and 1995, flashing back to the past when her aunt, Dierdre, was incarcerated there at 16. The past chapters detail the brutality of these schools in creepy, lurid detail, starting when Dierdre was kidnapped from her home and placed in solitary confinement after coming out to her parents as gay.
In the present day, Hazel falls through the roof when her project group visits the farm, and becomes possessed by the spirit of Dierdre, who won't rest until all the dirty secrets of The Farm are literally unburied.
I was drawn to these characters and their typical teen social dramas set against the backdrop of a harrowing part of near history that has been hidden. It did an excellent job at layering real life horrors with the supernatural, and building the dread of the haunting. I love books about complicated family relationships and dark secrets, and this had that in spades.
I hope more of these books and documentaries come out like this to expose this very recent past of the horrors of the troubled teen industry. This industry is also not a thing of the past and receives little oversight. Perhaps the greatest horror of all is when an adult in a position of trust turns out to betray you in the worst way possible.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 21, 2025
This books was SO good. I listened to it via Audible. The narrator really brought the book to life. The book is about Hazel. Hazel is soft spoken, no friends, like one of the Hispanic kids in school. She is doing a group project about a landmark with the popular kids. They go to there land mark and she hears singing… she’s attracted to it and falls through the roof. When she wakes up in the hospital she feels different. Her vision is better and starts seeing things that aren’t there… what did she bring home with her…..and how can she get rid of it.
April 22, 2025
✨✨✨Unsettling & Thought Provoking Ghost Story✨✨✨
The Silenced is a suspenseful and chilling read with something very thought provoking to say!
I really liked the MC, Hazel, and all of the characters were written very well. I really appreciated that the chapters alternated between present day and 1995 as well. I think that really added to the story. Honestly, the whole book was written extremely well!!
I really enjoyed this unsettling YA horror novel and the important/powerful message about TTI (Troubled Teen Industry) programs behind it. This one is definitely more than just an eerie ghost story! This is well worth reading!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book will be released September 16, 2025.
The Silenced is a suspenseful and chilling read with something very thought provoking to say!
I really liked the MC, Hazel, and all of the characters were written very well. I really appreciated that the chapters alternated between present day and 1995 as well. I think that really added to the story. Honestly, the whole book was written extremely well!!
I really enjoyed this unsettling YA horror novel and the important/powerful message about TTI (Troubled Teen Industry) programs behind it. This one is definitely more than just an eerie ghost story! This is well worth reading!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book will be released September 16, 2025.
September 18, 2025
The Silenced by Diana Rodriguez Wallach
This was a fantastic YA horror that felt way too realistic at times. Hazel accidentally gets haunted by a ghost, and things quickly spiral, from sudden violent impulses to terrifying visions of a girl looming in the mirrors or her reflection. As the story unfolds, Hazel uncovers the identity of the ghost and the chilling truth about how she died.
I especially loved the dual POV between the past and present, which slowly reveals the horrific abuse and injustice the girls at Oakwell Farms School for Girls endured. It’s a different kind of scary, not just supernatural, but rooted in the real-life horrors of reform schools and camps where children have historically been mistreated and even buried in secrecy.
Diana Rodriguez Wallach’s writing is sharp and immersive. Hazel’s inner thoughts and the dialogue are compelling, making this book hard to put down. It’s definitely one of those stories that sticks with you long after you’ve finished it.
If you're in the mood for a haunting, emotional, and socially relevant YA horror, The Silenced is absolutely worth the read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Delacorte Press for the eARC.
This was a fantastic YA horror that felt way too realistic at times. Hazel accidentally gets haunted by a ghost, and things quickly spiral, from sudden violent impulses to terrifying visions of a girl looming in the mirrors or her reflection. As the story unfolds, Hazel uncovers the identity of the ghost and the chilling truth about how she died.
I especially loved the dual POV between the past and present, which slowly reveals the horrific abuse and injustice the girls at Oakwell Farms School for Girls endured. It’s a different kind of scary, not just supernatural, but rooted in the real-life horrors of reform schools and camps where children have historically been mistreated and even buried in secrecy.
Diana Rodriguez Wallach’s writing is sharp and immersive. Hazel’s inner thoughts and the dialogue are compelling, making this book hard to put down. It’s definitely one of those stories that sticks with you long after you’ve finished it.
If you're in the mood for a haunting, emotional, and socially relevant YA horror, The Silenced is absolutely worth the read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Delacorte Press for the eARC.
October 8, 2025
Update: the more I think about it the more I like it. My initial 4.25 was due to it being YA which honestly isn’t fair since it’s marketed as YA.
A great blend of real life horror and supernatural elements presented in an easily digestible style.
Despite the age difference (I have kids as old or older than Hazel) I was able to relate and root for her. She’s incredibly likable as a character. Latinx culture is front and center and it was a joy to read a family that reminded me so much of mine.
The central mystery is both heartbreaking and enraging, and sadly all to real still.
My only complaint is that I wanted more time with Deirdre and to have her experience take more space in the narrative.
Would recommend!
A great blend of real life horror and supernatural elements presented in an easily digestible style.
Despite the age difference (I have kids as old or older than Hazel) I was able to relate and root for her. She’s incredibly likable as a character. Latinx culture is front and center and it was a joy to read a family that reminded me so much of mine.
The central mystery is both heartbreaking and enraging, and sadly all to real still.
My only complaint is that I wanted more time with Deirdre and to have her experience take more space in the narrative.
Would recommend!
May 19, 2025
The Silenced is edge of seat thrilling, a very well-researched YA horror novel that gives a voice to the Troubled Teen Industry by flipping back & forth between an outcast teen girl of today & a girl yearning to survive one of those facilities in 1995. Hazel and Maddie, her younger sister, are each perfect by their own standards in their parents' eyes and never truly disrupt the status quo, thus keeping peace in the family and publicly, but that all changes with Hazel's group history project. A local history project seems simple, especially with a classmate's connection to the landmark, but some truths lie buried from the youth of today. Ghosts linger at The Farm because of trauma wrought upon them during their stay, which leaves Hazel and others puzzling together the pieces to provide a much needed microphone.
I love how Wallach digs deep for historical facts behind the stories she wishes to tell, especially the chilling truth of Sleighton Farm School for Girls. The polished details refine the story, setting, and characters with unsettling nuance that urged me to learn more about places like The Farm and those survivors and victims. The connections families in The Silenced have to the abomination of a "school" lingers in my mind, wondering what sort of situations could drive parents to send their daughters away and what types of people hit the end of their ropes with children in that way or how someone could justify running a facility like the one featured here. Relationships of the novel among friends, family, and romances feel natural from the heartwarming to the snarkiness, and their realness further brings the reality that people have lived (or not) through these ordeal in our world home.
Note: I read the entire second half of the book in one day, partly because of the fast pace and partly because of the CONSTANT intrigue.
Huge thanks to Random House Children's /Delacorte Press and Netgalley for access to an early copy.
I love how Wallach digs deep for historical facts behind the stories she wishes to tell, especially the chilling truth of Sleighton Farm School for Girls. The polished details refine the story, setting, and characters with unsettling nuance that urged me to learn more about places like The Farm and those survivors and victims. The connections families in The Silenced have to the abomination of a "school" lingers in my mind, wondering what sort of situations could drive parents to send their daughters away and what types of people hit the end of their ropes with children in that way or how someone could justify running a facility like the one featured here. Relationships of the novel among friends, family, and romances feel natural from the heartwarming to the snarkiness, and their realness further brings the reality that people have lived (or not) through these ordeal in our world home.
Note: I read the entire second half of the book in one day, partly because of the fast pace and partly because of the CONSTANT intrigue.
Huge thanks to Random House Children's /Delacorte Press and Netgalley for access to an early copy.
May 23, 2025
The Silenced was just WOW. I got this book not knowing that it took place practically in my back yard. I was so excited to learn some Philadelphia Suburb history and I loved that Diana included the history of the farm and ended the book with resources and what is being done to fix this broken system - I hope you read the afterward it is eye opening to the real issues that are still happening. This book absolutely floored me, I felt like there were some parts that felt slow but I am so happy I stuck around to the end because it did not miss. Once I made it to the second half the book I FLEW through it, every chapter leaves you wanting more, and at the edge of your seat. Hazel goes through a lot in this book and I think it perfectly portrays the struggle of a high schooler - with a few paranormal additions - the fight for a social life, keeping grades high, and keeping a good relationship with family and friends, and dealing with the trials and tribulations of just being a high schooler - I felt like I was back in the halls of my high school.
I honestly do not think I could recommend this book more, I this is was an easy read as it is a YA book, but do not let that fool you, there were creepy scenes that felt so so real and left me speechless. This book opens up a conversation while entertaining you with thrills and chills.
Thank you to Diana Rodriguez Wallace, NetGalley, and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I honestly do not think I could recommend this book more, I this is was an easy read as it is a YA book, but do not let that fool you, there were creepy scenes that felt so so real and left me speechless. This book opens up a conversation while entertaining you with thrills and chills.
Thank you to Diana Rodriguez Wallace, NetGalley, and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️️ 5/5 STARS
i LOVE this book. it's creepy, emotional, tragic, devastating, horrifically vivid, and is derivative of real-life experiences from survivors. The Silenced's main story sheds light on the torture and ab*se experienced by teens who were "sent away" by their parents (or judge-ordered) for "bad" behavior. you've probably heard stories about the Troubled-Teen Industry, might have even seen documentaries, read about it somewhere, or heard Paris Hilton talk about her own personal experience as a survivor... and all of it is shocking and atrocious. but i'm sure none will ever compare to the stories of those whose humanity was stripped and voices silenced eternally.
this book focuses on Hazel Perez and her ties to "The Farm", a place that is owned by her former bestfriend's family; a place that previously housed teenage girls sent there by their families. after a harrowing accident there, Hazel is being haunted by a girl who lived, and possibly died, at The Farm. this haunting leads Hazel to unlocking this mysterious girl's experiences and the dark truths about the place, simultaneously causing her to lose control of herself and act on the anger of the spirit that's latched on to her.
there's a lot of grief in this book that is palpable and well written. it isn't just grief of losing a loved one, it's loss of friendships/relationships, loss of freedom, or just losing time to spend with loved ones. it's layered with anger for similar reasons. one of my many favorite things about "The Silenced" is the cast of characters. they all have a personality that's real and believable, which allows the reader to like, love, or hate them. you're able to truly empathize with so many characters, and i praise the author for that. i loved Maddie and Abuela, especially when it came to supporting Hazel when she needed them most. Maddie is a true ride or d*e sister, foreal!
i enjoyed how this book touches on the practice of Espiritismo, or spiritualism, taught to Hazel and Maddie by their grandmother. it's something very similar to how it is practiced in my culture (i'm Filipino). how everything unravels is absolutely gut wrenching. you're angry for the girls, and, more so, you're angry for all the hidden truths and lies. i ugly sobbed at the end.
all in all, i HIGHLY recommend this book for everyone. i think this is something worth reading for future generations in hopes to create a void in the Troubled-Teen Industry. places like this should not exist. young men and women shouldn't be treated worse than criminals for acting like teens, their sexual identity, or for simply existing. it's inhumane. this author touched this subject so well in a way i feel would be easy to digest for anyone. she could have gone into darker stories, but she didn't.
thank you to the publisher and author for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy via NetGalley. i leave this review of my own volition. all thoughts and opinions are my own.
i LOVE this book. it's creepy, emotional, tragic, devastating, horrifically vivid, and is derivative of real-life experiences from survivors. The Silenced's main story sheds light on the torture and ab*se experienced by teens who were "sent away" by their parents (or judge-ordered) for "bad" behavior. you've probably heard stories about the Troubled-Teen Industry, might have even seen documentaries, read about it somewhere, or heard Paris Hilton talk about her own personal experience as a survivor... and all of it is shocking and atrocious. but i'm sure none will ever compare to the stories of those whose humanity was stripped and voices silenced eternally.
this book focuses on Hazel Perez and her ties to "The Farm", a place that is owned by her former bestfriend's family; a place that previously housed teenage girls sent there by their families. after a harrowing accident there, Hazel is being haunted by a girl who lived, and possibly died, at The Farm. this haunting leads Hazel to unlocking this mysterious girl's experiences and the dark truths about the place, simultaneously causing her to lose control of herself and act on the anger of the spirit that's latched on to her.
there's a lot of grief in this book that is palpable and well written. it isn't just grief of losing a loved one, it's loss of friendships/relationships, loss of freedom, or just losing time to spend with loved ones. it's layered with anger for similar reasons. one of my many favorite things about "The Silenced" is the cast of characters. they all have a personality that's real and believable, which allows the reader to like, love, or hate them. you're able to truly empathize with so many characters, and i praise the author for that. i loved Maddie and Abuela, especially when it came to supporting Hazel when she needed them most. Maddie is a true ride or d*e sister, foreal!
i enjoyed how this book touches on the practice of Espiritismo, or spiritualism, taught to Hazel and Maddie by their grandmother. it's something very similar to how it is practiced in my culture (i'm Filipino). how everything unravels is absolutely gut wrenching. you're angry for the girls, and, more so, you're angry for all the hidden truths and lies. i ugly sobbed at the end.
all in all, i HIGHLY recommend this book for everyone. i think this is something worth reading for future generations in hopes to create a void in the Troubled-Teen Industry. places like this should not exist. young men and women shouldn't be treated worse than criminals for acting like teens, their sexual identity, or for simply existing. it's inhumane. this author touched this subject so well in a way i feel would be easy to digest for anyone. she could have gone into darker stories, but she didn't.
thank you to the publisher and author for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy via NetGalley. i leave this review of my own volition. all thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 28, 2025
Based off of two real reform schools, Glen Mills and Sleighton Farm, The Silenced gives voices back to those who lost them in the troubled teen industry.
In 1995, a teenaged girl is kidnapped and sent to The Farm, a reform camp for troubled girls like her. Suffering unimaginable abuse, she begins to plot her escape. In modern day, Hazel is an ordinary teen girl, just trying to get through highschool, but when she’s added to her former friend’s history project group, nothing is very ordinary anymore.
After a prank gone wrong when researching the abandoned Farm, a spirit attaches herself to Hazel. She can’t control anything when this girl takes over- and Hazel is going to need to find out answers in order to free her. But more things are buried in the soil at The Farm than just the remains of crops, and in both family’s pasts….
The Silenced was an absolutely incredible horror story with a powerful message. Make sure you check this one out! Thank you to Delacorte Press and Netgalley for the e-arc!
In 1995, a teenaged girl is kidnapped and sent to The Farm, a reform camp for troubled girls like her. Suffering unimaginable abuse, she begins to plot her escape. In modern day, Hazel is an ordinary teen girl, just trying to get through highschool, but when she’s added to her former friend’s history project group, nothing is very ordinary anymore.
After a prank gone wrong when researching the abandoned Farm, a spirit attaches herself to Hazel. She can’t control anything when this girl takes over- and Hazel is going to need to find out answers in order to free her. But more things are buried in the soil at The Farm than just the remains of crops, and in both family’s pasts….
The Silenced was an absolutely incredible horror story with a powerful message. Make sure you check this one out! Thank you to Delacorte Press and Netgalley for the e-arc!
November 1, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
THE SILENCED by Diana Rodriguez Wallach
When Hazel Perez pairs up with her ex best friend on a school project, she thinks it'll be another assignment. After visiting The Farm, something changes. Hazel is set on revenge, seeing visions of another girl's life. As she investigates, she unearths a gruesome history.
THE SILENCED is a YA mystery/thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat---especially the last 100 pages. This dual-timeline book is gripping while delving into something intense. There's haunted vibes, and as a reader I couldn't help but feel sorry for everyone. The characters, for the most part, are likeable and this book moves quickly. This is a very thought proking and powerful piece. Highly, highly recommend.
THE SILENCED by Diana Rodriguez Wallach
When Hazel Perez pairs up with her ex best friend on a school project, she thinks it'll be another assignment. After visiting The Farm, something changes. Hazel is set on revenge, seeing visions of another girl's life. As she investigates, she unearths a gruesome history.
THE SILENCED is a YA mystery/thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat---especially the last 100 pages. This dual-timeline book is gripping while delving into something intense. There's haunted vibes, and as a reader I couldn't help but feel sorry for everyone. The characters, for the most part, are likeable and this book moves quickly. This is a very thought proking and powerful piece. Highly, highly recommend.
October 28, 2025
Wow. I didn't expect this to be so good or to make me feel so emotional! It really goes after the troubled teen industry (as it should!!). The stuff that happens at this "reform school"/conversion therapy/labor camp is truly horrific, and yet it all feels grounded in reality. You can tell that the author really did her research here. A really well-done YA horror that deals with a real issue without feeling didactic or after-school-special-y.
October 7, 2025
4.5 stars.
This one had me worried when it started. It felt very middle grade/childish for a YA book. But once it got going.... it GOT GOING and it didn't stop until the book ended.
This one had me worried when it started. It felt very middle grade/childish for a YA book. But once it got going.... it GOT GOING and it didn't stop until the book ended.
November 20, 2025
Review coming shortly. WOW
September 29, 2025
Written in the way truly great horror is written to tell the harsh realities of life… definitely recommended for anyone who loves horror and works to advocate for children and youth
October 20, 2025
This book is exceptional. A dramatic, intense, and important read. I loved it!
October 6, 2025
Based on real events, this YA horror story featuring a Latinx teen who is forced to work on a group project about a former home for troubled teens was part horror story, part paranormal haunted house mystery and was told in dual timelines from the present and the 1990s where a gay teen girl is sent to this home to be 'reformed.'
I didn't realize that there was a term for these homes and that the 'Troubled Teen Industry' (TTI) was so huge and has affected such a large number of lives in America. Great on audio and a perfect #SpookySeason or #LatinxHeritageMonth read. Recommended for fans of books like Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
CW: racism, homophobia
I didn't realize that there was a term for these homes and that the 'Troubled Teen Industry' (TTI) was so huge and has affected such a large number of lives in America. Great on audio and a perfect #SpookySeason or #LatinxHeritageMonth read. Recommended for fans of books like Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
CW: racism, homophobia
March 30, 2025
This book had a supernatural undertone while bringing to light the awful horrors that teens endure as part of the TTI (troubled teen industry). It was an interesting read for sure!
September 8, 2025
#TheSilenced by #DianaRodriguezWallach is a phenominal read that is hard to put down. Loosely based off from Glen Mills a boys reform school in Pennsylvania that was shut down in 2019, Diana through a work of fiction explores what it may have been like at the girls reform school about 20 miles away. While this novel is a work of fiction these types of places exist even today where atrocities are commited under the guise of correcting children or leading them back to the proper path. These places are not closely monitored by the state or governments that they are located within and because of that are able to get away with things that should never occur. With #TheSilenced it brings to light the awful things that can happen, have happened and are happening even as you read this review. So upon reading this book I hope you take to heart what you read and that someday we can find a way to stop these things from happening ever again.
Hazel Perez has felt invisible since her older sister Angelina passed away, since her best friend and their family started acting as though Hazel and her family no longer existed. She has drifted through school and life since not knowing why Becca her once best friend has become her enemy. In a class that Hazel has with Becca they are given an assignment for history and of course its a grou[p project. As usual Hazel finds herself without a group but after coming to Becca's defense she finds herself in a group with her once best friend. Hazel is out voted on the subject of the project and finds herself at The Farm. A place own by Becca's family, a reform school that has been closed down for years now after a fire broke out.
Deidre wakes one night to find two strange men in her room demanding she get up and come with them that they are here to fix her. She screams for help from her parents as she is dragged from her home but she is stunned to see her parents sitting in the dark in their living room ignoring the entire thing. After a drive to the middle of nowhere she gets her first look at The Farm the place where unbeknownst to her, her entire life is going to not only change but end.
The Farm is full of dark secrets and malignant spirits. A palce steeped in so much anger and pain is bound to be harboring dark energy. Hazel learns this first hand when just like Deidre The Farm changes her life forever, not only hers but those around her as well. The truth tends to come out and after getting hurt at The Farm Hazel realizes that something or someone came home with her. She feels things that aren't her own, she has headaches and feels as though something is constantly clutching at her. One look at her reflection is enough to confirm that something is terribly wrong. A grotesque person is attached to her back, bloody, emaciated and very angry. Hazel begins a fight for her body but also a fight to learn the truth and uncover so many buried secerets of not only her family but Becca's family as well.
I cannot thank #Netgalley and #DelacortePress for the chance to read an Earc of #TheSilenced by #DianaRodriguezWallach in return for a fair and honest review.
Hazel Perez has felt invisible since her older sister Angelina passed away, since her best friend and their family started acting as though Hazel and her family no longer existed. She has drifted through school and life since not knowing why Becca her once best friend has become her enemy. In a class that Hazel has with Becca they are given an assignment for history and of course its a grou[p project. As usual Hazel finds herself without a group but after coming to Becca's defense she finds herself in a group with her once best friend. Hazel is out voted on the subject of the project and finds herself at The Farm. A place own by Becca's family, a reform school that has been closed down for years now after a fire broke out.
Deidre wakes one night to find two strange men in her room demanding she get up and come with them that they are here to fix her. She screams for help from her parents as she is dragged from her home but she is stunned to see her parents sitting in the dark in their living room ignoring the entire thing. After a drive to the middle of nowhere she gets her first look at The Farm the place where unbeknownst to her, her entire life is going to not only change but end.
The Farm is full of dark secrets and malignant spirits. A palce steeped in so much anger and pain is bound to be harboring dark energy. Hazel learns this first hand when just like Deidre The Farm changes her life forever, not only hers but those around her as well. The truth tends to come out and after getting hurt at The Farm Hazel realizes that something or someone came home with her. She feels things that aren't her own, she has headaches and feels as though something is constantly clutching at her. One look at her reflection is enough to confirm that something is terribly wrong. A grotesque person is attached to her back, bloody, emaciated and very angry. Hazel begins a fight for her body but also a fight to learn the truth and uncover so many buried secerets of not only her family but Becca's family as well.
I cannot thank #Netgalley and #DelacortePress for the chance to read an Earc of #TheSilenced by #DianaRodriguezWallach in return for a fair and honest review.
September 11, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
The Silenced by Diana Rodriguez Wallach is a mixed first and third person dual-POV YA horror set in the present day and 1995. Hazel is a dedicated student who tries to keep her head down and is fine not being seen. But when she sticks up for her former best friend, Becca, in class, she finds herself becoming intertwined in Becca’s family once again and discovering secrets both families are keeping. In 1995, Deirdre is sent to The Farm by her parents after she comes out as gay in an attempt to change her.
The chapters set in 1995 have to deal with a troubled teen establishment, particularly one that takes in teen girls including Queer ones, in order to ‘fix’ them when their parents claim they are out of control. There have been a lot of conversations in the past few years about the industry and it never gets any easier to hear about these programs and the things that happened in them. Diana Rodriguez Wallach puts the homophobia, misery, anger, power abuse, and more that you would expect from the premise all on page though it is toned down for a teen audience.
The horror elements were quite well done. Sometimes when I read horror, I can immediately see why the story works better in prose because so much of it doesn’t really work in visual media because it requires imagining the unimaginable and letting that horror of not knowing how to picture something do a lot of the work. This is more visual-reader and visual media-friendly concept but there are a few details, such as when Deidre and Hazel first come in contact, that works best within prose.
Between Hazel and Deidre, I think I preferred Deidre’s narrative. While it is much harder to read and depicts some brutal moments, there is something very raw in her chapters and a lot is done in a very short amount of time. There is no escape for her and she knows there isn’t and it only increases her fury at the mistreatment she and the other girls are feeling and that anger carries over into Hazel when they make contact.
Content warning for depictions of abuse and homophobia
I would recommend this to fans of YA horror who enjoy horror centered on real world issues and readers of supernatural horror who want a YA
The Silenced by Diana Rodriguez Wallach is a mixed first and third person dual-POV YA horror set in the present day and 1995. Hazel is a dedicated student who tries to keep her head down and is fine not being seen. But when she sticks up for her former best friend, Becca, in class, she finds herself becoming intertwined in Becca’s family once again and discovering secrets both families are keeping. In 1995, Deirdre is sent to The Farm by her parents after she comes out as gay in an attempt to change her.
The chapters set in 1995 have to deal with a troubled teen establishment, particularly one that takes in teen girls including Queer ones, in order to ‘fix’ them when their parents claim they are out of control. There have been a lot of conversations in the past few years about the industry and it never gets any easier to hear about these programs and the things that happened in them. Diana Rodriguez Wallach puts the homophobia, misery, anger, power abuse, and more that you would expect from the premise all on page though it is toned down for a teen audience.
The horror elements were quite well done. Sometimes when I read horror, I can immediately see why the story works better in prose because so much of it doesn’t really work in visual media because it requires imagining the unimaginable and letting that horror of not knowing how to picture something do a lot of the work. This is more visual-reader and visual media-friendly concept but there are a few details, such as when Deidre and Hazel first come in contact, that works best within prose.
Between Hazel and Deidre, I think I preferred Deidre’s narrative. While it is much harder to read and depicts some brutal moments, there is something very raw in her chapters and a lot is done in a very short amount of time. There is no escape for her and she knows there isn’t and it only increases her fury at the mistreatment she and the other girls are feeling and that anger carries over into Hazel when they make contact.
Content warning for depictions of abuse and homophobia
I would recommend this to fans of YA horror who enjoy horror centered on real world issues and readers of supernatural horror who want a YA
October 5, 2025
Here we have quiet Hazel Perez trying to survive high school while being the perfect daughter and student. When one day she decided to speak up in class, and that landed her in a group she didn't want to be a part of for a group project, with her estranged BFF Becca and her friends. The history class project ends up being about Becca's family-owned Oakwell Farms School for Girls, or what's left of it. When a late-night trip to "The Farm," as they called it, ends with Hazel falling from the roof and unconscious, the next thing she knows, she has a ghost attached to her, and she needs to find a way to get it off. What secrets and truths will be revealed when she does?
I barely read horror, but when I found out the ARC was available on Netgalley, I just had to jump in. I've already read Small Town Monsters from Diana, and I was sure I would love The Silenced.
This book gave me chills, happiness, sadness, horror, and hope. I absolutely loved the characters Hazel, Maddie, and abuela; they were my favorite trio. That beautiful bond between sisters will never be matched. They reminded me of my mami and my tití. The abuela reminds me of my bisabuela Helena and the few stories my mom told me about her. The dual timeline was perfect because we got to experience the ghosts pov and how she tried to survive the nightmare she was in. Nobody deserves to live like that, and no parent should subject their offspring to these places. There were a couple of scenes that stopped me in my tracks and made me gasp, but I'll leave those out for the reader to find. It's crazy going down the rabbit hole to look for information on historic places; much of the time, what we find isn't so nice, and then we can't unsee it, we have to speak up. The fact that there are places still operating like this is unfathomable, and I thank the author for giving the victims a voice in her own way, through this novel. And for opening a space and providing resources at the end for the reader to learn more, so keep reading, and you'll find that info. Also, go check out her socials, because she takes you on an actual tour of the place this novel is based on.
Check for trigger warnings for this book.
I barely read horror, but when I found out the ARC was available on Netgalley, I just had to jump in. I've already read Small Town Monsters from Diana, and I was sure I would love The Silenced.
This book gave me chills, happiness, sadness, horror, and hope. I absolutely loved the characters Hazel, Maddie, and abuela; they were my favorite trio. That beautiful bond between sisters will never be matched. They reminded me of my mami and my tití. The abuela reminds me of my bisabuela Helena and the few stories my mom told me about her. The dual timeline was perfect because we got to experience the ghosts pov and how she tried to survive the nightmare she was in. Nobody deserves to live like that, and no parent should subject their offspring to these places. There were a couple of scenes that stopped me in my tracks and made me gasp, but I'll leave those out for the reader to find. It's crazy going down the rabbit hole to look for information on historic places; much of the time, what we find isn't so nice, and then we can't unsee it, we have to speak up. The fact that there are places still operating like this is unfathomable, and I thank the author for giving the victims a voice in her own way, through this novel. And for opening a space and providing resources at the end for the reader to learn more, so keep reading, and you'll find that info. Also, go check out her socials, because she takes you on an actual tour of the place this novel is based on.
Check for trigger warnings for this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2025
One thing I liked about this book was its unique take on possession. What it looked like, sounded like and felt like. Very creepy and disturbing.
I also enjoyed how this author brought in a historically based, but fictional place that not only was scary in a horror book sense but also in a this-stuff-really-happened-to-kids-and-teens sense. It brought an important issue to light and made this book,for me, even more emotionally charged. It’s rare in horror books that I’ve read to get fictional entertainment with serious real life issues that need to be discussed. I’m not going to lie, it got me crying in a couple spots. I felt for the characters and for so many boys and girls who were subjected to physical and emotional abuse in these schools and camps,etc that were supposed to help make them stronger but instead broke them down. In some cases, killed them.
On a lighter note, I also enjoyed references to the Philadelphia PA area since I’ve lived in several counties near Philly.
I know this is considered YA but please don’t let that discourage you from reading it if that’s generally not your thing. This was really good! I enjoyed the writing and as I’ve said, it dealt with possession and historically charged issues, as well as spiritual conjurings, loss of a sister, friend/peer issues, lgbtq relationships, and Latin culture.
I will definitely read more of this author’s work and really want a physical copy for my bookshelf!
4.5stars rounded up to 5⭐️
As always I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I also enjoyed how this author brought in a historically based, but fictional place that not only was scary in a horror book sense but also in a this-stuff-really-happened-to-kids-and-teens sense. It brought an important issue to light and made this book,for me, even more emotionally charged. It’s rare in horror books that I’ve read to get fictional entertainment with serious real life issues that need to be discussed. I’m not going to lie, it got me crying in a couple spots. I felt for the characters and for so many boys and girls who were subjected to physical and emotional abuse in these schools and camps,etc that were supposed to help make them stronger but instead broke them down. In some cases, killed them.
On a lighter note, I also enjoyed references to the Philadelphia PA area since I’ve lived in several counties near Philly.
I know this is considered YA but please don’t let that discourage you from reading it if that’s generally not your thing. This was really good! I enjoyed the writing and as I’ve said, it dealt with possession and historically charged issues, as well as spiritual conjurings, loss of a sister, friend/peer issues, lgbtq relationships, and Latin culture.
I will definitely read more of this author’s work and really want a physical copy for my bookshelf!
4.5stars rounded up to 5⭐️
As always I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 26, 2025
This is an excellent Young Adult Horror novel. It’s just the right amount of creepy. There are hints to abuse, without saying exactly what happened in a descriptive manner. You will clearly know what happened, but just don’t get unnecessarily description. It really checks all the marks for a perfect YA book.
Reading this as an adult, I can tell you I was all in. From the first page you are sucked in. Hazel is one of those likeable and relatable characters, a bit of a loner with a big brain. The best part, she has medium abilities! Because she is a teenager who just realizes this gift, the story becomes full of unpredictable drama.
The possession ( I don’t think this is a spoiler), was well written. It was really about getting the truth out through the voices of the girls from the reform school. Not so much focus on the actual possession, but why it was happening in the first place. Hazel and Deirdre have each of their perspectives given, from different timelines. This helps give the story of the Farm, and how it is perceived now.
I really enjoyed this book, but was sad to know it’s based on real events. These retraining/ reform schools existed, with the abuse. The author makes note of her inspiration for the story, and references the Troubled Teen Industry, which is so important.
Reading this as an adult, I can tell you I was all in. From the first page you are sucked in. Hazel is one of those likeable and relatable characters, a bit of a loner with a big brain. The best part, she has medium abilities! Because she is a teenager who just realizes this gift, the story becomes full of unpredictable drama.
The possession ( I don’t think this is a spoiler), was well written. It was really about getting the truth out through the voices of the girls from the reform school. Not so much focus on the actual possession, but why it was happening in the first place. Hazel and Deirdre have each of their perspectives given, from different timelines. This helps give the story of the Farm, and how it is perceived now.
I really enjoyed this book, but was sad to know it’s based on real events. These retraining/ reform schools existed, with the abuse. The author makes note of her inspiration for the story, and references the Troubled Teen Industry, which is so important.
November 17, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Welcome to The Farm.
Where the halls are empty… but nothing is quiet.
Hazel Perez thinks she’s just doing a school project on Oakwell Farms School for Girls—a rundown relic locals only mention in hushed voices. Then one late-night research trip knocks her out cold… and she wakes up carrying someone else’s rage.
Now Hazel’s fighting urges she doesn’t recognize, driven by a voice that isn’t hers. The only way to shut it down? Dig into the past.
What she uncovers: girls trapped behind its walls, men who controlled everything, and spirits who never left. And they’re not done telling their story.
With unlikely allies and danger at every turn, Hazel has to untangle corruption, family secrets, and the supernatural pull of The Farm…
before the ghosts claiming her finally take over.
Wow, this one kept me on the edge of my seat. Paranormal activity mixed with realistic horror and a little bit of possession mixed in! The story, told via dual timeline POVs, is a look at reform schools for girls and how the trauma they experienced there carries on throughout their lives and afterlives. Rodriguez-Wallach takes historical facts and blends it with present day issues and does it in a way that keeps the reader pushing through. The last 150 pages had me reading faster and faster, with twists that I did NOT see coming! I liked that the author included her research at the end of the book, it was fascinating to read about the reform school that the story is based on.
Welcome to The Farm.
Where the halls are empty… but nothing is quiet.
Hazel Perez thinks she’s just doing a school project on Oakwell Farms School for Girls—a rundown relic locals only mention in hushed voices. Then one late-night research trip knocks her out cold… and she wakes up carrying someone else’s rage.
Now Hazel’s fighting urges she doesn’t recognize, driven by a voice that isn’t hers. The only way to shut it down? Dig into the past.
What she uncovers: girls trapped behind its walls, men who controlled everything, and spirits who never left. And they’re not done telling their story.
With unlikely allies and danger at every turn, Hazel has to untangle corruption, family secrets, and the supernatural pull of The Farm…
before the ghosts claiming her finally take over.
Wow, this one kept me on the edge of my seat. Paranormal activity mixed with realistic horror and a little bit of possession mixed in! The story, told via dual timeline POVs, is a look at reform schools for girls and how the trauma they experienced there carries on throughout their lives and afterlives. Rodriguez-Wallach takes historical facts and blends it with present day issues and does it in a way that keeps the reader pushing through. The last 150 pages had me reading faster and faster, with twists that I did NOT see coming! I liked that the author included her research at the end of the book, it was fascinating to read about the reform school that the story is based on.
September 17, 2025
All I can say is wow! This book absolutely floored me. I honestly didn’t even register that it’s a YA novel because the writing is so sharp and immersive. From page one, I was hooked.
The story is told through two perspectives — Hazel, who survives a terrible accident at the Farm and begins experiencing hauntings, and Deirdre, the ghost of a girl who once lived (and suffered) there. Both voices are powerful, and the way their narratives intertwine pulls you straight into the heart of the story. You don’t just read about the abuse at Oakwell Farms, you feel it. The atmosphere is thick and unsettling; the descriptions so vivid you can practically see, smell, and breathe in the horror of what these girls endured.
Yes, there are ghosts and creepy moments, but the real horror here is the abuse, cruelty, and systemic neglect inside the Troubled Teen Industry. The novel does an incredible job of shining a light on those truths and forcing readers to confront just how much has been covered up. That’s what lingers long after the last page.
I also highly recommend reading the author’s notes and research. This isn’t just a ghost story, it’s a necessary act of remembrance, a way to give voice to those who were silenced. Heartbreaking, powerful, and completely gripping from start to finish. One of my top reads of the year. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an early ebook copy in exchange for my honest review.
The story is told through two perspectives — Hazel, who survives a terrible accident at the Farm and begins experiencing hauntings, and Deirdre, the ghost of a girl who once lived (and suffered) there. Both voices are powerful, and the way their narratives intertwine pulls you straight into the heart of the story. You don’t just read about the abuse at Oakwell Farms, you feel it. The atmosphere is thick and unsettling; the descriptions so vivid you can practically see, smell, and breathe in the horror of what these girls endured.
Yes, there are ghosts and creepy moments, but the real horror here is the abuse, cruelty, and systemic neglect inside the Troubled Teen Industry. The novel does an incredible job of shining a light on those truths and forcing readers to confront just how much has been covered up. That’s what lingers long after the last page.
I also highly recommend reading the author’s notes and research. This isn’t just a ghost story, it’s a necessary act of remembrance, a way to give voice to those who were silenced. Heartbreaking, powerful, and completely gripping from start to finish. One of my top reads of the year. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an early ebook copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 7, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for the opportunity to read The Silenced by Diana Rodriguez Wallach.
Hazel is a bit of an outcast. Her perspective of the situation is relatable. The circumstances of a past friendship runs deeper than the 2 girls realize. Family history is blown wide open and necessary to investigate.
Wow! What a story this is… The layers upon layers in this story is deep. I sincerely appreciate this authors purpose behind writing this book. Especially to bring awareness and understanding of the past.
Hazel is a bit of an outcast. Her perspective of the situation is relatable. The circumstances of a past friendship runs deeper than the 2 girls realize. Family history is blown wide open and necessary to investigate.
Wow! What a story this is… The layers upon layers in this story is deep. I sincerely appreciate this authors purpose behind writing this book. Especially to bring awareness and understanding of the past.
September 23, 2025
I loved this book from the very start - Hazel is a character I found instantly relatable and immediately thought “if you don’t like Hazel you might be a Becca” - but of course nothing is so simple as what we’re first shown in this suspenseful thrill-ride. I’ve read about and heard about too many of these ‘reform schools’ to not spend the book gripped with tension, and the author delivers on all fronts. I know this is marketed for younger readers (teens and young adults) but it is a compelling read for all ages!
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