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Whispering Pines #1
Whispering Pines
A young boy and girl who must protect their small town from otherworldly forces threatening to destroy it.
Rae’s father vanished without a trace—and Rae knows what happened to him. But no one believes her when she says that her father didn’t run off, that he was actually taken. Now, a year of therapy later, Rae’s mother decides they need a fresh start, and so they move to a new town in the hope that life can return to normal.
The problem is, there is nothing normal about the town of Whispering Pines.
No one knows this better than Caden. He’s lived in Whispering Pines his entire life, and he’s seen more than his fair share of weird—starting with his own family, as the town is the perfect home base for his mother’s ghost hunting business.
When several kids go missing and then show up like zombies with their eyes removed, many locals brush it off. Just another day in Whispering Pines. But Caden has a dark secret, one that may explain why someone is stealing eyes. And Rae, who knows how it feels to not be believed, may be just the person Caden needs to help him put things right.
Rae’s father vanished without a trace—and Rae knows what happened to him. But no one believes her when she says that her father didn’t run off, that he was actually taken. Now, a year of therapy later, Rae’s mother decides they need a fresh start, and so they move to a new town in the hope that life can return to normal.
The problem is, there is nothing normal about the town of Whispering Pines.
No one knows this better than Caden. He’s lived in Whispering Pines his entire life, and he’s seen more than his fair share of weird—starting with his own family, as the town is the perfect home base for his mother’s ghost hunting business.
When several kids go missing and then show up like zombies with their eyes removed, many locals brush it off. Just another day in Whispering Pines. But Caden has a dark secret, one that may explain why someone is stealing eyes. And Rae, who knows how it feels to not be believed, may be just the person Caden needs to help him put things right.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2020
58 people are currently reading
2853 people want to read
About the author
Heidi Lang
15 books108 followersHeidi Lang believes that the next Grand Adventure is always just around the corner. She has chased her love of judo from the East to the West Coast, run ultramarathons, started her own dog-walking business, and converted a Sprinter van into a tiny home so she could experience #vanlife. Currently she lives in Washington with her husband, kids, and two dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 279 reviews
June 11, 2022
reread it and this is just as good as i remember 🤌🤌🤌
~~~~~~
Oh. My. God.
To say that I loved this book would be the understatement of the century. I'm absolutely and completely obsessed with it, is the truth of the matter.
I've always felt that middle-grade books have the best plot twists - YA can be extremely formulaic at times (and I haven't read enough adult books with plot twists to form an opinion on them) - and this book absolutely proves my point.
Whispering Pines follows Caden and Rae as they try to uncover the truth behind the mysterious happenings at their town. Caden is somewhat of an outcast due to his parents' business in the occult, while Rae is the new kid in town. Both are connected in an unexpected way, and both are hiding secrets. It's ultimately up to them to figure out what's going on and save the town.
This book is the perfect blend of mystery and action. It's not nonstop, with everything happening all at once, and it isn't all crammed in at the end, either. Bits and pieces of information are given as the story progresses, so you find yourself trying to work it out yourself while also rooting for the characters.
The plot twists were absolutely immaculate. They came at just the right time, and had the perfect amount of build-up, so while it wasn't exactly obvious, it didn't come absolutely out of the blue, either.
Rae and Caden's dynamic was honestly an absolute blast to read about, and they seriously reminded me of Pip and Ravi from AGGGTM.
Overall, this book was awesome, and I really, really, really need to get my hands on the sequel. The dry humor, the eerie vibe from the writing, and the excellent plot all came together to create an absolute masterpiece of a book, and I can definitely see myself screaming at everyone I know to read this ASAP.
~~~~~~
Oh. My. God.
To say that I loved this book would be the understatement of the century. I'm absolutely and completely obsessed with it, is the truth of the matter.
I've always felt that middle-grade books have the best plot twists - YA can be extremely formulaic at times (and I haven't read enough adult books with plot twists to form an opinion on them) - and this book absolutely proves my point.
Whispering Pines follows Caden and Rae as they try to uncover the truth behind the mysterious happenings at their town. Caden is somewhat of an outcast due to his parents' business in the occult, while Rae is the new kid in town. Both are connected in an unexpected way, and both are hiding secrets. It's ultimately up to them to figure out what's going on and save the town.
This book is the perfect blend of mystery and action. It's not nonstop, with everything happening all at once, and it isn't all crammed in at the end, either. Bits and pieces of information are given as the story progresses, so you find yourself trying to work it out yourself while also rooting for the characters.
The plot twists were absolutely immaculate. They came at just the right time, and had the perfect amount of build-up, so while it wasn't exactly obvious, it didn't come absolutely out of the blue, either.
Rae and Caden's dynamic was honestly an absolute blast to read about, and they seriously reminded me of Pip and Ravi from AGGGTM.
Overall, this book was awesome, and I really, really, really need to get my hands on the sequel. The dry humor, the eerie vibe from the writing, and the excellent plot all came together to create an absolute masterpiece of a book, and I can definitely see myself screaming at everyone I know to read this ASAP.
September 19, 2020
I have no words for this book (in a good way). I basically flew through the last 100 pages, sitting on the edge of my seat, my heart racing, because it was just soo good. The ending left me in shock and I am currently still in shock as I’m writing this review. All I can think is: WHERE IS THE SEQUEL I NEED IT NOW AJDHSHAHAHHAAHHAHA.
Also I’ll probably be dreaming about eye stealing monsters for the next couple of days so that’s something to look forward to *laughs nervously*
Also I’ll probably be dreaming about eye stealing monsters for the next couple of days so that’s something to look forward to *laughs nervously*
May 11, 2021
Rae's family moves to the town of Whispering Pines for a new start after her father's disappearance. Everyone seems to believe he ran out on them, but Rae knows the truth: he was either abducted by aliens, or the government did something to him when he started indicating that he wanted out of the project he'd been working on for them. Whatever the project was, Rae knows it involved an alien spacecraft. She's determined to keep investigating, even though it cost her friends back at her old home.
Whispering Pines has mysteries of its own, however. The town has a very strict curfew, and her new school has lots of weird rules, like "no chalk allowed," "no wearing garlic," and "no wearing red, not even red lipstick." And everyone seems to think it's normal for kids to go missing every year. Still, this year the number of missing kids is higher than usual and, disturbingly, the ones that have turned up again have all had their eyes taken.
When Rae's first friend at Whispering Pines disappears, she decides to start investigating and eventually teams up with Caden Price, the local "weird kid" whose mother runs a ghost-hunting business. Caden has his own secrets. He can sense people's emotions. He's also the only one who knows what really happened to his older brother Aiden, who disappeared a while back...because he's responsible for what happened to Aiden.
The illustrated cover is what drew me to this. It's gorgeous and moody, and now that I've read the book, I can tell that both Rae and Caden's secrets have been worked into it. Nice.
The weirdness of Whispering Pines hooked me pretty quickly - it made me think of the TV series Eureka, only the weirdness was supernatural rather than scientific. Although gradually it became clear that this was more of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer Hellmouth situation - the locals had some awareness of what was going on in their town but never talked about it and generally pretended things were normal.
Unfortunately, it felt like there was a little too much packed into this: Caden's ghost-hunting family, the portal to another dimension, Caden's ability, Rae's father's alien spaceship project, whatever was going on with Green On! (a mysterious energy company), etc. It probably didn't help that I initially approached this as more of a standalone, but it really is the first book in a series - the only thing that's resolved by the end is the mystery of the eye-snatcher.
The family aspects were extremely frustrating. It seemed like everyone was making secret plans but not talking to anyone else in their family, even as they were all hurting due to their respective traumas. And it wasn't like the hurt was invisible - it made me angry when I found out just how much one parent knew about what was going on with their kid...and then they just did nothing.
I haven't decided yet whether I'll continue on with this.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
Whispering Pines has mysteries of its own, however. The town has a very strict curfew, and her new school has lots of weird rules, like "no chalk allowed," "no wearing garlic," and "no wearing red, not even red lipstick." And everyone seems to think it's normal for kids to go missing every year. Still, this year the number of missing kids is higher than usual and, disturbingly, the ones that have turned up again have all had their eyes taken.
When Rae's first friend at Whispering Pines disappears, she decides to start investigating and eventually teams up with Caden Price, the local "weird kid" whose mother runs a ghost-hunting business. Caden has his own secrets. He can sense people's emotions. He's also the only one who knows what really happened to his older brother Aiden, who disappeared a while back...because he's responsible for what happened to Aiden.
The illustrated cover is what drew me to this. It's gorgeous and moody, and now that I've read the book, I can tell that both Rae and Caden's secrets have been worked into it. Nice.
The weirdness of Whispering Pines hooked me pretty quickly - it made me think of the TV series Eureka, only the weirdness was supernatural rather than scientific. Although gradually it became clear that this was more of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer Hellmouth situation - the locals had some awareness of what was going on in their town but never talked about it and generally pretended things were normal.
Unfortunately, it felt like there was a little too much packed into this: Caden's ghost-hunting family, the portal to another dimension, Caden's ability, Rae's father's alien spaceship project, whatever was going on with Green On! (a mysterious energy company), etc. It probably didn't help that I initially approached this as more of a standalone, but it really is the first book in a series - the only thing that's resolved by the end is the mystery of the eye-snatcher.
The family aspects were extremely frustrating. It seemed like everyone was making secret plans but not talking to anyone else in their family, even as they were all hurting due to their respective traumas. And it wasn't like the hurt was invisible - it made me angry when I found out just how much one parent knew about what was going on with their kid...and then they just did nothing.
I haven't decided yet whether I'll continue on with this.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
January 19, 2021
This scared the daylights out of me! & I loved every minute of it! These are definitely favorite authors now. After loving the Lailu Loganberry books, & now this-I need more! Lol The characters, the plot, the details & descriptions, & the writing..so amazing. We alternate chapters b/n Rae & Caden. Rae has just moved to Whispering Pines CT w/her mom & sister from CA. Her dad disappeared months before after working on a top secret job that he had become quit stressed by & fearful of. Rae thinks otherworldly things, & the people at the company are behind it all. But no one believes her. Caden has lived at Whispering Pines all of his life. The family business is in the paranormal-exorcisms, tarot readings, etc. Rae moves across the street from him. This new town is weird. People are weird about goats, chalk..there are sinkholes. The woods are a no go lol A large number of kids disappear in a year, some come back..but different.. Caden is also different. He has no friends b/c of unique things about him. But also b/c his brother vanished 9 months earlier, & Caden was the last person to see him. So naturally all the kids think he killed his brother lol kids..When more kids go missing, & other strange things happen..Caden & Rae end up teaming up to investigate. She is the perfect person to help him, b/c she already thinks strings things are possible b/c of what happened w/her dad. He is perfect to help her, b/c he knows this town, & all about the otherworldly things at play. Let’s just say, whenever someone tells me what pretty eyes I have from now on..I will think of this book & be creeped out lol there’s so many things I want to point out how brilliant & terrifyingly awesome they were-but can’t, b/c spoilers lol But I never want to play hide & seek again, & if I get tangled in branches on a tree ever-I will envision something else entirely & freak out lol This is so fast paced, & the creepy town, the woods, & all the different characters gave this such an amazing atmosphere. I picked this up yesterday on page 85, & then finished the rest in 1 sitting. It ended like this could become a series, & I really hope so!🤞🏻What an ending too! So amazing! Highly recommend! Absolutely creepily beautiful cover by Diana Novich-& I just noticed those clouds at the top look like 👀! So creepy! Lol💜
July 4, 2021
A completely creepy middle grade read that I’ve heard others compare it to Stranger Things, so if you know of any middle schoolers who are obsessed with that show then they will love this book. There is a high-level of creepiness to this book with the fact that a dark presence is stealing eyes and kids are turning up "zombified". The fact that even the parents in town didn't really understand or believe what was going on made it even creepier because as a kid you would hope that your parents would believe that unworldly things are happening... I really enjoyed the two characters, Rae and Caden, and their interesting friendship they built along the way though. Overall, this would be great for 6th grade and up due to the level of creepiness and the length in text.
October 31, 2024
Wow, this book is SO good, even on the reread! (I reread it at the cottage, where I first read it. So good 👌)
There's only one thing that makes me hesitate to call this my favorite book series (along with the Snicket Canon and The Promised Neverland ofc). That's the witchcraft element. It's never portrayed as good per se, nor is it ever a big part of the series (in the three books I've read), but it is there, and it's annoying. It's so unnecessary and pointless to the otherwise incredible story.
But that aside, I LOVE this book and the rest of this series! I adore the characters and town and can't wait to read book 4 (the final book) when it comes out in September!!!
In the meantime, onto rereading book 2!!
---- Original Review:------
"Ready or not, here I come..."
I'd had this book on my want-to-read list for quite some time, because I greatly enjoy this genre, but my want-to-read list has nearly 500 books on it, so once a book goes on there, it's likely I'll never think about it again.
I'd forgotten completely about this book until I happened to see it at my local library and vaguely remembered reading reviews about it long before... reading the synopsis made me so intrigued that I checked it out on the spot (something I never do) without reading reviews, even though I had a dozen other books I was either in the middle of or planning to read next. And then I bumped it to the front of my list, putting all those other books on hold, and brought it up to the cottage with me (where I go with my extended family every summer).
The setting of my cottage was perfect for this book, surrounded by whispering pines and shadowy forests, and this book made me a bit antisocial at times, because it was SO HARD TO PUT DOWN! When I wasn't reading it, I was talking about it, and "What lovely eyes you have" probably became the most-repeated phrase by me or my cousins all week.
So.
It's hard to know where to begin with describing this book. Should I start with...
The very sympathetic, interesting characters and their great dynamics?
The prose that sucked me into this story and made me feel like I was actually there?
The wacky town with it's deadly secrets?
The horrifying monster?
The terrifying beginning and build-up to the astounding climax?
The crazy, mind-blowing plot twists?
The cliff-hanger ending?
The beautiful cover?
Maybe I'll just summarize the book...
The book opens with a terrifying prologue, which is the scariest beginning to a book that I have ever read, and then immediately launches into the lives of Rae and Caden, two teens who have no connection whatsoever to one another, but who are both about to fall into the path of the same terrifying evil.
Ever since Rae's father went missing and Rae learned that there was something sinister behind the disappearance, she's been scorned by everyone, including her Mom and her older sister... which inadvertently leads the family to move to the town of Whispering Pines, where strange is normal. (Like seriously, they've even got speed limit signs that say 33.5 miles per hour...)
Caden has lived in Whispering Pines for a long time. In fact, he's one of it's oddities - a kid with some remarkable abilities that got him singled out from and scorned by other kids long ago. Oh, and everyone thinks that he murdered his older brother and cut up his body and stuffed it into the walls of his house.
Which isn't all that far from the truth.
Despite the rumors, he's a really sweet kid, a kid who keeps to himself, and is rather misunderstood (though he's also pretty creepy, ngl. And his older brother is even creepier...)
There's a monster on the loose, a thing with too many teeth and no eyes, that hunts down children and leaves them maimed and out of their right mind. Rae, quite by accident, comes right into it's path. Caden's powers make him aware that Rae is in danger before she realizes it, and he feels he has to help her, even if it means stepping outside his safe bubble and talking to someone else. (See, I told you he's sweet).
And no, things don't go great from there. Rae doesn't accept him just because he's scorned by everyone like she was; no, she actually scorns him further (because who wouldn't, when they hear something as creepy as what Caden tells her).
And from there... well, let's just say that things start to get really scary. Like really really scary. And there's a whole host of intriguing characters and plot twists and mysteries and one big fat juicy cliffhanger ending. And now...
Off to read book 2. ;)
There's only one thing that makes me hesitate to call this my favorite book series (along with the Snicket Canon and The Promised Neverland ofc). That's the witchcraft element. It's never portrayed as good per se, nor is it ever a big part of the series (in the three books I've read), but it is there, and it's annoying. It's so unnecessary and pointless to the otherwise incredible story.
But that aside, I LOVE this book and the rest of this series! I adore the characters and town and can't wait to read book 4 (the final book) when it comes out in September!!!
In the meantime, onto rereading book 2!!
---- Original Review:------
"Ready or not, here I come..."
I'd had this book on my want-to-read list for quite some time, because I greatly enjoy this genre, but my want-to-read list has nearly 500 books on it, so once a book goes on there, it's likely I'll never think about it again.
I'd forgotten completely about this book until I happened to see it at my local library and vaguely remembered reading reviews about it long before... reading the synopsis made me so intrigued that I checked it out on the spot (something I never do) without reading reviews, even though I had a dozen other books I was either in the middle of or planning to read next. And then I bumped it to the front of my list, putting all those other books on hold, and brought it up to the cottage with me (where I go with my extended family every summer).
The setting of my cottage was perfect for this book, surrounded by whispering pines and shadowy forests, and this book made me a bit antisocial at times, because it was SO HARD TO PUT DOWN! When I wasn't reading it, I was talking about it, and "What lovely eyes you have" probably became the most-repeated phrase by me or my cousins all week.
So.
It's hard to know where to begin with describing this book. Should I start with...
The very sympathetic, interesting characters and their great dynamics?
The prose that sucked me into this story and made me feel like I was actually there?
The wacky town with it's deadly secrets?
The horrifying monster?
The terrifying beginning and build-up to the astounding climax?
The crazy, mind-blowing plot twists?
The cliff-hanger ending?
The beautiful cover?
Maybe I'll just summarize the book...
The book opens with a terrifying prologue, which is the scariest beginning to a book that I have ever read, and then immediately launches into the lives of Rae and Caden, two teens who have no connection whatsoever to one another, but who are both about to fall into the path of the same terrifying evil.
Ever since Rae's father went missing and Rae learned that there was something sinister behind the disappearance, she's been scorned by everyone, including her Mom and her older sister... which inadvertently leads the family to move to the town of Whispering Pines, where strange is normal. (Like seriously, they've even got speed limit signs that say 33.5 miles per hour...)
Caden has lived in Whispering Pines for a long time. In fact, he's one of it's oddities - a kid with some remarkable abilities that got him singled out from and scorned by other kids long ago. Oh, and everyone thinks that he murdered his older brother and cut up his body and stuffed it into the walls of his house.
Which isn't all that far from the truth.
Despite the rumors, he's a really sweet kid, a kid who keeps to himself, and is rather misunderstood (though he's also pretty creepy, ngl. And his older brother is even creepier...)
There's a monster on the loose, a thing with too many teeth and no eyes, that hunts down children and leaves them maimed and out of their right mind. Rae, quite by accident, comes right into it's path. Caden's powers make him aware that Rae is in danger before she realizes it, and he feels he has to help her, even if it means stepping outside his safe bubble and talking to someone else. (See, I told you he's sweet).
And no, things don't go great from there. Rae doesn't accept him just because he's scorned by everyone like she was; no, she actually scorns him further (because who wouldn't, when they hear something as creepy as what Caden tells her).
And from there... well, let's just say that things start to get really scary. Like really really scary. And there's a whole host of intriguing characters and plot twists and mysteries and one big fat juicy cliffhanger ending. And now...
Off to read book 2. ;)
December 29, 2020
This book is billed as Stranger Things meets The X-Files and this description is 💯 accurate.
I suspected it was going to be part of a series, but man those plot twists really piled on hot and heavy towards the end. Almost every time you turned the page - plot twist! It was almost... distracting?
I suspected it was going to be part of a series, but man those plot twists really piled on hot and heavy towards the end. Almost every time you turned the page - plot twist! It was almost... distracting?
September 20, 2020
This is a great spooky story for kids who enjoy a dark mystery and some gory details. It was a very fast read; I found the story moved quickly and was action-packed. I will definitely read the sequel (please tell me there's a sequel!!!) and would definitely recommend adding it to a middle grade collection.
September 2, 2020
| Review on Reader Fox Blog |
I can't sleep. I can't sleep and the blame lies entirely with Heidi Lang and Kati Bartkowski's Whispering Pines. Now, I don't generally read or enjoy books that set my heart racing like this and leave me fearful of closing my eyes. I'm much more fond of sappy heart racing novels. But I have to say that, despite my sudden inability to turn my back to any sort of darkness or trees, this is probably the best 'scare you 'til you shiver' novel I have ever read.
I don't think I've been this scared of a fictional creature since watching Stranger Things for the first time.
What Lovely Eyes You Have
I think the last time a book scared me this much was when "hello noses" became a phrase that haunted my nightmares. There's an incredibly similar vibe to Whispering Pines, but instead of existing as a very brief moment among numerous other plot threads, this was basically the whole book. It's almost as though Lang and Bartkowski zeroed in on the number one way to utterly terrify me. And then the purposefully bribed fate to send it my way.
Listen, I don't like scary things. I don't watch horror films and I avoid thriller. I don't care for books with creepy vibes. And on the rare occasions when someone has managed to convince me to endure something of that nature, I hate nearly every second of it. And even if I don't hate it all, it's extremely unlikely that I will ever watch or read it a second time. There are precious few exceptions to this rule.
I'd probably read this one again.
Whispering Pines is impressive. It's so both in how brilliantly the plot pulls you in and how terrifying it truly is. The book manages this feat in a matter of pages. I was impressed, engaged, and yes, terrified just a few pages in. Curious to learn what I'm talking about? All you have to do is read the prologue.
Ready or Not
This was probably the most engaging, fright-inducing book I have ever read. Usually when I read something with this level of scary, I have a tendency to put it down for long periods of time and slowly meander my way through it. The better to decrease the likelihood of my anxiety becoming a monster of its own. Oddly enough, I just couldn't put Whispering Pines down.
There's a bit of a hide and seek theme to this novel that I really enjoyed. There a multiple really fascinating mysteries and that bit about the eyes just gets you. I don't know if I can speak with authority on the level of ease with which other readers will determine who the monster is, but for me it was incredibly easy. There are a few red herrings, of course, but they were also fairly obvious to me. I don't personally think this took away from my ability to enjoy the book, though.
Ultimately, the plot was so intricate and well developed that you really can't help falling for it. There are all these different threads that weave through each other, leaving you eager and determined to find out more. You're able to develop a number of theories based on all these different plot strings and it's equally as exciting to find out whether you're right or not.
Here I Come
I would be remiss if I did not also point out the absolute brilliance of the characters within this story. I can't think of a single main character that I wasn't thoroughly impressed with. Many of the side characters, also, were pretty exceptional. You could easily tell that a lot of work went into their development and motivations.
Of course, above all else, I loved Caden. Not only was he just incredibly intriguing, but the dichotomy of the relationship between him and his brother, Aiden. That, without a doubt, was perhaps the best thing about this entire novel. Just the little intricacies of how they interacted with one another both in Caden's memories and outside of them. I, for one, cannot wait to see what more comes of Aiden's character.
Admittedly, while Rae was wonderful, I did not develop a strong attachment to her. I was, ironically, more attached to young Jasmine who was not even a huge part of the novel.
I Know You're There
Finally, we come to the epilogue. Now, it's very clear that they're setting up for a sequel, which is fine. There's a very Hawkin's Lab type feel to it, which I imagine is why this book was compared to Stranger Things in the first place. And despite my better judgment, despite the fact that I found this book terrifying, I can't wait to read it.
If you're into getting spooked, I would highly recommend this one.
I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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I can't sleep. I can't sleep and the blame lies entirely with Heidi Lang and Kati Bartkowski's Whispering Pines. Now, I don't generally read or enjoy books that set my heart racing like this and leave me fearful of closing my eyes. I'm much more fond of sappy heart racing novels. But I have to say that, despite my sudden inability to turn my back to any sort of darkness or trees, this is probably the best 'scare you 'til you shiver' novel I have ever read.
I don't think I've been this scared of a fictional creature since watching Stranger Things for the first time.
What Lovely Eyes You Have
I think the last time a book scared me this much was when "hello noses" became a phrase that haunted my nightmares. There's an incredibly similar vibe to Whispering Pines, but instead of existing as a very brief moment among numerous other plot threads, this was basically the whole book. It's almost as though Lang and Bartkowski zeroed in on the number one way to utterly terrify me. And then the purposefully bribed fate to send it my way.
Listen, I don't like scary things. I don't watch horror films and I avoid thriller. I don't care for books with creepy vibes. And on the rare occasions when someone has managed to convince me to endure something of that nature, I hate nearly every second of it. And even if I don't hate it all, it's extremely unlikely that I will ever watch or read it a second time. There are precious few exceptions to this rule.
I'd probably read this one again.
Whispering Pines is impressive. It's so both in how brilliantly the plot pulls you in and how terrifying it truly is. The book manages this feat in a matter of pages. I was impressed, engaged, and yes, terrified just a few pages in. Curious to learn what I'm talking about? All you have to do is read the prologue.
Ready or Not
This was probably the most engaging, fright-inducing book I have ever read. Usually when I read something with this level of scary, I have a tendency to put it down for long periods of time and slowly meander my way through it. The better to decrease the likelihood of my anxiety becoming a monster of its own. Oddly enough, I just couldn't put Whispering Pines down.
There's a bit of a hide and seek theme to this novel that I really enjoyed. There a multiple really fascinating mysteries and that bit about the eyes just gets you. I don't know if I can speak with authority on the level of ease with which other readers will determine who the monster is, but for me it was incredibly easy. There are a few red herrings, of course, but they were also fairly obvious to me. I don't personally think this took away from my ability to enjoy the book, though.
Ultimately, the plot was so intricate and well developed that you really can't help falling for it. There are all these different threads that weave through each other, leaving you eager and determined to find out more. You're able to develop a number of theories based on all these different plot strings and it's equally as exciting to find out whether you're right or not.
Here I Come
I would be remiss if I did not also point out the absolute brilliance of the characters within this story. I can't think of a single main character that I wasn't thoroughly impressed with. Many of the side characters, also, were pretty exceptional. You could easily tell that a lot of work went into their development and motivations.
Of course, above all else, I loved Caden. Not only was he just incredibly intriguing, but the dichotomy of the relationship between him and his brother, Aiden. That, without a doubt, was perhaps the best thing about this entire novel. Just the little intricacies of how they interacted with one another both in Caden's memories and outside of them. I, for one, cannot wait to see what more comes of Aiden's character.
Admittedly, while Rae was wonderful, I did not develop a strong attachment to her. I was, ironically, more attached to young Jasmine who was not even a huge part of the novel.
I Know You're There
Finally, we come to the epilogue. Now, it's very clear that they're setting up for a sequel, which is fine. There's a very Hawkin's Lab type feel to it, which I imagine is why this book was compared to Stranger Things in the first place. And despite my better judgment, despite the fact that I found this book terrifying, I can't wait to read it.
If you're into getting spooked, I would highly recommend this one.
I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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January 4, 2024
4.5
this was so fun and spooky! very reminiscent of stranger things with a ghostly paranormal twist.
the characters are adorable! the town is intriguing! the mystery is mystery-ing! and what a cliffhanger!!!
GOD I LOVE MIDDLE GRADE
this was so fun and spooky! very reminiscent of stranger things with a ghostly paranormal twist.
the characters are adorable! the town is intriguing! the mystery is mystery-ing! and what a cliffhanger!!!
GOD I LOVE MIDDLE GRADE
October 8, 2020
Great, creepy kids book! I picked this book up because it was being compared to Stranger Things and it did not disappoint.
January 5, 2021
Creepy but good middle grade fantasy horror. Reminds me of reading my Goosebumps books as a child. Passing it on to my daughter to read next.
December 2, 2023
Did not finish
July 3, 2022
The Price parents really named their kids "Aiden" and "Caden" and then got surprised when bad things happened to them 🙄 like what did you expect...
First 5-star read of 2022! And it's only been 3 days!
Apparently one of my favorite pastimes is not really being a fan of horror, reading a few books that are horror, and then loving said books...
Anyway: this book is insane I loved it so much. I've read another book by these authors and WOW the growth is so apparent. Both concepts are fantastic but this had the execution. There are a whole bunch of plotlines and subplotlines going on and they were all handled really well (though not necessarily all wrapped up). It's the best type of mystery, where you might be able to figure out some of the stuff going on, but not the most important parts (which have appropriately dramatic reveals). The town is very Nightvale-esque. Rae and Caden are both such vibes but in opposite ways and that's one of my favorite things to see in characters. And most of all it's scary when it needs to be! But not the entire time!
2022 popsugar reading challenge: A book with two POVs
First 5-star read of 2022! And it's only been 3 days!
Apparently one of my favorite pastimes is not really being a fan of horror, reading a few books that are horror, and then loving said books...
Anyway: this book is insane I loved it so much. I've read another book by these authors and WOW the growth is so apparent. Both concepts are fantastic but this had the execution. There are a whole bunch of plotlines and subplotlines going on and they were all handled really well (though not necessarily all wrapped up). It's the best type of mystery, where you might be able to figure out some of the stuff going on, but not the most important parts (which have appropriately dramatic reveals). The town is very Nightvale-esque. Rae and Caden are both such vibes but in opposite ways and that's one of my favorite things to see in characters. And most of all it's scary when it needs to be! But not the entire time!
2022 popsugar reading challenge: A book with two POVs
August 28, 2022
Pretty decent middle grade read. I will say, series are not my jam. It is extremely rare that I’ll buy a book that’s a part of a series, so I obviously didn’t enjoy this too much. I love standalones with resolved endings all wrapped up with a bow in one book. This was not one. Had I known it would be a series, I wouldn’t have bought it when it first released.
It was a bit too obvious who the bad guy(s) would be, but I also know I’m not the target audience, so that may not be the case for kids. I could definitely see 8 year old me loving this book. That was a time I devoured series and would definitely be looking forward to book two. If I buy a book that I wasn’t aware would be a series and I love it enough, I’ll check out the sequel. I didn’t love this enough to buy any subsequent books though.
I love how the plot unfolded. The story didn’t drag, nor was it all just crammed all at once with everything, so the pacing was amazing. I just really do not like series and this cannot be a standalone novel. Literally nothing is wrapped up and you’re left with even more questions.
It was a bit too obvious who the bad guy(s) would be, but I also know I’m not the target audience, so that may not be the case for kids. I could definitely see 8 year old me loving this book. That was a time I devoured series and would definitely be looking forward to book two. If I buy a book that I wasn’t aware would be a series and I love it enough, I’ll check out the sequel. I didn’t love this enough to buy any subsequent books though.
I love how the plot unfolded. The story didn’t drag, nor was it all just crammed all at once with everything, so the pacing was amazing. I just really do not like series and this cannot be a standalone novel. Literally nothing is wrapped up and you’re left with even more questions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2020
I want to thank NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Whispering Pines ended on such a cliffhanger that I am certain there is a least another book that students will be clamoring to get their hands on. For fans of the show Stranger Things, the book Small Spaces, and the Lockwood and Co. series, this is your next great read. Even though you can see ties to other stories, it was original and creative in its presentation. This story has an ending, but a larger even more interesting story arc is left out there for readers to anxiously await the next book. I am very curious if this book will be a series or not. Now, this book is not for the faint of heart. The paranormal creepiness was too much for me. I don't really like paranormal, but this is somewhat like the X-Files a mix of sci-fi/fantasy. The book changes point of view between two protagonists, Rae (new girl in town that moved across the country after her father went missing) and Caden (the town freak that is rumored to have killed his brother and has hidden his body in the walls of their home). Rae finds out very quickly that this is not a normal town. The reader is hooked right away with a very disturbing game of hide and seek. For students that like horror stories or have trouble getting into a book, this is the perfect title to start off the school year. If you are scared easily and don't like horror, you may want to skip this one- it will give you nightmares.
September 18, 2023
I read this for the Upside Down Readathon. It is a Stranger Things themed readathon, and this book was selected as a buddy read. It truly was the perfect book for that theme, with all the season one vibes. Spooky, mysterious, supernatural... Certainly a thrilling read! I'm not sure that I'll continue the series, but I did enjoy the experience.
March 12, 2024
This was so creepy! I loved it! I will definitely read the rest of the series 😁
My only problem with this book (and many other MG/YA books) is that the kids never went to adults for help. In this case, the adults were EXTREMELY QUALIFIED and would have solved the problems much quicker and safer!!
My only problem with this book (and many other MG/YA books) is that the kids never went to adults for help. In this case, the adults were EXTREMELY QUALIFIED and would have solved the problems much quicker and safer!!
September 30, 2022
Very scary for a middle grade novel.
April 4, 2023
Not my favorite middle grade horror novel. It felt like there were too many moving pieces and this story was just a little too over the top. After their father vanishes; Rae's mother, moves her and her sister across the country to the weird town of Whispering Pines. Sinkholes crop up everywhere, goat run the town, the woods are unsafe, and there has been a rash of children who have been abducted and returned sans eyeballs. Rae is immediately suspicious - but wants to fit in and make friends She befriends the town outcast, Caden, who conveniently lives across the street. Caden's family is into the occult - although things have been bad for them ever since his older brother "disappeared." What is actually going on in this town. Too far fetched and weirdly plotted for me. I doubt I will continue the series.
October 21, 2023
This really is perfect for people who love Stranger Things and The X-Files. Very curious to see where this series is gonna go!
March 9, 2021
| Read full review on Reader Fox Blog |
I can't sleep. I can't sleep and the blame lies entirely with Heidi Lang and Kati Bartkowski's Whispering Pines. Now, I don't generally read or enjoy books that set my heart racing like this and leave me fearful of closing my eyes. I'm much more fond of sappy heart racing novels. But I have to say that, despite my sudden inability to turn my back to any sort of darkness or trees, this is probably the best 'scare you 'til you shiver' novel I have ever read.
I don't think I've been this scared of a fictional creature since watching Stranger Things for the first time.
What Lovely Eyes You Have
I think the last time a book scared me this much was when "hello noses" became a phrase that haunted my nightmares. There's an incredibly similar vibe to Whispering Pines, but instead of existing as a very brief moment among numerous other plot threads, this was basically the whole book. It's almost as though Lang and Bartkowski zeroed in on the number one way to utterly terrify me. And then the purposefully bribed fate to send it my way.
Listen, I don't like scary things. I don't watch horror films and I avoid thriller. I don't care for books with creepy vibes. And on the rare occasions when someone has managed to convince me to endure something of that nature, I hate nearly every second of it. And even if I don't hate it all, it's extremely unlikely that I will ever watch or read it a second time. There are precious few exceptions to this rule.
I'd probably read this one again.
Whispering Pines is impressive. It's so both in how brilliantly the plot pulls you in and how terrifying it truly is. The book manages this feat in a matter of pages. I was impressed, engaged, and yes, terrified just a few pages in. Curious to learn what I'm talking about? All you have to do is read the prologue.
Ready or Not
This was probably the most engaging, fright-inducing book I have ever read. Usually when I read something with this level of scary, I have a tendency to put it down for long periods of time and slowly meander my way through it. The better to decrease the likelihood of my anxiety becoming a monster of its own. Oddly enough, I just couldn't put Whispering Pines down.
There's a bit of a hide and seek theme to this novel that I really enjoyed. There a multiple really fascinating mysteries and that bit about the eyes just gets you. I don't know if I can speak with authority on the level of ease with which other readers will determine who the monster is, but for me it was incredibly easy. There are a few red herrings, of course, but they were also fairly obvious to me. I don't personally think this took away from my ability to enjoy the book, though.
Ultimately, the plot was so intricate and well developed that you really can't help falling for it. There are all these different threads that weave through each other, leaving you eager and determined to find out more. You're able to develop a number of theories based on all these different plot strings and it's equally as exciting to find out whether you're right or not.
Here I Come
I would be remiss if I did not also point out the absolute brilliance of the characters within this story. I can't think of a single main character that I wasn't thoroughly impressed with. Many of the side characters, also, were pretty exceptional. You could easily tell that a lot of work went into their development and motivations.
Of course, above all else, I loved Caden. Not only was he just incredibly intriguing, but the dichotomy of the relationship between him and his brother, Aiden. That, without a doubt, was perhaps the best thing about this entire novel. Just the little intricacies of how they interacted with one another both in Caden's memories and outside of them. I, for one, cannot wait to see what more comes of Aiden's character.
Admittedly, while Rae was wonderful, I did not develop a strong attachment to her. I was, ironically, more attached to young Jasmine who was not even a huge part of the novel.
I Know You're There
Finally, we come to the epilogue. Now, it's very clear that they're setting up for a sequel, which is fine. There's a very Hawkin's Lab type feel to it, which I imagine is why this book was compared to Stranger Things in the first place. And despite my better judgment, despite the fact that I found this book terrifying, I can't wait to read it.
If you're into getting spooked, I would highly recommend this one.
I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
| Reader Fox Links |
I can't sleep. I can't sleep and the blame lies entirely with Heidi Lang and Kati Bartkowski's Whispering Pines. Now, I don't generally read or enjoy books that set my heart racing like this and leave me fearful of closing my eyes. I'm much more fond of sappy heart racing novels. But I have to say that, despite my sudden inability to turn my back to any sort of darkness or trees, this is probably the best 'scare you 'til you shiver' novel I have ever read.
I don't think I've been this scared of a fictional creature since watching Stranger Things for the first time.
What Lovely Eyes You Have
I think the last time a book scared me this much was when "hello noses" became a phrase that haunted my nightmares. There's an incredibly similar vibe to Whispering Pines, but instead of existing as a very brief moment among numerous other plot threads, this was basically the whole book. It's almost as though Lang and Bartkowski zeroed in on the number one way to utterly terrify me. And then the purposefully bribed fate to send it my way.
Listen, I don't like scary things. I don't watch horror films and I avoid thriller. I don't care for books with creepy vibes. And on the rare occasions when someone has managed to convince me to endure something of that nature, I hate nearly every second of it. And even if I don't hate it all, it's extremely unlikely that I will ever watch or read it a second time. There are precious few exceptions to this rule.
I'd probably read this one again.
Whispering Pines is impressive. It's so both in how brilliantly the plot pulls you in and how terrifying it truly is. The book manages this feat in a matter of pages. I was impressed, engaged, and yes, terrified just a few pages in. Curious to learn what I'm talking about? All you have to do is read the prologue.
Ready or Not
This was probably the most engaging, fright-inducing book I have ever read. Usually when I read something with this level of scary, I have a tendency to put it down for long periods of time and slowly meander my way through it. The better to decrease the likelihood of my anxiety becoming a monster of its own. Oddly enough, I just couldn't put Whispering Pines down.
There's a bit of a hide and seek theme to this novel that I really enjoyed. There a multiple really fascinating mysteries and that bit about the eyes just gets you. I don't know if I can speak with authority on the level of ease with which other readers will determine who the monster is, but for me it was incredibly easy. There are a few red herrings, of course, but they were also fairly obvious to me. I don't personally think this took away from my ability to enjoy the book, though.
Ultimately, the plot was so intricate and well developed that you really can't help falling for it. There are all these different threads that weave through each other, leaving you eager and determined to find out more. You're able to develop a number of theories based on all these different plot strings and it's equally as exciting to find out whether you're right or not.
Here I Come
I would be remiss if I did not also point out the absolute brilliance of the characters within this story. I can't think of a single main character that I wasn't thoroughly impressed with. Many of the side characters, also, were pretty exceptional. You could easily tell that a lot of work went into their development and motivations.
Of course, above all else, I loved Caden. Not only was he just incredibly intriguing, but the dichotomy of the relationship between him and his brother, Aiden. That, without a doubt, was perhaps the best thing about this entire novel. Just the little intricacies of how they interacted with one another both in Caden's memories and outside of them. I, for one, cannot wait to see what more comes of Aiden's character.
Admittedly, while Rae was wonderful, I did not develop a strong attachment to her. I was, ironically, more attached to young Jasmine who was not even a huge part of the novel.
I Know You're There
Finally, we come to the epilogue. Now, it's very clear that they're setting up for a sequel, which is fine. There's a very Hawkin's Lab type feel to it, which I imagine is why this book was compared to Stranger Things in the first place. And despite my better judgment, despite the fact that I found this book terrifying, I can't wait to read it.
If you're into getting spooked, I would highly recommend this one.
I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
| Reader Fox Links |
October 18, 2024
very cool and interesting! i might actually read the rest of the series :D
November 14, 2020
OH. MY. GOODNESS!
This book was just SO MUCH and yet not enough! I'm already clamoring to find out when the next one will come out because THAT ENDING just wasn't fair! I HAVE to know more! Okay, so dialing back my enthusiasm for a second to talk more about this book...
From the start, your CREEPY meter will be set on HIGH. From the creature with TOO MANY TEETH to the unusually chipper, perfectly groomed Patrick of GREEN ON, Dr. Anderson the collector of stories (or is he?) to Aiden Price (who is still around but only just!), there is so much spooky, spine chilling strangeness to go around, you won't know where to look! Okay, well actually you will because the story takes you firmly by the hand and drags you along for a breakneck speed ride through the pages that you will finish sooner than you hope and yet not soon enough! Rae is a fabulous character with just enough skepticism to keep her questioning, but not quite enough caution to keep her out of trouble. Caden was meant to counterbalance her forward motion with his cautious think first nature, but when it comes to helping those he holds close, even he has his moments of quick decisions versus contemplation. The pair of them together, along with Vivienne (who I was surprised to see as a friend versus foe...although, what IS with the backpack?!), Alyssa, and Rae's big sister (again, surprised by her turn of character!), make quite a team...now if they can only survive this adventure to continue uncovering the truths that they've BOTH sought all this time...
High recommendation for older Middle Grade readers who don't mind that chill running down their spine because it's definitely not one to miss!
**ecopy received for review; opinions are my own
This book was just SO MUCH and yet not enough! I'm already clamoring to find out when the next one will come out because THAT ENDING just wasn't fair! I HAVE to know more! Okay, so dialing back my enthusiasm for a second to talk more about this book...
From the start, your CREEPY meter will be set on HIGH. From the creature with TOO MANY TEETH to the unusually chipper, perfectly groomed Patrick of GREEN ON, Dr. Anderson the collector of stories (or is he?) to Aiden Price (who is still around but only just!), there is so much spooky, spine chilling strangeness to go around, you won't know where to look! Okay, well actually you will because the story takes you firmly by the hand and drags you along for a breakneck speed ride through the pages that you will finish sooner than you hope and yet not soon enough! Rae is a fabulous character with just enough skepticism to keep her questioning, but not quite enough caution to keep her out of trouble. Caden was meant to counterbalance her forward motion with his cautious think first nature, but when it comes to helping those he holds close, even he has his moments of quick decisions versus contemplation. The pair of them together, along with Vivienne (who I was surprised to see as a friend versus foe...although, what IS with the backpack?!), Alyssa, and Rae's big sister (again, surprised by her turn of character!), make quite a team...now if they can only survive this adventure to continue uncovering the truths that they've BOTH sought all this time...
High recommendation for older Middle Grade readers who don't mind that chill running down their spine because it's definitely not one to miss!
**ecopy received for review; opinions are my own
August 29, 2022
This book couldn’t decide if it was extra-terrestrial, paranormal, or about monsters. It should have picked one of those three and focused on that, because all three elements did not mesh very well, in my opinion. The storyline about Rae’s dad felt the most out of place and I was very uninterested in it. I also didn’t care about Caden and his brother. But, I was pretty intrigued by the children going missing and losing their eyes. That mystery was handled well and I thought that the final act was pretty epic. Overall, I liked the characters and the friendships, and I liked the story well enough. It could have used a lot of refinement.
Whispering Pines - 3 Stars
Whispering Pines - 3 Stars
July 16, 2022
Freaky, creepy, unsettling, will probably go to bed paralyzed—but holy moly was this book so good.
Middle-grade definitely has its fair share of vomit-inducing juvenile-ness, but this book just hosed down everything I’ve ever known. It’s not cringey, cutesy, IT IS WEIRD. I AM NOT SLEEPING TONIGHT. Maybe my standards are low because I’m new to my fascination with horror BUT I AM NOT SLEEPING.
This is just so wonderfully executed. The setting is perfect, the cast of characters is just entertaining to read. Go read it if you feel like some apparition wants to tear your eyes out. ;)
Middle-grade definitely has its fair share of vomit-inducing juvenile-ness, but this book just hosed down everything I’ve ever known. It’s not cringey, cutesy, IT IS WEIRD. I AM NOT SLEEPING TONIGHT. Maybe my standards are low because I’m new to my fascination with horror BUT I AM NOT SLEEPING.
This is just so wonderfully executed. The setting is perfect, the cast of characters is just entertaining to read. Go read it if you feel like some apparition wants to tear your eyes out. ;)
April 3, 2022
READ IT. IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT READING IT DO IT.
September 10, 2020
I put this one on my most anticipated reads for middle grade because it just sounded so fun and good and boy I was not disappointed! I think it was probably better than I imagined and super creepy for a middle grade! Add it to your reads for spooky season now! :)
When I started this it wasn't even on my tbr for the month but the two books I was reading just wasn't really wowing me so I decided to grab this one as it came out this month and I needed to read it. It then took over my reading as I had to find out what happened next!
Rae, her older sister and her mother are moving to Whispering Pines, a place Rae soon finds out is super strange. One of the first things she sees is the boy next door pouring salt around his house. Then she meets a girl who is a little older than her but seems really nice and Rae is thinking that maybe this town will be a place she can start over.
Rae's father went missing after he may have found something in the work he was doing. Everyone in her old town think that he ran off with a co-worker but Rae knows the truth because she has the proof, but when she tells her friend she finds out soon that maybe she should have kept things to herself and her friend wasn't really a friend. So she has decided she will act differently at this new school and make friends, but she soon finds out that Whispering Pines is full of strange.
The next day at school she was excited to have Brandi take her around but finds out she didn't show up. Then a code yellow is announced which she finds out means a child has gone missing. It seems that this kind of thing happens more often that it should and that sometimes they are found and sometimes they are not. Some come wondering out of the woods missing their eyes!
Rae wants to find out what happened to her friend and Caden is a boy who everyone thinks killed his brother and is the strange kid from next door. He also wants to find out what is happening and they soon make unlikely allies as they try and investigate what is happening. The only thing is, is Caden knows what happened to his brother and it's partly his fault and now it seems like his ghost is haunting him. Caden's family are ghost hunters and Caden has an ability to sense things and has a horrible dream about something bad happening to Rae.
There is also another girl Vivienne who befriends Rae and is a little strange as she always carries a large backpack with her and won't be anywhere without it. She gets involved in helping them out but she has her own agenda with what is going on.
I really liked the characters in this one. Rae, knows things that maybe her family doesn't about what happened to her father. They don't believe her or so she thinks just like those at her old school. It puts a rift between her and her sister but she finds out along the way that maybe her sister hadn't gave up on her father like she thought. Caden feels bad about what happened to his brother and is seen as the weird kid, he has always been different and so making friends hasn't been something he did very well. Vivienne is strange but it's because she has a secret. I even liked Alyssa who was kind of mean but then her mother was the principle and super mean so you can kind of sympathize with her.
I thought for a middle grade book that this was really creepy and spooky. It had such a strange vibe to the town with nobody being able to have chalk, to the missing kids with no eyes and creepy things in the woods! Just a number of things to lend a bit of spooky to the story. This will be great for kids who love spooky reads but I might say maybe older young readers and to know your kid leave of scare they can handle. It's also perfect for adults who want a little spooky but not get to scared...lol
So I have to say that I really enjoyed this one and haven't been this excited about reading a book in a while. I mean I want to kind of gush about how much I enjoyed this...lol. For once I have to agree with what is says about X-files meets Stranger Things! I highly recommend this super fun creepy read! :)
When I started this it wasn't even on my tbr for the month but the two books I was reading just wasn't really wowing me so I decided to grab this one as it came out this month and I needed to read it. It then took over my reading as I had to find out what happened next!
Rae, her older sister and her mother are moving to Whispering Pines, a place Rae soon finds out is super strange. One of the first things she sees is the boy next door pouring salt around his house. Then she meets a girl who is a little older than her but seems really nice and Rae is thinking that maybe this town will be a place she can start over.
Rae's father went missing after he may have found something in the work he was doing. Everyone in her old town think that he ran off with a co-worker but Rae knows the truth because she has the proof, but when she tells her friend she finds out soon that maybe she should have kept things to herself and her friend wasn't really a friend. So she has decided she will act differently at this new school and make friends, but she soon finds out that Whispering Pines is full of strange.
The next day at school she was excited to have Brandi take her around but finds out she didn't show up. Then a code yellow is announced which she finds out means a child has gone missing. It seems that this kind of thing happens more often that it should and that sometimes they are found and sometimes they are not. Some come wondering out of the woods missing their eyes!
Rae wants to find out what happened to her friend and Caden is a boy who everyone thinks killed his brother and is the strange kid from next door. He also wants to find out what is happening and they soon make unlikely allies as they try and investigate what is happening. The only thing is, is Caden knows what happened to his brother and it's partly his fault and now it seems like his ghost is haunting him. Caden's family are ghost hunters and Caden has an ability to sense things and has a horrible dream about something bad happening to Rae.
There is also another girl Vivienne who befriends Rae and is a little strange as she always carries a large backpack with her and won't be anywhere without it. She gets involved in helping them out but she has her own agenda with what is going on.
I really liked the characters in this one. Rae, knows things that maybe her family doesn't about what happened to her father. They don't believe her or so she thinks just like those at her old school. It puts a rift between her and her sister but she finds out along the way that maybe her sister hadn't gave up on her father like she thought. Caden feels bad about what happened to his brother and is seen as the weird kid, he has always been different and so making friends hasn't been something he did very well. Vivienne is strange but it's because she has a secret. I even liked Alyssa who was kind of mean but then her mother was the principle and super mean so you can kind of sympathize with her.
I thought for a middle grade book that this was really creepy and spooky. It had such a strange vibe to the town with nobody being able to have chalk, to the missing kids with no eyes and creepy things in the woods! Just a number of things to lend a bit of spooky to the story. This will be great for kids who love spooky reads but I might say maybe older young readers and to know your kid leave of scare they can handle. It's also perfect for adults who want a little spooky but not get to scared...lol
So I have to say that I really enjoyed this one and haven't been this excited about reading a book in a while. I mean I want to kind of gush about how much I enjoyed this...lol. For once I have to agree with what is says about X-files meets Stranger Things! I highly recommend this super fun creepy read! :)
October 30, 2020
"Blood opens and blood closes. A sacrifice given and taken."
I thought I was going to find a ghost story, but I found a lot more than that. Not only is there a spirit realm and extraterrestrial life, but there is also The Other Place. One dimension under ours. Full of Devourers, the Ravenous, the Unseeing, waiting for a portal to pass and feed on our fears. I loved the character of Caden and his family, generations of generations practicing exorcisms, calling in spirits, casting spells. It was fascinating! There were so many creatures without feeling that they were forced into history, and even the energy company, it was all quite coherent.
The game of hide and seek and the children without eyes was certainly a good start. Chilling! A couple of disappearances a year doesn't seem strange in a small town where there are bottomless sinkholes and stone walls move in a strange pattern. Something that I loved was that the protagonists were 12 years old and they did feel that way. Caden mentioned that he had no idea how to save someone or fight a supernatural creature, and I appreciated that. Sometimes it's really weird when young characters make decisions and speak like adults, it makes no sense that they always know what to do. But that didn't happen here.
Apparently, we are going for a second book because there's still a lot of history to discover about Rae's father and Aiden's unexpected appearance. And please, I want more of the Book of Shadows.
Favorite character: Caden.
I thought I was going to find a ghost story, but I found a lot more than that. Not only is there a spirit realm and extraterrestrial life, but there is also The Other Place. One dimension under ours. Full of Devourers, the Ravenous, the Unseeing, waiting for a portal to pass and feed on our fears. I loved the character of Caden and his family, generations of generations practicing exorcisms, calling in spirits, casting spells. It was fascinating! There were so many creatures without feeling that they were forced into history, and even the energy company, it was all quite coherent.
The game of hide and seek and the children without eyes was certainly a good start. Chilling! A couple of disappearances a year doesn't seem strange in a small town where there are bottomless sinkholes and stone walls move in a strange pattern. Something that I loved was that the protagonists were 12 years old and they did feel that way. Caden mentioned that he had no idea how to save someone or fight a supernatural creature, and I appreciated that. Sometimes it's really weird when young characters make decisions and speak like adults, it makes no sense that they always know what to do. But that didn't happen here.
Apparently, we are going for a second book because there's still a lot of history to discover about Rae's father and Aiden's unexpected appearance. And please, I want more of the Book of Shadows.
Favorite character: Caden.
December 17, 2024
I really liked the characters and friendships expressed in this book. However, I think the authors tried to pour too many things into this novel: ghosts, monsters, aliens, and creepy science labs. It would have been better if they'd stuck to one (two at the most) and explored that more in their world building. As it is, the stakes - rather than being raised - are rendered more laughable. A second consequence of this choice is that I saw the villain coming a mile away, which if the authors had settled on one, maybe two, fantastical elements, they could have spent more time writing a compelling and truly twist-worthy antagonist. Nevertheless, I liked this first instalment well enough to order the second from the library.
One pet peeve: When did we drop the honorific "miss" when referring to girls or unmarried women? I do NOT like seeing Ms. used to address a 12-year-old girl.
Content Considerations: I would recommend this for more mature readers because of some gruesome elements as well as a few occult themes.
One pet peeve: When did we drop the honorific "miss" when referring to girls or unmarried women? I do NOT like seeing Ms. used to address a 12-year-old girl.
Content Considerations: I would recommend this for more mature readers because of some gruesome elements as well as a few occult themes.
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