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This Appearing House
From the author of Ghost Girl comes another standalone spooky middle grade for fans of Nightbooks and Ghost Squad, about a terrifying house and the girl haunted by her experience with cancer, grief, and healing. Are you brave enough to step inside?
For as long as anyone could remember there wasn't a house at the dead end of Juniper Drive . . . until one day there was.
When Jac first sees the House, she's counting down to the five-year anniversary of her cancer diagnosis, when she hopefully will be declared NED, or "no evidence of disease." But with a house appearing, and her hands shaking, and a fall off her bike, Jac is starting to wonder if these are symptoms--or if something stranger is happening.
Two classmates dare Jac and her friend Hazel to enter the House. Walking through the front door is the way in. It's definitely not the way out. There's something off about the House; Jac can feel it. The same way she knows it's no coincidence that the House appeared for her five-year marker. It wants something from her. And she won't be able to get out until she figures out what.
For as long as anyone could remember there wasn't a house at the dead end of Juniper Drive . . . until one day there was.
When Jac first sees the House, she's counting down to the five-year anniversary of her cancer diagnosis, when she hopefully will be declared NED, or "no evidence of disease." But with a house appearing, and her hands shaking, and a fall off her bike, Jac is starting to wonder if these are symptoms--or if something stranger is happening.
Two classmates dare Jac and her friend Hazel to enter the House. Walking through the front door is the way in. It's definitely not the way out. There's something off about the House; Jac can feel it. The same way she knows it's no coincidence that the House appeared for her five-year marker. It wants something from her. And she won't be able to get out until she figures out what.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 16, 2022
32 people are currently reading
5045 people want to read
About the author
Ally Malinenko
22 books351 followersAlly Malinenko is the author of several poetry collections as well as Ghost Girl, the Bram Stoker nominated This Appearing House both from Katherine Tegen Books. She is also the author of The Other March Sisters (Kensington) as well as the forthcoming Broken Dolls (Harper Collins). She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and blogs at allymalinenko.com. She can also be found blathering about Doctor Who and David Bowie at @allymalinenko.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
February 1, 2024
(3.5) This was a really unique take on facing your fears & unravelling trauma. I do feel like it would've had a stronger impact on me had I found myself caring for the characters. It also felt a *little* cheesy at times, but I also recognize the fact that I'm not the target audience.
February 4, 2025
"Sometimes, something can hurt you so bad that it turns into a thing; a house. A haunted house. And then you can’t get out of it."
Gosh freaking darn it, there were tears, goosebumps and even more tears.
I DEEPLY DEEPLY wished this book would’ve existed for 12-year old me, but 25-year old me will happily take it anyway and rejoice in the knowledge that kids who lived, and continue to live, through cancer will now have a middlegrade story to find themselves in.
"She didn’t blame her mother; she understood. She’d read the books. The stories were always the same; kid got sick, everyone felt bad. Kid taught everyone to love in a deeper, more meaningful way. Kid died. Everyone remembered kid as a hero. That was the only story she had ever known. She’d never read about a kid who’d gone through what she had, and lived."
Gosh freaking darn it, there were tears, goosebumps and even more tears.
I DEEPLY DEEPLY wished this book would’ve existed for 12-year old me, but 25-year old me will happily take it anyway and rejoice in the knowledge that kids who lived, and continue to live, through cancer will now have a middlegrade story to find themselves in.
"She didn’t blame her mother; she understood. She’d read the books. The stories were always the same; kid got sick, everyone felt bad. Kid taught everyone to love in a deeper, more meaningful way. Kid died. Everyone remembered kid as a hero. That was the only story she had ever known. She’d never read about a kid who’d gone through what she had, and lived."
May 7, 2023
*4.5 stars - the first spooky middle grade to ever make me cry. 🥲
Jac is approaching the 5-year anniversary of her cancer diagnosis and is hoping to be declared NED or "no evidence of disease." Having cancer has definitely left Jac with trauma, as she is always scared that she may be experiencing symptoms again. Around this same time, a house appears at the end of the road, seemingly out of nowhere. When Jac and her best friend, Hazel, are dared to go inside, Jac must not only face what's in the house, but the terror insider her as well.
It says something about a book that can really pack a punch with being extremely atmospheric and creepy but also deeply moving and emotional. I've said it before and I'll say it again, my favorite spooky middle grade books aren't the ones that are just scary for the sake of being scary. My favorites are the ones that weave in real-life fears and experiences and teach you how to be brave through them. I'm here for the life lessons, the hope, and the motivation to live life, even when it can be scary. And this book does just that.
I do feel like there was a bit of the lull in the middle for me, which is why I didn't give this one a full 5 stars, but I teared up at the beginning and had a good little sob by the end. I look forward to reading more books from this author!
Jac is approaching the 5-year anniversary of her cancer diagnosis and is hoping to be declared NED or "no evidence of disease." Having cancer has definitely left Jac with trauma, as she is always scared that she may be experiencing symptoms again. Around this same time, a house appears at the end of the road, seemingly out of nowhere. When Jac and her best friend, Hazel, are dared to go inside, Jac must not only face what's in the house, but the terror insider her as well.
It says something about a book that can really pack a punch with being extremely atmospheric and creepy but also deeply moving and emotional. I've said it before and I'll say it again, my favorite spooky middle grade books aren't the ones that are just scary for the sake of being scary. My favorites are the ones that weave in real-life fears and experiences and teach you how to be brave through them. I'm here for the life lessons, the hope, and the motivation to live life, even when it can be scary. And this book does just that.
I do feel like there was a bit of the lull in the middle for me, which is why I didn't give this one a full 5 stars, but I teared up at the beginning and had a good little sob by the end. I look forward to reading more books from this author!
May 16, 2022
Outstanding, simply put. Tells kids what they deserve to hear, that they are right to be angry at an unjust world.
August 18, 2022
Wow. Just wow. This was so phenomenal. Extremely atmospheric spooky/creepy read, while at the same time managing to be deeply moving. I think not only will people who have dealt with cancer/illness themselves relate to this, but people who have watched loved ones go through it, or even anyone that has had something break them in some way. Take me for example. The way Jac’s mom is in here over her, is how I was over my pup from the moment she 1st got sick until June(3 1/2 years later)when she passed. CONSTANT state of worry, & seeing something possibly worrisome in EVERYTHING. The world stopping every time you waited on results to see if she was still in remission & ok. People can say all day long it’s just a dog, or you can’t compare-love is love, & that love runs deep. Anyway, reading this at this time in my own grief felt almost meant to be. This book gives hope too, & has some great messages. The only way out is through. To get on the other side of anything, you have to get through it. It’s ok to be angry at the cards dealt to you-& that means kids have the exact same right to be angry. Anger can be good in certain ways. We are all haunted by something at some time or another in our lives, but in the end the choice is ours if we want to let those feelings continue to follow us, change us, scare us..haunt us. Walls built to protect ourselves, only end up trapping us. Not as easy as it sounds I know. With a brain like mine, that seems to not like me..it’s not easy. Our scars show that we survived, & that’s a beautiful thing. The whole idea of this house, EVERYTHING inside…every incredible vivid detail, to the writing, & the way the author makes an exceptionally creepy story have such a deeper meaning at its core all make for a fast-paced, emotional, spooky, thrilling, ATMOSPHERIC, hauntingly beautiful read. I also loved Hazel. He is the best kid, & I was so happy Jac had a friend like him. This came out the other day, & I highly recommend. I can’t wait for more MG in the future from her. BEAUTIFUL cover by Maike Plenzke as well.💜
November 21, 2023
A YA book about finding the way out of cancer trauma and into life. In a spooky Halloween Alice-in-Wonderland way.
Most of all, reads like a detailed, frame-by-frame endless description of someone else's nightmare, going in circles and laden with cryptic symbolism. This is why I DNF-ed "Rouge" just before it :(
Talk about bad reading spell.
This one I ploughed through, because I succumbed to emotional blackmail of the topic (minus points for that though), and also because it did have it's good moments (if simplistic in the self-help style; I liked the repairing broken bowl with gold bit, for example).
Extremely emotional and touching very close to home (close family of childhood cancer survivor). But in this, also slipping into self-help territory, disguised in a story/parable, which is never a good thing ("Life's golden ticket" all over again).
I'm sorry, I feel like we could have skipped the whole middle 85% and just hammered in the platitudes. Then hammered them in some more.
"There is a crack in everything", a voice whispered in the dark. "That's how the light gets in."
Seriously?? Not even original platitudes?? This one is even in song by Leonard Cohen, and he delivers it soooo much better.
I am genuinely sorry for the author's experience that makes this story about her as well, and obviously I am sorry for all the children, well anyone who has to go through something like this. I am sorry that our family had to.
But I did not like this book.
Most of all, reads like a detailed, frame-by-frame endless description of someone else's nightmare, going in circles and laden with cryptic symbolism. This is why I DNF-ed "Rouge" just before it :(
Talk about bad reading spell.
This one I ploughed through, because I succumbed to emotional blackmail of the topic (minus points for that though), and also because it did have it's good moments (if simplistic in the self-help style; I liked the repairing broken bowl with gold bit, for example).
Extremely emotional and touching very close to home (close family of childhood cancer survivor). But in this, also slipping into self-help territory, disguised in a story/parable, which is never a good thing ("Life's golden ticket" all over again).
I'm sorry, I feel like we could have skipped the whole middle 85% and just hammered in the platitudes. Then hammered them in some more.
"There is a crack in everything", a voice whispered in the dark. "That's how the light gets in."
Seriously?? Not even original platitudes?? This one is even in song by Leonard Cohen, and he delivers it soooo much better.
I am genuinely sorry for the author's experience that makes this story about her as well, and obviously I am sorry for all the children, well anyone who has to go through something like this. I am sorry that our family had to.
But I did not like this book.
October 15, 2022
★★★★★
"We all have parts of us that scare us. Parts of our lives that feel terrifying-- that we're afraid to face. Parts that we may want to run from. Parts that might feel... broken."
This is such a perfect autumn read. I must buy myself a copy not just for me but for my future children and grandchildren to read. This book is deep. It goes way beyond ghosts and monsters in a haunted house. I wish more adult books had this type of messaging. And the writing is so creepy it will get under your skin and have you jumping at the smallest noises (say, even your cat getting up from the bed). ☺
I would recommend it for all mature ages.
"We all have parts of us that scare us. Parts of our lives that feel terrifying-- that we're afraid to face. Parts that we may want to run from. Parts that might feel... broken."
This is such a perfect autumn read. I must buy myself a copy not just for me but for my future children and grandchildren to read. This book is deep. It goes way beyond ghosts and monsters in a haunted house. I wish more adult books had this type of messaging. And the writing is so creepy it will get under your skin and have you jumping at the smallest noises (say, even your cat getting up from the bed). ☺
I would recommend it for all mature ages.
dnf
October 2, 2022(Recommended by Amanda)
April 11, 2023
Holy hell (should I be cursing in a mg book review? perhaps not), I loved this book. It's basically a dealing-with-trauma primer for middle school aged kids, and it's so sensitive and compassionate and I just loved it. The horror elements are no joke though, I wouldn't necessarily hand this to a kid that gets nightmares easily, but I would hand it to pretty much every other kid.
Jac, our main character, is getting ready for a series of tests that will hopefully label her as NED: No Evidence of Disease. You see, Jac had cancer when she was 7, and now she's 12 and nearing her 5 year cancer free date (see above re: NED). And then all of a sudden, this house appears out of nowhere. And when she enters, it's pretty clear that it's a manifestation of her anxiety, and it's just so well done. Super scary, super sad, super feelings-y. I loved it. Don't read it in public unless crying around strangers is your thing. Do get it on audio for your family road trip. 5 stars.
Jac, our main character, is getting ready for a series of tests that will hopefully label her as NED: No Evidence of Disease. You see, Jac had cancer when she was 7, and now she's 12 and nearing her 5 year cancer free date (see above re: NED). And then all of a sudden, this house appears out of nowhere. And when she enters, it's pretty clear that it's a manifestation of her anxiety, and it's just so well done. Super scary, super sad, super feelings-y. I loved it. Don't read it in public unless crying around strangers is your thing. Do get it on audio for your family road trip. 5 stars.
May 27, 2024
This middle grade book expects way too much from its target audience. The whole story follows a 12 year old girl’s journey through the nightmares and fears she experienced during her battle with childhood cancer, in the form of a haunted house. She encounters smells and sounds from her MRIs and hospital stays. What 4th-6th grader is going to understand that?! Even her cancer diagnosis is not named until the end of the book. Kids are just supposed to guess that? I won’t be recommending this one to many of my students.
October 17, 2023
My 11 year old -- who loves all things spooky/haunted and also knows the struggles of anxiety all too well -- was, in his own words, absolutely obsessed with this book. He raved about it and gave it a solid 5 stars. It kept him hooked all the way through and was the perfect amount of "scary" for him.
May 14, 2022
What worked:
The book fulfills the author’s goal to write a book showing a young person overcoming a serious illness. The journey isn’t without struggles, as Jac fears the disease is returning after five years of treatment. She takes a couple of falls, her hands start to twitch, and she might be experiencing hallucinations. How else can she explain the house that appeared at the end of Juniper Drive? The plot becomes a haunted house story, and the author’s skillful descriptions conjure creepy, eerie emotions. The experience inside the house is a metaphor for the internal battle Jac’s facing. The only way out is through, and she’ll eventually need to face her inner monsters.
Jac has recently moved to New Jersey, so school and friendships offer challenges. She hasn’t shared her health problems with anyone else, not even her best friend Hazel. Hazel has his own issues dealing with a bully intent on shaming him for his girl’s name. Hazel’s character isn’t going through a gender-identity crisis; he’s named for a rabbit in his mother’s favorite story. Jac has erected a figurative wall inside her mind to shield her feelings, so no one truly knows what’s happening to her.
The story spends a good deal of time describing Jac’s relationship with her mother. It’s complicated, as her mother tries to juggle being a caring parent while not being overly protective. Jac tries to live as normally as possible, but her mother’s constant questions about how she’s feeling sidetrack her thoughts. It’s hard to not obsess about the disease when her mother won’t let her forget. On the other hand, her mother must protect her daughter from harm, so she needs to know what’s going on. Mother and daughter want the same thing, but their efforts are in conflict. As I said, it’s complicated.
What didn’t work as well:
Most of the book doesn’t specifically mention Jac’s disease and simply talks about its symptoms. It’s not clear why the author chooses to keep it secret, since the book’s synopsis says it’s cancer. Why not use the word from the beginning? Jac struggles with accepting her diagnosis, but informing readers of the disease shouldn’t significantly affect the story.
The Final Verdict:
The only way out is through. This book could be categorized as a ghost story, but it shares the profoundly emotional war that consumes people diagnosed with serious diseases. The author passionately expresses the fear, confusion, and anger of living with an illness. I highly recommend you give this book a shot.
The book fulfills the author’s goal to write a book showing a young person overcoming a serious illness. The journey isn’t without struggles, as Jac fears the disease is returning after five years of treatment. She takes a couple of falls, her hands start to twitch, and she might be experiencing hallucinations. How else can she explain the house that appeared at the end of Juniper Drive? The plot becomes a haunted house story, and the author’s skillful descriptions conjure creepy, eerie emotions. The experience inside the house is a metaphor for the internal battle Jac’s facing. The only way out is through, and she’ll eventually need to face her inner monsters.
Jac has recently moved to New Jersey, so school and friendships offer challenges. She hasn’t shared her health problems with anyone else, not even her best friend Hazel. Hazel has his own issues dealing with a bully intent on shaming him for his girl’s name. Hazel’s character isn’t going through a gender-identity crisis; he’s named for a rabbit in his mother’s favorite story. Jac has erected a figurative wall inside her mind to shield her feelings, so no one truly knows what’s happening to her.
The story spends a good deal of time describing Jac’s relationship with her mother. It’s complicated, as her mother tries to juggle being a caring parent while not being overly protective. Jac tries to live as normally as possible, but her mother’s constant questions about how she’s feeling sidetrack her thoughts. It’s hard to not obsess about the disease when her mother won’t let her forget. On the other hand, her mother must protect her daughter from harm, so she needs to know what’s going on. Mother and daughter want the same thing, but their efforts are in conflict. As I said, it’s complicated.
What didn’t work as well:
Most of the book doesn’t specifically mention Jac’s disease and simply talks about its symptoms. It’s not clear why the author chooses to keep it secret, since the book’s synopsis says it’s cancer. Why not use the word from the beginning? Jac struggles with accepting her diagnosis, but informing readers of the disease shouldn’t significantly affect the story.
The Final Verdict:
The only way out is through. This book could be categorized as a ghost story, but it shares the profoundly emotional war that consumes people diagnosed with serious diseases. The author passionately expresses the fear, confusion, and anger of living with an illness. I highly recommend you give this book a shot.
February 2, 2024
Main character Jac and her best friend Hazel are trapped in a creepy house that just spontaneously appeals on a cul-de-sac near their homes. Two classmates have already been dragged off by a hideous insect/woman/creature thing called the Mourner and they are now fleeing from it with doors disappearing, human teeth filled food appearing and according to The House, Jac called it all into being! Ally Malinenko’s follow-up Ghost Girl is filled with truly terrifying haunted house beings but is so much more than that. Jac is a cancer survivor and her 5-year trauma has left her fearful and angry and her mother scared and hovering. This Appearing House comes from her own nightmares and inability to really live life as if she has one at all, but if she can ask the right questions and name her own truth, maybe she can begin living the life she has been granted. This “horror that heals,” as Malinenko calls it, can be read simply as a scary book for middle grade students but also as a hope-filled metaphor that may encourage other trauma survivors to stop being afraid and be all that you were meant to be. “The only way out is through” is a mantra that weaves throughout the book and while that Robert Frost quote may seem harsh, when there is good at the end it is an encouragement to keep on going and look forward to what is at the end of “through.” Recommended for grades 5 and up, but without any profanity or sexual content and violence that is limited to jump scenes and grotesque creature chases, could be read by those younger as well.
Thanks for the print arc, Ally. #BookAllies are enjoying it.
Thanks for the print arc, Ally. #BookAllies are enjoying it.
October 8, 2022
Horror isn't really my thing, and there was a lot of it here, so the four stars is not for pleasure reading. But it is four stars for thought provoking, moving reading behind the smoke screen of the grotesque, and it will stick with me for a while. Unfortunately the teeth bit will also stick with me; if you, like me, knocked your front teeth out at a young age and subsequently had recurring nightmares where you bit into apples and saw your teeth imbedded in them, be warned! This this the closest I can remember to feeling physically ill because of a scene in a book.
July 24, 2022
This is a very unique scary tale: a haunted house (accidentally) conjured from Jac's PTSD and repressed memories of being sick. Jac, Hazel, and two neighborhood boys dare themselves to step into the House, and then find it incredibly difficult to leave. There are some genuinely scary scenes, and Jac's struggles with her past and possibly getting sick again felt palpable, and added to the ominous atmosphere.
August 10, 2023
This book was an amazing story, but it'll probably be a one-timer for me! I loved how, at the end, I could really connect with Jac even though I've never been through what she's been through. Hope you guys enjoy this review! :)
Summary
Jac, a twelve-year-old girl, has the five-year-anniversary of her cancer diagnosis looming before her. If she doesn't have any symptoms then she'll be declared NED or "no evidence of disease," but when things start taking a terrible term and Jac's hands start shaking, a bad symptom, she finds a house at the end of the cul-de-sac that wasn't there before. Her best friend, Hazel, and her get dared into entering the House and they're taken on a dark adventure to find the truth.
What I Loved About This Book
1). Hazel : I loved how Hazel was a really good friend to Jac, and stayed by her side through everything. Even when he was scared, he never gave up on her and that was incredible to see because, even if Jac didn't let it on, she really needed it.
2). The End : I loved the ending of the story, when all the loose ends where tied up and Jac discovered the truth about herself. I loved how she was really herself after everything changed, and how all of the people she loved and supported where always there for her. It was even really amazing seeing her compassion to be able to help a little girl that was going through the same things as her! :)
What I Didn't Like About The Book
1). The Punctuation : I thought that there could be some editing in punctuation, like a comma here or there or smth tiny like that. It was just something I noticed, but near the middle of the story I got so absorbed I didn't really notice anymore.
2). The Beginning : I felt like the beginning was really slow and I wasn't really feeling this book, at all, and even thought about not finishing it! But, it got really good near the middle, when I kept holding out for the good parts to come, and I was met with really good parts at the end.
3). The Monsters : At the beginning, I felt like there were too many monsters and that really bugged me but, during the late middle, it started to click into place and I realized why there were so many monsters and was finally satisfied while reading this book. So, I guess you could say I was upset with almost everything before the middle/end.
The Characters
1). Jac: I think, at the beginning, Jac feels like she needs to prove that she's normal, that she's okay and that's she's tough enough. I love how the author really dives into her true emotions behind the "walls" she's put up around herself, and the ending really shows Jac's true colors! Overall, she was a very good protagonist, a good role model and very relatable/real during the end of the story.
2). Hazel: You can just go back to what I loved about this story to see a brief overview of what I loved about this character... But, basically, Hazel is a really good friend to Jac, that's always by her side and a good model of never giving up or failing on those you love. I love how he is always there and how Jac and him actually have a non-romantic relationship, which you don't see in too many books lol! :)
3). Sam: It was amazing to see Sam's love for his sister at the end of the book and I won't go into detail or spoil anything, but he was a good model o f love. It's great to see strong sibling relationships in books :)
Content Overview
Nothing too bad as for bad words, just mild insults and there's no sexual stuff or nudity. It is implied sometimes that ppl say that Jac and Hazel are boyfriend and girlfriend but they aren't. The violence is pretty intense but it doesn't get too bad.
ok byeee for now everyone... okay I love y'all and I will be taking a bit of a break from the social side of goodreads for a bit love y'all goodnightt!! <3
Summary
Jac, a twelve-year-old girl, has the five-year-anniversary of her cancer diagnosis looming before her. If she doesn't have any symptoms then she'll be declared NED or "no evidence of disease," but when things start taking a terrible term and Jac's hands start shaking, a bad symptom, she finds a house at the end of the cul-de-sac that wasn't there before. Her best friend, Hazel, and her get dared into entering the House and they're taken on a dark adventure to find the truth.
What I Loved About This Book
1). Hazel : I loved how Hazel was a really good friend to Jac, and stayed by her side through everything. Even when he was scared, he never gave up on her and that was incredible to see because, even if Jac didn't let it on, she really needed it.
2). The End : I loved the ending of the story, when all the loose ends where tied up and Jac discovered the truth about herself. I loved how she was really herself after everything changed, and how all of the people she loved and supported where always there for her. It was even really amazing seeing her compassion to be able to help a little girl that was going through the same things as her! :)
What I Didn't Like About The Book
1). The Punctuation : I thought that there could be some editing in punctuation, like a comma here or there or smth tiny like that. It was just something I noticed, but near the middle of the story I got so absorbed I didn't really notice anymore.
2). The Beginning : I felt like the beginning was really slow and I wasn't really feeling this book, at all, and even thought about not finishing it! But, it got really good near the middle, when I kept holding out for the good parts to come, and I was met with really good parts at the end.
3). The Monsters : At the beginning, I felt like there were too many monsters and that really bugged me but, during the late middle, it started to click into place and I realized why there were so many monsters and was finally satisfied while reading this book. So, I guess you could say I was upset with almost everything before the middle/end.
The Characters
1). Jac: I think, at the beginning, Jac feels like she needs to prove that she's normal, that she's okay and that's she's tough enough. I love how the author really dives into her true emotions behind the "walls" she's put up around herself, and the ending really shows Jac's true colors! Overall, she was a very good protagonist, a good role model and very relatable/real during the end of the story.
2). Hazel: You can just go back to what I loved about this story to see a brief overview of what I loved about this character... But, basically, Hazel is a really good friend to Jac, that's always by her side and a good model of never giving up or failing on those you love. I love how he is always there and how Jac and him actually have a non-romantic relationship, which you don't see in too many books lol! :)
3). Sam: It was amazing to see Sam's love for his sister at the end of the book and I won't go into detail or spoil anything, but he was a good model o f love. It's great to see strong sibling relationships in books :)
Content Overview
Nothing too bad as for bad words, just mild insults and there's no sexual stuff or nudity. It is implied sometimes that ppl say that Jac and Hazel are boyfriend and girlfriend but they aren't. The violence is pretty intense but it doesn't get too bad.
ok byeee for now everyone... okay I love y'all and I will be taking a bit of a break from the social side of goodreads for a bit love y'all goodnightt!! <3
April 16, 2024
4.25*audiobook
Even though this is a middle grade book, it takes a unique look at trauma and facing your fears that can apply to both kids and adults.
As someone who went through lots of medical testing and lots of unknowns this book felt like a lived experience by this author. We find out in the Author's Notes that Ally did experience a breast cancer diagnosis.
The premise of Jac's trauma and fears being a haunted house is really great. And her final confrontation has so many great pieces of advise for the reader to pick out. Her building this strong house so no one could hurt her, it's not living just existing... that rings so true
Also looked her talk with her mom at the hospital after about just being a kid and that not every headache or fall means the disease is back. I've felt this with my own condition, is this pain just a sore muscle or a new issue popping up?
I think the only issue I had was the character names... Generally Jac (Jack) is a masculine name and Hazel is a feminine. Flipping this is fine, but for a split second each time I heard one name followed by an unexpected him or her I was jarred out of the story a little. That's on me though and it doesn't take away from the book or the themes within.
Even though this is a middle grade book, it takes a unique look at trauma and facing your fears that can apply to both kids and adults.
As someone who went through lots of medical testing and lots of unknowns this book felt like a lived experience by this author. We find out in the Author's Notes that Ally did experience a breast cancer diagnosis.
The premise of Jac's trauma and fears being a haunted house is really great. And her final confrontation has so many great pieces of advise for the reader to pick out. Her building this strong house so no one could hurt her, it's not living just existing... that rings so true
Also looked her talk with her mom at the hospital after about just being a kid and that not every headache or fall means the disease is back. I've felt this with my own condition, is this pain just a sore muscle or a new issue popping up?
I think the only issue I had was the character names... Generally Jac (Jack) is a masculine name and Hazel is a feminine. Flipping this is fine, but for a split second each time I heard one name followed by an unexpected him or her I was jarred out of the story a little. That's on me though and it doesn't take away from the book or the themes within.
June 20, 2022
trigger warning
One day, there is a new house. No constuction had been going on in the last days, the house was simply there, so of course, Jac has to explore.
Jac is different than her peers, by virtue of having been through something in her past nobody knows about, some medical trauma. While it may be in the past, now her mum is constantly hovering, looking for symptoms, and every normal headache is blown out of proportion, suffocating Jac.
The author says this book is based on own experiences, and it feels like they are exorcising their own demons - which is an observation, not meant in a mean way. As someone with medical trauma in my past, I could relate to a lot of things in this, though the nature of our stories is different.
I think it's important to have these kind of books for children, because usually, the topics discussed in here are only found in books targeted towards adults, which is not enough.
I hope this book will help some children with their own traumas.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
One day, there is a new house. No constuction had been going on in the last days, the house was simply there, so of course, Jac has to explore.
Jac is different than her peers, by virtue of having been through something in her past nobody knows about, some medical trauma. While it may be in the past, now her mum is constantly hovering, looking for symptoms, and every normal headache is blown out of proportion, suffocating Jac.
The author says this book is based on own experiences, and it feels like they are exorcising their own demons - which is an observation, not meant in a mean way. As someone with medical trauma in my past, I could relate to a lot of things in this, though the nature of our stories is different.
I think it's important to have these kind of books for children, because usually, the topics discussed in here are only found in books targeted towards adults, which is not enough.
I hope this book will help some children with their own traumas.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
September 12, 2022
4.5 stars. This book does my favorite thing about middle grade horror--taking real childhood/life fears and blowing them into something truly monstrous but ultimately conquerable. I loved how it tied back into the experience of trauma and finding hope and strength to face the unspeakable with friendship and love. My one complaint was that the author kept saying a quote (about bravery looking like kindness) that didn't really fit with everything else happening and being discussed, it felt like an unfinished idea that she forgot to take out. But besides that little nitpick that annoyed me, this is a great spooky read for kids looking for a scare while also touching on deeper life truths.
March 16, 2024
A beautiful tale about a house that's more than just a house, that exemplifies what middle grade horror can/should be. Malinenko has a gift for writing material that refuses to shy away from the darkness adults sometimes forget that children must face, and to do it in a way that is poignant, accessible, heart-wrenching, and never condescending. Though written for a younger audience, This Appearing House has appeal across all age ranges. Even though it seeks to show kids that fear is real/justified and, in the end, you have what it takes to stand up to it, it's a great story at heart, and lest we forget, standing up to what scares us is a characteristic we should never grow out of.
March 7, 2024
A Maine Student Book Award Nominee for 23|24.
When Jac finds a mysterious house at the end of her cul de sac, it seems like she’s the only one who can see it. A neighbor can also see it; but it seems most real to Jac.
When a bully classmate dares her to enter the house, she is plunged into a scary nightmare haunted house. To get through the ordeal, she must confront her fears, and the struggles she refuses to address.
A really cool combination of Coraline-esque haunted house vibes, and the reality of A Monster Calls; this is a fantastic book.
When Jac finds a mysterious house at the end of her cul de sac, it seems like she’s the only one who can see it. A neighbor can also see it; but it seems most real to Jac.
When a bully classmate dares her to enter the house, she is plunged into a scary nightmare haunted house. To get through the ordeal, she must confront her fears, and the struggles she refuses to address.
A really cool combination of Coraline-esque haunted house vibes, and the reality of A Monster Calls; this is a fantastic book.
July 2, 2022
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.
For me, this was a new and different twist on haunted house horror stories. I liked the author's take of the haunted house being built from past trauma. Jac and Hazel's time in the haunted house was filled with vivid descriptions and imagery. As a heads up to parents, teachers, and librarians, I will say that some of the imagery and descriptions are so vivid, the book might be best suited for upper MG.
For me, this was a new and different twist on haunted house horror stories. I liked the author's take of the haunted house being built from past trauma. Jac and Hazel's time in the haunted house was filled with vivid descriptions and imagery. As a heads up to parents, teachers, and librarians, I will say that some of the imagery and descriptions are so vivid, the book might be best suited for upper MG.
February 1, 2024
For anyone who grew up with an illness that made them feel broken & alone, This Appearing House is a real force to be reckoned with. The kind of book I wish I’d had with me during those years, one that shows what it’s like to live without feeling alive, the want to just be yourself again.
This book tackles some heavy themes in a really approachable and engaging way that it’s one that can undoubtedly be enjoyed by its target audience and adults alike.
This book tackles some heavy themes in a really approachable and engaging way that it’s one that can undoubtedly be enjoyed by its target audience and adults alike.
May 27, 2022
This book scares on more than one level. It's full of that spooky scary energy, but also the real fear that comes with having been ill. It's part fun romp through a manifested horrorscape and part overcoming ones own fears through something scary.
I can certainly relate to the idea of horror being healing and I think people like me will latch onto that concept. Well done.
I can certainly relate to the idea of horror being healing and I think people like me will latch onto that concept. Well done.
July 7, 2024
I read this books to my kids. It was so good. Much better quality than some adult books I've read this year! I will suggest this book to anyone of all ages. For adults, it would be a quick read with a lot of insight.
December 11, 2021
I have the absolute pleasure of reading this haunting and poignant book early. Full review coming soon. :) But for now, add it to your to read/preorder list!
October 27, 2022
FANTASTIC!
March 21, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
September 26, 2024
jac deserves the world!!
July 8, 2023
The middle section felt really long, but I enjoyed the ending!!
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