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Sheltered
Living together unsupervised, five troubled teens confront demonic forces and are compelled to deal with their problems in distinctly different ways. Paranormal meets psycho meets Goth in this story of a supernatural haunting and budding love.
High school junior, Ben, hacks into his step-father's real estate holdings and provides rooms in an old two-story house to various outcasts: the schizophrenic kid, the angry Goth girl, and the homeless girl who worships him. When Megan needs a place to live she comes to the rooming house with a different set of problems and the ability to confuse and attract Ben.
One by one strange and mysterious occurrences stretch the teens’ beliefs in the supernatural. How they deal with demons, real and imagined, has tragic as well as redeeming consequences.
High school junior, Ben, hacks into his step-father's real estate holdings and provides rooms in an old two-story house to various outcasts: the schizophrenic kid, the angry Goth girl, and the homeless girl who worships him. When Megan needs a place to live she comes to the rooming house with a different set of problems and the ability to confuse and attract Ben.
One by one strange and mysterious occurrences stretch the teens’ beliefs in the supernatural. How they deal with demons, real and imagined, has tragic as well as redeeming consequences.
- GenresYoung Adult
Kindle Edition
First published August 6, 2012
2 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Debra Chapoton
148 books106 followers With over 100 books to her name, Debra Chapoton is a master at writing Christian fiction and non-fiction. Writing under the pen name Marlisa Kriscott, she crafts heartwarming second-chance teacher romances, while under her own name, she transports readers into swoon-worthy Highlander tales (Loved by a Highlander series) and rugged cowboy love stories (Unbridled Hearts, Faithful Hearts, and Broken Spur Ranch series).
But her imagination doesn’t stop at romance—Debra's young adult novels plunge into the thrilling worlds of sci-fi, paranormal mysteries, time travel, dystopian futures, and parallel realities. She also pens insightful non-fiction works such as Sunday School lessons and delightful children’s books, making her a true literary chameleon.
Raised with a love for codes and intricate puzzles, Debra’s passion for storytelling goes beyond words; she seamlessly weaves secrets and hidden clues into her novels, adding layers of intrigue. With a career as a high school Spanish and English teacher, she draws inspiration from her students’ personalities, bringing authentic voices to her characters.
But her imagination doesn’t stop at romance—Debra's young adult novels plunge into the thrilling worlds of sci-fi, paranormal mysteries, time travel, dystopian futures, and parallel realities. She also pens insightful non-fiction works such as Sunday School lessons and delightful children’s books, making her a true literary chameleon.
Raised with a love for codes and intricate puzzles, Debra’s passion for storytelling goes beyond words; she seamlessly weaves secrets and hidden clues into her novels, adding layers of intrigue. With a career as a high school Spanish and English teacher, she draws inspiration from her students’ personalities, bringing authentic voices to her characters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
January 25, 2021
This review contains spoilers (in spoiler tags), it also contains a note from the author, with regard to the questions I felt were unanswered at the end of this book.
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Debra Chapoton.)
Megan is on her own. her parents abandoned her, and she’s been living with a foster family. But her foster family are moving out of state now though so she needs to find somewhere else to live, because she won’t move away from Simon.
When Megan finds a boarding house which will rent her a room for only $25 a week, she thinks she got lucky, but when strange things begin happening she’s not so sure. Firstly there’s the nightmares, which seem to strangely echo those of her housemate Emily, and then there’s the discovery that two people were murdered in the house in 1932.
Things get even stranger when her housemates begin levitating, and she thinks that one even tried to attack her.
What exactly is going on in the house though? Why does Ben run this home for troubled teens? And do ghosts and demons really exist?
This was an interesting read about a bunch of kids who all have massive problems.
Why exactly Ben runs this place I’m not sure, it seems to basically be out of the kindness of his heart. He seems to really feel for these kids who have nowhere else to go, and tries to help them as best he can.
The other kids are just messed up, Megan seems like a fairly level headed girl really, and she’s not messed up the way the other kids are. She’s just fighting really hard to hold onto the one person in her life who hasn’t let her down yet,
Chuck was just strange.
I think the person who confused me the most though was the social worker, who I really couldn’t get a grasp of. I really couldn’t work out exactly who she was or what she was trying to achieve, although she did seem to ultimately want to help the teens.
The other part of the storyline had a much more supernatural feel to it, and there were questions over whether the house was haunted, whether there had been murders there in the past, and whether the inhabitants of the house were being possessed by some kind of demon. This was the part of the storyline which to me did not seem to have been 100% tied up by the end of the book. I’m still questioning what really happened? Although Chuck was obviously delusional, this didn’t account for the levitation of several different people within the house, and if there really was a demon possessing people, what happened to it in the end? Did they just leave it in the house for the next inhabitants to fall victim to? Will the demon come back? Will there be any lasting effects from the demon possession?
Ultimately I was pleased that the story did have an ending, although the ending did not tie up all the loose ends. I suspect that these outstanding questions may be answered in a sequel.
Overall; interesting young adult read concerning teens with problems, and possible demonic possession.
6 out of 10.
Note from the author - Debra Chapoton
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Debra Chapoton.)
Megan is on her own. her parents abandoned her, and she’s been living with a foster family. But her foster family are moving out of state now though so she needs to find somewhere else to live, because she won’t move away from Simon.
When Megan finds a boarding house which will rent her a room for only $25 a week, she thinks she got lucky, but when strange things begin happening she’s not so sure. Firstly there’s the nightmares, which seem to strangely echo those of her housemate Emily, and then there’s the discovery that two people were murdered in the house in 1932.
Things get even stranger when her housemates begin levitating, and she thinks that one even tried to attack her.
What exactly is going on in the house though? Why does Ben run this home for troubled teens? And do ghosts and demons really exist?
This was an interesting read about a bunch of kids who all have massive problems.
Why exactly Ben runs this place I’m not sure, it seems to basically be out of the kindness of his heart. He seems to really feel for these kids who have nowhere else to go, and tries to help them as best he can.
The other kids are just messed up, Megan seems like a fairly level headed girl really, and she’s not messed up the way the other kids are. She’s just fighting really hard to hold onto the one person in her life who hasn’t let her down yet,
Chuck was just strange.
I think the person who confused me the most though was the social worker, who I really couldn’t get a grasp of. I really couldn’t work out exactly who she was or what she was trying to achieve, although she did seem to ultimately want to help the teens.
The other part of the storyline had a much more supernatural feel to it, and there were questions over whether the house was haunted, whether there had been murders there in the past, and whether the inhabitants of the house were being possessed by some kind of demon. This was the part of the storyline which to me did not seem to have been 100% tied up by the end of the book. I’m still questioning what really happened? Although Chuck was obviously delusional, this didn’t account for the levitation of several different people within the house, and if there really was a demon possessing people, what happened to it in the end? Did they just leave it in the house for the next inhabitants to fall victim to? Will the demon come back? Will there be any lasting effects from the demon possession?
Ultimately I was pleased that the story did have an ending, although the ending did not tie up all the loose ends. I suspect that these outstanding questions may be answered in a sequel.
Overall; interesting young adult read concerning teens with problems, and possible demonic possession.
6 out of 10.
Note from the author - Debra Chapoton
December 16, 2012
As seen here: http://www.officialmhafh.com/2012/12/...
I liked this book quite a bit. It was very creepy and edgy. It also touched on very misunderstood mental and emotional issues while blending in the supernatural and Christianity. There are a lot of Christian elements interwoven into the book. As someone who instinctively shies away from such stories that worried me but as it turned out it did not detract from the appeal of this book and, often times, enhanced it.
The issues I had with the story were the reactions of the characters during certain frightening events. They just were not freaked out enough. I would have liked to see them half as concerned for their safety as I was. The other thing is that I loved the first part of the climax but I’m not terribly thrilled with the overall ending because it left me dazed and confused. I do hope their is a sequel to clear everything up and give us more.
If you want to feel an intense desire to reach into the book and hug or slap the bejeezus out of a teen, then cower right along with them in the face of something horrible, you should read this book.
I liked this book quite a bit. It was very creepy and edgy. It also touched on very misunderstood mental and emotional issues while blending in the supernatural and Christianity. There are a lot of Christian elements interwoven into the book. As someone who instinctively shies away from such stories that worried me but as it turned out it did not detract from the appeal of this book and, often times, enhanced it.
The issues I had with the story were the reactions of the characters during certain frightening events. They just were not freaked out enough. I would have liked to see them half as concerned for their safety as I was. The other thing is that I loved the first part of the climax but I’m not terribly thrilled with the overall ending because it left me dazed and confused. I do hope their is a sequel to clear everything up and give us more.
If you want to feel an intense desire to reach into the book and hug or slap the bejeezus out of a teen, then cower right along with them in the face of something horrible, you should read this book.
November 18, 2012
(This review can also be found on my blog The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl).
I heard about Sheltered by Debra Chapoton on someone else's blog. After reading the synopsis of the book, I knew it was one I was going to have to read. Luckily, this book didn't disappoint.
Ben, a teenager, is renting out a house to troubled teens. He creates a fictitious landlord called Mrs. Kremer to make things believable. As time goes by, it becomes apparent just how troubled these teens really are. Are their troubles from this world or are they something more sinister?
I must admit that I'm not a fan of the cover. I don't think it's done very well and doesn't look very professional. I admit I was a bit put off this book by the cover, but the synopsis of the book really intrigued me.
I don't think the title of the book really fit in with the story at all. Besides living in a house, that's all the title really describes. It doesn't sound creepy nor does it make me envision anything pertaining to this story.
The author did a fantastic job with the world building. Everything happening in the world of Sheltered felt very real which made it that much more freaky. The whole set up of the book is written fantastically!
The pacing was great! Not once did I find myself struggling to get through this book. Each chapter is fast paced and thrilling, and I love the way how each character gets their point of view across. I found myself eagerly devouring every word of Sheltered.
I loved the dialogue in this book. There are a few words that I didn't understand, but perhaps that's just my limited vocabulary. There is moderate swearing in this book, so be warned. However, the interactions between the characters are done brilliantly. There's not very much humour in this book, but that doesn't take away from the dialogue. One thing I did find slightly annoying was the fact that in one part of the book, Cori's (one of the characters in the story) name was spelt "Cory" and then changed back to Cori.
I loved the characters of Sheltered. Ben comes across as being wise beyond his years. Megan comes across as one of those people who tries to see the best in everyone. Chuck seems like the type of person who's anti-social. Emily surprised me as she started out being a shy teenage girl. Her true colours eventually become apparent. Cori was my favourite character. I loved her sarcasm and her wit. I think I found myself relating with her more than any other character.
Then ending was a bit confusing and felt a bit rushed if I'm honest. In fact, I was a little disappointed by it. I really wish I could explain why, but then I'd be giving away spoilers. Sheltered, judging by the ending, has the ability to become a series. If it does become a series, perhaps the ending would be explained better.
I'd recommend Sheltered by Debra Chapoton to those aged 16+ due to the swearing and the themes throughout the book.
I heard about Sheltered by Debra Chapoton on someone else's blog. After reading the synopsis of the book, I knew it was one I was going to have to read. Luckily, this book didn't disappoint.
Ben, a teenager, is renting out a house to troubled teens. He creates a fictitious landlord called Mrs. Kremer to make things believable. As time goes by, it becomes apparent just how troubled these teens really are. Are their troubles from this world or are they something more sinister?
I must admit that I'm not a fan of the cover. I don't think it's done very well and doesn't look very professional. I admit I was a bit put off this book by the cover, but the synopsis of the book really intrigued me.
I don't think the title of the book really fit in with the story at all. Besides living in a house, that's all the title really describes. It doesn't sound creepy nor does it make me envision anything pertaining to this story.
The author did a fantastic job with the world building. Everything happening in the world of Sheltered felt very real which made it that much more freaky. The whole set up of the book is written fantastically!
The pacing was great! Not once did I find myself struggling to get through this book. Each chapter is fast paced and thrilling, and I love the way how each character gets their point of view across. I found myself eagerly devouring every word of Sheltered.
I loved the dialogue in this book. There are a few words that I didn't understand, but perhaps that's just my limited vocabulary. There is moderate swearing in this book, so be warned. However, the interactions between the characters are done brilliantly. There's not very much humour in this book, but that doesn't take away from the dialogue. One thing I did find slightly annoying was the fact that in one part of the book, Cori's (one of the characters in the story) name was spelt "Cory" and then changed back to Cori.
I loved the characters of Sheltered. Ben comes across as being wise beyond his years. Megan comes across as one of those people who tries to see the best in everyone. Chuck seems like the type of person who's anti-social. Emily surprised me as she started out being a shy teenage girl. Her true colours eventually become apparent. Cori was my favourite character. I loved her sarcasm and her wit. I think I found myself relating with her more than any other character.
Then ending was a bit confusing and felt a bit rushed if I'm honest. In fact, I was a little disappointed by it. I really wish I could explain why, but then I'd be giving away spoilers. Sheltered, judging by the ending, has the ability to become a series. If it does become a series, perhaps the ending would be explained better.
I'd recommend Sheltered by Debra Chapoton to those aged 16+ due to the swearing and the themes throughout the book.
October 31, 2012
Sheltered had me hiding under my blanket with a flashlight as I read it through the night. It was chilling to the bone and absolutely captivating with it's dark, eerie tone. It's like one of those horror movies where the music gets really super intense and you think something will pop out of nowhere. Yeah, I had that feeling constantly throughout the entire novel. It's not scary enough to give nightmares or anything, it's just very cryptic. And the suspense was killing me. The mystery was thick and impenetrable. Whatever clues I could muster up weren't enough and I was mind boggled for a really long time. It's the sort of read that kept me up all night and I didn't even realize it. There was just so many things to uncover and understand. It was really easy to get lost into this book.
I liked it for several reasons:
1) It's unpredictable. At one point, I thought I had it all figured out. The feeling of triumph lasted about ten seconds. Then I realized that I had it all wrong and in the end I was left stunned, gaping like a fish out of water. Expect the unexpected (That's all I'm going to say about that).
2) It has realistic tendencies that deal with everyday problems. Teenagers are far from perfect. And by this, I mean: eating disorders, hurting themselves, mental diseases, and other traumas. These sort of problems were present in Sheltered, and it made the characters far more realistic and easy to sympathize with. Their flaws made them unique.
3) It's frighting atmosphere. The tone kept the hairs on the back of my neck standing. It's gloomy and adds on to the superstitious attitude the characters take on. I couldn't have found a more perfect read for October. There're are demons to face, levitating objects, Ouija boards, and some other nightmare inducing stuff here and there.
4) The characters working together. Ben, Emily, Megan, Chuck, Adam, and Cori. All teens hurt in one way or another, flawed and in need of help. They made a good team.
5) The romance blooming between Ben and Megan. It was adorable, and not unbearable or too gushy.
Overall, I didn't have any problems with Sheltered. I found Megan to be a very surprising character. She seemed very normal at the start, maybe a little weird, but then the shocking truth was said and I was taken aback.
Same with Ben. He's a very attracting character, because of what he does and how much he cares. But his recklessness and actions let Emily (quiet girl) down and he hurt others because of this.
It was a really creepy read, and very intriguing. I'm sure I'll be rereading it soon enough.
I highly recommend it to anyone who's looking for a great Halloween-ish type of book.
I liked it for several reasons:
1) It's unpredictable. At one point, I thought I had it all figured out. The feeling of triumph lasted about ten seconds. Then I realized that I had it all wrong and in the end I was left stunned, gaping like a fish out of water. Expect the unexpected (That's all I'm going to say about that).
2) It has realistic tendencies that deal with everyday problems. Teenagers are far from perfect. And by this, I mean: eating disorders, hurting themselves, mental diseases, and other traumas. These sort of problems were present in Sheltered, and it made the characters far more realistic and easy to sympathize with. Their flaws made them unique.
3) It's frighting atmosphere. The tone kept the hairs on the back of my neck standing. It's gloomy and adds on to the superstitious attitude the characters take on. I couldn't have found a more perfect read for October. There're are demons to face, levitating objects, Ouija boards, and some other nightmare inducing stuff here and there.
4) The characters working together. Ben, Emily, Megan, Chuck, Adam, and Cori. All teens hurt in one way or another, flawed and in need of help. They made a good team.
5) The romance blooming between Ben and Megan. It was adorable, and not unbearable or too gushy.
Overall, I didn't have any problems with Sheltered. I found Megan to be a very surprising character. She seemed very normal at the start, maybe a little weird, but then the shocking truth was said and I was taken aback.
Same with Ben. He's a very attracting character, because of what he does and how much he cares. But his recklessness and actions let Emily (quiet girl) down and he hurt others because of this.
It was a really creepy read, and very intriguing. I'm sure I'll be rereading it soon enough.
I highly recommend it to anyone who's looking for a great Halloween-ish type of book.
August 22, 2012
I won a print copy of this book in the author's blog giveaway.
This book is actually a really good read! I didn't think it would be this good. And to be honest, I was afraid that I would get scared when I read the summary, but it wasn't as scary as I thought. And that's a good thing.
I really liked the plot. I didn't get bored at all! I read this in one sitting. The characters are life-like to me; They deal with problems of their own, other than the supernatural stuff , that are problems that people actually have in real life.
I felt bad for Emily, probably because we share the same name, but I had no idea that she was cutting herself. When I read that part, I was shocked. I didn't think that she would do something like that. And people always thought of her as pathetic and that made me mad. I also know what she felt when Ben was with Megan and Emily liked Ben.
And Ben. He sounds like a total cutie with all his dimples and everything. I'm also glad that his mom is finally getting out of that drunken shell of hers and actually trying to get her old life and job back.
And Chuck and Adam. Wow. I never saw that coming.
I kinda didn't like Megan for a while, because of her and Ben and what it did to Emily, but now, I like her. I was so sad when I found out that she wouldn't get custody. I thought that she would be devastated.
Cory though, I'm so glad that she's getting her life back on track. She deserves it.
And Ben. He sounds like a total cutie with all his dimples and everything. I'm also glad that his mom is finally getting out of that drunken shell of hers and actually trying to get her old life and job back.
Overall, this is a great book! There were some things that I wasn't sure of. Did Chuck die? I didn't really understand that part, but I think he did since Emily talked to him with the Ouija board. And the Ouija board. Don't they understand that playing with that is dangerous?! I'd never play with that, you never know what could happen. Also, did Emily die? Oh well. I kinda want a sequel and I kinda don't. I'd like to know what happens to Ben and Megan and Cory. Also, I was wondering, why did everything start happening when Megan came? They had lived there for a long time, but why now? Oh well. 4 Stars!
This review is also on my blog:
http://simple-books.blogspot.com
This book is actually a really good read! I didn't think it would be this good. And to be honest, I was afraid that I would get scared when I read the summary, but it wasn't as scary as I thought. And that's a good thing.
I really liked the plot. I didn't get bored at all! I read this in one sitting. The characters are life-like to me; They deal with problems of their own, other than the supernatural stuff , that are problems that people actually have in real life.
I felt bad for Emily, probably because we share the same name, but I had no idea that she was cutting herself. When I read that part, I was shocked. I didn't think that she would do something like that. And people always thought of her as pathetic and that made me mad. I also know what she felt when Ben was with Megan and Emily liked Ben.
And Ben. He sounds like a total cutie with all his dimples and everything. I'm also glad that his mom is finally getting out of that drunken shell of hers and actually trying to get her old life and job back.
And Chuck and Adam. Wow. I never saw that coming.
I kinda didn't like Megan for a while, because of her and Ben and what it did to Emily, but now, I like her. I was so sad when I found out that she wouldn't get custody. I thought that she would be devastated.
Cory though, I'm so glad that she's getting her life back on track. She deserves it.
And Ben. He sounds like a total cutie with all his dimples and everything. I'm also glad that his mom is finally getting out of that drunken shell of hers and actually trying to get her old life and job back.
Overall, this is a great book! There were some things that I wasn't sure of. Did Chuck die? I didn't really understand that part, but I think he did since Emily talked to him with the Ouija board. And the Ouija board. Don't they understand that playing with that is dangerous?! I'd never play with that, you never know what could happen. Also, did Emily die? Oh well. I kinda want a sequel and I kinda don't. I'd like to know what happens to Ben and Megan and Cory. Also, I was wondering, why did everything start happening when Megan came? They had lived there for a long time, but why now? Oh well. 4 Stars!
This review is also on my blog:
http://simple-books.blogspot.com
January 14, 2013
*To read more reviews by me visit Views & Reviews *
I really really liked this book! I did not expect to like it this much. The story was unique and I really liked the idea of mixing troubled teens with supernatural. I think the troubled teens thing would've worked fine on it's own too but the supernatural twist added a nice uniqueness to the story. (just FYI, the supernatural in the book has nothing to do with vampires, if you were wondering)
The writing was really good. I love how the story was told from each characters point of view (in third person) and they all had their own voice and style. I never found it boring and I really enjoyed reading Miss Chapoton's writing.
All the characters were well-devloped and likable. My favorites were Megan and Ben since they were the only ones who were sane :P Actually no, I liked Megan because she was strong. And Ben was such a sweet and nice boy. All through half of the book I kept wishing he wouldn't turn out to be crazy too because I liked him a lot and I didn't want him to turn out to be some lunatic. I liked Emily, and then I didn't. I think she could've saved herself, but she was so damn weak and it really pissed me off! I guessed the Chuck-Adam thing before it was revealed in the book, and I'm so proud of myself :P Well Chuck was ok. I really felt sorry for the guy. I kinda liked Cori from the start, even though she was mean. I had a feeling that she would pull through.
The romance was really sweet. I really enjoyed reading Megan's & Ben's scenes. They created a nice balance in the seriousness of other situations. And Ben & Megan's relationship was really cute!
I was sort of disappointed with the ending. I mean, it didn't really feel like an ending. It felt like there was still something left to say. But it wasn't open-ended either. I just wish there would've been a little further progression in the story. Like a complete happy endng.
All in all, it was an amazing book and I really enjoyed reading it. I would highly recommend it if you like contemporary with a little supernatural twist and some sweet romance.
I really really liked this book! I did not expect to like it this much. The story was unique and I really liked the idea of mixing troubled teens with supernatural. I think the troubled teens thing would've worked fine on it's own too but the supernatural twist added a nice uniqueness to the story. (just FYI, the supernatural in the book has nothing to do with vampires, if you were wondering)
The writing was really good. I love how the story was told from each characters point of view (in third person) and they all had their own voice and style. I never found it boring and I really enjoyed reading Miss Chapoton's writing.
All the characters were well-devloped and likable. My favorites were Megan and Ben since they were the only ones who were sane :P Actually no, I liked Megan because she was strong. And Ben was such a sweet and nice boy. All through half of the book I kept wishing he wouldn't turn out to be crazy too because I liked him a lot and I didn't want him to turn out to be some lunatic. I liked Emily, and then I didn't. I think she could've saved herself, but she was so damn weak and it really pissed me off! I guessed the Chuck-Adam thing before it was revealed in the book, and I'm so proud of myself :P Well Chuck was ok. I really felt sorry for the guy. I kinda liked Cori from the start, even though she was mean. I had a feeling that she would pull through.
The romance was really sweet. I really enjoyed reading Megan's & Ben's scenes. They created a nice balance in the seriousness of other situations. And Ben & Megan's relationship was really cute!
I was sort of disappointed with the ending. I mean, it didn't really feel like an ending. It felt like there was still something left to say. But it wasn't open-ended either. I just wish there would've been a little further progression in the story. Like a complete happy endng.
All in all, it was an amazing book and I really enjoyed reading it. I would highly recommend it if you like contemporary with a little supernatural twist and some sweet romance.
May 7, 2013
This is a story not about teenagers living the life but of broken hearts and minds finding a place to call home. It takes some of the worst situations you can imagine in a great big bear hug of understanding and does its best to make things better. Will they succeed? Only time will tell, but the author certainly accomplishes shedding a little more light on the reality of her character's situations.
Character wise, you can't help but feel SOMETHING for most of this motley crew. Story wise, I had a hard time wrapping my mind around all that was happening. It's told rather "secretively" with details about places and people only being revealed when seen fit and for the bigger picture person, it presented a challenge. Now, that's not to say I didn't enjoy it because once things started to fall into place, I was with them all the way but it does present a stumbling block that some readers may wish for advance notice of (consider it given). I definitely understand the author's choice in developing the story this way though as there are A LOT of secrets both imagined and real being dealt with here...and perhaps the most unsettling thing is that for the most part, they are REAL. There ARE people dealing with multiple personality disorders. There ARE those that inflict harm upon themselves as a reaction to situations they felt should have gone differently. There ARE those that become pregnant as teens, are touched by tragedy too great for their minds to handle, have anger issues and so on.
In conclusion, a story filled with the horror that reality can truly hold but infused with the hope for a better tomorrow, a way out of the darkness and back to the light, and a reminder that no one is ever completely alone unless they choose to be. There are helping hands out there both community wise and one-on-one that are willing to go the extra mile to aid others in their life's journey...but you've got to take that first step. A story I'd recommend for teen readers and beyond due to content as it ranges from reality to paranormal and back again.
**review copy was received in exchange for my honest review - full post can be viewed on my site**
Character wise, you can't help but feel SOMETHING for most of this motley crew. Story wise, I had a hard time wrapping my mind around all that was happening. It's told rather "secretively" with details about places and people only being revealed when seen fit and for the bigger picture person, it presented a challenge. Now, that's not to say I didn't enjoy it because once things started to fall into place, I was with them all the way but it does present a stumbling block that some readers may wish for advance notice of (consider it given). I definitely understand the author's choice in developing the story this way though as there are A LOT of secrets both imagined and real being dealt with here...and perhaps the most unsettling thing is that for the most part, they are REAL. There ARE people dealing with multiple personality disorders. There ARE those that inflict harm upon themselves as a reaction to situations they felt should have gone differently. There ARE those that become pregnant as teens, are touched by tragedy too great for their minds to handle, have anger issues and so on.
In conclusion, a story filled with the horror that reality can truly hold but infused with the hope for a better tomorrow, a way out of the darkness and back to the light, and a reminder that no one is ever completely alone unless they choose to be. There are helping hands out there both community wise and one-on-one that are willing to go the extra mile to aid others in their life's journey...but you've got to take that first step. A story I'd recommend for teen readers and beyond due to content as it ranges from reality to paranormal and back again.
**review copy was received in exchange for my honest review - full post can be viewed on my site**
July 18, 2014
Originally posted on The Authoress: Book Review and More.
There's a reason I never watched any of the Jason movies (weren't there seven of them or something?) or The Exorcist. Somehow, there's a huge difference between the urban fantasy world of Twilight and City of Bones with the vampires, werewolves, and warlocks and what Debra Chapoton brought to life in Sheltered.
I was glued to the pages, but mostly out of fear of stopping than morbid fascination. I am a total scaredy cat, but this was a whole different kind of creepy. It was psychological. Debra Chapoton paired the physical demons with the mental ones and the effect was spine tingling. Maybe my lack of spooky experiences made me uber vulnerable to suggestion, but regardless, the effect was immediate and lasting. I almost couldn't get through it because I didn't want to be freaked out.
Sheltered surprised me with how it appeared to be ordered chaos: a string of seemingly linear events tossed in with mystery but all told with an omniscient POV that I haven't seen outside of the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan. In a single scene, the POV would switch between three different characters seemingly at random. At first I was a bit put off by this because it would happen without pause: no marker that said it was now being told from Ben's POV. An interesting style that, I think, worked for the story.
Sheltered took on a different kind of story for me. I was more concerned, mentally, for the creepy things going on than for the development of the characters or the world-building. Only upon reflection did I think about how much I didn't really like one of the characters, or the romance. It was the tiny details of the possessions that I found myself focusing on, not the characters themselves.
While Sheltered was not a story I would seek out myself, I think anyone who wants a good spooky read for Halloween has found a good one.
There's a reason I never watched any of the Jason movies (weren't there seven of them or something?) or The Exorcist. Somehow, there's a huge difference between the urban fantasy world of Twilight and City of Bones with the vampires, werewolves, and warlocks and what Debra Chapoton brought to life in Sheltered.
I was glued to the pages, but mostly out of fear of stopping than morbid fascination. I am a total scaredy cat, but this was a whole different kind of creepy. It was psychological. Debra Chapoton paired the physical demons with the mental ones and the effect was spine tingling. Maybe my lack of spooky experiences made me uber vulnerable to suggestion, but regardless, the effect was immediate and lasting. I almost couldn't get through it because I didn't want to be freaked out.
Sheltered surprised me with how it appeared to be ordered chaos: a string of seemingly linear events tossed in with mystery but all told with an omniscient POV that I haven't seen outside of the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan. In a single scene, the POV would switch between three different characters seemingly at random. At first I was a bit put off by this because it would happen without pause: no marker that said it was now being told from Ben's POV. An interesting style that, I think, worked for the story.
Sheltered took on a different kind of story for me. I was more concerned, mentally, for the creepy things going on than for the development of the characters or the world-building. Only upon reflection did I think about how much I didn't really like one of the characters, or the romance. It was the tiny details of the possessions that I found myself focusing on, not the characters themselves.
While Sheltered was not a story I would seek out myself, I think anyone who wants a good spooky read for Halloween has found a good one.
December 8, 2012
Sheltered totally took me by surprise. See the blurb says the five teens come together in a rooming house and have to deal with there issues and another issue that has come into play. But what this book did not tell you was that it is so heart wrenching and gut clenching it had me reaching for the box of tissues. HOLY HADES did I want to jump through this book and save all five teens. As a mother of a teen I was like oh man I just need to comfort them. Debra did such an excellent job of pulling you in and having you see first hand what happened to these teens and what they were about to face. I HIGHLY recommend this book to all book lovers out there.
Sheltered is a story about five teens who have some kind of issue they are dealing with. Ben is sort of the ring leader or go to guy because he rents the boarding house where they all live. Ben is is tortured in his own way and has issues at home that he feels like his mother is just not listening to. Then we have Chuck who is Schizophrenic and talks to his brother all day long. Then you meet Cori who is a goth girl that just pulled the strings of my heart because she was so lost and confused and she had no one to confide in. Then we meet Megan who is the heart of the story for me. She has lost something so dear and near to her heart that she is trying to figure out a way to get it back. She likes Ben and the two quickly like each other and they compliment each other. They are looking for the same things out of life and Ben can give Megan what she needs.
In the end the five teens have to come to terms with what is going on in their lives as well as what is happening in the house. Will they be able to survive the house and their issues or will each one succumb to horrible things? Read this book to find out because I promise you will not be disappointed!
Sheltered is a story about five teens who have some kind of issue they are dealing with. Ben is sort of the ring leader or go to guy because he rents the boarding house where they all live. Ben is is tortured in his own way and has issues at home that he feels like his mother is just not listening to. Then we have Chuck who is Schizophrenic and talks to his brother all day long. Then you meet Cori who is a goth girl that just pulled the strings of my heart because she was so lost and confused and she had no one to confide in. Then we meet Megan who is the heart of the story for me. She has lost something so dear and near to her heart that she is trying to figure out a way to get it back. She likes Ben and the two quickly like each other and they compliment each other. They are looking for the same things out of life and Ben can give Megan what she needs.
In the end the five teens have to come to terms with what is going on in their lives as well as what is happening in the house. Will they be able to survive the house and their issues or will each one succumb to horrible things? Read this book to find out because I promise you will not be disappointed!
September 5, 2012
I was asked by the author to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review. I award this book 2.5 stars.
Sheltered by Debra Chapoton is a book about an odd assortment of kids. There's Ben, who is one of the creepiest kids I have ever met-- I mean, who decides that starting a "home" for really dysfunctional kids is way to get admitted to the college of his choice? Then there's Cori, who is a Goth girl who basically acts like a jerk to everyone. There's the twins, at least one who is schizophrenic, and one of them seems to be a killer in the making. Megan, the newcomer, who is kind of normal but has a secret. Emily is a quiet girl who cuts herself. They all live in this house, which is possessed by some devil spirit.
The prose is easy to follow, and I read quickly through the first 30%. Then, it got a lot harder to get through. This book has the misfortune of being the next book I read after two really spectacular reads-- so just take that into account when you are reading this review. I never felt drawn to any of the characters. There was just too much dysfunction for me to get over, and then all of this is clouded over by the paranormal in the house. I couldn't tell what was character and what was "demon." The end felt very abrupt to me as well.
Overall, initially a promising premise, then just fell flat for me.
Sheltered by Debra Chapoton is a book about an odd assortment of kids. There's Ben, who is one of the creepiest kids I have ever met-- I mean, who decides that starting a "home" for really dysfunctional kids is way to get admitted to the college of his choice? Then there's Cori, who is a Goth girl who basically acts like a jerk to everyone. There's the twins, at least one who is schizophrenic, and one of them seems to be a killer in the making. Megan, the newcomer, who is kind of normal but has a secret. Emily is a quiet girl who cuts herself. They all live in this house, which is possessed by some devil spirit.
The prose is easy to follow, and I read quickly through the first 30%. Then, it got a lot harder to get through. This book has the misfortune of being the next book I read after two really spectacular reads-- so just take that into account when you are reading this review. I never felt drawn to any of the characters. There was just too much dysfunction for me to get over, and then all of this is clouded over by the paranormal in the house. I couldn't tell what was character and what was "demon." The end felt very abrupt to me as well.
Overall, initially a promising premise, then just fell flat for me.
December 12, 2012
Sheltered is about a group of teenagers living together, each with their own set of problems. There's Ben, whom I initially thought was the bad guy from all his suspicious actions. There's Cori who is practically mean to everyone. There's the twins--Adam and Chuck with a problem that you wouldn't realize at the beginning. And there's Emily, who likes Ben and seems to be always cutting herself. Last but not least, there's a new girl, Meghan, and she has a secret.
Sheltered is pretty easy to read and it came to a surprise for me when it got to the paranormal part. Guess I didn't read too much into the book summary! The author did a good job in highlighting each characters' problems and the switch in POV allows me to get insights into each character's thinking. However, the paranormal element was a little confusing for me. There were some questions that were unanswered, like where did the demon come from and also, I believe more information about the social worker would greatly deepen the plot.
If you love creepy stuff, this book will be great for you. Just read about the ouija board!
3.5 Stars out of 5.
**I received a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review**
Sheltered is pretty easy to read and it came to a surprise for me when it got to the paranormal part. Guess I didn't read too much into the book summary! The author did a good job in highlighting each characters' problems and the switch in POV allows me to get insights into each character's thinking. However, the paranormal element was a little confusing for me. There were some questions that were unanswered, like where did the demon come from and also, I believe more information about the social worker would greatly deepen the plot.
If you love creepy stuff, this book will be great for you. Just read about the ouija board!
3.5 Stars out of 5.
**I received a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review**
December 11, 2012
‘Sheltered’ features a group teenagers who are living together and each have some major issues. The only trouble is, those inner demons come out of their heads and into real life. I was amazed at how realistic the characters and the problems they were facing every day came across. All of the characters were distinctive and deal with serious emotional and mental issues and/or trauma. What the reader doesn’t know at first is the house itself has a sordid past and everything is coming together in the perfect storm. ‘Sheltered’ is a spine-chilling read with a compelling cast of characters, especially Megan and Cori, for me. I felt the ending was a bit rushed, but perhaps the author is going to write a sequel? Seriously, don’t read ‘Sheltered’ without all the lights on!
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November 12, 2012
♥ Find my reviews on Blogger ~ Reviews by Bookish Sarah
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Sheltered starts off with Ben, a teen who can't stand his home life. His stepfather is a controlling jerk and his mother is a drunk. Ben devises a plan to get away from his home. It begins with acquiring a house secretly (via his stepfather's business). He then finds teens who need help; teens who need to get away, and sets them up in the house for next to no money.
First there's Emily - a disturbed girl who self mutilates to cope with life and to punish herself. Then we have Cori - a girl with so much anger at herself and everyone else that she decides to channel it in terrible ways. She's rude, crude, and abusive to others. Then there are the twins; Adam and Chuck - schizophrenic. One is obsessed with Cori, the other contemplates killing her. Last, there is Megan - an emancipated teen with a secret she thinks she's hiding from Ben. Little does she know... Ben has been watching her for awhile and knows more than she thinks.
Together, these teens try to get through day-to-day life.
Then, strange things begin happening in the house. Things like Megan floating in mid-air while she sleeps. Thinks like Chuck attacking Megan and literally crawling on the ceiling. Things like Ouija boards sending out creepy messages to the group. Things that just can't be real, but are. The teens decide to get to the bottom of what is going on in the house, and end up finding out things they wish they never knew.
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For some reason, when I agreed to review this novel, I was under the impression (most likely thanks to my skimming an email instead of reading it in full! lol) that it was a contemporary read. The paranormal aspect came as a complete surprise to me. It was a good surprise though! This book definitely has a creep-out factor. I read it mostly before bed, and I have to admit, it made me want to turn all the lights in my apartment on. I kept thinking I heard things; saw things. It's what a horror novel should be!
My problems lie in the plot.
**Spoilers ahead!!**
Throughout a good portion of the book, Ben has a “secret plan” that Megan is “interfering with” - a plan that you are led to believe is dirty, juicy, severely messed up, or all of the above. No. Turns out, he just wants to move out of his house. Seriously?! What a let-down. I don't think it was a good idea to have such a build-up and then let your readers down with something so boring. I was hoping he was a secret psychopath or murderer or something. But no, the kid just wants to get away from his a-hole of a stepfather. Hmph!!
My second issue is one that could be remedied with a sequel. There was soooo much going on throughout the book, so much detail and everything... but then the ending was sort of a cut-off. I mean, there wasn't really a true solution to the problem. There is a social worker woman who ends up being able to help the teens with their paranormal visitors, but the end is still left sort of unfinished. There are too many questions left unanswered. I really hope there is a sequel, because I would definitely read it to find out what happened.
Something I did like were the subplots. Megan trying to gain custody of her baby. Ben trying to deal with his home life AND keep things in the teen house in order. All the while, the two of them are falling for each other. Emily is jealous of this. She is really messed up. Then there's Chuck. He's all about Cori. Obsessed in a very unhealthy way. Adam is obsessed with something else entirely. Revenge. What I truly appreciated was the way the author portrayed Cori. She wasn't just some “goth” girl. She was an angry girl; an angry girl who did not know how to express or overcome her rage in a healthy way. So she expresses it outwardly with dark clothing, piles of makeup, body piercings, and a harsh, intimidating attitude. I enjoyed reading about her journey and transformation the most. The author did a fantastic job of interweaving all of this with the paranormal element of the story. It all fit together quite nicely!
Overall, I enjoyed Sheltered. It was a little confusing in the end, and a few parts were a let-down, but for the most part, it was great. It was truly creepy. Reading this in a dark room (Kindle Fire, love you!) was very scary for me. It was awesome! I love a horror novel that does what it should do, which is scare me so badly that I want to cower under my blankie and wait for the lights to come back on. That, paired with the drama and entertainment of the subplots, made this an enthralling read. It was one I couldn't really put down. I stayed up all hours of the night glued to these pages. I'd recommend it if you like a darker storyline with a bit of a horror factor.
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Book source: from the author for review
Publisher: Big Pine Lodge Books
January 6, 2013
High school student Ben has come up with a plan, it isn't exactly a perfect one, but one he thinks will help others and himself. He has rented a house under a false name from his step-father's real estate company and has even found a way to pay the rent through the company. Ben is using the house as somewhat of a boarding house, renting rooms to troubled teens who have nowhere else to go.
Megan is the newest teen to move into the house. After leaving home and needing to prove herself, she has come to live at the home with the other teens. There's Cori, a goth girl with a very bad attitude, Emily, a very shy homeless girl with a massive crush on Ben, and Chuck and Adam, twin brothers who are complete opposites.
After only being at the house for days, Megan notices that some things just aren't right. The kids are weird and there are very strange things happening in the house. She and Ben must try to figure out just exactly what is going on and try to stop it before something devastating happens.
The Characters:
Each character in this story was fascinating in their own way. Ben was smart, caring and honestly just wanted to help out the other teens. He drove them to school, to work and anywhere else they needed to go. He seemed very genuine and true. Megan was the same, wanting only to finish school with good grades and get her life back together. Chuck and Adam were opposite in every way. Adam was charming and sweet while Chuck was shy and a little withdrawn.
I'm not sure how I felt about Cori. She was very mean and went out of her way to hurt anyone who came in contact with her. Honestly, I didn't like her at all for quite some time. But as the story went on, I started to understand her and why she acted out the way she did.
The Setting:
Most of this story takes place in an old house that Ben has rented. I had absolutely no trouble navigating my way around the house in my mind and could definitely find my way around easily if I was dropped into the middle of it. There are a lot of creepy things going on in this book and the house was the perfect setting for it. There's an old attic and a creepy basement, two things that always add a little suspense to a creepy story!
The Writing:
This is my first book by Debra Chapoton and I really enjoyed her writing style. Each character had their own way of speaking or thinking and they all came across as unique. A lot of times with multiple points of view, the characters will all talk and sound the same and it is easy to get confused as to who is speaking. But that is not the case here. Her writing is also direct without any unnecessary filler, which is always appreciated.
The Storyline:
This is where things start to get tricky for me. While I enjoyed the story, some parts left me confused and wanting more. I'll start with what I liked. Each of the characters has their own subplot and I really enjoyed these. They gave us a glimpse into their lives and how they ended up at the boarding house to begin with. In some cases, there was abuse and neglect, while others were cases of bullying and homelessness. Each story was different and I enjoyed each of them.
While I did like the idea of the demons possessing the teens and other strange things going on in the home, I felt like a lot of this went unanswered. While it is hinted at to who or what the demons where, we weren't told why. Why are they there and what did they want? It also confused me as to why some of the teens became possessed while others had no trouble at all. I'm assuming this was based on their happiness or background, but I couldn't be sure. There was also the aspect of Ben's "plan", why he rented the house in the first place and what he was really up to. I was a little disappointed when this was revealed, I was hoping for something more.
My only other concern was the religious aspect of the story. While it isn't obvious and in your face, it's still there. Had I known this, I may not have agreed to a review. I don't subscribe to a religion and I tend to stay away from any religious fiction, no matter what the faith. But like I said, this wasn't overdone and I was able to look past it.
Overall, Sheltered was an interesting and creepy read. In fact, I had a hard time putting it down because I was so invested in what was going on with the teens. I recommend this to fans of the paranormal or anyone who is looking for a deeper and darker read.
Megan is the newest teen to move into the house. After leaving home and needing to prove herself, she has come to live at the home with the other teens. There's Cori, a goth girl with a very bad attitude, Emily, a very shy homeless girl with a massive crush on Ben, and Chuck and Adam, twin brothers who are complete opposites.
After only being at the house for days, Megan notices that some things just aren't right. The kids are weird and there are very strange things happening in the house. She and Ben must try to figure out just exactly what is going on and try to stop it before something devastating happens.
The Characters:
Each character in this story was fascinating in their own way. Ben was smart, caring and honestly just wanted to help out the other teens. He drove them to school, to work and anywhere else they needed to go. He seemed very genuine and true. Megan was the same, wanting only to finish school with good grades and get her life back together. Chuck and Adam were opposite in every way. Adam was charming and sweet while Chuck was shy and a little withdrawn.
I'm not sure how I felt about Cori. She was very mean and went out of her way to hurt anyone who came in contact with her. Honestly, I didn't like her at all for quite some time. But as the story went on, I started to understand her and why she acted out the way she did.
The Setting:
Most of this story takes place in an old house that Ben has rented. I had absolutely no trouble navigating my way around the house in my mind and could definitely find my way around easily if I was dropped into the middle of it. There are a lot of creepy things going on in this book and the house was the perfect setting for it. There's an old attic and a creepy basement, two things that always add a little suspense to a creepy story!
The Writing:
This is my first book by Debra Chapoton and I really enjoyed her writing style. Each character had their own way of speaking or thinking and they all came across as unique. A lot of times with multiple points of view, the characters will all talk and sound the same and it is easy to get confused as to who is speaking. But that is not the case here. Her writing is also direct without any unnecessary filler, which is always appreciated.
The Storyline:
This is where things start to get tricky for me. While I enjoyed the story, some parts left me confused and wanting more. I'll start with what I liked. Each of the characters has their own subplot and I really enjoyed these. They gave us a glimpse into their lives and how they ended up at the boarding house to begin with. In some cases, there was abuse and neglect, while others were cases of bullying and homelessness. Each story was different and I enjoyed each of them.
While I did like the idea of the demons possessing the teens and other strange things going on in the home, I felt like a lot of this went unanswered. While it is hinted at to who or what the demons where, we weren't told why. Why are they there and what did they want? It also confused me as to why some of the teens became possessed while others had no trouble at all. I'm assuming this was based on their happiness or background, but I couldn't be sure. There was also the aspect of Ben's "plan", why he rented the house in the first place and what he was really up to. I was a little disappointed when this was revealed, I was hoping for something more.
My only other concern was the religious aspect of the story. While it isn't obvious and in your face, it's still there. Had I known this, I may not have agreed to a review. I don't subscribe to a religion and I tend to stay away from any religious fiction, no matter what the faith. But like I said, this wasn't overdone and I was able to look past it.
Overall, Sheltered was an interesting and creepy read. In fact, I had a hard time putting it down because I was so invested in what was going on with the teens. I recommend this to fans of the paranormal or anyone who is looking for a deeper and darker read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2012
Review also on Ginger-Read Reviews
I was drawn to read Sheltered because I really like stories with strong psychological themes... or at least, I like movies with strong psychological themes. For some reason, though, I haven't read many books that have much to do with psychology. Sheltered did not disappoint me there.
The story centers around five teens who live in an old house together and who have various issues that they are trying to work through. Although the narrative regularly shifts perspectives to all five kids, I thought of Ben and Megan as being the main characters, since they're the most “normal” and relatable kids and the two that the story focuses the most on. Plus, they're the only ones who are actually named in the synopsis. Ben basically owns the house, as an act of rebellion against his hated step-father. Megan comes to the house because she needs a place to stay while she works through some family issues.
The other characters include: Emily, an extremely shy girl with a crush on Ben; Cori, a rebellious goth girl; and Chuck, a schizophrenic boy who has a split personality. I liked those three characters more than Ben and Megan, mainly because they're more interesting. I always wanted to see what they would do next, and I wanted to see their problems resolved by the end.
Sheltered also has paranormal ghost/demon plot. I say ghost/demon because the paranormal occurrences could be either demonic possessions or hauntings; it isn't really clear until the end. The “outer demons” plot doesn't really tie into the “inner demons” plot until the very end, sadly, but it was creepy enough on its own to make up for that.
One thing I really loved about this book is how tense it is. The possession scenes are tense because they're so creepy, and the rest of the story is usually tense because the characters are constantly doing important things without anyone else knowing about it, which leads to some serious issues from a lack of communication. Sheltered isn't action-heavy by any means, but new problems are coming up at such a constant rate that I still had a hard time putting the book down.
I also loved the interactions between the characters. Emily, Cori, and Chuck all have very interesting personalities, and it's fun seeing them come together. I ended up attached to every one of them, despite their flaws. Ben and Megan are kind of boring compared to the other three, but they're still solid characters.
My only major complaint is that the ending is very abrupt. You'd think that the story would be over and everything would be resolved a little after the big climax, but not here. It was sort of like the book was going to end there, but then the author said “oh no, I forgot to tie up these subplots! QUICK, CRAZY THING!!” So then it's like a second climax got sort of shoved into the very end of the book and then, suddenly, the book's over.
Overall, Sheltered is a great page-turner with fun characters, lots of tension, and some great creepy scenes. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a YA-friendly psychological thriller.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
I was drawn to read Sheltered because I really like stories with strong psychological themes... or at least, I like movies with strong psychological themes. For some reason, though, I haven't read many books that have much to do with psychology. Sheltered did not disappoint me there.
The story centers around five teens who live in an old house together and who have various issues that they are trying to work through. Although the narrative regularly shifts perspectives to all five kids, I thought of Ben and Megan as being the main characters, since they're the most “normal” and relatable kids and the two that the story focuses the most on. Plus, they're the only ones who are actually named in the synopsis. Ben basically owns the house, as an act of rebellion against his hated step-father. Megan comes to the house because she needs a place to stay while she works through some family issues.
The other characters include: Emily, an extremely shy girl with a crush on Ben; Cori, a rebellious goth girl; and Chuck, a schizophrenic boy who has a split personality. I liked those three characters more than Ben and Megan, mainly because they're more interesting. I always wanted to see what they would do next, and I wanted to see their problems resolved by the end.
Sheltered also has paranormal ghost/demon plot. I say ghost/demon because the paranormal occurrences could be either demonic possessions or hauntings; it isn't really clear until the end. The “outer demons” plot doesn't really tie into the “inner demons” plot until the very end, sadly, but it was creepy enough on its own to make up for that.
One thing I really loved about this book is how tense it is. The possession scenes are tense because they're so creepy, and the rest of the story is usually tense because the characters are constantly doing important things without anyone else knowing about it, which leads to some serious issues from a lack of communication. Sheltered isn't action-heavy by any means, but new problems are coming up at such a constant rate that I still had a hard time putting the book down.
I also loved the interactions between the characters. Emily, Cori, and Chuck all have very interesting personalities, and it's fun seeing them come together. I ended up attached to every one of them, despite their flaws. Ben and Megan are kind of boring compared to the other three, but they're still solid characters.
My only major complaint is that the ending is very abrupt. You'd think that the story would be over and everything would be resolved a little after the big climax, but not here. It was sort of like the book was going to end there, but then the author said “oh no, I forgot to tie up these subplots! QUICK, CRAZY THING!!” So then it's like a second climax got sort of shoved into the very end of the book and then, suddenly, the book's over.
Overall, Sheltered is a great page-turner with fun characters, lots of tension, and some great creepy scenes. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a YA-friendly psychological thriller.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
October 30, 2012
I received Sheltered for review in return for an honest review from the author Debra Chapoton. Sheltered is the story of five troubled teens living in a rooming house. All the teens are emancipated teens so they can live on their own yet they feel better knowing they are renting in a house with adult supervision. What some of them don't know is that they really don't have adult supervision it's a elaborate lie. The house the five live in is the house where a mother and her child were murdered by the husband so it has spooky nature.
Ben is renting the house from his step-father without his knowledge and renting it out to teens who he wanted to help. He pretends to live in the rooming house while still living at home with his mom and step-father. Living in the house is Emily a girl who woke up one morning to find her brother and mother gone. Chuck who is a schizophrenic who doesn't realize his brother Adam is dead and that all their conversations are in his head. Cori the Goth girl who works at a tattoo parlor, who has anger issues as well as develops some magical powers. Then there is Megan the new girl who is struggling to get custody of her young son. All of the teens each have their own issues and personal demons that manifest themselves as real demons.
I was impressed at how drawn in to Sheltered I was it was hard for me to put it down and I even stayed up super late or early finishing it off because I wanted to know how it would end. I found myself connecting to each of the character because each one is unique with their issues. They all stole a little piece of my heart as it went out to them as they each faced their own struggles to survive. I wanted to take Emily home and try to help her because she just seems so lost and alone. I liked the relationship between Ben and Megan they both needed someone special in their lives and they worked well for each other. I'm a mom so my heart went out for Megan I can't imagine how she was feeling being in the position she's in. I liked Cori as well, she has her own issues but she's strong enough to overcome them I think, and then there is Chuck I wanted to lock him away for his own good. I liked the story it's a story that show's you a side of teen life you don't normally get to see which might be good for some teens. I would say it’s a great story for most teens they may take something from it that will help them in the future.
Ben is renting the house from his step-father without his knowledge and renting it out to teens who he wanted to help. He pretends to live in the rooming house while still living at home with his mom and step-father. Living in the house is Emily a girl who woke up one morning to find her brother and mother gone. Chuck who is a schizophrenic who doesn't realize his brother Adam is dead and that all their conversations are in his head. Cori the Goth girl who works at a tattoo parlor, who has anger issues as well as develops some magical powers. Then there is Megan the new girl who is struggling to get custody of her young son. All of the teens each have their own issues and personal demons that manifest themselves as real demons.
I was impressed at how drawn in to Sheltered I was it was hard for me to put it down and I even stayed up super late or early finishing it off because I wanted to know how it would end. I found myself connecting to each of the character because each one is unique with their issues. They all stole a little piece of my heart as it went out to them as they each faced their own struggles to survive. I wanted to take Emily home and try to help her because she just seems so lost and alone. I liked the relationship between Ben and Megan they both needed someone special in their lives and they worked well for each other. I'm a mom so my heart went out for Megan I can't imagine how she was feeling being in the position she's in. I liked Cori as well, she has her own issues but she's strong enough to overcome them I think, and then there is Chuck I wanted to lock him away for his own good. I liked the story it's a story that show's you a side of teen life you don't normally get to see which might be good for some teens. I would say it’s a great story for most teens they may take something from it that will help them in the future.
October 19, 2012
Oh. Demons. Like I will possess you kind of demons. Not in a paranormal world, but in our real life world. Scary. I didn't realize when I started this book exactly what I was in for!
I can't say that I am a fan of the demonic psycho kind of books or movies. I avoid them like the plague. Number one, because I am a chicken. I prefer to feel safe and happy instead of scared and crazy. Number two, because I just don't like it. Borderline too real.
I would say that this book made me uncomfortable. All the demonic forces that possess the kids are freaky. Ouija boards, chanting and levitating are just not my thing. I had a hard time with that aspect of it although I know LOTS of people who love that sort of thing in books so I'm sure they will be interested in this book.
Let me tell you about what I did like in this book. I liked the concept of a group of outcast kids making it together. All with problems, all needing help. I thought Ben was an excellent lead character in this book. His protective, helpful role was awesome. I thoroughly enjoyed the growing relationship between Megan and Ben. The ice skating scene was my favorite. :)
I think the book brings into play several different mental illnesses that are generally not understood well. It was hard to read about the kid planning the shootings. Way to close to home for many people in recent years that have lived through that sort of horrific event.
I would say that Debra has written a book that will appeal to many people. Edgy, a bit freaky with a sweet romance. Probably a perfect Halloween read for anyone in the mood for that.
As far as content there was swearing, an almost sex scene, violence, self mutilation and some satanic/demonic rituals.
I can't say that I am a fan of the demonic psycho kind of books or movies. I avoid them like the plague. Number one, because I am a chicken. I prefer to feel safe and happy instead of scared and crazy. Number two, because I just don't like it. Borderline too real.
I would say that this book made me uncomfortable. All the demonic forces that possess the kids are freaky. Ouija boards, chanting and levitating are just not my thing. I had a hard time with that aspect of it although I know LOTS of people who love that sort of thing in books so I'm sure they will be interested in this book.
Let me tell you about what I did like in this book. I liked the concept of a group of outcast kids making it together. All with problems, all needing help. I thought Ben was an excellent lead character in this book. His protective, helpful role was awesome. I thoroughly enjoyed the growing relationship between Megan and Ben. The ice skating scene was my favorite. :)
I think the book brings into play several different mental illnesses that are generally not understood well. It was hard to read about the kid planning the shootings. Way to close to home for many people in recent years that have lived through that sort of horrific event.
I would say that Debra has written a book that will appeal to many people. Edgy, a bit freaky with a sweet romance. Probably a perfect Halloween read for anyone in the mood for that.
As far as content there was swearing, an almost sex scene, violence, self mutilation and some satanic/demonic rituals.
August 29, 2012
First off, I have to say that I love the Preface for this book. Sheltered deals with quite a few serious issues, so I love that we get statistics at the beginning of the book so we, as readers understand just how severe those issues are, I think by reading these statistics it makes more of an impact.
Sheltered follows the lives of six teenagers, Ben, Adam, Chuck, Cori, Emily and Megan, who are all living in the same group home. Each of them are far from perfect, they each secretly have their own problems that they are dealing with.
Ben is kind of the leader of the house. Even though everyone thinks that they have a house mother, Mrs. Kremer, that they never see, really it’s Ben who does everything and makes sure that they are all taken care of. I have to admit that Ben is a pretty smart guy; I mean I would never have thought to stake out bars and pay women to pretend to be Mrs. Kremer so that the new house tenants don’t get suspicious when they don’t see an adult around.
There is a lot more going on in the house than just mood swings and drama that you would expect with six teenagers living together under the same roof and it isn’t long after Megan moves in that weird, unexplainable things start happening.
Sheltered is a quick but intense read. The characters felt very real and had genuine problems that they were dealing with and because of this; it made it very easy to sympathize with them. If you aren’t bothered by disturbing issues like suicide or self-mutilation, then this is definitely a book that you should read.
*This book
was provided to me free of charge by the author for an honest review*
* All opinions are my own*
Sheltered follows the lives of six teenagers, Ben, Adam, Chuck, Cori, Emily and Megan, who are all living in the same group home. Each of them are far from perfect, they each secretly have their own problems that they are dealing with.
Ben is kind of the leader of the house. Even though everyone thinks that they have a house mother, Mrs. Kremer, that they never see, really it’s Ben who does everything and makes sure that they are all taken care of. I have to admit that Ben is a pretty smart guy; I mean I would never have thought to stake out bars and pay women to pretend to be Mrs. Kremer so that the new house tenants don’t get suspicious when they don’t see an adult around.
There is a lot more going on in the house than just mood swings and drama that you would expect with six teenagers living together under the same roof and it isn’t long after Megan moves in that weird, unexplainable things start happening.
Sheltered is a quick but intense read. The characters felt very real and had genuine problems that they were dealing with and because of this; it made it very easy to sympathize with them. If you aren’t bothered by disturbing issues like suicide or self-mutilation, then this is definitely a book that you should read.
*This book
was provided to me free of charge by the author for an honest review*
* All opinions are my own*
October 24, 2012
I had the opportunity to read this amazing book before it was published (helps to know the author, right?). I was so impressed by the storyline in this book. Completely unique, and filled with engrossing characters who were at once sympathetic and enthralling.
This is the story of teen Ben who's renting a house where he lets other troubled teens live. None of them know it's his house, they believe it's owned by their landlord, the mysterious Mrs. Kremer. The story begins when Megan moves into the house, upsetting the sort of strange balance these teens have found together. Her move-in is particularly upsetting to Emily, who has something of a crush on Ben, especially when Ben quickly develops feelings for Megan.
It would be a good enough story just watching this group of troubled kids dealing with their many, many issues, but something wicked has come into the house and creates new tensions. Each teen deals with one another, their own issues, and the strange new happenings in their own unique ways until finally everything comes to an explosive head.
Debra portrayed each of the kids in such realistic ways that I wanted to reach into the book and pull them out and give them a hug and protect them from the hurts they were going through. This is not a light read, as others have stated, but it's so fascinating I found it very difficult to walk away from, and couldn't wait to get back to it. Great book that you'll find yourself thinking about long after you've finished it.
This is the story of teen Ben who's renting a house where he lets other troubled teens live. None of them know it's his house, they believe it's owned by their landlord, the mysterious Mrs. Kremer. The story begins when Megan moves into the house, upsetting the sort of strange balance these teens have found together. Her move-in is particularly upsetting to Emily, who has something of a crush on Ben, especially when Ben quickly develops feelings for Megan.
It would be a good enough story just watching this group of troubled kids dealing with their many, many issues, but something wicked has come into the house and creates new tensions. Each teen deals with one another, their own issues, and the strange new happenings in their own unique ways until finally everything comes to an explosive head.
Debra portrayed each of the kids in such realistic ways that I wanted to reach into the book and pull them out and give them a hug and protect them from the hurts they were going through. This is not a light read, as others have stated, but it's so fascinating I found it very difficult to walk away from, and couldn't wait to get back to it. Great book that you'll find yourself thinking about long after you've finished it.
October 24, 2012
Ok not really sure what to say about this book. It was good, creepy, and irritating all at once. The book is about a group of teenagers that all live together and all have issues. Not like, homework sucks, but like I should be punished and my voices say you suck. It was a good read that I actually enjoyed and still felt like hiding under the covers with my stuffed raccoon, Racky, and my thumb in my mouth. Yeah I'm a chicken shit, so what. Tell me that if you have a good imagination and read about floating kids and demon possession that you won't freak the hell out. When the kid walked on the wall and the ceiling hissing I was ready to call in a priest. There were just some things that irritated me and I'm not sure if they still would if I knew rather a second book was coming out or not. The ending for me just left to many things hangin. Did the girl die? Does the demon stay in the house? Someone please tell me so I don't have to be scared of the attic anymore. I would say read it, but in paperback or kindle, not hardback. So a good read just not 15 worth of good read. Know what I mean?
This book was given to me by the author for an honest review.
reviewed by Stacy
3.5 Stars
0 Flames
This book was given to me by the author for an honest review.
reviewed by Stacy
3.5 Stars
0 Flames
January 3, 2013
I’ll be honest the part about the description that really intrigued me was “the schizophrenic kid”. I work in the mental health field and was curious to see how “the schizophrenic kid” was portrayed. This story turned out to be a little different than what I was expecting.
The story alternatives from all five of the teens perspective. Each teen has their own problems and issues. Megan and Ben definitely are the most put together of the group. However, I felt sorry for all of them. They were all dealing with some tough issues.
The book is easy to read and the book is set at a nice pace. There weren’t a lot of slow parts. There was enough suspense to keep me interested and engaged in what was happening, however, I never 100% connected to the story.
While the story was interesting I was a little turned off by the demonic presence. I never did fully understand what was caused by the demonic presence and what wasn’t. Plus, I didn’t feel that what caused the presence was explained well. I’m not a huge fan of horror but I didn’t find this overly creepy.
Overall, I thought Sheltered was an easy, enjoyable read. If you are looking for some a little different in the paranormal department maybe you should give this book a try.
The story alternatives from all five of the teens perspective. Each teen has their own problems and issues. Megan and Ben definitely are the most put together of the group. However, I felt sorry for all of them. They were all dealing with some tough issues.
The book is easy to read and the book is set at a nice pace. There weren’t a lot of slow parts. There was enough suspense to keep me interested and engaged in what was happening, however, I never 100% connected to the story.
While the story was interesting I was a little turned off by the demonic presence. I never did fully understand what was caused by the demonic presence and what wasn’t. Plus, I didn’t feel that what caused the presence was explained well. I’m not a huge fan of horror but I didn’t find this overly creepy.
Overall, I thought Sheltered was an easy, enjoyable read. If you are looking for some a little different in the paranormal department maybe you should give this book a try.
October 15, 2012
I was contacted by the author and asked read and provide an honest review for Sheltered. Well, I have mixed feelings about this story. First of all, let me just say that I believe there is a really good story here. I love the concept of a bunch of kids banding together to fight demons, but this is not the only plot line in the story. Emily is a cutter, with major self-esteem issues. Adam and Chuck are schizophrenic. Ben has a difficult home life with an alcoholic mother and a nasty step father. Cori is a goth chick with attitude. Meg is a young mother who has been emancipated from her parents. All of these kids are brought together by Ben, but I am not really sure why. This is never really explained in the story, other than he wanted to help others.
The back and forth between the characters and their different scenes was also confusing. What started out as promising ended in an unsatisfying note for me. The whole demon thing was left hanging and although the characters all went their separate ways, I still wished I knew what happened with the social worker and whether or not the demon was truly excised.
I give Sheltered 2 1/2 stars.
The back and forth between the characters and their different scenes was also confusing. What started out as promising ended in an unsatisfying note for me. The whole demon thing was left hanging and although the characters all went their separate ways, I still wished I knew what happened with the social worker and whether or not the demon was truly excised.
I give Sheltered 2 1/2 stars.
April 2, 2016
Though I give Chapoton a lot of credit for the unique premise of Sheltered, I wasn't exactly blow away by her work. Underwhelming at best, my only concrete feeling is that this is what would result if one were to cross The Breakfast Club with The Exorcist.
My primary difficulty sprung from the stereotypes each of the characters represented. An angry goth girl? A handsome jock? Anyone want to guess why the perfect cheerleader was kicked out by her parents? These are thoughts that came to me while reading Sheltered. In the end, I couldn't help feeling Chapoton's characters lacked the originality she displayed in the creation of her plot.
In terms of content Chapoton covers a lot of ground. Mental disorders, demon possession, suicide, teen sex, self-mutilation; there is some dark and difficult material here. The end result didn't make a huge impression on me, but even so I admire Chapoton's effort to incorporate topics and ideas that usually send young adult writers running for the hills.
Ultimately the book lacked the terror I'd anticipated, but it is interesting in an "it made me think" kind of way and I'm glad for the time I spent time with it.
My primary difficulty sprung from the stereotypes each of the characters represented. An angry goth girl? A handsome jock? Anyone want to guess why the perfect cheerleader was kicked out by her parents? These are thoughts that came to me while reading Sheltered. In the end, I couldn't help feeling Chapoton's characters lacked the originality she displayed in the creation of her plot.
In terms of content Chapoton covers a lot of ground. Mental disorders, demon possession, suicide, teen sex, self-mutilation; there is some dark and difficult material here. The end result didn't make a huge impression on me, but even so I admire Chapoton's effort to incorporate topics and ideas that usually send young adult writers running for the hills.
Ultimately the book lacked the terror I'd anticipated, but it is interesting in an "it made me think" kind of way and I'm glad for the time I spent time with it.
February 7, 2017
Ben is the secret renter of a house his step dad owns.He allows teens who need a place to live to rent rooms.The group in the house are rather weird.A cutter,a young mom wanting to get custody of her baby,a nasty girl, and a few boys.The house is haunted and may have demons.This book is so slow and drawn out that I lost the thread a few times.John Thompson is a so so narrator.I hated his girl voices.“I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2013
An engaging story that deals with and mixes the issues of homelessness, schizophrenia, depression, suicide, and the occult. As the reader follows along with the five kids (six, including, um...Adam) and the fictitious Mrs. Kremer, they're engaged by the opposing personalities in the house, the secrets that are (or aren't) kept, and they root for these teens in their quest to just stay in the house (even though maybe we shouldn't. Kids need adults!)
I admire how the issue of teen homelessness was addressed, veering away from the common idea that homeless people are all elderly, dirty and on the streets. The percentage of teen homelessness has gone up in the united states lately, and that doesn't necessarily mean they're out in the cold--most often it means they're at a shelter or homeless opportunity program. (For more facts and how to help, visit dosomething.org)
All in all, it was an entertaining read and I encourage readers of all genres to give this one a shot.
I admire how the issue of teen homelessness was addressed, veering away from the common idea that homeless people are all elderly, dirty and on the streets. The percentage of teen homelessness has gone up in the united states lately, and that doesn't necessarily mean they're out in the cold--most often it means they're at a shelter or homeless opportunity program. (For more facts and how to help, visit dosomething.org)
All in all, it was an entertaining read and I encourage readers of all genres to give this one a shot.
September 16, 2012
This isn't your average YA paranormal book. I liked the premise and I liked the characters. It is written well and has great flow.
There is a lot of mysterious happenings going on in this house, but is it real or imagined? This book deals with some dark subjects. There is schizophrenia, demons, possession, suicide, self mutilation and teenage pregnancy. This is not a light read. I enjoyed the book. It has lots of twists and it keeps you guessing, but after reading this, I need a fun read to lighten my mood. If you like dark, you'll like this one.
BUY NOW! ------>Sheltered
I received this book from the author for review.
There is a lot of mysterious happenings going on in this house, but is it real or imagined? This book deals with some dark subjects. There is schizophrenia, demons, possession, suicide, self mutilation and teenage pregnancy. This is not a light read. I enjoyed the book. It has lots of twists and it keeps you guessing, but after reading this, I need a fun read to lighten my mood. If you like dark, you'll like this one.
BUY NOW! ------>Sheltered
I received this book from the author for review.
September 29, 2016
I was given a free audiobook version of this book for an honest review by the author. Started out a little slow at first but really turned out good as things picked up I actually didn't read anything about this book so it was quite interesting I got to literally come to this with fresh ears in this case. The characters were very well developed and some very interesting changes occur. I do promise if you have a hard time at the beginning just to give it time. The narrator chosen for the audiobook did a fantastic job with all the characters looking forward to reading more from this author.
November 24, 2012
I was approached by the author to provide a honest review of this book. A good young adult paranormal series. The plot and the storyline was good The book stated out great, there were a few dull moments in between nothing major. It had me on the edge of my seat. However, I was disappointed with the ending as I was left hanging. The ending suggested that there may be a second book coming out. In-spite of this it was a good read and I enjoyed it.
October 1, 2012
I was asked to read this by the author and at first glance i asked myself is it for me? Well must say i rather enjoyed it (a few heart beating moments) Chuck and Adam had me a bit puzzled to say the least, and the whole Ben secret kept me reading. The ending left me asking what happened to some people but some books do. 3* read
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