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Mine
A twisty, terrifying supernatural mystery about twelve-year-old, her creepy new home in Florida, and the territorial ghost of the young girl who lived there before her.
"A fiendishly creepy ghost story."--Chuck Wendig, New York Times bestselling author of Dust & Grim
"Hide-under-the-covers terrifying, I loved it.”--Katherine Arden, bestselling author of Small Spaces
Lily Horne is a drama queen. It's helped her rise to stardom in the school play, but it's also landed her in trouble. Her parents warn her that Florida has to be different. It's a fresh start. No theatrics. But this time, the drama is coming for her.
Her new house is a real nightmare. . .
The pool is full of slime, the dock is rotten, and the swamp creeps closer every day. But worst of all, the house isn't empty . . . it's packed full of trash, memories, and, Lily begins to fear, the ghost of the girl who lived there before her.
And whatever is waiting in the shadows wants to come out to play.
"A fiendishly creepy ghost story."--Chuck Wendig, New York Times bestselling author of Dust & Grim
"Hide-under-the-covers terrifying, I loved it.”--Katherine Arden, bestselling author of Small Spaces
Lily Horne is a drama queen. It's helped her rise to stardom in the school play, but it's also landed her in trouble. Her parents warn her that Florida has to be different. It's a fresh start. No theatrics. But this time, the drama is coming for her.
Her new house is a real nightmare. . .
The pool is full of slime, the dock is rotten, and the swamp creeps closer every day. But worst of all, the house isn't empty . . . it's packed full of trash, memories, and, Lily begins to fear, the ghost of the girl who lived there before her.
And whatever is waiting in the shadows wants to come out to play.
256 pages, Paperback
First published August 10, 2021
60 people are currently reading
1911 people want to read
About the author
Delilah S. Dawson
172 books2,761 followersDelilah S. Dawson is the New York Times-bestselling author of Star Wars: Phasma, Black Spire: Galaxy's Edge, and The Perfect Weapon. With Kevin Hearne, she writes the Tales of Pell. As Lila Bowen, she writes the Shadow series, beginning with Wake of Vultures. Her other books include the Blud series, the Hit series, and Servants of the Storm.
She's written comics in the worlds of Marvel Action: Spider-Man, Lore's Wellington, Star Wars Adventures, Star Wars Forces of Destiny, The X-Files Case Files, Adventure Time, Rick and Morty, and her creator-owned comics include Star Pig, Ladycastle, and Sparrowhawk.
Find out more at www.whimsydark.com.
She's written comics in the worlds of Marvel Action: Spider-Man, Lore's Wellington, Star Wars Adventures, Star Wars Forces of Destiny, The X-Files Case Files, Adventure Time, Rick and Morty, and her creator-owned comics include Star Pig, Ladycastle, and Sparrowhawk.
Find out more at www.whimsydark.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews
May 9, 2022
What a spectacular creepy middle grade book. Yes, it uses the usual tropes, such as moving to a new house that needs cleaning out. But the story and haunting is done so well that it is sure to be well-received with the age group it is intended for.
In Mine, Lily and her family move into a new house when her father finally finds a new job after being out of work for a while. They've had to move from Colorado to Florida and none of them are really happy about it. Because of their money situation, they purchased a home where a hoarder had lived and Lily and her mom slowly work through cleaning the home. But it barely takes any time at all before the spirit that lives there tells Lily that her room and everything in it is "MINE."
What I loved is how serious the creepy and spooky moments were. This was not a book where the main character and others were not ever really in danger. The ghost or spirit felt malevolent and angry. Every moment in the book brought Lily or a new friend in and out of danger. There were so many moments of terror for Lily that I lost track of it all.
Besides the moments of horror, I also spent a good portion of the book angry and frustrated with her parents. Her dad moreso than her mom, but still both of them at times. Her dad blames her for being too dramatic (she likes acting) and for an event that gets referenced over and over again that he just can't get past. I don't think I ever will get over how her dad treated her. But you can't have a kid who can easily talk to her parents in a book like this, so the storyline and the relationships work in help setting up all the tension and frights that Lily experiences.
If you are looking for a good middle grade horror story, I definitely recommend giving this one a try. It was quite a ride to be on - especially on audio, which is how I read the book. I've always found that middle grade horror works best on audio because a good voice actor can help you to hear the fear in the voices. And this one had plenty of moments for the narrator to shine.
In Mine, Lily and her family move into a new house when her father finally finds a new job after being out of work for a while. They've had to move from Colorado to Florida and none of them are really happy about it. Because of their money situation, they purchased a home where a hoarder had lived and Lily and her mom slowly work through cleaning the home. But it barely takes any time at all before the spirit that lives there tells Lily that her room and everything in it is "MINE."
What I loved is how serious the creepy and spooky moments were. This was not a book where the main character and others were not ever really in danger. The ghost or spirit felt malevolent and angry. Every moment in the book brought Lily or a new friend in and out of danger. There were so many moments of terror for Lily that I lost track of it all.
Besides the moments of horror, I also spent a good portion of the book angry and frustrated with her parents. Her dad moreso than her mom, but still both of them at times. Her dad blames her for being too dramatic (she likes acting) and for an event that gets referenced over and over again that he just can't get past. I don't think I ever will get over how her dad treated her. But you can't have a kid who can easily talk to her parents in a book like this, so the storyline and the relationships work in help setting up all the tension and frights that Lily experiences.
If you are looking for a good middle grade horror story, I definitely recommend giving this one a try. It was quite a ride to be on - especially on audio, which is how I read the book. I've always found that middle grade horror works best on audio because a good voice actor can help you to hear the fear in the voices. And this one had plenty of moments for the narrator to shine.
July 13, 2021
Middle grade horror is, in my opinion, often unfairly overlooked by older readers. (Also, I completely relate to Delilah S. Dawson's ongoing trauma from reading Ghost Cat. Same, but for me it was Wait Til Helen Comes.) Because of the intended audience, middle grade horror is forced to rely less on horror (jump scares, gore, etc) and more on terror - the psychological aspect of the genre, which in this book takes the form of protagonist Lily's insecurities, which are exacerbated by her father's treatment of her as a so-called drama queen. We don't find out what caused that until the very end, but the idea of being a "bad" child is an underlying theme throughout the novel, and even when we don't know exactly what's going on, Lily's fears are clear on the page and very relatable - especially if your parents never really understood what the therapists they sent you to were saying. It also provides an excellent link between Lily and antagonist Britney, a ghost child in the terrifying hoarder house Lily's family buys sight-unseen and moves her into.
Like all truly good ghost stories, Dawson's book understands that with the fear there needs to be sorrow. Ghosts don't haunt just because they're bored (in this genre, at least), and the fact that Britney was a child younger than twelve-year-old Lily is inherently tragic. The revelations towards the end of the novel balance out the scares in the first three-quarters, and they also help Lily to put her own traumas in perspective - not to diminish them, but to help her contextualize them and to move on, something Britney never got to do. The Florida setting is perfect for the creep factor, but also for the tragedy. It's a good, quick read that is just scary enough, giving middle grade readers enough to get delicious thrills without scarring them, alongside a solid resolution.
And, because my youngest sister stopped reading for years after a teacher made her read Stone Fox in the third grade, I want to assure you that no dogs die.
Like all truly good ghost stories, Dawson's book understands that with the fear there needs to be sorrow. Ghosts don't haunt just because they're bored (in this genre, at least), and the fact that Britney was a child younger than twelve-year-old Lily is inherently tragic. The revelations towards the end of the novel balance out the scares in the first three-quarters, and they also help Lily to put her own traumas in perspective - not to diminish them, but to help her contextualize them and to move on, something Britney never got to do. The Florida setting is perfect for the creep factor, but also for the tragedy. It's a good, quick read that is just scary enough, giving middle grade readers enough to get delicious thrills without scarring them, alongside a solid resolution.
And, because my youngest sister stopped reading for years after a teacher made her read Stone Fox in the third grade, I want to assure you that no dogs die.
August 27, 2021
Mine is an enjoyable book. I really liked the main character and felt empathy for the ghosts. This was a well written, fast paced, great book. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
April 4, 2022
This was a very spooky read that I think will be perfect for readers looking for a nice ghost story in middle grade!
That being said, I think that beyond this being a ghost story, one of the scariest aspects of this book is the dad and his verbal abuse. He was AWFUL and her mom wasn't much better. I think this book is a great read, but the disregard and careless treatment of the MC by her parents made me think that this poor child needs more than an exorcist. The frustration and anger I felt on her behalf felt so overwhelming.
And the explanation for why her father is such a tool towards her near the end of the book? Nah, because that's a man-child acting as a father (who's a drama queen now, a$$hole?).
Imagine your kid is someone who loves acting and because of an ACCIDENT she is labelled a drama queen and bullied by her father throughout the whole book. The MC even comments that he is bullying her and that she is afraid of him when he raises his voice.
When you comment to your child that you're seeing a positive change in them because they're more quiet and more calm and the internal monologue that the reader sees is something along the lines of "I'm not being dramatic, I'm just scared and anxious", does that not make you sad af?
The ghost story was both scary and sad when you learn the backstory. The home is creepy and atmospheric, but I just wanted to hug this child. Seeing the conclusion of this book (the MC's relationship with her dad and the compromise), and even seeing the synopsis label her as a drama queen (kind of normalizing her father's bullying) makes me a little wary of what an impressionable mind might get from this book.
My wariness of that aside, I did enjoy the ghost aspect of this and the determination the MC finds to solve her paranormal problem. But I won't lie, that parental situation leaves a really, really bad taste in my mouth.
Happy reading!
That being said, I think that beyond this being a ghost story, one of the scariest aspects of this book is the dad and his verbal abuse. He was AWFUL and her mom wasn't much better. I think this book is a great read, but the disregard and careless treatment of the MC by her parents made me think that this poor child needs more than an exorcist. The frustration and anger I felt on her behalf felt so overwhelming.
And the explanation for why her father is such a tool towards her near the end of the book? Nah, because that's a man-child acting as a father (who's a drama queen now, a$$hole?).
Imagine your kid is someone who loves acting and because of an ACCIDENT she is labelled a drama queen and bullied by her father throughout the whole book. The MC even comments that he is bullying her and that she is afraid of him when he raises his voice.
When you comment to your child that you're seeing a positive change in them because they're more quiet and more calm and the internal monologue that the reader sees is something along the lines of "I'm not being dramatic, I'm just scared and anxious", does that not make you sad af?
The ghost story was both scary and sad when you learn the backstory. The home is creepy and atmospheric, but I just wanted to hug this child. Seeing the conclusion of this book (the MC's relationship with her dad and the compromise), and even seeing the synopsis label her as a drama queen (kind of normalizing her father's bullying) makes me a little wary of what an impressionable mind might get from this book.
My wariness of that aside, I did enjoy the ghost aspect of this and the determination the MC finds to solve her paranormal problem. But I won't lie, that parental situation leaves a really, really bad taste in my mouth.
Happy reading!
January 16, 2022
Mine is a classic ghost story. Lily and her family move from Colorado to a new house in Florida. There's a presence there that wants Lily to leave.
My favorite things about middle grade books are the friendships and the heart. These were both lacking for me in Mine.
Lily is understandably an unlikable character when Mine begins. She's being uprooted from her life and moved across the country. In my opinion, her parents are meant to be dismissive due to Lily being a dramatic girl, but it went too far for me. They came across as abusive rather than annoyed or distracted. They moved into a filthy, cluttered home that they do manage to get cleaned up, but the first night there Lily slept in an old bed with old dirty sheets. When Lily complained about the roaches in the house, her mother said "We've just got to get used to it." Um, what? Lily wasn't being a spoiled child. R-O-A-C-H-E-S.
Lily's one friend who was supposed to be a ghost buff - so the perfect person to see her through her ordeal with the presence in her new home - disappeared and refused to talk to her when she needed her the most.
I love ghosts, especially when it's a haunted house situation, and there were some creepy moments that I enjoyed in Mine. Those moments were unfortunately wrapped in a story that wasn't a good fit for my own personal tastes.
Source: preordered purchase. This is a review of my reading experience.
My favorite things about middle grade books are the friendships and the heart. These were both lacking for me in Mine.
Lily is understandably an unlikable character when Mine begins. She's being uprooted from her life and moved across the country. In my opinion, her parents are meant to be dismissive due to Lily being a dramatic girl, but it went too far for me. They came across as abusive rather than annoyed or distracted. They moved into a filthy, cluttered home that they do manage to get cleaned up, but the first night there Lily slept in an old bed with old dirty sheets. When Lily complained about the roaches in the house, her mother said "We've just got to get used to it." Um, what? Lily wasn't being a spoiled child. R-O-A-C-H-E-S.
Lily's one friend who was supposed to be a ghost buff - so the perfect person to see her through her ordeal with the presence in her new home - disappeared and refused to talk to her when she needed her the most.
I love ghosts, especially when it's a haunted house situation, and there were some creepy moments that I enjoyed in Mine. Those moments were unfortunately wrapped in a story that wasn't a good fit for my own personal tastes.
Source: preordered purchase. This is a review of my reading experience.
Read
September 14, 2021A scary ghost story even I was getting goosebumps. That ghost girl was over the top extra which made it scarier. A house with a mystery. This was an enjoyable read.
April 11, 2022
This was a great atmospheric spooky story full of messages and a great setting.
Perfect for a summer ghost haunting tale since it takes place during the summer and by a swamp.
The story was really well written and it had relatable characters that reacted to a typical ghost haunting in a bit of a different way. Every chapter ended with a small cliff hanger and that kept me wanting to read the book in one sitting.
Lily's family had to move after her dad found a new job in the hot and humid Florida. Not only had but her parents have bought an old mansion full of stuff. It looked like a hoarder used to live there before them and there is a lot of cleaning to do.
Lily is struggling to accept the new situation. She used to be really involved in theater and now finds herself in the middle of nowhere, with a dirty home, a disgusting pool and a smelly muddy swamp.
As the family starts to fix the place, Lily starts to feel another presence specially in her room. She needs to find out who used to live in that place and what happened to them.
As Lily starts to find out more about the old owners she is putting herself at risk. She will need to solve the mystery of what happened in that house before it is too late.
Perfect for: People looking for a summer gothic haunting story with a heart
Perfect for a summer ghost haunting tale since it takes place during the summer and by a swamp.
The story was really well written and it had relatable characters that reacted to a typical ghost haunting in a bit of a different way. Every chapter ended with a small cliff hanger and that kept me wanting to read the book in one sitting.
Lily's family had to move after her dad found a new job in the hot and humid Florida. Not only had but her parents have bought an old mansion full of stuff. It looked like a hoarder used to live there before them and there is a lot of cleaning to do.
Lily is struggling to accept the new situation. She used to be really involved in theater and now finds herself in the middle of nowhere, with a dirty home, a disgusting pool and a smelly muddy swamp.
As the family starts to fix the place, Lily starts to feel another presence specially in her room. She needs to find out who used to live in that place and what happened to them.
As Lily starts to find out more about the old owners she is putting herself at risk. She will need to solve the mystery of what happened in that house before it is too late.
Perfect for: People looking for a summer gothic haunting story with a heart
October 31, 2023
A quick, spooky, well-written story for young readers.
January 3, 2023
One thing is for certain. Delilah Dawson's books are anything but bland!
After reading her Young Adult distopians, her adult Horror/Thriller, her Tie-in fiction, and her Epic Fantasy, I was convinced Delilah Dawson could write in any genre and it would be interesting. I thought her doing Middle-Grade Horror was interesting, but I was a little worried it would either be too boring for an adult or too terrifying for a child. In fact, it hit the sweet spot of actually working for both categories.
The best part of this book is the situation the main character, Lily Horne, is in. She is forced to move across the country to a new place where she has no friends and no connection to. As someone who moved around A LOT as a kid, I can totally empathize. It is hard to move to new places, and Dawson right from the start made her main character instantly relatable. I would definitely say that if a child in the pre-teen age is going through a big family move, I would definitely say that this book might help them feel better. Their move cannot go worse than Lily Horne in this book.
This book probably will work with preteens because of the gross elements. I'm not saying that this book has elements of potty humor or anything like that, I'm saying that this book is flat out GROSS! The new house that Lily Horne moves to is a grime filled dump where they have to wade through liquids of unkown origin in order to clean it up. I shuddered reading it, because that just made me way too self concious about my job cleaning my appartment. The creepiness of the messed up house was more creepy than the ghost in the story.
Lets get to the elephant in the room: this is a ghost story. This is a Middle Grade Horror novel. Our main character encounters the ghost of a previous resident (who died in the house) who is angry with Lily for taking her house and all her stuff. Being a kids book, its pretty tame. That said, while the book recommends ages 8-12, I'd suggest holding off until either the kid is older than 11 or at minimum making sure your specific kid is ready for this.
There is one chapter that includes reference of an use of a Ouija Board. That was probably my biggest problem with this book. I'm ok with some supernatural elements like ghosts or monsters in stories, but I'm not a fan of things like Ouija boards showing up in stories, especially if they are for kids. Now, if you have a kid reading this you could have a discussion with that kid as to why Ouija boards are bad, but most kids will probably recognize the problem with it in the book. Dawson does a good job of explaining why you shouldn't mess with supernatural beings and things.
The resolution of the book was perfect for a kids book, and I thought that Dawson handled the climax admirably. Its a tough genre to write: Middle-Grade Horror. I don't envy Dawson's difficult task here. But it was done really well.
If anything, the primary value this book has is in the way it deals with moving to a new place. The ultimate theme at the end of the book is that while moving to a new place might seem scary, if you trust those around you it will probably be ok and you are probably making it out to be worse than it actually is. I'd recommend this book for kids who are either going to move or have just moved to a new place, as they will connect with the heronie the most.
Overall, this was an entertaining book, and I thought it was well done, I just thought it went too far in the one scene with the Ouija Board. Still, an entertaining kids book nonetheless. 8.0 out of 10! Well done Dawson!
After reading her Young Adult distopians, her adult Horror/Thriller, her Tie-in fiction, and her Epic Fantasy, I was convinced Delilah Dawson could write in any genre and it would be interesting. I thought her doing Middle-Grade Horror was interesting, but I was a little worried it would either be too boring for an adult or too terrifying for a child. In fact, it hit the sweet spot of actually working for both categories.
The best part of this book is the situation the main character, Lily Horne, is in. She is forced to move across the country to a new place where she has no friends and no connection to. As someone who moved around A LOT as a kid, I can totally empathize. It is hard to move to new places, and Dawson right from the start made her main character instantly relatable. I would definitely say that if a child in the pre-teen age is going through a big family move, I would definitely say that this book might help them feel better. Their move cannot go worse than Lily Horne in this book.
This book probably will work with preteens because of the gross elements. I'm not saying that this book has elements of potty humor or anything like that, I'm saying that this book is flat out GROSS! The new house that Lily Horne moves to is a grime filled dump where they have to wade through liquids of unkown origin in order to clean it up. I shuddered reading it, because that just made me way too self concious about my job cleaning my appartment. The creepiness of the messed up house was more creepy than the ghost in the story.
Lets get to the elephant in the room: this is a ghost story. This is a Middle Grade Horror novel. Our main character encounters the ghost of a previous resident (who died in the house) who is angry with Lily for taking her house and all her stuff. Being a kids book, its pretty tame. That said, while the book recommends ages 8-12, I'd suggest holding off until either the kid is older than 11 or at minimum making sure your specific kid is ready for this.
There is one chapter that includes reference of an use of a Ouija Board. That was probably my biggest problem with this book. I'm ok with some supernatural elements like ghosts or monsters in stories, but I'm not a fan of things like Ouija boards showing up in stories, especially if they are for kids. Now, if you have a kid reading this you could have a discussion with that kid as to why Ouija boards are bad, but most kids will probably recognize the problem with it in the book. Dawson does a good job of explaining why you shouldn't mess with supernatural beings and things.
The resolution of the book was perfect for a kids book, and I thought that Dawson handled the climax admirably. Its a tough genre to write: Middle-Grade Horror. I don't envy Dawson's difficult task here. But it was done really well.
If anything, the primary value this book has is in the way it deals with moving to a new place. The ultimate theme at the end of the book is that while moving to a new place might seem scary, if you trust those around you it will probably be ok and you are probably making it out to be worse than it actually is. I'd recommend this book for kids who are either going to move or have just moved to a new place, as they will connect with the heronie the most.
Overall, this was an entertaining book, and I thought it was well done, I just thought it went too far in the one scene with the Ouija Board. Still, an entertaining kids book nonetheless. 8.0 out of 10! Well done Dawson!
December 21, 2021
This was a very spooky and hunting book! Wish I could have picked this up in October for spooky Halloween!
I found the plot very interesting and the main character was funny and sometimes weird (in a good way).
Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read!
I recommend!!!!!!
I found the plot very interesting and the main character was funny and sometimes weird (in a good way).
Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read!
I recommend!!!!!!
July 28, 2021
I was going to give this a solid three as the plot was kind of weak and Lily reads a lot like a teenager (I didn't fully realize until most of the way through she's actually 12) but she also is very passive about everything that happens in the book. Overall it's solid but pretty gruesome and graphic, so I'd definitely recommend it for older middle schoolers. However, the ending was... kind of yikes. There was a secret Lily kept referring through to the entire book about why the family had to move. It turned out the big secret was that Lily was performing for her dad's boss at a party and during the performance accidentally knocked a candle over and the house burned down. Which apparently caused the dad to lose his job and blame Lily for the entire thing and caused both parents to label her as a "drama queen" and constantly belittle her concerns. But after the big showdown with the ghost, Lily comes to realize she's not a bad kid and forgives the father. Which, while true, doesn't seem to be quite the right take away for the book. Lily decides to "meet dad in the middle" which again.... Lily did nothing wrong and the fact that the father never apologized or even really had a conversation with Lily about the things he did wrong did not sit well with me. Not to mention the fact that the mother stayed completely out of it the entire time and made excuses for the father. So, yeah, two stars because that ending was super uncomfortable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2021
This was a great upper middle grade/lower YA horror novel that took the horror to pretty high levels for the age range but reigned it in right before it got too intense. I loved the Southern gothic/swamp gothic vibes (and having recently moved from central Florida near where this takes place...it was all too familiar, in a deliciously evocative way). I also thought our main character was pretty well developed, though the book did traffic in the 'terrible/clueless parents' trope that's so foundational to the genre and plot development more generally. In this case, the gaslighting these parents perpetrated on their daughter was fairly next-level, and the father in particular was a wretched specimen whose behavior (peripheral to the main story/horror plot) made me want very bad things to happen to him. Alas, it's middle grade, so he comes out alright, but I was still wishing up to the final page... As for the horror arc itself, it's fairly well done and even somewhat scary for adults (at least this adult), though it does get into heavier topics like child neglect and the (perhaps obvious) death of a child.
January 13, 2022
This book kept me entertained and on the edge of my seat. A little eerie but highly enjoyed it
November 20, 2022
I took a WHOLE star off because of how horrendous the father was. Aside from that this was a really good middle grade haunting story with a happyish ending.
July 26, 2021
Thank you to Delacore Press, Delilah S. Dawson and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Previously published at https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/mine/
When we first meet Lily, she is traveling with her mom and dad to Florida from her home in Colorado. She is moving away from the only home she has ever had, and she is anxious and scared. When they get to the remote Florida home, they are saddened to realize the actual house has been neglected for years.
Not only that, but the previous occupant was a hoarder and there is garbage piled floor to ceiling. The Author, Delilah Dawson, is descriptive with her words; describing a house that is not at all welcoming and reeks of death.
Something has happened in Colorado, an incident she refers to throughout the book but Lily’s parents keep telling her that Florida will be a fresh start, though from the beginning they seem quite dismissive of Lily’s fears. From the first night in her new home, she starts experiencing paranormal activity, which is immediately disparaged by her parents as her over-dramatic behavior. The celestial activity is quite unsettling, even for an adult reading a children’s fiction novel. There is blood that gushes from faucets and laundry rooms filled with spiders and visions of a small child with green eyes. While her father starts work the very next day after they arrive, Lily and her mother get to work on the house, emptying it of garbage and filling the dumpster with bags and bags of questionable items left behind; stuffed animals, stained sheets, and dead snakes among the items thrown away.
Once Lily can venture out of the house and explore, she is happy to meet a dog, who appears to be abandoned by the previous family. As his tag says his name is Buddy, with the address of her house. She also meets Rachel, a young girl that lives nearby. To Lily, Rachel is a confidante for all the strange things happening at the old house. Sadly, the first time Rachel comes to visit, she is pushed down the stairs by Britney, whom they have discovered is the ghost of a young girl who drowned in the lake behind the house. After Rachel falls down the stairs and has to go to the hospital, she no longer answers Lily’s texts and she is on her own once again. Will Lily be able to figure out what Britney wants and help her spirit to move forward?
Mine is an amazing and frightening ghost story, similar to the Goosebumps series by R. L. Stine, which interestingly was banned in some places by parents over eager to protect their kids from all things scary. Once Lily figures it all out and gives Britney what she wanted, there was only peace and understanding. If I was a child reading this, I would need that last chapter for some closure. The setting of the novel, with the steamy humidity of Florida in July, the creepy house full of spiders and roaches and the swampy pool, filled with dirt and algae, really set the scene of horror. Delilah Dawson’s novel is a quick read, enough to scare the little ones (and the older ones!) but bring it all together in the end for a happily ever after.
Previously published at https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/mine/
When we first meet Lily, she is traveling with her mom and dad to Florida from her home in Colorado. She is moving away from the only home she has ever had, and she is anxious and scared. When they get to the remote Florida home, they are saddened to realize the actual house has been neglected for years.
Not only that, but the previous occupant was a hoarder and there is garbage piled floor to ceiling. The Author, Delilah Dawson, is descriptive with her words; describing a house that is not at all welcoming and reeks of death.
Something has happened in Colorado, an incident she refers to throughout the book but Lily’s parents keep telling her that Florida will be a fresh start, though from the beginning they seem quite dismissive of Lily’s fears. From the first night in her new home, she starts experiencing paranormal activity, which is immediately disparaged by her parents as her over-dramatic behavior. The celestial activity is quite unsettling, even for an adult reading a children’s fiction novel. There is blood that gushes from faucets and laundry rooms filled with spiders and visions of a small child with green eyes. While her father starts work the very next day after they arrive, Lily and her mother get to work on the house, emptying it of garbage and filling the dumpster with bags and bags of questionable items left behind; stuffed animals, stained sheets, and dead snakes among the items thrown away.
Once Lily can venture out of the house and explore, she is happy to meet a dog, who appears to be abandoned by the previous family. As his tag says his name is Buddy, with the address of her house. She also meets Rachel, a young girl that lives nearby. To Lily, Rachel is a confidante for all the strange things happening at the old house. Sadly, the first time Rachel comes to visit, she is pushed down the stairs by Britney, whom they have discovered is the ghost of a young girl who drowned in the lake behind the house. After Rachel falls down the stairs and has to go to the hospital, she no longer answers Lily’s texts and she is on her own once again. Will Lily be able to figure out what Britney wants and help her spirit to move forward?
Mine is an amazing and frightening ghost story, similar to the Goosebumps series by R. L. Stine, which interestingly was banned in some places by parents over eager to protect their kids from all things scary. Once Lily figures it all out and gives Britney what she wanted, there was only peace and understanding. If I was a child reading this, I would need that last chapter for some closure. The setting of the novel, with the steamy humidity of Florida in July, the creepy house full of spiders and roaches and the swampy pool, filled with dirt and algae, really set the scene of horror. Delilah Dawson’s novel is a quick read, enough to scare the little ones (and the older ones!) but bring it all together in the end for a happily ever after.
August 3, 2024
Not a bad little book, and a great story to pass the time. When I was in middle school this would've been a perfect summer read, especially on a long car trip, flipping pages and waiting for a streetlight to shine on the pages so I could read more. It doesn't hit so well as an adult, but I know twelve-year-old me would've loved how spooky this was. Thanks for the adventure, Delilah! It was worth that pinched nerve.
April 8, 2023
This book sucks.
There was no character development, no real plot, and I could legit predict every thing!
Which, I guess, makes sense because I got this at the book fair in my school.
The characters were bland, and there were SO MANY plot holes.
Basically a lot of Lily’s personality was: Helpless, naive, basically every single girl in a high school cliche, her parents are really neglectful, and she just so happens to move in an old haunted hoarder house in Florida.
So basically, the whole entire plot was just her running around and trying not to die, tripping over roots in the woods, almost gets bitten by a poisonous snake, and meets her new neighbors like, 10 miles away.
Lily had absolutely NO actual personality except that she is a helpless child that is EXTREMELY naive!
She is just a boring person.
And, what happened to Rachel’s brother?
Is he still mad at Lily?
Does she think she was the one who pushed Rachel?
BACKSTORY PEOPLE!
And what happened to Rachel, she’s not traumatized after her fall?
So in short, this book was bland, boring, had NO character development, and just wasn’t that scary AT ALL!!!!
There was no character development, no real plot, and I could legit predict every thing!
Which, I guess, makes sense because I got this at the book fair in my school.
The characters were bland, and there were SO MANY plot holes.
Basically a lot of Lily’s personality was: Helpless, naive, basically every single girl in a high school cliche, her parents are really neglectful, and she just so happens to move in an old haunted hoarder house in Florida.
So basically, the whole entire plot was just her running around and trying not to die, tripping over roots in the woods, almost gets bitten by a poisonous snake, and meets her new neighbors like, 10 miles away.
Lily had absolutely NO actual personality except that she is a helpless child that is EXTREMELY naive!
She is just a boring person.
And, what happened to Rachel’s brother?
Is he still mad at Lily?
Does she think she was the one who pushed Rachel?
BACKSTORY PEOPLE!
And what happened to Rachel, she’s not traumatized after her fall?
So in short, this book was bland, boring, had NO character development, and just wasn’t that scary AT ALL!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2022
Really interesting, great creepy haunting and good scares. Well written and intriguing for it to be a children’s book; a little bit better than goosebumps stories to be honest. About a girl who moves into a haunted house and encounters ghosts
August 11, 2021
Originally Published on The Best Freking Book Blog
I’m kind of a baby. I get scared really easily. Like, so easily. I’m not jumpy, but more scared of the atmospheric scares. Movies like The Strangers and The Conjuring terrified me beyond belief because of how scary the atmosphere was. The horror that scares me the most is about homes. Haunted houses, home invasions, anything where something or someone unwanted is in the house.
Mine by Delilah S. Dawson is that kind of horror.
Lily, the lead star of the story, is the most dramatic 12 year old in the world. She loves musicals and telling huge stories that may or may not be exaggerated (it really depends on how much of it she can act out). Her parents are moving her to Florida, America’s armpit. She’s not thrilled with the move.
She’s definitely not thrilled by the new house. It is packed wall-to-wall with stuff. Boxes, garbage, clothes, everything. It’s an old hoarder’s house. But, it’s right next to a forest/swamp and on a lake surrounded by McMansions. Lily checks out her room and finds it still completely intact with all of the old tenant’s belongings. It was a little girl named Britney’s room.
Lily starts cleaning out all the old stuff, throwing everything she can away. She moves her bed and starts making it her own room. Then, after visiting with her mom and heading back up to her room, she sees the bed moved back to the original spot and the whole room torn apart. On the mattress, written in ash, is the word “MINE”.
This is a catalyst for a really creepy and cool haunted house story. The story unfolds at such a great pace, filled with scares all along the way. You do eventually learn why Britney is haunting the house and it’s such a tragic story.
One thing I really want to point out is how well Dawson portrayed a 12 year old drama queen. As someone who was a 12 year old drama queen, it is nice to feel seen. The parents are written so well in that aspect as well. You can really see how close to the end of their rope they are with her. Of course, Lily has a dark secret as well as to why her parents are so fed up with the dramatics, but I really hated the explanation. I felt that her dad was really overreacting to something that wasn’t truly her fault. Anyway, that is literally the only bad thing I have to say about this book.
Mine by Delilah S. Dawson is a good, scary read. I literally read it lying in bed in about two hours and that’s something I never do. I can’t remember the last time I read something in one sitting like that and I’m glad I did. Definitely recommended for young horror fans. 5/5, 10/10.
Thanks NetGalley for the eARC! Always happy to read Delilah Dawson.
I’m kind of a baby. I get scared really easily. Like, so easily. I’m not jumpy, but more scared of the atmospheric scares. Movies like The Strangers and The Conjuring terrified me beyond belief because of how scary the atmosphere was. The horror that scares me the most is about homes. Haunted houses, home invasions, anything where something or someone unwanted is in the house.
Mine by Delilah S. Dawson is that kind of horror.
Lily, the lead star of the story, is the most dramatic 12 year old in the world. She loves musicals and telling huge stories that may or may not be exaggerated (it really depends on how much of it she can act out). Her parents are moving her to Florida, America’s armpit. She’s not thrilled with the move.
She’s definitely not thrilled by the new house. It is packed wall-to-wall with stuff. Boxes, garbage, clothes, everything. It’s an old hoarder’s house. But, it’s right next to a forest/swamp and on a lake surrounded by McMansions. Lily checks out her room and finds it still completely intact with all of the old tenant’s belongings. It was a little girl named Britney’s room.
Lily starts cleaning out all the old stuff, throwing everything she can away. She moves her bed and starts making it her own room. Then, after visiting with her mom and heading back up to her room, she sees the bed moved back to the original spot and the whole room torn apart. On the mattress, written in ash, is the word “MINE”.
This is a catalyst for a really creepy and cool haunted house story. The story unfolds at such a great pace, filled with scares all along the way. You do eventually learn why Britney is haunting the house and it’s such a tragic story.
One thing I really want to point out is how well Dawson portrayed a 12 year old drama queen. As someone who was a 12 year old drama queen, it is nice to feel seen. The parents are written so well in that aspect as well. You can really see how close to the end of their rope they are with her. Of course, Lily has a dark secret as well as to why her parents are so fed up with the dramatics, but I really hated the explanation. I felt that her dad was really overreacting to something that wasn’t truly her fault. Anyway, that is literally the only bad thing I have to say about this book.
Mine by Delilah S. Dawson is a good, scary read. I literally read it lying in bed in about two hours and that’s something I never do. I can’t remember the last time I read something in one sitting like that and I’m glad I did. Definitely recommended for young horror fans. 5/5, 10/10.
Thanks NetGalley for the eARC! Always happy to read Delilah Dawson.
August 4, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children’s for giving me the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.
Pacing: 3/5 It was very much a slow build, but I’m not sure it was in a good way. You usually want a slow build to increase the amount of anticipation you have for the action to start happening, but that’s not really what happened. It didn’t give me enough to build that sweet anticipation, but rather a feeling of “ok, when is this going to get creepy?” I was about 43% of the way through and only 2-3 minor creepy things had happened. I’d expect for a small stand-alone book to be a bit better at serving the creepy/scary aspects a lot quicker. This book is geared towards middle aged children, so maybe it would have been sufficiently creepy for someone not used to the genre; but don’t get me wrong, the book DOES get creepy, just not quickly enough for a short book.
Characters: 2/5 My GOD are the parents toxic, especially the dad; the way Lily is scared of him and cows herself to make sure he doesn’t get too angry. The author doesn’t do much in the way of letting the reader know that this behavior from a parent is unacceptable. The mother doesn’t do much to shield Lily from the abusive name calling either. So while the mother is just your typical “doesn’t believe anything her child says, and constantly gaslights her child” type, she’s not nearly as bad as the father. Lily is a delight, but a tad over dramatic apparently — blame her desire to be a theatre child. Her narration voice never annoyed me, or made me want to put the book down. She didn’t make child-ish decisions, or do anything terribly stupid.
Plot: 4/5 I really enjoyed the overall premise behind the story. I thought it was a refreshing “horror/thriller” and didn’t feel overly familiar to other books in the same genre. The only thing that bothered me was the haunting, and who was being haunted. The purpose would have been achieved if the target of the haunting was different. Even with the slow pacing, I read this book in one sitting and never felt the urge to put it down and do something else.
Ending: 4/5 Not gonna lie, I really wish it had ended differently. I can’t really say why without spoiling the book though. The ending is satisfying, but maybe you’ll understand what I’m talking about if you choose to read this book. Which if you like Middle Grade fiction, I recommend.
Overall Rating: 3.25
Pacing: 3/5 It was very much a slow build, but I’m not sure it was in a good way. You usually want a slow build to increase the amount of anticipation you have for the action to start happening, but that’s not really what happened. It didn’t give me enough to build that sweet anticipation, but rather a feeling of “ok, when is this going to get creepy?” I was about 43% of the way through and only 2-3 minor creepy things had happened. I’d expect for a small stand-alone book to be a bit better at serving the creepy/scary aspects a lot quicker. This book is geared towards middle aged children, so maybe it would have been sufficiently creepy for someone not used to the genre; but don’t get me wrong, the book DOES get creepy, just not quickly enough for a short book.
Characters: 2/5 My GOD are the parents toxic, especially the dad; the way Lily is scared of him and cows herself to make sure he doesn’t get too angry. The author doesn’t do much in the way of letting the reader know that this behavior from a parent is unacceptable. The mother doesn’t do much to shield Lily from the abusive name calling either. So while the mother is just your typical “doesn’t believe anything her child says, and constantly gaslights her child” type, she’s not nearly as bad as the father. Lily is a delight, but a tad over dramatic apparently — blame her desire to be a theatre child. Her narration voice never annoyed me, or made me want to put the book down. She didn’t make child-ish decisions, or do anything terribly stupid.
Plot: 4/5 I really enjoyed the overall premise behind the story. I thought it was a refreshing “horror/thriller” and didn’t feel overly familiar to other books in the same genre. The only thing that bothered me was the haunting, and who was being haunted. The purpose would have been achieved if the target of the haunting was different. Even with the slow pacing, I read this book in one sitting and never felt the urge to put it down and do something else.
Ending: 4/5 Not gonna lie, I really wish it had ended differently. I can’t really say why without spoiling the book though. The ending is satisfying, but maybe you’ll understand what I’m talking about if you choose to read this book. Which if you like Middle Grade fiction, I recommend.
Overall Rating: 3.25
September 28, 2021
One of the creepiest middle grade novels I've read. Dawson has created a haunted house story full of atmosphere and grounded in a strong sense of place. Trapped in the tension between childhood and independence, Lily is a drama queen trying to escape the mistakes that forced her family to move while navigating a new home that is not at all the place she wants to be. Blending horror with family drama, Dawson realistically captures Lily's hurt and her burning desire to be loved by flawed parents who do not understand the person she is becoming. The book reckons with themes of identity and belonging while never losing sight of its core as a ghost story.
Growing up is hard enough--and harder still when there's a voice in the darkness, asking if it's time to play. Lily wants to find her place in the world and enjoy her time as a child, but first there are mysteries to uncover and an angry ghost to appease. Frightening and heartfelt, Mine is a delightful work of middle grade horror, and a worthy read for book lovers of any age.
Growing up is hard enough--and harder still when there's a voice in the darkness, asking if it's time to play. Lily wants to find her place in the world and enjoy her time as a child, but first there are mysteries to uncover and an angry ghost to appease. Frightening and heartfelt, Mine is a delightful work of middle grade horror, and a worthy read for book lovers of any age.
September 12, 2023
This was my first book by Dawson; but after this it will not be my last.....Loved it!
12 year old Lilly Horne is a musical drama geek....she LOVES anything that is a stage production. And that is what her father constantly accuses her of. Being a 'drama Queen'. Her father up and moves the 3 of them from Colorado to Florida after he has been out of work for a while. Lily and her Mother are not happy at all. Once arriving in Florida, Lily realizes that the 'most perfect house for the money' that her parents buy, is Haunted! Within the first 2 days, Lily is told that the bedroom she has picked out is someone else's and that she is STILL there......and she tells Lily this by writing on the mattress that Lily has to sleep on (until their personal belongings all arrive at the house next week) "Mine".
This was such a well written and narrated book, that you immediately HATE her parents, and you will learn to feel sorry for both Lily and the ghost.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is just starting to venture into the world of ghosts and the haunted house tale. I cannot wait to listen to another book by Dawson.
4.5 👻👻👻👻
12 year old Lilly Horne is a musical drama geek....she LOVES anything that is a stage production. And that is what her father constantly accuses her of. Being a 'drama Queen'. Her father up and moves the 3 of them from Colorado to Florida after he has been out of work for a while. Lily and her Mother are not happy at all. Once arriving in Florida, Lily realizes that the 'most perfect house for the money' that her parents buy, is Haunted! Within the first 2 days, Lily is told that the bedroom she has picked out is someone else's and that she is STILL there......and she tells Lily this by writing on the mattress that Lily has to sleep on (until their personal belongings all arrive at the house next week) "Mine".
This was such a well written and narrated book, that you immediately HATE her parents, and you will learn to feel sorry for both Lily and the ghost.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is just starting to venture into the world of ghosts and the haunted house tale. I cannot wait to listen to another book by Dawson.
4.5 👻👻👻👻
September 22, 2021
Middle grade horror is tricky to pull off, but Delilah Dawson has done it so very well! I listened on audio and the narrator was great. There are multiple mysteries embedded in this story about a girl who moves to Florida. It turns out their house was previously owned by a hoarder and has to be cleaned out. There are many disgusting and terrifying scenes in the book as well. With 40 minutes to go, I was thinking through all the loose ends and predicting it would be impossible to resolve everything well. But, thankfully, I was wrong. Brilliant!
November 15, 2021
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
"Mine" is a fast-paced thrill ride for middle-school aged kids. I am an adult and enjoyed this very much. The writing was strong and the pacing was perfect. I felt invested in the story and wanted to know what would happen to our MC. I felt that the plot at times was definitely recycled, but this is apt to happen with any haunted house story. I thought the ending was well-done though, and can honestly say I didn't manage to predict this one. A fun story!
"Mine" is a fast-paced thrill ride for middle-school aged kids. I am an adult and enjoyed this very much. The writing was strong and the pacing was perfect. I felt invested in the story and wanted to know what would happen to our MC. I felt that the plot at times was definitely recycled, but this is apt to happen with any haunted house story. I thought the ending was well-done though, and can honestly say I didn't manage to predict this one. A fun story!
February 9, 2024
Mine by Delilah S. Dawson was the story of Lily, a very dramatic twelve-year-old girl, who is put into the awful situation of having to move from Colorado to muggy Florida. Never mind that it's hot, and she has no friends, and she is running from a past trauma, but her new (and DISGUSTING) house also appears to be haunted. This book was very captivating in the way that most ghost stories are, and you want to see how it will all be resolved. The "no one believes the main character" trope was played.... a bit thick, but otherwise, it was a decent ghost story, and good for a quick read.
July 20, 2021
I haven't read a good MG horror book in years, probably since the popularity of Scholastic's Poison Apple Books when I was in elementary and middle school (The Dead End, This Totally Bites, Her Evil Twin, Curiosity Killed the Cat, Midnight Howl, etc). While I don't think a new one has been released since maybe 2014, I still have all of them on their own shelf in my room, as a reminder of how much I loved the line. (Yes, I know how young this makes me seem. But I needed to include the fact because MINE is the exact kind of book that would've been published as a Poison Apple Book. Actually, it was better than most of them).
MINE follows thirteen-year-old Lily Horne as she and her parents move from Colorado to Florida into a fixer-upper house. Lily soon discovers that the piles of trash and cockroach infestation are the least disturbing things about the house-- her room is trashed when she's gone, messages like "MINE" and "GO AWAY" are left behind, and she keeps having nightmares, some of which involve sleepwalking. Lily's parents don't take her seriously when she brings any of these things up, as she's known to be dramatic most of the time, so she knows she has to deal with everything alone. Soon, she finds a new friend in Rachel, a wealthy local girl who makes living in Florida slightly less miserable. Rachel also knew the house's previous inhabitants, and tells Lily exactly what she's been suspecting all along: that a little girl, Britney West, died while living there, and her ghost is rumored to still be around.
Lily is determined to figure out what it's going to take to get Britney to leave the house alone, but Britney isn't going to stop at anything to drive the Hornes away. Even if it means hurting Rachel.
Now for the review part. I didn't expect to cry while reading this book, but I did! Even though the description makes her sound unlikable, Lily is a character you'll want only the best for. I hated seeing her parents not believe her, but I loved seeing her go from a stereotypical moody teenager to helping out with the house and looking forward to her new school. While Britney's story and character were what initially made me cry, it was impossible not to cry in a happy way as Lily makes the best of her new life and her parents finally come around. Seeing the house go from an abandoned dump to a nice living space was one of my favorite things about this book, too.
The description also makes it sound like Lily caused some kind of dramatic event that led to her being shunned from Colorado, but that's not what happened. It was a complete accident. But I was willing to overlook this because of how good the rest of the story was.
Along with the Poison Apple book comparison, the plot reminded me of a movie I would've watched on Disney Channel in my preteen years.
I recommend this book to YA horror fans as well as MG ones, and this book is honestly better than a lot of YA horror books I've read. YA horror sometimes tries too hard to combine as many plot points at once and confuse the reader, but this book isn't like that at all. If you like horror with a happy ending, read this.
MINE follows thirteen-year-old Lily Horne as she and her parents move from Colorado to Florida into a fixer-upper house. Lily soon discovers that the piles of trash and cockroach infestation are the least disturbing things about the house-- her room is trashed when she's gone, messages like "MINE" and "GO AWAY" are left behind, and she keeps having nightmares, some of which involve sleepwalking. Lily's parents don't take her seriously when she brings any of these things up, as she's known to be dramatic most of the time, so she knows she has to deal with everything alone. Soon, she finds a new friend in Rachel, a wealthy local girl who makes living in Florida slightly less miserable. Rachel also knew the house's previous inhabitants, and tells Lily exactly what she's been suspecting all along: that a little girl, Britney West, died while living there, and her ghost is rumored to still be around.
Lily is determined to figure out what it's going to take to get Britney to leave the house alone, but Britney isn't going to stop at anything to drive the Hornes away. Even if it means hurting Rachel.
Now for the review part. I didn't expect to cry while reading this book, but I did! Even though the description makes her sound unlikable, Lily is a character you'll want only the best for. I hated seeing her parents not believe her, but I loved seeing her go from a stereotypical moody teenager to helping out with the house and looking forward to her new school. While Britney's story and character were what initially made me cry, it was impossible not to cry in a happy way as Lily makes the best of her new life and her parents finally come around. Seeing the house go from an abandoned dump to a nice living space was one of my favorite things about this book, too.
The description also makes it sound like Lily caused some kind of dramatic event that led to her being shunned from Colorado, but that's not what happened. It was a complete accident. But I was willing to overlook this because of how good the rest of the story was.
Along with the Poison Apple book comparison, the plot reminded me of a movie I would've watched on Disney Channel in my preteen years.
I recommend this book to YA horror fans as well as MG ones, and this book is honestly better than a lot of YA horror books I've read. YA horror sometimes tries too hard to combine as many plot points at once and confuse the reader, but this book isn't like that at all. If you like horror with a happy ending, read this.
November 29, 2022
This book got me so hooked I couldn’t put it down. I finished it within 24 hours. I adored the word choices Delilah Dawson used to describe the ghosts. Not your average “creepy, transparent” ghosts but “clammy, cold and bitter”. I might’ve actually been scared for a chapter or two.
I would definitely recommend reading this.
I would definitely recommend reading this.
December 3, 2024
4 stars.
I want to give a standing ovation to this book. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I'll always have a soft spot for these middle grade horrors (thanks to Goosebumps in the 90s) but this story was just so well written and it absolutely had touching moments that were unexpected.
I think pre-teen me would have loved this. (Also because a character was named Rachel 😊) It was creepy enough but not overly so for the age range it's aimed at.
I would recommend it and I have 1 more of this authors novels to read but I hope there are more to come.
I want to give a standing ovation to this book. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I'll always have a soft spot for these middle grade horrors (thanks to Goosebumps in the 90s) but this story was just so well written and it absolutely had touching moments that were unexpected.
I think pre-teen me would have loved this. (Also because a character was named Rachel 😊) It was creepy enough but not overly so for the age range it's aimed at.
I would recommend it and I have 1 more of this authors novels to read but I hope there are more to come.
October 12, 2021
This was my first middle grade horror novel and it definitely made me want to read more of them. The story was so easy to fall into and there were a few genuinely creepy parts. It had a happy ending though and sometimes that’s what I need!
September 21, 2023
4.5 stars!* i REALLY enjoyed this middle grade horror book. one of my new favorites in the genre for sure! it was excellent on the spook factor as well as characterization/internal conflict. i also loved that the main character was a theatre kid bc same.
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