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What Stays Buried: A Bram Stoker Award-Nominated Middle Grade Ghost Story for Children (Ages 8-12) About a Girl Who Speaks with the Dead
Twelve-year-old Calista Wynn will lose her ability to speak with the dead on her thirteenth birthday.
And with only a few weeks left, children have started going missing.
When Calista meets The Tall Lady—an angry spirit with a grudge against Calista, her family, and the entire town—she knows she’s found the ghost responsible for the disappearances.
It’s up to Calista, the only one who can see The Tall Lady, to stop her. If she doesn’t, Calista won’t just lose her powers… she’ll lose everyone she has left.
And with only a few weeks left, children have started going missing.
When Calista meets The Tall Lady—an angry spirit with a grudge against Calista, her family, and the entire town—she knows she’s found the ghost responsible for the disappearances.
It’s up to Calista, the only one who can see The Tall Lady, to stop her. If she doesn’t, Calista won’t just lose her powers… she’ll lose everyone she has left.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published March 7, 2023
12 people are currently reading
3268 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Young
69 books4,880 followersSuzanne Young is the New York Times bestselling author of The Program, The Treatment, and several other novels. She currently lives in Tempe, Arizona where she teaches high school English and obsesses about books. Learn more about Suzanne at www.suzanne-young.blogspot.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
September 6, 2024
Don't let the target demographic---tweens/middle school readers---fool you: Suzanne Young's new novel, "What Stays Buried", is a heart-pounding, suspenseful supernatural/horror thriller that would make Stephen King proud.
Calista Wynn is a clairvoyant in a family of clairvoyants. Unfortunately, like all the members of her family, she only has use of her powers until the age of thirteen. Calista is twelve, weeks away from turning thirteen.
Seeing dead people is one of her powers. Ghosts come to her when they need help, or if they are lonely and just looking to talk to someone living. Lately, her power has taken on a special importance.
Three boys have mysteriously disappeared from the small town where Calista lives. She has seen the ghosts of two of them. An evil entity known as the Tall Lady seems to be behind the disappearances.
With the help of the ghosts of her grandmother and father, her living Aunt Freya, and her very living (and cute) classmate Wyland, Calista must battle an ancient enemy that has threatened the town for decades.
A lot of good jump-scares, an atmospheric sense of dread, and some tear-jerking moments make this a fun, spooky Halloween read for kids of all ages.
Calista Wynn is a clairvoyant in a family of clairvoyants. Unfortunately, like all the members of her family, she only has use of her powers until the age of thirteen. Calista is twelve, weeks away from turning thirteen.
Seeing dead people is one of her powers. Ghosts come to her when they need help, or if they are lonely and just looking to talk to someone living. Lately, her power has taken on a special importance.
Three boys have mysteriously disappeared from the small town where Calista lives. She has seen the ghosts of two of them. An evil entity known as the Tall Lady seems to be behind the disappearances.
With the help of the ghosts of her grandmother and father, her living Aunt Freya, and her very living (and cute) classmate Wyland, Calista must battle an ancient enemy that has threatened the town for decades.
A lot of good jump-scares, an atmospheric sense of dread, and some tear-jerking moments make this a fun, spooky Halloween read for kids of all ages.
February 16, 2023
Review coming soon.
March 1, 2023
When I say bawled…..I BAWLED at the end of this in the middle of work and now I need eye drops to make sure nobody can tell I was crying! I adored this book on so many levels and it reminds you how differently people grieve. There was a perfect amount of mystery and suspense but not too scary for my middle graders out there! I can’t wait for what else this author has for us!
December 14, 2022
Calista is soon turning 13 and with that will loose her special powers (to speak with the dead). As if she wasn't already terrified enough a ghost lady is abducting children and now she has her little sister! The clock is ticking and Calista has to find the when, where and whys about the ghost lady to rescue her little sis.
An adventurous middle grade book that gives you paranormal vibes with a bit of spookiness involving possessing a body, wandering souls and an anchor to the world of living and dead.
A great read if you want to cozy up in your blankets and get some ghostly uncanny experiences.
Genre: #middlegrade #paranormal
Rating: 4/5 ⭐
Thankyou @this_is_edelweiss @authorsuzanneyoung for the Digital ARC
An adventurous middle grade book that gives you paranormal vibes with a bit of spookiness involving possessing a body, wandering souls and an anchor to the world of living and dead.
A great read if you want to cozy up in your blankets and get some ghostly uncanny experiences.
Genre: #middlegrade #paranormal
Rating: 4/5 ⭐
Thankyou @this_is_edelweiss @authorsuzanneyoung for the Digital ARC
January 9, 2024
Calista Wynn is a young medium who will lose her powers to see ghosts on her thirteenth birthday in a few weeks. It’s bad enough to lose her ability to help lost souls reach the other side, but she will also stop seeing her grandmother and father, who were mediums themselves before they died and who now reside in the house as spirits to teach her the ways of magic and give her the love she needs. On top of all this, children in her town are disappearing, and the likely kidnapper is The Tall Lady, a vengeful spirit who cursed Calista’s family. Calista is the only person who can stop her, but will she be able to stop her before she reaches age 13 and loses her powers? More importantly, will she be able to stop her before she kidnaps Calista’s younger sister, who the Tall Lady has taken a keen interest in?
It’s pretty damn dark for a middle grade novel lol. The stakes are high, and just to warn you, children die in this book. The Tall Lady is a creepy and memorable villain, and the story stays fast-paced and keeps you wanting to see what happens next. But it is also rich in subtext. This is about more than a girl trying to stop a bad guy. This is about growing up. iIt’s about learning to grieve, learning to accept mortality, and learning how to grow from this knowledge and move forward. The ending has a BIT of a minor flaw () but overall it’s an excellent middle grade addition for thriller/horror readers. Give it to all the kids who think your suggestions aren’t sufficiently scary.
It’s pretty damn dark for a middle grade novel lol. The stakes are high, and just to warn you, children die in this book. The Tall Lady is a creepy and memorable villain, and the story stays fast-paced and keeps you wanting to see what happens next. But it is also rich in subtext. This is about more than a girl trying to stop a bad guy. This is about growing up. iIt’s about learning to grieve, learning to accept mortality, and learning how to grow from this knowledge and move forward. The ending has a BIT of a minor flaw () but overall it’s an excellent middle grade addition for thriller/horror readers. Give it to all the kids who think your suggestions aren’t sufficiently scary.
April 23, 2023
I love dark middle grade 💙 And it was emotional too. I was crying by the final chapters.
April 7, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC of this. I swapped back and forth between that and the audiobook from my library.
This was SO GOOD. I got it because I had a feeling it was one my daughter would love, as spooky middle grade is her jam, and I ended up head over heels for it. The characters were adorable, the ghosts just the right level of creepy, and the look at loss so emotional.
This was SO GOOD. I got it because I had a feeling it was one my daughter would love, as spooky middle grade is her jam, and I ended up head over heels for it. The characters were adorable, the ghosts just the right level of creepy, and the look at loss so emotional.
July 3, 2024
A scary middle grade read about an older sister whose birthday is also her deadline to save the entire town from being consumed by an evil force especially focused on her baby sister. You know, kid stuff.
Calista Wynn is kind of like Rudolph in that “deviation from the norm will be punished unless it is exploitable” meme. People are creeped out by her, as if associating with her and her family will taint their normalcy and wellbeing. But in desperate moments, they readily turn to her to find answers. And when they do, the Wynns are there.
The poor communication trope gets to me, and this book has plenty of it. However, I find it a little more excusable here because I think Calista is mirroring the adults in her life.
When we are trying to survive the throes of grief, sometimes we ask things of ourselves and each other that are not fair or sustainable. We keep the most obvious truths bottled up, because of how much it hurts to share them, to unleash that floodgate. We scramble for any sense of control in a world that has proven we have none by what it has already taken.
It makes sense to try to protect loved ones from what’s really going on and how we feel, if we think it might hurt them. Calista sees how her father, aunt, and grandmother do not share everything with her mom. She uses this to guide how much she lets her mom in, not realizing you can hurt feelings by NOT sharing hard things, too.
I do wish the book itself had spent maybe 15 more pages reckoning with how much was being asked of Calista and how challenging their home life was. The focus and pacing sometimes felt off, in ways that had us skirt or gloss over some of the most important messages the story could have conveyed.
Some of the exposition felt unrealistic, as well. For example, . Highly in favor of any kids book sharing, “don’t talk to cops” messaging, but this abruptly petered out. I also pictured Aunt Freya as Christine McConnell, despite myself.
In all, I would recommend this to fans of The Clackity, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Small Spaces, The Benefits of Being an Octopus, and the Nevermoor series (specifically book #2).
Also, I can’t wait until the next time I burn myself to try the “dishcloth wet with cold water drizzled with honey” trick. I’m not saying I’m going to purposefully burn myself. Just, whenever it happens next.
Calista Wynn is kind of like Rudolph in that “deviation from the norm will be punished unless it is exploitable” meme. People are creeped out by her, as if associating with her and her family will taint their normalcy and wellbeing. But in desperate moments, they readily turn to her to find answers. And when they do, the Wynns are there.
The poor communication trope gets to me, and this book has plenty of it. However, I find it a little more excusable here because I think Calista is mirroring the adults in her life.
When we are trying to survive the throes of grief, sometimes we ask things of ourselves and each other that are not fair or sustainable. We keep the most obvious truths bottled up, because of how much it hurts to share them, to unleash that floodgate. We scramble for any sense of control in a world that has proven we have none by what it has already taken.
It makes sense to try to protect loved ones from what’s really going on and how we feel, if we think it might hurt them. Calista sees how her father, aunt, and grandmother do not share everything with her mom. She uses this to guide how much she lets her mom in, not realizing you can hurt feelings by NOT sharing hard things, too.
I do wish the book itself had spent maybe 15 more pages reckoning with how much was being asked of Calista and how challenging their home life was. The focus and pacing sometimes felt off, in ways that had us skirt or gloss over some of the most important messages the story could have conveyed.
Some of the exposition felt unrealistic, as well. For example, . Highly in favor of any kids book sharing, “don’t talk to cops” messaging, but this abruptly petered out. I also pictured Aunt Freya as Christine McConnell, despite myself.
In all, I would recommend this to fans of The Clackity, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Small Spaces, The Benefits of Being an Octopus, and the Nevermoor series (specifically book #2).
Also, I can’t wait until the next time I burn myself to try the “dishcloth wet with cold water drizzled with honey” trick. I’m not saying I’m going to purposefully burn myself. Just, whenever it happens next.
June 20, 2023
What Stays Buried is a gripping story of a young girl with supernatural abilities. Twelve-year old Calista Wynn knows things. She sees things. She can speak with the dead. These special gifts have come naturally to all members of her father’s side of the family, but with a condition. A curse placed on the family dictates all Wynn mediums will lose their supernatural abilities on the day of their thirteenth birthday. Calista has been dreading this moment and when children start to go missing in her hometown, she knows she must use all her powers to save them…and quickly. Filled with vivid descriptions and shockingly emotional scenes, this book will haunt readers as if they were in the pages of the book. It’s a page-turning book sure to delight, potentially scare and certainly give readers a new perspective to think about.
January 16, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Slight spoilers, so be warned.
Callista Wynn's family has powers that others don't, and these powers include being able to talk to ghosts. This is helpful to Callie, because she is a medium who can still communicate with her grandmother and her father, who both passed away and are tethered to the house. This will end when she is 13, however, because of a decades old curse that started when a local woman, Edwina, was involved with the kidnapping and murders of local children, including Callie's aunt Virginia, and was killed by the residents of Windmere. As Callie's birthday approaches, her younger sister, Molly, starts to see "The Tall Lady", and Molly has a very bad feeling about this, especially since several local boys have gone missing. Callie doesn't know quite what to do, and even her father and grandmother are unsure how to proceed, so they ask her aunt Freya to come to help. It's a good thing they do, because not only is Molly possessed by a demon, but the brother of a boy in Callista's class goes missing from school. Wyland has always been nice to Callie, unlike most of the other children in her school, and he believes her when she talks about being able to see ghosts. Unfortunately, when she mentions that the children might be in a house in the marshes, he calls his mother, and soon the police are scouring the area. When nothing is found, the town turns against the Wynns. Callie has to learn to keep her knowledge to herself, but she will only have to do this for a short time. Before long, the situation intensifies, and she and Wyland have to strike out on their own to try to find the missing children before Callie's birthday arrives. Will Edwina, the "Tall Lady", be successful in her bid to steal the souls of enough children to make her invincible, or will Callie be able to thwart her and save the day?
Strengths: Well. THAT was certainly a lot scarier than I thought it would be! Sure, in Oh's Spirit Hunters, the brother is possessed, but the description of the possession, and of Edwina, and the marsh, are terrifying! The fact that Callie was nearing the end of her powers and might not be able to get her sister back added a definite air of urgency. This started off with a homey kitchen scene with the grandmother and father, and I thought it was going to be more like Urban's Almost There and Almost Not, but instead it jumped right into murderous ghosts! There are some pretty violent scenes, with the aunt being injured, and there are a lot of missing children. Notice that for middle grade readers, this is definitely a strength! Since it's the ghosts doing the horrible things and not human beings, I'm okay with that. I was not intending to finish this one the day I picked it up, but I could not put it down. Young has done some YA science fiction type books, but she should be encouraged to write more middle grade horror!
Weaknesses: Other reviewers seem to really like the "heartfelt" ending, when Callie sort of uses all of the love in her life to repel Edwina, but that seemed a bit out of step with the rest of the book, and isn't necessarily what my young horror readers want. On the other hand, it's a great way to get teachers and librarians to read and recommend the book! The cover makes this look like it is for younger readers than it is. This would probably scare the bejeezus out of a 3rd or 4th grader. I would not want to be responsible for those nightmares! Little bit of a spoiler: this is not one of those books where ALL of the dead children come back at the end, just so you know.
What I really think: I'm definitely buying two copies, because this was WAY scarier than I thought it was going to be. It will take some handselling, but I think that once students read it, they will be recommending it to their friends. Another reviewer took issue with the unsupervised seance and summoning of dead spirits, saying it was teaching students occult practices. Since I don't believe that ghosts are real, I don't have a problem with this. Perhaps, as a precaution, I should tell students not to summon ghosts, the way I tell them to not summon demons in the bathroom when they check out Monahan's Mary: The Summoning.
Slight spoilers, so be warned.
Callista Wynn's family has powers that others don't, and these powers include being able to talk to ghosts. This is helpful to Callie, because she is a medium who can still communicate with her grandmother and her father, who both passed away and are tethered to the house. This will end when she is 13, however, because of a decades old curse that started when a local woman, Edwina, was involved with the kidnapping and murders of local children, including Callie's aunt Virginia, and was killed by the residents of Windmere. As Callie's birthday approaches, her younger sister, Molly, starts to see "The Tall Lady", and Molly has a very bad feeling about this, especially since several local boys have gone missing. Callie doesn't know quite what to do, and even her father and grandmother are unsure how to proceed, so they ask her aunt Freya to come to help. It's a good thing they do, because not only is Molly possessed by a demon, but the brother of a boy in Callista's class goes missing from school. Wyland has always been nice to Callie, unlike most of the other children in her school, and he believes her when she talks about being able to see ghosts. Unfortunately, when she mentions that the children might be in a house in the marshes, he calls his mother, and soon the police are scouring the area. When nothing is found, the town turns against the Wynns. Callie has to learn to keep her knowledge to herself, but she will only have to do this for a short time. Before long, the situation intensifies, and she and Wyland have to strike out on their own to try to find the missing children before Callie's birthday arrives. Will Edwina, the "Tall Lady", be successful in her bid to steal the souls of enough children to make her invincible, or will Callie be able to thwart her and save the day?
Strengths: Well. THAT was certainly a lot scarier than I thought it would be! Sure, in Oh's Spirit Hunters, the brother is possessed, but the description of the possession, and of Edwina, and the marsh, are terrifying! The fact that Callie was nearing the end of her powers and might not be able to get her sister back added a definite air of urgency. This started off with a homey kitchen scene with the grandmother and father, and I thought it was going to be more like Urban's Almost There and Almost Not, but instead it jumped right into murderous ghosts! There are some pretty violent scenes, with the aunt being injured, and there are a lot of missing children. Notice that for middle grade readers, this is definitely a strength! Since it's the ghosts doing the horrible things and not human beings, I'm okay with that. I was not intending to finish this one the day I picked it up, but I could not put it down. Young has done some YA science fiction type books, but she should be encouraged to write more middle grade horror!
Weaknesses: Other reviewers seem to really like the "heartfelt" ending, when Callie sort of uses all of the love in her life to repel Edwina, but that seemed a bit out of step with the rest of the book, and isn't necessarily what my young horror readers want. On the other hand, it's a great way to get teachers and librarians to read and recommend the book! The cover makes this look like it is for younger readers than it is. This would probably scare the bejeezus out of a 3rd or 4th grader. I would not want to be responsible for those nightmares! Little bit of a spoiler: this is not one of those books where ALL of the dead children come back at the end, just so you know.
What I really think: I'm definitely buying two copies, because this was WAY scarier than I thought it was going to be. It will take some handselling, but I think that once students read it, they will be recommending it to their friends. Another reviewer took issue with the unsupervised seance and summoning of dead spirits, saying it was teaching students occult practices. Since I don't believe that ghosts are real, I don't have a problem with this. Perhaps, as a precaution, I should tell students not to summon ghosts, the way I tell them to not summon demons in the bathroom when they check out Monahan's Mary: The Summoning.
February 24, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Audio for this Voice Galley of What Stays Buried.
This book has everything that I enjoy about Middle Grade horror and none of the pitfalls I find in the genre. Despite being written for children, it does not wear "kid gloves" and pulls no punches when it comes to terror. As a reader, I felt just as frightened and powerless as Calista did throughout the story, but the sources walked the line of "too scary" and "not scary" perfectly providing the scares through sensations of being watched and outmatched by the big bad instead of relying on the gross and gorey.
The elements of child deaths, demonic possession and angry ghosts offer much of the punch that adult horror, and provide the scares I see children requesting with increasing frequency at the library, but in a package that is age appropriate.
Of course I also have to say that I deeply love it when a scary story is set in New York. I find that the South and Midwest are often the settings of much juvenile horror, and I love some North East representation! I'm planning on pairing this book with some nonfiction on the Spiritualist movement and the Fox sisters to encourage some New York historical education along with the story!
Overall I really enjoyed this book! The characters were all lovable, even when they made mistakes, and the villain didn't feel flat (one of the issues I have with children's horror). I'll absolutely be recommending this book to young horror fans at my library!
This book has everything that I enjoy about Middle Grade horror and none of the pitfalls I find in the genre. Despite being written for children, it does not wear "kid gloves" and pulls no punches when it comes to terror. As a reader, I felt just as frightened and powerless as Calista did throughout the story, but the sources walked the line of "too scary" and "not scary" perfectly providing the scares through sensations of being watched and outmatched by the big bad instead of relying on the gross and gorey.
The elements of child deaths, demonic possession and angry ghosts offer much of the punch that adult horror, and provide the scares I see children requesting with increasing frequency at the library, but in a package that is age appropriate.
Of course I also have to say that I deeply love it when a scary story is set in New York. I find that the South and Midwest are often the settings of much juvenile horror, and I love some North East representation! I'm planning on pairing this book with some nonfiction on the Spiritualist movement and the Fox sisters to encourage some New York historical education along with the story!
Overall I really enjoyed this book! The characters were all lovable, even when they made mistakes, and the villain didn't feel flat (one of the issues I have with children's horror). I'll absolutely be recommending this book to young horror fans at my library!
September 14, 2023
WHAT STAYS BURIED – by Suzanne Young – All The Feels–My Heart!
‘CALISTA WYNN KNEW the boy was dead before she even opened her eyes. He whispered her name again, soft and far away, the way all ghosts sound even when they’re right next to your ear. An echo through the veil of this life and the otherworld.’
‘[A]t thirteen years old, all of the mediums in the Wynn family lost their ability to see ghosts. It had happened to Calista’s father, Mac, and to all five of his younger siblings. And soon, it would happen to her. Sure, the Wynns still had other gifts, other intuitions, but the ghosts stopped appearing to them. . .’
‘Calista didn’t want to lose her gift. It was part of who she was. She’d be losing herself.’
In a word, WOW! I Love This Book Sooooooo Much!
Engaging, Intense, Couldn’t Put It Down—Highly Recommend!!
Reading Age: 8 – 12
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of WHAT STAYS BURIED at the request of an honest review.
‘CALISTA WYNN KNEW the boy was dead before she even opened her eyes. He whispered her name again, soft and far away, the way all ghosts sound even when they’re right next to your ear. An echo through the veil of this life and the otherworld.’
‘[A]t thirteen years old, all of the mediums in the Wynn family lost their ability to see ghosts. It had happened to Calista’s father, Mac, and to all five of his younger siblings. And soon, it would happen to her. Sure, the Wynns still had other gifts, other intuitions, but the ghosts stopped appearing to them. . .’
‘Calista didn’t want to lose her gift. It was part of who she was. She’d be losing herself.’
In a word, WOW! I Love This Book Sooooooo Much!
Engaging, Intense, Couldn’t Put It Down—Highly Recommend!!
Reading Age: 8 – 12
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of WHAT STAYS BURIED at the request of an honest review.
October 13, 2022
Thank you so Netgalley and Harper Collins for allowing me to enjoy this audio arc in exchange for my honest review!
I don't want to be dramatic but I adored this book. This book was so precious, heartwarming and also just deeply poignant in a way I was not ready for. The main character, her personality and her family charmed me and I fell in love with their story. The author did a wonderful job of weaving in the supernatural details in a believable, endearing way. I cried several times; it was a great little wholesome, spooky coming of age story and I highly recommend it.
I don't want to be dramatic but I adored this book. This book was so precious, heartwarming and also just deeply poignant in a way I was not ready for. The main character, her personality and her family charmed me and I fell in love with their story. The author did a wonderful job of weaving in the supernatural details in a believable, endearing way. I cried several times; it was a great little wholesome, spooky coming of age story and I highly recommend it.
March 23, 2023
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
This urban fantasy middle grade is perfect for fans of curses, mediums, and family secrets. What Stays Buried has one of those perfect titles. Not only does Calista's family have secrets of their own, their town is also sitting on a chest of buried skeletons. From the premise alone, I love the idea of a girl who is facing the loss of her father - twice fold. She's always been able to see the ghosts of her grandmother and father, but as she approaches her birthday, she will lose that ability.
Not going to lie, I teared up as this element developed. For Calista, it's a second loss after their initial death. Above all, What Stays Buried is a story about revenge and justice. It's about the pain of knowledge. Because while we may think we want the answers, what if they only bring us more pain? Questions we can never answer?
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
This urban fantasy middle grade is perfect for fans of curses, mediums, and family secrets. What Stays Buried has one of those perfect titles. Not only does Calista's family have secrets of their own, their town is also sitting on a chest of buried skeletons. From the premise alone, I love the idea of a girl who is facing the loss of her father - twice fold. She's always been able to see the ghosts of her grandmother and father, but as she approaches her birthday, she will lose that ability.
Not going to lie, I teared up as this element developed. For Calista, it's a second loss after their initial death. Above all, What Stays Buried is a story about revenge and justice. It's about the pain of knowledge. Because while we may think we want the answers, what if they only bring us more pain? Questions we can never answer?
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
January 17, 2023
Big thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the Audio Arc -
Calista Wynn isn't looking forward to turning 13. When Calista turns 13 she will lose her ability to communicate with those who have passed on. Calista is trying to find out why the local children keep going missing. Will she be able to help them before she loses her ability? Will she find a way to keep her gift? Suzanne Young does an excellent job writing about death, grief, and fear in this novel.
Calista Wynn isn't looking forward to turning 13. When Calista turns 13 she will lose her ability to communicate with those who have passed on. Calista is trying to find out why the local children keep going missing. Will she be able to help them before she loses her ability? Will she find a way to keep her gift? Suzanne Young does an excellent job writing about death, grief, and fear in this novel.
January 12, 2024
Why do middle grades books have to be SO SAD!?
I think I started crying in the first chapter and then here and there throughout the book. I purposely didn't read it while waiting at the dentist because I didn't want to cry in public!
What I thought would be a fun, baby scary book ended up being a book about how to deal with grief and the permanence of loss and that was a lot!
I think I started crying in the first chapter and then here and there throughout the book. I purposely didn't read it while waiting at the dentist because I didn't want to cry in public!
What I thought would be a fun, baby scary book ended up being a book about how to deal with grief and the permanence of loss and that was a lot!
November 19, 2022
Great characters and story
May 11, 2024
What Stays Buried
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ .5 (3.5/5) or 6.85/10 overall
Characters - 7
Atmosphere - 8
Writing - 7
Plot - 6
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 7
Enjoyment - 6
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ .5 (3.5/5) or 6.85/10 overall
Characters - 7
Atmosphere - 8
Writing - 7
Plot - 6
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 7
Enjoyment - 6
August 20, 2025
I really liked it; however, I didn't like how they actually said the spells sometimes. I just skipped that part. But it really made you feel all the emotions it presented.
October 15, 2023
4.5 rounded to a 5.
Scary. Heart-warming. Page Turner. This also made me cry.
Scary. Heart-warming. Page Turner. This also made me cry.
April 26, 2023
On the verge of turning 13, Calista is struggling with the fact that on her birthday she will lose her ability to speak with the dead. Among the dead she'll no longer see are her father and grandmother, and Calista is not ready for that. But when a neighborhood ghost woman starts abducting neighborhood children, including Calista's little sister, Calista becomes consumed with finding the children before she loses her ability to see/thwart the ghost woman.
Let me start by saying I adored this book! Part horror, part almost detective novel - the characters were well-developed and beautifully drawn. The author wove the theme of how people handle grief through the story in a way that felt natural. While at first it felt like the writing/story was just a bit mature for it's intended audience, the more I read, the more I was impressed with how the author was able to walk the tightrope of spinning a tale that was believably scary without being overly graphic. What a fun read!
Published March 6, 2023 - available now! Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read an advanced copy!
Let me start by saying I adored this book! Part horror, part almost detective novel - the characters were well-developed and beautifully drawn. The author wove the theme of how people handle grief through the story in a way that felt natural. While at first it felt like the writing/story was just a bit mature for it's intended audience, the more I read, the more I was impressed with how the author was able to walk the tightrope of spinning a tale that was believably scary without being overly graphic. What a fun read!
Published March 6, 2023 - available now! Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read an advanced copy!
September 25, 2023
This was great! It's the perfect spooky fall read and I was pleasantly surprised by how dark it was for a middle grade novel. I loved Calista and her family. I thought it was interesting how clairvoyancy runs in her family and that it stops at a certain age.
It was an intense mix of paranormal and mystery. I plan on picking up more of Suzanne Young's books in the future, especially her Middle Grade!
It was an intense mix of paranormal and mystery. I plan on picking up more of Suzanne Young's books in the future, especially her Middle Grade!
March 27, 2023
This was a book I had to read once I saw that stunning cover. And read that it was a middle grade story about ghosts. Which I always love. I'm giving this book four stars, as I enjoyed it a lot. I did not love it, as I had a few small issues, but oh. It was a great book and I'm glad that I read this one. It was a story full of heart.
I shall not write too much in this review of mine, as the book was short and fast and easy to read. But it still had so much going on. Every part of it was exciting and I always wanted to know more. And I do wish it had been longer, as there were still more things I wanted to know about these adorable characters and this world.
This book tells the story of Calista and of her family. Callie turns thirteen years old in just one week. A day that she's dreading, as she will then stop seeing the dead. Which she has been able to do since she was around seven years. This ability have been in her family forever, being able to see and speak to ghosts. She is not ready to let it go, because that means losing her dad and her grandma. Both dead, both still in her house, where only she can see them. But things are changing. She has a little sister, Molly. Only six, but soon able to see ghosts too. I loved how this ability to see ghosts were just like a normal thing in this family. How they seemed to love it. For the most part. It was from her father's side of the family, this ability. So her mom was a little left out.
And this was something that I found to be pretty heartbreaking. This book is a lot about grief. Callie's dad died two years ago. Her mom and sister have been grieving for him. But she has not, as he is still there for her. And this seemed like a difficult thing in the family, though Callie did not really see it at first. I wish she had a better connection with her mom, that she didn't keep so many secrets from her. I wanted her to include her more. Sigh. But I did love their scenes together. And I adored her little sister. Molly was sweet.
This is a ghost story. And like any good ghost story, there must be a bad spirit. This was the Tall Lady. I did like reading about her and knowing her story. But I felt like she was not done that well, should have been more scary and more creepy. Sure, this book had some scary moments, some sad ones. But I felt like they were too few of them and I kind of wanted more destruction and evil from this villain. Ha. But still. Also, well. I knew from the beginning where the kids were, and none got it. What. Made no sense, haha.
This is a story about kids going missing. And Calista trying to figure out what happened to them, using her abilities. It's about her sister seeing a ghostly woman that Callie cannot see. One that does not feel right. And so it was a story about Callie trying to save these boys, if they were still alive. I liked learning about the mystery of it all. Wish there had been more, and more details. But it was good enough. I liked her growing friendship with Wyland. Though wish they had more scenes together, as I adored him a lot.
What Stays Buried was an excellent ghost story. I liked all the family scenes and how Callie just wanted the ghost of her father and grandma to stay, she did not want them to go. Even though I liked this book a whole lot, I also did not love it. I did not connect with the writing, as I found it a bit annoying at times. And I found the ending to be a little too happy, with the missing kids. I guess I'm too used to darkness, ha. But there was a sad ending too, and I liked that. Overall, I'm glad I read this story. I think you will like this too.
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This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: https://carinabooks.blogspot.com/2023...
I shall not write too much in this review of mine, as the book was short and fast and easy to read. But it still had so much going on. Every part of it was exciting and I always wanted to know more. And I do wish it had been longer, as there were still more things I wanted to know about these adorable characters and this world.
This book tells the story of Calista and of her family. Callie turns thirteen years old in just one week. A day that she's dreading, as she will then stop seeing the dead. Which she has been able to do since she was around seven years. This ability have been in her family forever, being able to see and speak to ghosts. She is not ready to let it go, because that means losing her dad and her grandma. Both dead, both still in her house, where only she can see them. But things are changing. She has a little sister, Molly. Only six, but soon able to see ghosts too. I loved how this ability to see ghosts were just like a normal thing in this family. How they seemed to love it. For the most part. It was from her father's side of the family, this ability. So her mom was a little left out.
And this was something that I found to be pretty heartbreaking. This book is a lot about grief. Callie's dad died two years ago. Her mom and sister have been grieving for him. But she has not, as he is still there for her. And this seemed like a difficult thing in the family, though Callie did not really see it at first. I wish she had a better connection with her mom, that she didn't keep so many secrets from her. I wanted her to include her more. Sigh. But I did love their scenes together. And I adored her little sister. Molly was sweet.
This is a ghost story. And like any good ghost story, there must be a bad spirit. This was the Tall Lady. I did like reading about her and knowing her story. But I felt like she was not done that well, should have been more scary and more creepy. Sure, this book had some scary moments, some sad ones. But I felt like they were too few of them and I kind of wanted more destruction and evil from this villain. Ha. But still. Also, well. I knew from the beginning where the kids were, and none got it. What. Made no sense, haha.
This is a story about kids going missing. And Calista trying to figure out what happened to them, using her abilities. It's about her sister seeing a ghostly woman that Callie cannot see. One that does not feel right. And so it was a story about Callie trying to save these boys, if they were still alive. I liked learning about the mystery of it all. Wish there had been more, and more details. But it was good enough. I liked her growing friendship with Wyland. Though wish they had more scenes together, as I adored him a lot.
What Stays Buried was an excellent ghost story. I liked all the family scenes and how Callie just wanted the ghost of her father and grandma to stay, she did not want them to go. Even though I liked this book a whole lot, I also did not love it. I did not connect with the writing, as I found it a bit annoying at times. And I found the ending to be a little too happy, with the missing kids. I guess I'm too used to darkness, ha. But there was a sad ending too, and I liked that. Overall, I'm glad I read this story. I think you will like this too.
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This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: https://carinabooks.blogspot.com/2023...
June 17, 2023
What Stays Buried was a fun, emotional paranormal book that I would have definitely loved as a kid. Calista Wynn, soon to turn thirteen, will lose her ability to speak with ghosts, something that will have a huge impact on her for reasons that are explained in the book and for which I don't want to give away. It added an emotional impact for which I wasn't prepared, as I was expecting simply a ghost story, a paranormal adventure, but this little emotional side story added a lot of depth to the story that I loved.
Calista was a fun character to get to know and I loved her spunk and her protective nature as her little sister started to gain her own powers. With a curse on the family stretching back decades, Calista knew she was going to lose her powers when she turned thirteen, something that was terrifying, especially as a new case lands in her lap just weeks before her birthday. I love how Calista is unsure of herself, but enters each situation at full speed, knowing she has to protect her family and her friends, no matter what. When children begin disappearing, and she starts seeing those children as ghosts, she fears the worst. Knowing she can't work alone, she teams up with an unexpected ally, and I loved how the friendship develops throughout the story. The characters were fun, with a depth to them I wasn't expecting and I enjoyed getting to know them all.
The plot was interesting and flowed very well. I thought it was intricate considering this is a juvenile fiction novel, and it was definitely on the scarier side. My favourite genre is horror, so I am a bit biased when it comes to that genre as I never think it is scary enough, but I do think the young reader will find it scary, with ghosts appearing, demon possession, children being kidnapped, a curse, and murderous ghosts. Some of the settings were downright creepy, including the marsh. Some people do get injured, but because it's not the humans doing the injuring, I do think young readers will be more understanding of the events and why things are happening. The story flowed very well, and it was never boring; in fact, I read the book in one sitting as I couldn't put it down.
What Stays Buried was a lot scarier than I thought it would be, but that was what I loved about this book. However, I wasn't a fan of the ending as I am one for emotional endings even if I did enjoy the emotional way the whole ghosts thing resolved itself. I thought that was enough, but it continued right to the end, something I thought was out of step for the rest of the book which was actually spookier than I thought it would be, to my pleasant surprise. I know some reviewers took issue with the unsupervised summoning of dead spirits, something to do with occult practices, but I don't care about any of that. Gosh, how many people tried to summer Bloody Mary in the mirror when they were ten-years-old and had to hide under their blankets for a week? That is the fun of reading this stuff, so enjoy!!
Calista was a fun character to get to know and I loved her spunk and her protective nature as her little sister started to gain her own powers. With a curse on the family stretching back decades, Calista knew she was going to lose her powers when she turned thirteen, something that was terrifying, especially as a new case lands in her lap just weeks before her birthday. I love how Calista is unsure of herself, but enters each situation at full speed, knowing she has to protect her family and her friends, no matter what. When children begin disappearing, and she starts seeing those children as ghosts, she fears the worst. Knowing she can't work alone, she teams up with an unexpected ally, and I loved how the friendship develops throughout the story. The characters were fun, with a depth to them I wasn't expecting and I enjoyed getting to know them all.
The plot was interesting and flowed very well. I thought it was intricate considering this is a juvenile fiction novel, and it was definitely on the scarier side. My favourite genre is horror, so I am a bit biased when it comes to that genre as I never think it is scary enough, but I do think the young reader will find it scary, with ghosts appearing, demon possession, children being kidnapped, a curse, and murderous ghosts. Some of the settings were downright creepy, including the marsh. Some people do get injured, but because it's not the humans doing the injuring, I do think young readers will be more understanding of the events and why things are happening. The story flowed very well, and it was never boring; in fact, I read the book in one sitting as I couldn't put it down.
What Stays Buried was a lot scarier than I thought it would be, but that was what I loved about this book. However, I wasn't a fan of the ending as I am one for emotional endings even if I did enjoy the emotional way the whole ghosts thing resolved itself. I thought that was enough, but it continued right to the end, something I thought was out of step for the rest of the book which was actually spookier than I thought it would be, to my pleasant surprise. I know some reviewers took issue with the unsupervised summoning of dead spirits, something to do with occult practices, but I don't care about any of that. Gosh, how many people tried to summer Bloody Mary in the mirror when they were ten-years-old and had to hide under their blankets for a week? That is the fun of reading this stuff, so enjoy!!
November 5, 2022
Book Title: Relatively Normal Secrets’
Author: Suzanne Young
Narrator: VoiceGalley
Publisher: Harper Audio
Genre: Middle Grade Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Pub Date: March 7, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
Calista Wynn is twelve years-old and sees ghosts and helps them cross over, however, when she turns thirteen she will lose the ability of speaking to ghosts. When her sister Molly as well as other children goes missing Calista must hurry to find them!
Calista knows that “The Tall Lady’ is responsible and seems to have something against her family. Calista enlists the help of her father and Grandmother Josie as well as a classmate.
However, the Tall Lady has other plans and the two enter a battle which may result in Calista not only losing her power but is also a matter of life and death. Losing her family is overwhelming.
I know I am not the target audience for this book but as an educator I love to read children as well as YA stories. When parents find out that I am an avid reader they’ll often ask if I have any recommendations. ~ I can always say~ as a matter of fact - Yes I do!
Want to thank NetGalley and Harper Audio for granted me the pleasure of listening to this VoiceGalley-.Advance audio edition. A Voice galley is a synthetic voice and not a profession human narrator. Publishing Release Date is scheduled for March 7, 2023
Author: Suzanne Young
Narrator: VoiceGalley
Publisher: Harper Audio
Genre: Middle Grade Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Pub Date: March 7, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
Calista Wynn is twelve years-old and sees ghosts and helps them cross over, however, when she turns thirteen she will lose the ability of speaking to ghosts. When her sister Molly as well as other children goes missing Calista must hurry to find them!
Calista knows that “The Tall Lady’ is responsible and seems to have something against her family. Calista enlists the help of her father and Grandmother Josie as well as a classmate.
However, the Tall Lady has other plans and the two enter a battle which may result in Calista not only losing her power but is also a matter of life and death. Losing her family is overwhelming.
I know I am not the target audience for this book but as an educator I love to read children as well as YA stories. When parents find out that I am an avid reader they’ll often ask if I have any recommendations. ~ I can always say~ as a matter of fact - Yes I do!
Want to thank NetGalley and Harper Audio for granted me the pleasure of listening to this VoiceGalley-.Advance audio edition. A Voice galley is a synthetic voice and not a profession human narrator. Publishing Release Date is scheduled for March 7, 2023
March 6, 2023
“Calista was bursting with emotion, but as the waves of pain left and receded, all that was left was love. A love so big, it crossed any reality.”
Calista Wynn is twelve years old and will lose her ability to speak with the dead on her thirteenth birthday. And with only a few weeks left, local children have started going missing. When Calista meets The Tall Lady—an angry spirit with a grudge against Calista, her family, and the entire town—she knows she’s found the ghost responsible for the disappearances.
It’s up to Calista, the only one who can see The Tall Lady, to stop her. If she doesn’t, Calista will not only lose her powers… she’ll lose everyone she has left.
This book is middle grade and just absolutely precious. Calista is such a sweet young lady but also possesses so much strength for her age. She is a protector, she speaks to ghosts, and she is working tirelessly to break the curse and keep those that have passed on (but that she still has the ability to see) in her world. She is a bit awkward due to her gift and doesn’t quite fit in with her peers, but she prevails.
This is a story about death, coming of age, grieving, healing, and the acceptance of what we cannot control. The more I read middle grade, the more I want to read!
Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins Children’s Books, and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Calista Wynn is twelve years old and will lose her ability to speak with the dead on her thirteenth birthday. And with only a few weeks left, local children have started going missing. When Calista meets The Tall Lady—an angry spirit with a grudge against Calista, her family, and the entire town—she knows she’s found the ghost responsible for the disappearances.
It’s up to Calista, the only one who can see The Tall Lady, to stop her. If she doesn’t, Calista will not only lose her powers… she’ll lose everyone she has left.
This book is middle grade and just absolutely precious. Calista is such a sweet young lady but also possesses so much strength for her age. She is a protector, she speaks to ghosts, and she is working tirelessly to break the curse and keep those that have passed on (but that she still has the ability to see) in her world. She is a bit awkward due to her gift and doesn’t quite fit in with her peers, but she prevails.
This is a story about death, coming of age, grieving, healing, and the acceptance of what we cannot control. The more I read middle grade, the more I want to read!
Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins Children’s Books, and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 28, 2023
4.5 Stars*
Suzanne Young is the author of one of my favorite series of all time, so I was very interested to pick up this venture into middle grade.
"What Stays Buried" is a middle grade ghost story that follows twelve-year-old Calista Wynn. Calista and everyone on her dad's side are mediums who can see and communicate with ghosts, the only catch is that they lose their powers when they turn thirteen. With Calista's birthday only a few weeks away, and a new ghost kidnapping children, she will have to work quickly to be able to save the town.
I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this story! Calista is a super fun character to read from. She is mature, has a big heart, and seems very age appropriate. She makes mistakes like a twelve-year-old would, but she is a great sleuth and determined to crack this case. She also has so much love and adoration for her family, which was so beautiful to see.
This book felt very atmospheric and spooky, but it was not too scary for the target age range. This book is about ghosts, and so it does touch upon death, but again, I felt like it was done very age appropriately and middle graders will enjoy this story.
I was very invested in the story and hoping to figure out the mystery right alongside Calista.
Suzanne young is an immensely talented writer and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Suzanne Young is the author of one of my favorite series of all time, so I was very interested to pick up this venture into middle grade.
"What Stays Buried" is a middle grade ghost story that follows twelve-year-old Calista Wynn. Calista and everyone on her dad's side are mediums who can see and communicate with ghosts, the only catch is that they lose their powers when they turn thirteen. With Calista's birthday only a few weeks away, and a new ghost kidnapping children, she will have to work quickly to be able to save the town.
I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this story! Calista is a super fun character to read from. She is mature, has a big heart, and seems very age appropriate. She makes mistakes like a twelve-year-old would, but she is a great sleuth and determined to crack this case. She also has so much love and adoration for her family, which was so beautiful to see.
This book felt very atmospheric and spooky, but it was not too scary for the target age range. This book is about ghosts, and so it does touch upon death, but again, I felt like it was done very age appropriately and middle graders will enjoy this story.
I was very invested in the story and hoping to figure out the mystery right alongside Calista.
Suzanne young is an immensely talented writer and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
March 5, 2023
Format: ebook
Stars: 4.5
advanced reader copy
When children start to go missing in Meadowmeare, Callista Wynn feels like it's her responsibility to help out. After all, she's the only person in town with psychic abilities. But if she's going to solve this mystery she's going to have to do it quickly. Because in a few days it's going to be her 13th birthday, and everyone in the Wynn family loses their ability to speak with ghosts once they turn that age.
This is Suzanne Young's first book for young readers and I think it will be a hit. It successfully handles topics that can be difficult to talk about -- I found myself clutching my chest and tearing up a few times. If I had to compare, I'd say it reminds me of Coraline. I was even picturing Mac looking like Coraline's dad, and Edwina a bit like the Other Mother. I would not be upset if someone were to adapt this book into a movie.
Ok, was I the only one who was shocked to learn
Stars: 4.5
advanced reader copy
When children start to go missing in Meadowmeare, Callista Wynn feels like it's her responsibility to help out. After all, she's the only person in town with psychic abilities. But if she's going to solve this mystery she's going to have to do it quickly. Because in a few days it's going to be her 13th birthday, and everyone in the Wynn family loses their ability to speak with ghosts once they turn that age.
This is Suzanne Young's first book for young readers and I think it will be a hit. It successfully handles topics that can be difficult to talk about -- I found myself clutching my chest and tearing up a few times. If I had to compare, I'd say it reminds me of Coraline. I was even picturing Mac looking like Coraline's dad, and Edwina a bit like the Other Mother. I would not be upset if someone were to adapt this book into a movie.
Ok, was I the only one who was shocked to learn
March 8, 2023
I received an ARC from NetGalley and HarperCollins for my thoughts on WHAT STAYS BURIED.
The opening line sucked me in! Then the first chapter. Then the next.
Wow! This book is masterful!
The nuances within the character Calista are fantastic. She's ahead of her age because of her gift to see ghosts. And both of these situations make it so she doesn't exactly fit in with the other kids. But she is still aware of others and so strong and brave that she wants to help. She is the only one who can help the kids who are disappearing. And she rises to the task.
This book has chills, grieving, coming-to-age vibes as so much more. The perfect amount of scary for young readers. And I love having secrets in a book.
I highly recommend this book. Not only is it entertaining, but it's a great place to start a conversation with a middle grade reader on multiple topics. (Because it deals with death, it really is best to have an adult to work through anything that comes up with young readers.)
It's full of family love and strength. Truly, the perfect themes for this age group.
Happy reading!
The opening line sucked me in! Then the first chapter. Then the next.
Wow! This book is masterful!
The nuances within the character Calista are fantastic. She's ahead of her age because of her gift to see ghosts. And both of these situations make it so she doesn't exactly fit in with the other kids. But she is still aware of others and so strong and brave that she wants to help. She is the only one who can help the kids who are disappearing. And she rises to the task.
This book has chills, grieving, coming-to-age vibes as so much more. The perfect amount of scary for young readers. And I love having secrets in a book.
I highly recommend this book. Not only is it entertaining, but it's a great place to start a conversation with a middle grade reader on multiple topics. (Because it deals with death, it really is best to have an adult to work through anything that comes up with young readers.)
It's full of family love and strength. Truly, the perfect themes for this age group.
Happy reading!
March 26, 2024
I really liked the premise of this book - a girl that can talk to ghosts, a familial ability that will go away on her 13th birthday due to a run in with a naughty ghost in her grandma's time.
I had a hard time during the first half of the book, part of that was the pacing, part of that was the writing style. Sometimes I felt very distant from the characters (lots of telling versus showing). I also dislike when characters all of a sudden have a new ability - which happened a couple of times in the story (oh yeah, didn't I mention I could read minds?). I felt the characters didn't have much of a unique voice outide of our bad ghost, the Tall Lady.
The book turned around for me at the last half to third - an exorcism, summoning evil ghosts, and that quirky aunt. There were some great scary bits, the pacing was good, and we had a *mostly* satisfying ending.
I was expecting when the Tall Lady was defeated, that the family would get their gifts back! I felt a little cheated that this didn't happen. That wasn't enough for me to downgrade my rating, and still leaves me open to try other stories by this author.
I had a hard time during the first half of the book, part of that was the pacing, part of that was the writing style. Sometimes I felt very distant from the characters (lots of telling versus showing). I also dislike when characters all of a sudden have a new ability - which happened a couple of times in the story (oh yeah, didn't I mention I could read minds?). I felt the characters didn't have much of a unique voice outide of our bad ghost, the Tall Lady.
The book turned around for me at the last half to third - an exorcism, summoning evil ghosts, and that quirky aunt. There were some great scary bits, the pacing was good, and we had a *mostly* satisfying ending.
I was expecting when the Tall Lady was defeated, that the family would get their gifts back! I felt a little cheated that this didn't happen. That wasn't enough for me to downgrade my rating, and still leaves me open to try other stories by this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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