Great haunted house story!

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kamisha Avatar

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I really enjoyed this YA ghost story! It was simultaneously fun and hard hitting. Danielle Vega conveyed horror in many different ways throughout the story, both realistic horror and supernatural horror and I think that added a great element to Hendricks’s story.

In The Haunted, Hendricks and her family are moving to small town Drearfield, for a “clean slate,” as her mother puts it. Hendricks is dealing with some pretty hard and dark stuff leftover from her life in Philadelphia, and unbeknownst to her the old house her parents are moving their family into is about to bring some even darker occurrences her way.

This was such a good, classic ghost story but with some really important issues contained in it as well. Early on we learn that Hendricks was in a manipulative and abusive relationship prior to moving to Drearfield that still haunts her everyday. She suffers from panic and anxiety and Vega portrays this so well throughout the story. She tells Hendricks story of her relationship and how it impacted her horribly, but still occasionally makes her feel nostalgic for the beginning, without ever making Hendricks come off as a young, naive teenager or victim blaming. It just read like a very accurate portrayal of a young, manipulative relationship to me and I could really appreciate that.

The haunting of Steele House itself was also quite spooky at times and a lot of fun for a horror fan like myself to read! (Say nope to all cat sounds, always!) The parts of the plot that were revolving around the ghost story were cinematic and just good, quick scares.

Overall I really enjoyed The Haunted, it as a fun, teenage ghost story but also incorporated some heavier plot points that I really enjoyed as well. I never feel like there is enough YA horror out there and this is a great addition to the genre!