The Haunted

By: Danielle Vega

Narrated by: Holly Linneman

ONE OF ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY'S "BIGGEST AND BEST YA BOOKS OF THE SUMMER"

From Danielle Vega, YA's answer to Stephen King, comes a new paranormal novel about dark family secrets, deep-seated vengeance, and the horrifying truth that evil often lurks in the unlikeliest of places.

Clean slate. That's what Hendricks Becker-O'Malley's parents said when they moved their family to the tiny town of Drearfield, New York. Hendricks wants to lay low and forget her dark, traumatic past. Forget him. But things don't go as planned.

Hendricks learns from new friends at school that Steele House--the fixer upper her parents are so excited about--is notorious in town. Local legend says it's haunted. But Hendricks isn't sure if it's the demons of her past haunting her ...or of the present. Voices whisper in her ear as she lays in bed. Doors lock on their own. And, then, one night, things take a violent turn.

With help from the mysterious boy next door, Hendricks makes it her mission to take down the ghosts . . . if they don't take her first.

Critic reviews

"Vega's take on the haunted house subgenre features an eclectic, well-fitted mix of supernatural spookiness and gore...A gently horrid reminder that some ghosts can be very real."--Kirkus Reviews

"Even the most diehard aficionados of horror may find themselves leaving the lights on after reading this one."--BCCB

Awesome!

This was really good. kept me interested. Great storyline. The narrator did a great job.

So unexpected!

I was in the mood for something light, if you can call a ghost story light. A teen ghost story kind of light. This was so much more. Writing worthy of Stephen King and a narrator with incredible talent. I highly recommend. I did not expect it to be this good.

Booooooo

I’m not ok after a ghost story. 😭 pacing was perfect and I hated the ending cause. Reasons. But ugh the lighter. The feels.

Amazing start, Horrible and unsatisfying ending

Vega is an extremely talented writer for details and emotions, but her story falls apart in her rush for? Twists? Subversion? Shock value? I guess? I recommend reading up to the first fakeout ending and using your imagination, otherwise prepare for an extremely mediocre downer ending.

Stayed up all night to finish it

I loved the Merciless but I think I enjoyed The Haunted even more! I ended up pulling an all nighter to finish it, I just couldn’t put it down! Reminded me a lot of the original Poltergeist.