Tag: MG Horror

‘The Scream of the Whistle’ by Emily Randall-Jones

Rebecca RouillardLeave a comment

When 12-year-old Ruby’s parents split up, she moves into her Grandma’s house in a creepy abandoned railway village called Melbridge with her mum and brother. Ruby is sure if she can just get her parents back in the same room together she can get them to reconcile, so she hatches a plan to walk back home along the abandoned railway line and orchestrate a family reunion. When she encounters the mysterious Green Lady steam train, the conductor offers her a lift instead. But there’s something strange about the train and soon Ruby realises that she’s trapped on a one-way trip towards disaster.

‘The Scream of the Whistle’ is a thrilling and emotive MG horror story about a girl dealing with the supernatural fallout from a historical train crash while she processes her parents divorce. I love a Greek mythology retelling as much as the next person, but it’s great to have a story based on our weird and creepy English folklore instead – set amongst ley lines, stone circles and tors in atmospheric Wiltshire. I’m frequently asked for scary stories in the library and I think this one will go down particularly well – a time slip story with a sinister steam train, ghosts, and an accessible length at 230 pages. (And the cat of course – love Station Ned.) I really enjoyed this one!

Thanks to Chicken House and Emily Randall-Jones for the ARC.

‘The Doll Twin’ by Janine Beacham

Rebecca RouillardLeave a comment

Eleven-year-old Una has lived in a children’s home for two years since her parents died and she had to leave her beloved lighthouse. When the Smiths arrive and decide to adopt her, she is thrilled, and excited to live next to the sea once again, but their grand old house, Copperlins, is a little strange. No one else in the village will go near it, it used to be the home of a dollmaker and so the house is full of antique dolls and parts and, in the middle of the night, Una hears creaking noises from the unused second story of the house.

But there are plenty of positive things to distract her, like her kind new parents, the old carousel in the cellar that Mr Smith is restoring, and her new friend, Mary. But then one night Una comes face-to-face with a life-size clockwork doll who looks exactly like her…

This book caught my eye immediately because of the striking cover design and the wonderfully sinister and evocative title, and the story lived up to my first impression. It was full of things that I love: lighthouses, steampunk, artificial intelligence and gothic horror. It is also a book about friendship, family, bravery and resilience. And of course, the only thing creepier than lifelike dolls, is human-sized lifelike dolls, and this book is full of those uncanny valley moments.

So many pupils in my primary and secondary library are asking for scary books these days, so it is fantastic to have another thrillingly spine-chilling read to recommend to them. ‘The Doll Twin’ is a dark and twisty MG horror, perfect for fans of Coraline and Phil Hickes. I absolutely adored it!

Thanks to Firefly for the ARC.

‘Shadowhall Academy: The Whispering Walls’ by Phil Hickes

Rebecca RouillardLeave a comment

Lilian’s first night at her new boarding school is interrupted by a sinister tapping on the walls and her roommates tell her the story of ‘Cold Mary’ (a brilliantly spine-chilling invention!) – the ghost of a former student who haunts their dormitory. But this is not the only strange thing going on at Shadowhall Academy. With the help of her new friends, Angela, Marian and Serena, Lilian must investigate the mysterious happenings and solve a centuries-old curse. 

This is a fantastically fun and creepy ghost story, from the author of the ‘Haunting of Aveline Jones’ series, perfect for those who love scary books. I had the ARC on my desk at school and it generated a lot of interest so I know it will be popular in the library!

Thanks to Usborne for the ARC.