Author: Katie Alender
Page Count: 329
Chapter Count: 33
Format: Hardback
Genres: Ghost Story, Horror Fiction
Setting: Hysteria Hall
Published: 2015
Publisher: Scholastic INC.
ISBN: 978-0 545- 63999-6
Don't freak out, I told myself. Just go. Get your things and go.
Summary:
In this Asylum your mind plays tricks on you all the time....
Delia's new house isn't just a house. Long ago it was the Piven Institute for the Care and Correction of Troubled Females--- and insane asylum nicknamed "Hysteria Hall." However, many of the inmates were not insane, just defiant and strong willed. Kind of like Delia herself.
But the house still wants to keep "troubled girls" locked away. So, in the most horrifying way, Delia gets trapped.
And that's when she learns that the house is also haunted.
Ghost girls wander the halls in their old-fashioned nightgowns. A handsome ghost boy named Theo roams the grounds. Delia finds that all the spirits are unsettled and full of dark secrets. The house, as well, harbors shocking truths within its walls---truths that only Delia can uncover, and that may set her free.
But she'll need to act quickly, before the house's power overtakes everything she loves.
From master of suspense Katie Alender comes a riveting tale of twisted memories and betrayals, and the meaning of madness.
Review: The first thing I ever read was the blurb of the back of the book, which I put at the top right before the summary. If that doesn't freak you out then most likely the book wont, although its still a possibility that it could. I finished this book in one afternoon. Katie Alender knows how to weave a creepy tale. I was definitely surprised by this book in a good way. I loved reading it. Too bad its not a series because I think that would be amazing. I would love to find out more about The Piven Institute for the Care and Correction of Troubled Females when it was in service. I would also like more of the characters back stories. I think each girl should have her own book which could be part of the series. I really hate drawing my own conclusions. Not to say the book wasn't finished, because it was. I just would have liked more. I didn't want it to end, and I didn't want to put the book down. Sometimes I think I possibly had more questions then the book answered, but that's most likely because my mind thinks super fast some of the time. Most of my questions were answered, but some remain unanswered after reading the book. Katie gives a little bit of background info for the story, but its mostly Delia's Story and what happens to her and how she overcomes certain obstacles. There's some mystery too it and a little bit of romance, but its mostly a ghost story or a horror story. If this is the kind of stuff you like then you should most definitely read this story. Even though parts seemed incomplete too me, its still a really good read, and I personally enjoyed it. I hope you guys will enjoy it too.
Characters: There may be some spoilers here, so if that's ok with you then read on. If not you can skip down to the rating.
Delia- She's the main character of the story and the house belongs to her. I find that I can relate to Delia at times. She is most definitely a troubled female and the house seems to like troubled females. It won't let her leave and she winds up trapped there. She does make a few friends though.
Penitence- She is a Piven and related to Delia. She is also the former wardess of the Institute. When you first meet her, she is always knitting or working in the same spot where she's been for years. Until Delia told her, she didn't know that she could move. While alive, after she was institutionalized she kept asking to see her daughter. She also killed her father, with poisoned cake. Her father was the one that admitted her to the institute.
Florence Beauregard- At first she seems like such a sweet girl. Later on you find out that she has tapped into something evil that's in the house. She never wanted to leave the house because she liked it there, so she hung herself. She likes good girls, but if you don't behave she will hurt you.
Eliza Duncombe- She was admitted to the Institute for killing her brother and sister. It was an accident but we don't really find out too much about what happened. She wants to do good to make up for the mistakes that she caused in her lifetime.
Maria- A sweet little 10 year old girl, whose just misunderstood. She tried to do what Florence wanted for awhile, until one day she didn't. When she told Florence no, Florence hurt her. It was said that she electrocuted herself and Nurse Carlson in one of the bathrooms, but that was just a cover up. Both her and Nurse Carlton died by eating the same Poisoned cake in the kitchen. The staff then tried to cover it up. She is also Penitence's daughter.
Cordelia- Delia's great aunt who willed her the house after her death. She was hoping that Delia could solve the mystery of the house.
Shadow Creatures- They belong to Maxwell Piven. They are sorta like his minions that only come out when the living are in the house. They were what killed Delia.
Rating: You can read about my rating system here, if you're new to my blog. Anyways, I really enjoyed this book. I would give it a 3 on my scale. On a normal rating scale it would go way past a 5 since its so good, but since the stars only go to five I guess I will have to rate it as a 5. I personally would give it 10 stars or more. I hope you guys really enjoy the story.
Buy Links:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Scholastic Inc
Books-A-Million
Author Bio: Katie Alender is the acclaimed author of several novels for young adults, including Bad Girls Don't Die; From Bad to Cursed; Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer; and Famous Last Words. A graduate of the Flordia State University Film School, Katie now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their daughter. She enjoys reading, sewing, and eating delicious high-calorie foods. To find out more about Katie, visit www. katiealender.com
Next Read: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
-Looks at the front cover, then stares at the title.- Nope. NOPE. NOOOPPPEEEE!
ReplyDeleteLol i didn't read it for awhile because of the title, but I really enjoyed it
DeleteAhh I read this book about a year ago and LOVED it! So happy someone enjoyed it a much as I did!
ReplyDeleteYes I loved this book so much
DeleteThat blurb gives me the willies. I can only imagine the book will too.
ReplyDeleteRight, the blurb and the title kept me from the book for a long time. The book is so good though. I would love to see it made into a movie. I guess it's a good thing I didn't read this one at night time. I mean I finished it in one day but it was late afternoon maybe
DeleteI'm scared just looking at it...
ReplyDelete