hillaryvillagers

The Intruders

E. E. Richardson

Joel, his sister Cassie, and their mum move into an abandoned house with mum’s fiancé, and his sons Damon and Tim. Every night, Joel and Tim have nightmares, and Joel sees bloody and ghostly images throughout the day. Just for kicks, Joel’s skeptical sister Cassie suggests that they have a séance. The ghost gives them confusing messages, so the four teenagers decide to have another séance. The wind howls, the rain pours, and Joel feels possessed as an invisible force drives him into the cellar. Joel knocks down a brick wall and frees the spirits of the entombed wife and stepsons of the house’s architect. This haunting tale starts slow but gathers momentum as the story progresses. Initially, Cassie fights moving in with her stepfamily, but she gradually bonds with them when she realizes that the house has intruders. Richardson’s well-written work of fiction is appropriate for less squeamish readers, due to the descriptions of blood, knives, and skeletal remains. This story proves that old houses do not hold on to their deadly secrets forever.

BIBLIO: 2006, Delacorte Press/Random House Children’s Books, Ages 12 up, $15.95.

REVIEWER: Mary Jo Edwards

FORMAT: Young Adult

ISBN: 0-385-73264-3

ISBN: 0-385-90280-8

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