  | What stays buried Author: Young, Suzanne | |
| Price: $23.28 | ||
Summary:
Twelve-year-old Calista Wynn will lose her ability to speak with the dead on her thirteenth birthday. And with only a few weeks left, children have started going missing. When Calista meets The Tall Lady, an angry spirit with a grudge against the whole town, she knows she's found the ghost responsible for the disappearances and must stop her.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (02/01/23)
School Library Journal (09/29/23)
Booklist (02/15/23)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 09/29/2023 Gr 6 Up—Calista Wynn sees dead people. But she won't much longer. Once she turns 13 (in a week), her ability to communicate with ghosts will disappear. In this middle grade debut, Calista must rush to use her powers to save the disappearing children in her town of Meadowmere, NY, before it's too late. Calista comes from a long line of mediums who can speak to ghosts but lose their powers on their 13th birthdays. With the help of the ghosts of her father and grandmother, Calista works to stop Edwina Swift, the evil "Tall Woman" who has taken numerous children, including Calista's sister Molly, to make herself more powerful. Young's suspenseful novel is dark; with seances, curses, mediums, and possessions, some readers may find aspects of the book terrifying. Yet, the novel also shows strong family bonds across generations and worlds, while overarching themes of the power of love, family, and friendship make this a solid entry into horror for adventurous readers. VERDICT Those with an interest in the occult will enjoy this book for the well-developed protagonist and solid plotting.—Rebekah J. Buchanan - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 02/15/2023 Twelve-year-old Calista Wynn is a latchkey kid living in the marshy town of Meadowmere, New York. So far, so normal—right? But Calista can see dead people. She comes from a long line of mediums on her father’s side; however, once they turn 13, their supernatural abilities dissipate. Her fear of losing her helpful gifts intensifies in the week prior to her birthday. To add icing to the cake, a “tall lady” begins to murder children and haunt Calista’s little sister, Molly. Calista works to stop the demonic being from terrorizing her town and loved ones while also discovering family secrets. From the author of the YA series Program, this horror-saturated fantasy delivers a heart-palpitating adventure. Additionally, Young focuses on the intense pressures adults can put on children: Calista is depicted raising her sister and making extra money while Mom is at work. Readers will observe how fear can make people behave strangely, to the point of bearing burdens alone, and will recognize how problems can be remedied with the help of family and friends. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.
