One House Left

Gr 8 Up–“The first murder—like most murders—took everyone by surprise.” As each house on Murder Road became the site of horrific crimes, its residents realized that the Hiding Boy’s curse was more than just a rumor. Nate and his family have been running from that curse for far too long. Moving from town to town, refusing to make connections, because connections mean you have something, or someone, to lose. When three students at his new high school invite him into their fold, however, Nate’s longing to fit in wins out. Imagine his terror when he learns that his new friends are a group of urban legend junkies, chasing the very demons that he and his family are fleeing. Ralph crafts a tense and twisting YA horror. Part 1 is told from Nate’s first-person perspective, with ominous asides from the haunting mind of the Hiding Boy; while parts 2 and 3 alternate between Nate’s friends Max, Tyler, and Seb to a frightening, fast-paced culmination. Diversity is implied, but not overt.