Short version: it was fine. Enjoyable, even.
Dates read: May 6 - May 11
Genre(s): young adult, mystery, thriller, supernatural
Rating: 4 stars (really liked it)
I don't read much YA so I'm not sure I'm completely qualified to say this, but this is fine for a YA novel. It does have some semi-childish 16-year-old characters, so I assume it would work for middle grades, as well. I'm a sucker for asylum settings and I loved how the book had "found" photos to accompany the story (similar to Ransom Riggs' Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children series!)
I gave this four stars because while I agree with some other reviewers that the writing is pretty simplistic, I ended up really liking the story itself. I enjoyed trying to piece together the different clues along with the main character, Dan. However, I was definitely wishing for more characterization of the main three teens, including Dan. I would also have enjoyed a higher creep factor since the setting surely demands it.
The book is of novel thickness only because of the number of pictures and designed chapter pages that it has. Some chapters were not even a full two pages long. Therefore, the story could use some more substance beyond the stuff that's simply fun to look at.
Overall, I would recommend this to adults and adolescents alike who may be interested in asylum settings and supernatural mysteries involving teens.
I gave this four stars because while I agree with some other reviewers that the writing is pretty simplistic, I ended up really liking the story itself. I enjoyed trying to piece together the different clues along with the main character, Dan. However, I was definitely wishing for more characterization of the main three teens, including Dan. I would also have enjoyed a higher creep factor since the setting surely demands it.
The book is of novel thickness only because of the number of pictures and designed chapter pages that it has. Some chapters were not even a full two pages long. Therefore, the story could use some more substance beyond the stuff that's simply fun to look at.
Overall, I would recommend this to adults and adolescents alike who may be interested in asylum settings and supernatural mysteries involving teens.