Status
Checked out
Due December 10, 2023
Call number
Publication
Scholastic Inc.
Pages
329
Description
Sixteen-year-old Cordelia and her family move into the house they just inherited in Pennsylvania, a former insane asylum the locals call Hysteria Hall--unfortunately the house does not want defiant girls like Delia, so it kills her, and as she wanders the house, meeting the other ghosts and learning the dark secrets of the Hall, she realizes that she has to find a way to save her sister, parents, and perhaps herself.
Description
Delia's new house isn't just a house. Long ago, it was the Piven Institute for the Care and Correction of Troubled Females -- an 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 becomes trapped. And that's when she learns that the house is also haunted.
Ghost girls wander the hallways in their old-fashioned nightgowns. A handsome ghost boy named Theo roams the grounds. Delia learns that all the spirits are unsettled and full of dark secrets. The house, too, harbors shocking truths within its walls -- truths that only Delia can uncover, and that may set her free.
And she'll need to act quickly -- before the house's power overtakes everything she loves.
Katie Alender brings heart-pounding suspense, gorgeous writing, and a feminist twist to this tale of memories and madness.
But the house still wants to keep "troubled" girls locked away. So, in the most horrifying way, Delia becomes trapped. And that's when she learns that the house is also haunted.
Ghost girls wander the hallways in their old-fashioned nightgowns. A handsome ghost boy named Theo roams the grounds. Delia learns that all the spirits are unsettled and full of dark secrets. The house, too, harbors shocking truths within its walls -- truths that only Delia can uncover, and that may set her free.
And she'll need to act quickly -- before the house's power overtakes everything she loves.
Katie Alender brings heart-pounding suspense, gorgeous writing, and a feminist twist to this tale of memories and madness.
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
329 p.; 8 inches
ISBN
9780545910736
Similar in this library
Lexile
690L
User reviews
LibraryThing member DarkFaerieTales
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Another exceedingly long read about spirits trapped in what was once a house for troubled women.
Opening Sentence: You know that feeling when someone’s eyes on you – watching you, studying your movement, your breathing?
The Review:
I think there
We see Delia’s story from just before her death to her becoming one of the many ghosts trapped in Hysteria Hall. It’s an interesting concept, spirits trapped in a hospital for troubled women but I think this topic has been overdone one too many times. I guess the difference here is that Delia is murdered and she wants to leave the house and go back to her family but can’t. Regardless, the overall story felt too ‘been there done that.’
“Okay?” I said. “Say okay.”
“Okay,” she said, glaring and pursing her lips. “But I don’t see why you have to threaten me.”
“Sorry,” I said. “You were acting pretty crazy.”
She cracked a small smile and looked at me through eyes that looked less insane than just plain exhausted. “We’re all crazy here,” she said.
“Yeah, well,” I said. “Maybe not all of us.”
I liked reading about the interactions with the other ghosts from the house, and the air of mystery added the suspense needed to keep the story going. I think the author tried to make the story creepy but I wasn’t spooked, so that didn’t work too well either.
In spite of my many unhappy years, I have always managed a decent amount of self-respect. So I gave myself credit that others did not extend. In the end, we must always be the judges of our own consciences.
Theo was a good addition, and I had hoped he would add something more to the story rather than just the one boy ghost Delia could possibly have a romantic interest in. Unfortunately, I think he was there just for eye candy because I can’t recall him contributing until a little at the very end.
To conclude, this is not going on my recommended reading list.
Notable Scene:
“The dead and the living don’t belong together,” Theo said. “That’s why you hear stories about haunted houses. Because no matter what the living do, they flaunt their life. They can’t help it.”
FTC Advisory: Point/Scholastic provided me with a copy of The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Another exceedingly long read about spirits trapped in what was once a house for troubled women.
Opening Sentence: You know that feeling when someone’s eyes on you – watching you, studying your movement, your breathing?
The Review:
I think there
Show More
might be something wrong with me of late. Every book I read ends up dragging out so long that I literally count down the pages until the end. I can understand why this story was so long, there was so much going on, so many events took place, but still it was far, far too long a read.We see Delia’s story from just before her death to her becoming one of the many ghosts trapped in Hysteria Hall. It’s an interesting concept, spirits trapped in a hospital for troubled women but I think this topic has been overdone one too many times. I guess the difference here is that Delia is murdered and she wants to leave the house and go back to her family but can’t. Regardless, the overall story felt too ‘been there done that.’
“Okay?” I said. “Say okay.”
“Okay,” she said, glaring and pursing her lips. “But I don’t see why you have to threaten me.”
“Sorry,” I said. “You were acting pretty crazy.”
She cracked a small smile and looked at me through eyes that looked less insane than just plain exhausted. “We’re all crazy here,” she said.
“Yeah, well,” I said. “Maybe not all of us.”
I liked reading about the interactions with the other ghosts from the house, and the air of mystery added the suspense needed to keep the story going. I think the author tried to make the story creepy but I wasn’t spooked, so that didn’t work too well either.
In spite of my many unhappy years, I have always managed a decent amount of self-respect. So I gave myself credit that others did not extend. In the end, we must always be the judges of our own consciences.
Theo was a good addition, and I had hoped he would add something more to the story rather than just the one boy ghost Delia could possibly have a romantic interest in. Unfortunately, I think he was there just for eye candy because I can’t recall him contributing until a little at the very end.
To conclude, this is not going on my recommended reading list.
Notable Scene:
“The dead and the living don’t belong together,” Theo said. “That’s why you hear stories about haunted houses. Because no matter what the living do, they flaunt their life. They can’t help it.”
FTC Advisory: Point/Scholastic provided me with a copy of The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
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LibraryThing member TheLibraryhag
It does not take Delia long to figure out that something terribly wrong is going on at the house she inherited. But her parents will not listen and refuse to let Delia leave the house. Before the night is over, Deila will become one of The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall.
I loved this book. Delia is a
I loved this book. Delia is a
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strong and interesting character. The other ghosts of the house are also compelling. And Delia's sister proves to be made of tougher stuff than you would have thought. The book is wonderfully creepy but not gross or terribly bloody. I think teens will really enjoy this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member seasonsoflove
There is a really good book in here, even though the book as is is disappointingly lacking. With a great editor, The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall could be a thrilling, scary read, with a fascinating mystery to solve.
But the mystery, in fact, all the exciting parts, essentially get buried in the last
I wish that Alender had made this a shorter book. If she had cut out some of the more repetitive parts, there would have been more room to explore the core of the book-the mystery behind Hysteria Hall, and what that means for all who have entered its doors. This would have made the book great, instead of just okay.
But the mystery, in fact, all the exciting parts, essentially get buried in the last
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third of the book. Alender spends page after page describing how time can slow down for ghosts, and makes the reader feel each minute of the years a ghost might spend lying on the grass or sitting in a room. Then, in the last third, secrets are revealed, foes are fought, and every page is full of action. But all the reveals and running around, while really interesting, feel really rushed as well.I wish that Alender had made this a shorter book. If she had cut out some of the more repetitive parts, there would have been more room to explore the core of the book-the mystery behind Hysteria Hall, and what that means for all who have entered its doors. This would have made the book great, instead of just okay.
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LibraryThing member CatherineHsu
I liked this a lot more than I expected! It was eerie and mysterious - and there were lots of plot twists - very captivating and enjoyable.
LibraryThing member lauriebrown54
Recipe for a Young Adult horror novel: Abandoned mental hospital for troubled girls: check. Dark power that has issues with being left behind: check. Teenaged narrator who is a troubled girl, with her parents not trusting her: check. Ghosts: check. Narrator who is killed in the first 100 pages but
Our narrator is Delia Piven, who has just inherited said abandoned mental hospital from an aunt she never met, but did correspond with for a short time. Aunt Cordelia lived in the asylum, but died outside the property, walking on the side of the road. Delia and her family here there for the week, to clean up the place and make it ready for sale. They will be “camping out” in the asylum during this time; that first night, all hell breaks loose. And that is pretty close to a literal statement; Delia is killed that first night.
Delia then spends time getting used to being a ghost- how to walk through walls, how to manipulate solids, mourning the loss of her family, friends, and dreams of her life ahead, and getting to know the other ghosts (there’s a lot of them on the property). Some ghosts seem friendly; some are malevolent. And there is some evil power there that won’t let any of them go… not off the property or to where ever people go after they die. When Delia’s family returns, the evil comes to life, and Delia has to figure out how to defeat it to save her family.
There are some things that made me wonder, like why Delia could manipulate salt, even with cardboard, when no one else could get close to it, but I liked the book over all. Delia’s younger sister, an annoying tween in the first part, matures into kickass young woman. There is one young male ghost, but he’s just incidental, not a love interest and certainly not a hero who saves the day. It’s all about girl power! I’d call it thriller rather than horror, although there are certainly creepy moments, and it’s a quick, stay up all night, read.
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still has no problem narrating: wait, what? Our narrator is Delia Piven, who has just inherited said abandoned mental hospital from an aunt she never met, but did correspond with for a short time. Aunt Cordelia lived in the asylum, but died outside the property, walking on the side of the road. Delia and her family here there for the week, to clean up the place and make it ready for sale. They will be “camping out” in the asylum during this time; that first night, all hell breaks loose. And that is pretty close to a literal statement; Delia is killed that first night.
Delia then spends time getting used to being a ghost- how to walk through walls, how to manipulate solids, mourning the loss of her family, friends, and dreams of her life ahead, and getting to know the other ghosts (there’s a lot of them on the property). Some ghosts seem friendly; some are malevolent. And there is some evil power there that won’t let any of them go… not off the property or to where ever people go after they die. When Delia’s family returns, the evil comes to life, and Delia has to figure out how to defeat it to save her family.
There are some things that made me wonder, like why Delia could manipulate salt, even with cardboard, when no one else could get close to it, but I liked the book over all. Delia’s younger sister, an annoying tween in the first part, matures into kickass young woman. There is one young male ghost, but he’s just incidental, not a love interest and certainly not a hero who saves the day. It’s all about girl power! I’d call it thriller rather than horror, although there are certainly creepy moments, and it’s a quick, stay up all night, read.
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LibraryThing member KWadyko
Pretty creepy, quick read...very enjoyable. If you enjoyed Asylum by Madeleine Roux, you will love this book!
LibraryThing member khal_khaleesi
I loved Katie Alender’s Bad Girls Don’t Die series. I was ecstatic to find out she had written another horror ghost story. Miss Alender did not disappoint me with the Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall.
This was a book I didn’t want to put down. I would have read it all in one sitting too had it not
I loved all the characters and felt they were well written. Florence was my favorite character though for some reason.
The story line was well written. Plus, I love horror stories where an old house is involved.
Yes, some of the plot twists are predictable, and there were times I had some unanswered questions, but I still loved the book.
I would definitely recommend this book. I’m hoping Miss Alender will write another horror ghost story soon. She’s definitely one of my favorite authors.
This was a book I didn’t want to put down. I would have read it all in one sitting too had it not
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been for real life getting in they way.I loved all the characters and felt they were well written. Florence was my favorite character though for some reason.
The story line was well written. Plus, I love horror stories where an old house is involved.
Yes, some of the plot twists are predictable, and there were times I had some unanswered questions, but I still loved the book.
I would definitely recommend this book. I’m hoping Miss Alender will write another horror ghost story soon. She’s definitely one of my favorite authors.
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LibraryThing member LynnMPK
A fast, fun read that isn't scary or creepy despite being set in an abandoned insane asylum.
Awards
Arkansas Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2017)
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (Selection — Fiction — 2016)
Young Adult Favorites Award (2016)
Call number
FIC G Ale