Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Harper (HarperCollins)
Pages
313
Description
"Three teens at a summer program for gifted students uncover shocking secets in the sanatorium-turned-dorm where they're staying--secrets that link them all to the asylum's dark past"--
Description
For sixteen-year-old Dan Crawford, New Hampshire College Prep is more than a summer program—it's a lifeline. An outcast at his high school, Dan is excited to finally make some friends in his last summer before college. But when he arrives at the program, Dan learns that his dorm for the summer used to be a sanatorium, more commonly known as an asylum. And not just any asylum—a last resort for the criminally insane.
As Dan and his new friends, Abby and Jordan, explore the hidden recesses of their creepy summer home, they soon discover it's no coincidence that the three of them ended up here. Because the asylum holds the key to a terrifying past. And there are some secrets that refuse to stay buried.
Featuring found photos of unsettling history and real abandoned asylums and filled with chilling mystery and page-turning suspense, Madeleine Roux's teen debut, Asylum, is a horror story that treads the line between genius and insanity.
As Dan and his new friends, Abby and Jordan, explore the hidden recesses of their creepy summer home, they soon discover it's no coincidence that the three of them ended up here. Because the asylum holds the key to a terrifying past. And there are some secrets that refuse to stay buried.
Featuring found photos of unsettling history and real abandoned asylums and filled with chilling mystery and page-turning suspense, Madeleine Roux's teen debut, Asylum, is a horror story that treads the line between genius and insanity.
Series
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2013-08-30
Physical description
313 p.; 8 inches
ISBN
9780062220974
Similar in this library
Media reviews
A copy of this was given to me, free,
Creepy as hell! When I finished reading this I still wasn't sure what was going on. And it's not over - not yet. I guess you could say that I was expecting a ghost story; something that was scary and just right for Halloween. I am not sure if I would
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classify this as a ghost story or a story of possession. Does this tiny detail matter though? No, at least I don't think so. There were some awkward moments. The first one being Felix. But, he was an awkward character to begin with so. . . I guess I should have expected that. The other awkward thing was how quickly the friendship between Jordan, Abby and Daniel came together and then came apart. Yes, the program is only 5 weeks, but still! I guess it was how quickly it came apart that really bothered me. Other than that, I really enjoyed this one. Books that leave with more questions than answers always bother me. While this book was intriguing enough for me to want to get my hands on book 2 as quickly as possible, if I don't get the answers that I need I am not sure if I will continue past book 2.
4 stars **** Show Less
Lexile
720L
User reviews
LibraryThing member Tarklovishki
No.
Twelve hours later...
Okay, what the hell was that? When I bought this book, I expected to be drawn in and scared. What I didn't expect was for it to be a really cheap knock-off of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.
The plot was generic and boring. The characters were like cardboard
Honestly, I really wish I'd listened to the people who gave this book a negative review/rating. I would have saved myself some money.
Twelve hours later...
Okay, what the hell was that? When I bought this book, I expected to be drawn in and scared. What I didn't expect was for it to be a really cheap knock-off of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.
The plot was generic and boring. The characters were like cardboard
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cut-outs. I didn't like one bit of this - except for maybe the pictures. That's it. The pictures. Honestly, I really wish I'd listened to the people who gave this book a negative review/rating. I would have saved myself some money.
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LibraryThing member NeddieB
This book is pretty good. I am usually one to figure out "whodunnit" but this time I was taken by surprise. I think I would like to see a sequel to this--or definitely a prequel!
Definitely Recommend.
Definitely Recommend.
LibraryThing member Librarian42
Rubbish. Had the makings of a good chiller but it didn't get there.
LibraryThing member Readers_Respite
This one fell short for me. Although I am a sucker for any novel set in a mental asylum, especially an abandoned historical one, it was the characters who never got off the ground here. The plot was marginal, not horrible, but never sweeping me off my feet either and by the end I was finding it
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utterly predictable. The formatting of the novel was visually awesome, though, with creepy black and white photos sporadically placed throughout the book (reminiscent of Mrs. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children), but this just wasn't enough to make up for the lack of a good story. Might sit well with younger teens, but older, more savvy ones will roll their eyes. Show Less
LibraryThing member emmyson
This book is one huge mind-@#$%.
It was absolutely trippy. I never quite had the measure of anything. Just when I thought I had it down, something changed. Then it changed again. Plus, it's downright creepy. Seriously, don't read this book at night if you value nightmareless sleep. Fantastically
Brilliant.
It was absolutely trippy. I never quite had the measure of anything. Just when I thought I had it down, something changed. Then it changed again. Plus, it's downright creepy. Seriously, don't read this book at night if you value nightmareless sleep. Fantastically
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written, stunning (if terrifying) setting, and the pictures made it all come together.Brilliant.
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LibraryThing member theokester
After some bad bouts in "adult" horror novels, I was intrigued to jump into this YA suspense/thriller. Asylum is set in a mental-hospital-turned-college. It is summer and instead of being filled with college students, the asylum/college is being used as a summer program for gifted high school
The first few chapters went pretty smoothly. The writing definitely felt like it was aimed for younger readers, potentially even middle graders, in spite of the heavier/scarier topics promised to come. I quickly decided it wasn't a book for terribly young readers when the teenage characters started swearing with moderate frequency. I acknowledge that teenagers do swear and many of them do so awkwardly as they experiment with it almost as a form of rebellion, but I'm not going to pass a book to a youngster if it's got swearing. Just my personal taste.
Aside from their language, the characters seemed interesting at first. The main character is a boy named Dan. He's smart (a requirement for this school program) and a bit of a loner. He also has some undisclosed psychological problems for which he seems to have a therapist on speed dial. This doctor is referenced numerous times but never called. On arriving at the school Dan meets his roommate for the summer, a boy named Felix. Felix is also smart and definitely socially awkward. Dan immediately feels a bit put off by Felix and his semi-neurotic tendencies. Frankly I felt like Dan's dislike came on a little too sharply especially considering they were going to be rooming together and also because Felix's actions may have been a bit odd and off-putting but they certainly weren't offensive. Still, Dan decides to avoid Felix and instead searches out new friends. He meets an artsy girl named Abby and immediately falls in crush with her. He's quickly jealous of any other guys talking with her, even Jordan the gay math genius.
From a quick high level description, the characters sound interesting and have some potential. Unfortunately they never seemed to grow on me. They started out a little bit flat but I expected them to flesh out or mature throughout the story. Instead I was left feeling like their actions were forced and their motivations weren't believable. Some of their actions felt unrealistic for the characters I believed (wanted?) them to be. I think a lot of the problem was that there was more "telling" than "showing" in terms of trying to develop the characters. I was told what their characteristics and motivations were but when the characters acted, the actions felt disconnected and a little flat. I felt like there was a lot of missed potential in terms of using character development to draw me into the story. Still, accepting this as a younger novel, I moved on and assumed the characters for what I was told.
The book was definitely a plot driven story and the plot was intriguing. When Dan arrives in his dorm he finds a stack of old photos in his desk drawer. The photos are presumably from back in the day when the asylum was in full operation. Aside from being creepy depictions of strange old hallways and operating rooms, the pictures are extra creepy because the eyes are scratched out on all the photos of people. Dan asks Felix about this and Felix informs him that he found an old off-limit office downstairs with similar photos. With that, the mystery is underway.
Dan, Abby and Jordan decide to explore the office where they find more creepy old photos, hospital records and bloody handprints. As the story goes on, they explore farther and farther into the off-limits wing and discover more hidden secrets. Dan starts conducting research on the Asylum and interviewing people in town. He starts receiving strangely threatening notes and weird visions.
As the story went on, I felt some of the portions of the plot to be predictable and I quickly guessed the direction I was being taken. Then we start having murders and attempted murders and I began to doubt some of my predictions. The author worked to throw in a number of twists and turns filled with plot points that seemed predictable but questionable. Chapter after chapter I found more and more threads emerging with strange questions and weird side-plots. I still felt like I was predicting the main action but I was getting confused with all the extra material. Finally I arrived at the climactic ending where a few of the key plot points were wrapped up very cleanly…too cleanly. Honestly it felt a little dissatisfying. Even then, I hoped that the next few pages would wrap up some of the peripheral elements that were presented as important but alas those elements were left dangling.
Because I never felt particularly attached to the characters and as a result I wasn't especially invested in their success or failure. I felt a little let down that they didn't develop into more. The plot had me intrigued and curious as to what was really going on. There were definitely some good surprises and creepy moments that could have been more suspenseful or exciting if framed in a different way or if I was more attached to the characters. By the end of the story I was looking for a nice explanatory denouement to help wrap things up and answer all my various questions. Sadly that was not to be. Many of the peripheral plot elements that I thought were most compelling were left unanswered and almost wholly ignored at the end of the book. It left me unfulfilled and wanting more. I guess that means that in spite of the shortcomings, I was invested in finding out what happened. I just didn't feel like the ending satisfied that desire. The main plot ended with a small deus ex machina moment to resolve the main plot but then didn't bother to answer the lingering questions.
Overall I felt like this book had a lot of potential that just wasn't fully realized. It didn't work particularly well as a suspense novel for me because I didn't feel attached to or invested in the characters. It had some thrilling/horror elements but they were pretty low key overall since the goal seemed to be suspense more than shock. The mystery was compelling but was left so unresolved that it was unsatisfying. I honestly feel bad for rating this one low as I really felt like it had potential and I really wanted to like it but in the end, I wanted a lot more from this book and was left dissatisfied. Maybe others will like it more, but for me, it fell flat.
**
2 out of 5 stars
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students. As promised by the synopsis and the creepy art scattered through the book, a suspenseful ghost story thriller ensues. The book was also touted as a "photo experience" with a number of "vintage" photographs and images from the asylum to increase the creepiness factor. The concept really drew me in and I was excited to read this.The first few chapters went pretty smoothly. The writing definitely felt like it was aimed for younger readers, potentially even middle graders, in spite of the heavier/scarier topics promised to come. I quickly decided it wasn't a book for terribly young readers when the teenage characters started swearing with moderate frequency. I acknowledge that teenagers do swear and many of them do so awkwardly as they experiment with it almost as a form of rebellion, but I'm not going to pass a book to a youngster if it's got swearing. Just my personal taste.
Aside from their language, the characters seemed interesting at first. The main character is a boy named Dan. He's smart (a requirement for this school program) and a bit of a loner. He also has some undisclosed psychological problems for which he seems to have a therapist on speed dial. This doctor is referenced numerous times but never called. On arriving at the school Dan meets his roommate for the summer, a boy named Felix. Felix is also smart and definitely socially awkward. Dan immediately feels a bit put off by Felix and his semi-neurotic tendencies. Frankly I felt like Dan's dislike came on a little too sharply especially considering they were going to be rooming together and also because Felix's actions may have been a bit odd and off-putting but they certainly weren't offensive. Still, Dan decides to avoid Felix and instead searches out new friends. He meets an artsy girl named Abby and immediately falls in crush with her. He's quickly jealous of any other guys talking with her, even Jordan the gay math genius.
From a quick high level description, the characters sound interesting and have some potential. Unfortunately they never seemed to grow on me. They started out a little bit flat but I expected them to flesh out or mature throughout the story. Instead I was left feeling like their actions were forced and their motivations weren't believable. Some of their actions felt unrealistic for the characters I believed (wanted?) them to be. I think a lot of the problem was that there was more "telling" than "showing" in terms of trying to develop the characters. I was told what their characteristics and motivations were but when the characters acted, the actions felt disconnected and a little flat. I felt like there was a lot of missed potential in terms of using character development to draw me into the story. Still, accepting this as a younger novel, I moved on and assumed the characters for what I was told.
The book was definitely a plot driven story and the plot was intriguing. When Dan arrives in his dorm he finds a stack of old photos in his desk drawer. The photos are presumably from back in the day when the asylum was in full operation. Aside from being creepy depictions of strange old hallways and operating rooms, the pictures are extra creepy because the eyes are scratched out on all the photos of people. Dan asks Felix about this and Felix informs him that he found an old off-limit office downstairs with similar photos. With that, the mystery is underway.
Dan, Abby and Jordan decide to explore the office where they find more creepy old photos, hospital records and bloody handprints. As the story goes on, they explore farther and farther into the off-limits wing and discover more hidden secrets. Dan starts conducting research on the Asylum and interviewing people in town. He starts receiving strangely threatening notes and weird visions.
As the story went on, I felt some of the portions of the plot to be predictable and I quickly guessed the direction I was being taken. Then we start having murders and attempted murders and I began to doubt some of my predictions. The author worked to throw in a number of twists and turns filled with plot points that seemed predictable but questionable. Chapter after chapter I found more and more threads emerging with strange questions and weird side-plots. I still felt like I was predicting the main action but I was getting confused with all the extra material. Finally I arrived at the climactic ending where a few of the key plot points were wrapped up very cleanly…too cleanly. Honestly it felt a little dissatisfying. Even then, I hoped that the next few pages would wrap up some of the peripheral elements that were presented as important but alas those elements were left dangling.
Because I never felt particularly attached to the characters and as a result I wasn't especially invested in their success or failure. I felt a little let down that they didn't develop into more. The plot had me intrigued and curious as to what was really going on. There were definitely some good surprises and creepy moments that could have been more suspenseful or exciting if framed in a different way or if I was more attached to the characters. By the end of the story I was looking for a nice explanatory denouement to help wrap things up and answer all my various questions. Sadly that was not to be. Many of the peripheral plot elements that I thought were most compelling were left unanswered and almost wholly ignored at the end of the book. It left me unfulfilled and wanting more. I guess that means that in spite of the shortcomings, I was invested in finding out what happened. I just didn't feel like the ending satisfied that desire. The main plot ended with a small deus ex machina moment to resolve the main plot but then didn't bother to answer the lingering questions.
Overall I felt like this book had a lot of potential that just wasn't fully realized. It didn't work particularly well as a suspense novel for me because I didn't feel attached to or invested in the characters. It had some thrilling/horror elements but they were pretty low key overall since the goal seemed to be suspense more than shock. The mystery was compelling but was left so unresolved that it was unsatisfying. I honestly feel bad for rating this one low as I really felt like it had potential and I really wanted to like it but in the end, I wanted a lot more from this book and was left dissatisfied. Maybe others will like it more, but for me, it fell flat.
**
2 out of 5 stars
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LibraryThing member titania86
Daniel Crawford is attending the New Hampshire College Prep program during the summer. He hopes to make some friends, take some classes, and enjoy the summer. This proves to be impossible after he discovers his dorm used to be an insane asylum for the criminally insane about 50 years before that
Asylum interested me because I am fascinated with sanatoriums, particularly those in the past where torture was passed off and accepted as treatment and so much psychology was not understood yet. The descriptions of the creepy sanitarium rooms were phenomenally creepy. The creepiness factor was pushed with the dreams and visions with Daniel as both a patient and as the twisted warden. Then he starts receiving letters in the warden's writing and I have no idea what's going on. I'm questioning if it's ghosts, someone trying to mess with him, or if he's simply insane. This is before the murder even happens. The mystery is well crafted and I had no idea where it was going to end up. Pictures are interspersed throughout the book and they succeed in enhancing the mood of the story. My only complaint about them is that it's clear they are stock photos and don't always mesh well with the story. I also liked the short chapters. The story flows well on its own and the short chapters and many pictures make it seem like the tempo is much faster.
I had a couple of small problems with the book. Although Daniel felt like a real teen, Abby and Jordan were both prone to crazy mood swings. One minutes they were the best of friends and the next minute (and for no reason) they despised their friends. Their friendship didn't go through a lot of development before doing this either, so it felt really od. I felt Jordan was unnecessary to the story and Abby's revelation later in the book. I wanted more of the mystery and the asylum and less of their petty teenage drama.
Asylum is a deliciously creepy read. Near the end of the book, I was on the edge of my seat, constantly guessing what the resolution would be. I would love to get my hands on a finished copy so I can see all the pictures in their creepy glory.
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used tortuous and inhumane methods on the inmates. Daniel does make new friends in Abby and Jordan and they explore the rotting disarray of the asylum, parts of it left completely untouched for years. He starts receiving creepy messages in spidery old fashioned script and e-mails that disappear when he tries to open them. It all becomes real when someone is killed in the manner of a serial killer that lived there. Daniel feels his life spiraling out of control and his new friends pull away from him. Is he the killer despite having no memory doing it? Or is someone trying to drive him insane?Asylum interested me because I am fascinated with sanatoriums, particularly those in the past where torture was passed off and accepted as treatment and so much psychology was not understood yet. The descriptions of the creepy sanitarium rooms were phenomenally creepy. The creepiness factor was pushed with the dreams and visions with Daniel as both a patient and as the twisted warden. Then he starts receiving letters in the warden's writing and I have no idea what's going on. I'm questioning if it's ghosts, someone trying to mess with him, or if he's simply insane. This is before the murder even happens. The mystery is well crafted and I had no idea where it was going to end up. Pictures are interspersed throughout the book and they succeed in enhancing the mood of the story. My only complaint about them is that it's clear they are stock photos and don't always mesh well with the story. I also liked the short chapters. The story flows well on its own and the short chapters and many pictures make it seem like the tempo is much faster.
I had a couple of small problems with the book. Although Daniel felt like a real teen, Abby and Jordan were both prone to crazy mood swings. One minutes they were the best of friends and the next minute (and for no reason) they despised their friends. Their friendship didn't go through a lot of development before doing this either, so it felt really od. I felt Jordan was unnecessary to the story and Abby's revelation later in the book. I wanted more of the mystery and the asylum and less of their petty teenage drama.
Asylum is a deliciously creepy read. Near the end of the book, I was on the edge of my seat, constantly guessing what the resolution would be. I would love to get my hands on a finished copy so I can see all the pictures in their creepy glory.
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LibraryThing member Bookswithbite
Curious for a mysterious and spooky read, I picked up this book wanting to be entranced. It took me down some strange halls that I would never forget.
Pictures: First, I want to talk about the pictures that came along with the story. I loved them. I felt it gave the story a more 3-d. Like you can
Plot: One of my fave movies to watch during this season is House On Haunted Hill both the old and new version. I adore the whole premise of vengeful spirits luring back their heirs to a place that has gone mad. This story carries a similar plot. I loved every bit of piecing together the mysterious clues of the staff and the coincidence of clues left for others to follow.
Love/Friendship: Since this is a thriller read, there isn’t much romance but it did carry a good flirtation feel that gives the book that right amount of peace. There are creepy moments then two characters get real and get to know each other, smiling. I loved that. The friendships formed have more than what the reader sees. I love reading the story and watching it unfold secret by secret before my eyes.
This is a great story of mystery and mayhem. Lots of scary tales of the old building, told by the townspeople, give this story dimension. The pictures add a great affect to visualizing the world that is being built for the reader. Ultimately an intriguing read that you can not put down, Asylum is perfect for Halloween!
Pictures: First, I want to talk about the pictures that came along with the story. I loved them. I felt it gave the story a more 3-d. Like you can
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read the story but a visual is placed in front of you as well. Some pictures were interesting while others were well creepy. Still, I enjoyed turning the page and looking at long past history.Plot: One of my fave movies to watch during this season is House On Haunted Hill both the old and new version. I adore the whole premise of vengeful spirits luring back their heirs to a place that has gone mad. This story carries a similar plot. I loved every bit of piecing together the mysterious clues of the staff and the coincidence of clues left for others to follow.
Love/Friendship: Since this is a thriller read, there isn’t much romance but it did carry a good flirtation feel that gives the book that right amount of peace. There are creepy moments then two characters get real and get to know each other, smiling. I loved that. The friendships formed have more than what the reader sees. I love reading the story and watching it unfold secret by secret before my eyes.
This is a great story of mystery and mayhem. Lots of scary tales of the old building, told by the townspeople, give this story dimension. The pictures add a great affect to visualizing the world that is being built for the reader. Ultimately an intriguing read that you can not put down, Asylum is perfect for Halloween!
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LibraryThing member ad_astra
I was so excited when I picked up this book. The cover is horrific and I was ready for a chilling read. Unfortunately, I wasn't creeped out in the slightest....ever. First, the characters were very under-developed. I didn't care for any of them and their insta-friendship just wasn't believable. I
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found the main character Dan to be annoying. He put himself down a lot and I found myself agreeing with him. I also had the plot, and the killer, figured out from the beginning. This book had such strong promise but did not live up to it's potential. The pictures looked digitally enhanced and took away from the story. The book would have been better without them. Overall, I was bored and ending up skimming to the end just to get it over with. Show Less
LibraryThing member TheLostEntwife
I am a pansy when it comes to scary stories. I will readily admit that. The book can be even not well written and I'll still be pansy. Add pictures into the mix and yeah, I'll be sleeping with my light on for at least 2-3 nights after finishing the book (and sometimes during if I just can't finish
Read the rest of this review at The Lost Entwife on Dec. 9, 2013.
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the book in one setting). Asylum was one of those books - I was so tired and haunted by the images in the book that it was a two night read for me...and the result was I spent a few nights restless in my sleep due to having to have my light on.Read the rest of this review at The Lost Entwife on Dec. 9, 2013.
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LibraryThing member susiesharp
This is a pretty good young adult story that could have easily been a middle grade story if it had less swearing. I liked the premise and narration though.
I was hoping to like this book more than I did, don’t get me wrong it’s not a bad book it just wasn’t as engaging or scary as I was
All the “coincidences” were never really explained, it also says it is book #1 but I didn’t feel like there was much to continue once the book was over, so I am curious enough to check out the next book just to see how and why there is a second one.
The narration by, Michael Goldstrom was well done he is a new to me narrator, and I thought his voices were well done he didn’t go overly young for the boys voices and not overly high pitch for the girls, which I have found happens sometimes in a middle grade/young adult book. I will be looking for others he has narrated.
This wasn’t a bad book but it wasn’t a great book either and I think if some of the swearing were taken it would work very well as a Middle Grade book rather than a Young Adult book, if you have Young Adults who need an easier read I would recommend this one.
3 stars
I was hoping to like this book more than I did, don’t get me wrong it’s not a bad book it just wasn’t as engaging or scary as I was
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hoping it would be. It is also written much younger than the Young Adult genre it is in.All the “coincidences” were never really explained, it also says it is book #1 but I didn’t feel like there was much to continue once the book was over, so I am curious enough to check out the next book just to see how and why there is a second one.
The narration by, Michael Goldstrom was well done he is a new to me narrator, and I thought his voices were well done he didn’t go overly young for the boys voices and not overly high pitch for the girls, which I have found happens sometimes in a middle grade/young adult book. I will be looking for others he has narrated.
This wasn’t a bad book but it wasn’t a great book either and I think if some of the swearing were taken it would work very well as a Middle Grade book rather than a Young Adult book, if you have Young Adults who need an easier read I would recommend this one.
3 stars
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LibraryThing member LouisVillains
I was hoping the book would be a bit better, but I did enjoy it. Some of it was a bit silly almost, but relatively atmospheric. I might read the next one - not sure yet.
LibraryThing member seasonsoflove
Take one very creepy setting (a former psychiatric hospital with a dark and twisted past, now used as a dorm for a summer school program), three new friends with secrets and unknown ties to their new summer home, and some actual old photographs found in old asylums (reminiscent of Miss Peregrine's
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Home...), and you've got a really good, gripping young adult novel in what is luckily a new trilogy. I can't wait to read the second book. Show Less
LibraryThing member samaside
Title: Asylum
Author: Madeleine Roux
Release Date: August 20, 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Edelweiss DRC
Genre(s): YA Fiction, Juvenile Fiction, Horror, Thriller, Suspense
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review Spoilers: Low
I absolutely loved Madeleine Roux’s first book Allison Hewitt is Trapped. It
And, to be fair, Asylum really is a good book. I just had really high expectations after how amazing Allison Hewitt is Trapped that I think I let myself down more than anything else. It’s a little bit like reading Looking for Alaska after reading The Fault in Our Stars. It’s still a good book but nothing John Green writes will ever quite match up to The Fault In Our Stars – for me, at least.
The basic premise behind Asylum is your general haunted asylum story. Daniel Crawford is a teenager with an unknown past and a history of his own sort of therapy sessions. Adopted when he was younger, he’s always felt a bit on the outside of things and he sees the New Hampshire College Prep summer camp program as his way of really meeting new people and getting excited about something. There just happens to be this little hitch where the dormitories where they will all be staying are part of an old insane asylum and, oh yeah, the warden was kind of crazy and did a lot of inhumane things there.
For most of the story, Dan and his new friends Abby and Jordan find themselves investigating a series of really creepy incidents going on around the place. It begins when Dan finds a creepy photo left over from the old days of the asylum in his desk drawer and then starts getting creepier when strange – and sometimes threatening – handwritten messages start appearing in his room. After he and his friends break into some of the blocked off sections of the old asylum building that have been left in ruins (because apparently that’s safe to do when you’re housing a ton of high schoolers with raging hormones and no sense of self security) they find more photos and a lot more crazy coincidences – including some long forgotten family history that might tie both Abby and Dan to those horrible last days of the asylum. And, then, things take an even darker turn.
Solidly written with decent characters and a fairly compelling – if stereotypical – story, Asylum will appeal to the current generation of young adult horror fans. One nice little addition to the story is the sequence of photos and notes dispersed throughout the book. It’s a bit gimmicky in this book and not nearly as put together as some other horror thrillers that have similarly used pictures and things to add to the mystery and creepiness of the story. There are no added clues in the pictures at the very least and they merely serve to help illustrate the book. And while I liked Dan as a narrator I never really felt like I knew him that well. Most of the characters weren’t nearly as developed as I would have liked but that may have been a choice on the author’s part – at least in as it applied to Dan and Abby – because ultimately they were wrapped up in a lot of the mysteries of the Asylum. I really liked Jordan as a character, though, and I think he was probably the most normal and realistic of the two. His reactions were spot on and even with as little background as we got on him it was enough to help shape him into a fairly three dimensional character.
Ultimately, the story and it’s conclusion are satisfying enough even if I found it a bit confusing in some parts and predictable in others. The end certainly was not my favorite part of the book. I really enjoyed the first seventy-five percent of the book but by the end I was ready for the end game to finally be revealed. When it was, though, I was pretty content with how everything wrapped up – though I still feel like a lot went unanswered. Not enough, however, for a sequel as think this is one of the few standalone books for young adult readers out there these days. I think some aspects of the book could have been a bit better fleshed out but for the most part I think it really does itself justice and anyone who reads it will walk away pretty happy.
Final Thoughts:
If you’re a fan of the horror genre and looking for a quick, compelling read then Asylum is a good choice. It’s a fairly solid YA debut and Madeleine Roux’s writing is – as always – very well put together. The characters are a little shallow and could have used a bit more development but the story gets you from point A to point B with a good amount of mystery and some pretty good thrills. But if you’re really looking to see Madeleine Roux excel definitely check out Allison Hewitt is Trapped at some point.
Author: Madeleine Roux
Release Date: August 20, 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Edelweiss DRC
Genre(s): YA Fiction, Juvenile Fiction, Horror, Thriller, Suspense
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Review Spoilers: Low
I absolutely loved Madeleine Roux’s first book Allison Hewitt is Trapped. It
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was one of the first books I reviewed on Nerdophiles and remains one of the only audiobooks we’ve reviewed. What made that book special was the very real, very honest way in which Madeleine Roux wrote out Allison’s story from her own point of view and how she worked in the various types of media through which people communicated. I will admit, Sadie Walker is Stranded - the follow up to Allison Hewitt is Trapped – wasn’t quite as good as the first book in that series but the way she wrote that book completely different and still told a compelling story gave me hope for her YA debut, Asylum.And, to be fair, Asylum really is a good book. I just had really high expectations after how amazing Allison Hewitt is Trapped that I think I let myself down more than anything else. It’s a little bit like reading Looking for Alaska after reading The Fault in Our Stars. It’s still a good book but nothing John Green writes will ever quite match up to The Fault In Our Stars – for me, at least.
The basic premise behind Asylum is your general haunted asylum story. Daniel Crawford is a teenager with an unknown past and a history of his own sort of therapy sessions. Adopted when he was younger, he’s always felt a bit on the outside of things and he sees the New Hampshire College Prep summer camp program as his way of really meeting new people and getting excited about something. There just happens to be this little hitch where the dormitories where they will all be staying are part of an old insane asylum and, oh yeah, the warden was kind of crazy and did a lot of inhumane things there.
For most of the story, Dan and his new friends Abby and Jordan find themselves investigating a series of really creepy incidents going on around the place. It begins when Dan finds a creepy photo left over from the old days of the asylum in his desk drawer and then starts getting creepier when strange – and sometimes threatening – handwritten messages start appearing in his room. After he and his friends break into some of the blocked off sections of the old asylum building that have been left in ruins (because apparently that’s safe to do when you’re housing a ton of high schoolers with raging hormones and no sense of self security) they find more photos and a lot more crazy coincidences – including some long forgotten family history that might tie both Abby and Dan to those horrible last days of the asylum. And, then, things take an even darker turn.
Solidly written with decent characters and a fairly compelling – if stereotypical – story, Asylum will appeal to the current generation of young adult horror fans. One nice little addition to the story is the sequence of photos and notes dispersed throughout the book. It’s a bit gimmicky in this book and not nearly as put together as some other horror thrillers that have similarly used pictures and things to add to the mystery and creepiness of the story. There are no added clues in the pictures at the very least and they merely serve to help illustrate the book. And while I liked Dan as a narrator I never really felt like I knew him that well. Most of the characters weren’t nearly as developed as I would have liked but that may have been a choice on the author’s part – at least in as it applied to Dan and Abby – because ultimately they were wrapped up in a lot of the mysteries of the Asylum. I really liked Jordan as a character, though, and I think he was probably the most normal and realistic of the two. His reactions were spot on and even with as little background as we got on him it was enough to help shape him into a fairly three dimensional character.
Ultimately, the story and it’s conclusion are satisfying enough even if I found it a bit confusing in some parts and predictable in others. The end certainly was not my favorite part of the book. I really enjoyed the first seventy-five percent of the book but by the end I was ready for the end game to finally be revealed. When it was, though, I was pretty content with how everything wrapped up – though I still feel like a lot went unanswered. Not enough, however, for a sequel as think this is one of the few standalone books for young adult readers out there these days. I think some aspects of the book could have been a bit better fleshed out but for the most part I think it really does itself justice and anyone who reads it will walk away pretty happy.
Final Thoughts:
If you’re a fan of the horror genre and looking for a quick, compelling read then Asylum is a good choice. It’s a fairly solid YA debut and Madeleine Roux’s writing is – as always – very well put together. The characters are a little shallow and could have used a bit more development but the story gets you from point A to point B with a good amount of mystery and some pretty good thrills. But if you’re really looking to see Madeleine Roux excel definitely check out Allison Hewitt is Trapped at some point.
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LibraryThing member Renee.Brandon
The story was okay, but it was a bit predictable. The concept of being in an old asylum turned into a dorm and one of the students begins to have some weird connection to the asylum, pictures, information - it just feels like the same old same old. A very simple read, nothing complicated or hard.
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Definitely not ranked with YA in terms of wording, but I think it falls in that category because of it being in an asylum and the images that come with that idea. Maybe one day I will borrow it again and finish it, but for now, I'm not in the mood for this basic concept of a story. Show Less
LibraryThing member avanders
I really enjoyed reading this book. The pictures weren't always overly realistic (as compared with, e.g., Miss Peregrine's Home...), the story had all kinds of holes, and the characters were weak and flat, but the story was quickly paced and creepily presented, and overall, I was very pleased to
So, the story: Dan Crawford is a 16-year-old gifted student on his way to spend several weeks in the New Hampshire College Prep program (located in an old insane asylum). where he expects to finally be surrounded by other overly-smart kids, like himself. In fact, when he arrives, he is confronted with an overly-overly smart roommate, who is odd and off-putting. Dan finds an old photo in his desk with what appears to be a doctor whose eyes had been scribbled out, and Dan's odd roommate tells him there are plenty more in the "off-limits" portion of the college, where the asylum has not been renovated or even made safe for students.
Dan is curious about the photo and, after meeting hew new friends Abby and Jordan, he sets forward on a plan to discover what he can about the asylum, its doctor, and hopefully anything else that will explain the odd visions and experiences Dan begins to have.
Of course Abby is this perfect little quirky beautiful teen who is (of course) drawn to Dan (who kind of loves her), and Jordan is your somewhat standard genius gay kid who's just looking for a break from the oppression that is his parents. Abby, Dan, and Jordan have a fun relationship that is immediately tested and challenged, and they struggle with loyalties and suspicion when a murderer appears to be on the loose in the asylum.
So yeah, you can probably see from that brief description that there are already some holes that are bound to appear in the plot. But for me, I read through them all very quickly and got myself all nice and creeped out. I think if you read this one too carefully or too slowly (or on too bright of a day ;)), you might find it hard to ignore the flaws, but if you allow yourself the indulgence on a stormy night, you might enjoy the book anyway.
As I said, notwithstanding some of the issues, I *really* enjoyed reading this and I am definitely looking forward to the sequel. There were definitely some questions left unanswered, which I expect to be addressed in the sequel.
And for it all, I'm intrigued by Roux and will keep an eye on other books she publishes.
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have read it. In fact, I immediately put the sequel on my wish list.So, the story: Dan Crawford is a 16-year-old gifted student on his way to spend several weeks in the New Hampshire College Prep program (located in an old insane asylum). where he expects to finally be surrounded by other overly-smart kids, like himself. In fact, when he arrives, he is confronted with an overly-overly smart roommate, who is odd and off-putting. Dan finds an old photo in his desk with what appears to be a doctor whose eyes had been scribbled out, and Dan's odd roommate tells him there are plenty more in the "off-limits" portion of the college, where the asylum has not been renovated or even made safe for students.
Dan is curious about the photo and, after meeting hew new friends Abby and Jordan, he sets forward on a plan to discover what he can about the asylum, its doctor, and hopefully anything else that will explain the odd visions and experiences Dan begins to have.
Of course Abby is this perfect little quirky beautiful teen who is (of course) drawn to Dan (who kind of loves her), and Jordan is your somewhat standard genius gay kid who's just looking for a break from the oppression that is his parents. Abby, Dan, and Jordan have a fun relationship that is immediately tested and challenged, and they struggle with loyalties and suspicion when a murderer appears to be on the loose in the asylum.
So yeah, you can probably see from that brief description that there are already some holes that are bound to appear in the plot. But for me, I read through them all very quickly and got myself all nice and creeped out. I think if you read this one too carefully or too slowly (or on too bright of a day ;)), you might find it hard to ignore the flaws, but if you allow yourself the indulgence on a stormy night, you might enjoy the book anyway.
As I said, notwithstanding some of the issues, I *really* enjoyed reading this and I am definitely looking forward to the sequel. There were definitely some questions left unanswered, which I expect to be addressed in the sequel.
And for it all, I'm intrigued by Roux and will keep an eye on other books she publishes.
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LibraryThing member WordMaven
Best YA book I've read this year. Of course I'm comparing it to Blue Bloods, so it isn't saying much. I enjoyed this little read, nevertheless.
Dan, Abby, and Jordan meet at a summer pre-college prep program for super nerdy bookish types. At first things seem great: Dan doesn't feel like a dork for
Soon the creepy fun begins. Dan has lapses of memory. Murder. Strange notes. And the records and photos from the old asylum when it was being used to "cure" the criminally insane. Muwahahahaha!
You can polish this baby off on a chilly, rainy Saturday or a few days at the beach. I highly recommend it. Believable characters, good atmosphere, good dialogue, and creepy fun even if you can see some of the conflicts coming a mile away. Well-paced. I give it 3+ stars and 2 thumbs up.
Dan, Abby, and Jordan meet at a summer pre-college prep program for super nerdy bookish types. At first things seem great: Dan doesn't feel like a dork for
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once, he gets a crush on cute Abby and he enjoys his studies in history. The problem is that the students are being housed in an old insane asylum that was shut years ago. Dorm space problems or some such excuse created this situation. Hence the book's title, ASYLUM.Soon the creepy fun begins. Dan has lapses of memory. Murder. Strange notes. And the records and photos from the old asylum when it was being used to "cure" the criminally insane. Muwahahahaha!
You can polish this baby off on a chilly, rainy Saturday or a few days at the beach. I highly recommend it. Believable characters, good atmosphere, good dialogue, and creepy fun even if you can see some of the conflicts coming a mile away. Well-paced. I give it 3+ stars and 2 thumbs up.
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LibraryThing member Krbrand
Asylum by Madeleine Roux
CONCEPT
I am totally in love with the idea of asylums. The stories behind them are just so fascinating to me. Because of that this book's concept is automatically something I enjoy.
CHARACTERS
The characters in this story were relatively stagnant throughout the entire book.
PLOT
The plot of this story was so predictable the only things that surprised me were (view spoiler). Every single time something new was introduced it was painfully obvious was was going to happen with it.
ROMANCE
If you are looking for a teen romance, do not read this book. The relationship in here is appallingly weak; I need to pull out a microscope to see it. It honestly seems like something thrown into the story just to appeal to those who find it necessary for a couple to be in every book they read. The friends dynamic was more than enough for the story, and the romance felt clunky at best.
PHOTOS
Throughout Asylum, there are photos that are used to give visuals on certain parts of the story. There were some that I really appreciated and even found creepy; others were very obviously fake and did nothing to immerse me more in the story. I feel like the pictures would have been much better if they weren't all green and were more sepia or black and white.
ENDING
The ending held the major plot twist that surprised me, and I quite enjoyed it. The action involved in it really drew me in and kept me into the story until it finished.
CONCLUSION
This book was a quick read for me, and while it was interesting it didn't do much in the way of really drawing me in. The only reason I held so much interest was due to the subject of Asylums. I would recommend this book for anyone who wants a somewhat quick read that might give them some chills. I also recommend it for anyone who is interested in Asylum related books. It's a decent read for any fan of YA for Halloween!
(To see the spoilers, find my review on GoodReads.)
CONCEPT
I am totally in love with the idea of asylums. The stories behind them are just so fascinating to me. Because of that this book's concept is automatically something I enjoy.
CHARACTERS
The characters in this story were relatively stagnant throughout the entire book.
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While you had the obvious changes such as when (view spoiler), their personalities do not grow in any way. To be frank, I didn't feel any sort of connection with any character and I didn't see any change or development.PLOT
The plot of this story was so predictable the only things that surprised me were (view spoiler). Every single time something new was introduced it was painfully obvious was was going to happen with it.
ROMANCE
If you are looking for a teen romance, do not read this book. The relationship in here is appallingly weak; I need to pull out a microscope to see it. It honestly seems like something thrown into the story just to appeal to those who find it necessary for a couple to be in every book they read. The friends dynamic was more than enough for the story, and the romance felt clunky at best.
PHOTOS
Throughout Asylum, there are photos that are used to give visuals on certain parts of the story. There were some that I really appreciated and even found creepy; others were very obviously fake and did nothing to immerse me more in the story. I feel like the pictures would have been much better if they weren't all green and were more sepia or black and white.
ENDING
The ending held the major plot twist that surprised me, and I quite enjoyed it. The action involved in it really drew me in and kept me into the story until it finished.
CONCLUSION
This book was a quick read for me, and while it was interesting it didn't do much in the way of really drawing me in. The only reason I held so much interest was due to the subject of Asylums. I would recommend this book for anyone who wants a somewhat quick read that might give them some chills. I also recommend it for anyone who is interested in Asylum related books. It's a decent read for any fan of YA for Halloween!
(To see the spoilers, find my review on GoodReads.)
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LibraryThing member Violetthedwarf
It was alright. The writing was over-simple and the story was predictable, but not in a bad way. Good brainless reading. The pictures weren't as creepy as they could have been.
I'd love to see more photo stories like this that are pitched more towards an adult audience.
I'd love to see more photo stories like this that are pitched more towards an adult audience.
LibraryThing member Violetthedwarf
It was alright. The writing was over-simple and the story was predictable, but not in a bad way. Good brainless reading. The pictures weren't as creepy as they could have been.
I'd love to see more photo stories like this that are pitched more towards an adult audience.
I'd love to see more photo stories like this that are pitched more towards an adult audience.
LibraryThing member GabiJ.G1
Dan is just a normal kid wanting to go to a normal college. But the college he ends up at just happens to be an old insane asylum. Murders begin to happen and nobody can figure out who is doing them. But in a random twist of events they find the true murderer, while also figuring out the mystery of
I loved this book and would totally recommend it. But i would pretty much only recommend it if your into horror type stuff. The writing overall was good. The book also includes pictures from real asylums that just adds to the intensity of the book.
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a little girl.I loved this book and would totally recommend it. But i would pretty much only recommend it if your into horror type stuff. The writing overall was good. The book also includes pictures from real asylums that just adds to the intensity of the book.
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LibraryThing member JosP
I had heard that this book would give you the creeps. I haven't read a scary story in a while and this one did bring that scary factor a few times. I mainly read at night so it did creep me out a few times. However, I am not too sure if I was distracted with other things or what not, but it took me
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a while to get into the story. I think the main character, Dan, just wasn't keeping me occupied enough. He just kept too much to himself, so at times it just felt pointless for him to have friends there for him. Eventually, it did pick up. Sadly it was the end, but it was good. And it did leave me wanting to pick up the next book to see where else it might go. Show Less
LibraryThing member smilezforbooks
All I know is that I am officially scared of hospitals. The characters were really interesting and I will pick up the next book Sanctum soon.
LibraryThing member Coach_of_Alva
A teenager travels to a secluded college in New Hampshire to attend a five-week college preparation program. A shy orphan with a mild memory disorder, he is pleased to find himself making friends with two other students, a pretty artist and a gay mathematician. Their friendship is poisoned when the
Their current abode used to be an asylum for the criminally insane. The patients weren't the worst people there, however, for its last warden was a madman who tortured and killed patients while trying to cure them. He was imprisoned, the asylum closed, the patients sent away -- save for one, a serial killer who was never accounted for.
The three discover secrets in and under the dormitory / asylum. The gay retreats into himself. The girl becomes obsessed with the photograph of a very young lobotomized girl who may be her aunt. The hero realizes that he may be related to the mad warden. He begins to suffer very frequent memory lapses while being tormented by written notes left in his personal spaces and strange messages sent FROM his phone. Worst of all, a series of attacks in the dorm leads him to suspect that someone is channeling the missing serial killer. He fears that person might be him. He is wrong, It is his relative who is trying to possess him. The killer has possessed someone else, and he is out for revenge on his old tormentor.
This book is a mix of genres. It is very effective as a psychological thriller and as a Gothic horror tale. The latter especially is helped by the illustrations, which are custom photographs based in part on former mental patients, their healers, and the terrible equipment use to 'treat' them. Where it falls down a little is as a mystery, which the reader can see halfway through the story and spends the rest of the yarn wondering while the kid can't figure it out.
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three are subtly led into exploring the closed wing of their dormitory. Their current abode used to be an asylum for the criminally insane. The patients weren't the worst people there, however, for its last warden was a madman who tortured and killed patients while trying to cure them. He was imprisoned, the asylum closed, the patients sent away -- save for one, a serial killer who was never accounted for.
The three discover secrets in and under the dormitory / asylum. The gay retreats into himself. The girl becomes obsessed with the photograph of a very young lobotomized girl who may be her aunt. The hero realizes that he may be related to the mad warden. He begins to suffer very frequent memory lapses while being tormented by written notes left in his personal spaces and strange messages sent FROM his phone. Worst of all, a series of attacks in the dorm leads him to suspect that someone is channeling the missing serial killer. He fears that person might be him. He is wrong, It is his relative who is trying to possess him. The killer has possessed someone else, and he is out for revenge on his old tormentor.
This book is a mix of genres. It is very effective as a psychological thriller and as a Gothic horror tale. The latter especially is helped by the illustrations, which are custom photographs based in part on former mental patients, their healers, and the terrible equipment use to 'treat' them. Where it falls down a little is as a mystery, which the reader can see halfway through the story and spends the rest of the yarn wondering while the kid can't figure it out.
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LibraryThing member StarrK
A copy was given to me, free, in exchange for my honest opinion.
Creepy as hell! When I finished reading this I still wasn't sure what was going on. And it's not over - not yet. I guess you could say that I was expecting a ghost story; something that was scary and just right for Halloween. I am
4 stars ****
Creepy as hell! When I finished reading this I still wasn't sure what was going on. And it's not over - not yet. I guess you could say that I was expecting a ghost story; something that was scary and just right for Halloween. I am
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not sure if I would classify this as a ghost story or a story of possession. Does this tiny detail matter though? No, at least I don't think so. There were some awkward moments. The first one being Felix. But, he was an awkward character to begin with so. . . I guess I should have expected that. The other awkward thing was how quickly the friendship between Jordan, Abby and Daniel came together and then came apart. Yes, the program is only 5 weeks, but still! I guess it was how quickly it came apart that really bothered me. Other than that, I really enjoyed this one. Books that leave with more questions than answers always bother me. While this book was intriguing enough for me to want to get my hands on book 2 as quickly as possible, if I don't get the answers that I need I am not sure if I will continue past book 2. 4 stars ****
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Awards
Soaring Eagle Book Award (Nominee — 2016)
Call number
YA B Rou