House Next Door [School & Library Binding]

Richie Tankersley Cusick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2002

HAUNTED HOUSE

On a whim, Emma Donovan bets her twin brother, Charlie, that she can spend the entire night alone at the spooky, abandoned house next door. The place is seriously creepy, but she's determined to overcome her fears and prove her brother wrong. Until she finds herself reliving a horrific night from the house's past and a passionate love with a handsome -- and strangely familiar -- young man.

When Charlie finds her, he's sure it was all just a dream. Yet Emma has persistent paranormal experiences involving the house and the young man from the past. As her "dreams" intensify, Emma becomes convinced that they are very real...and that she has a dreadful part to play in the supernatural reenactment of a tragic love.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grades 6-10--Cusick does a good job of building suspense in this supernatural thriller. To get her twin brother Charlie to take her friend Val to the winter dance, Emma Donovan accepts his challenge to spend a night in the creepy, empty house next door that is supposedly haunted. Soon, the 17-year-old finds herself caught in a century-old love affair with anything but a happy ending. She becomes deeply involved in the secrets of the house, and Charlie and Val struggle to save her before the romance plays out its tragic conclusion a second time. Though the characters are fairly typical for the genre, they successfully sustain the mood of the story, and Cusick has incorporated some effective "twin speak" details into the story. The scenes involving two spinster neighbors are an unnecessary and distracting addition; Charlie, Emma, and her ghost lover are really enough to move the action forward and bring it to its conclusion. Still, this is a hauntingly good read.

Elaine Baran Black, Gwinnett County Public Library, Lawrenceville, GA

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 6-12. When her twin brother (to whom she's psychically connected) dares her to spend a night in the legendary haunted house next door, gutsy teenager Emma encounters a ghost who turns out to have been her tragic, true love in another lifetime. With the help of her brother, best friend, and some elderly sisters with skeletons in their own closet, Emma risks her life to unravel the mysterious goings-on and free the spirit of the man who apparently lost his life rescuing her former self from an abusive father. Brisk dialogue, ingenious plot twists, and nerve-wracking suspense combine with a bit of romance to broaden the audience, and the author's keen ear for the rhythm of teen language makes the story even more appealing. The telekinetic elements, in which Emma's brother dreams what Emma is encountering, add to the suspense. Roger Leslie
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• School & Library Binding
• Publisher: San Val (January 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 061374151X
• ISBN-13: 978-0613741514
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,291,969 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thrilling supernatural romance for teens., January 3, 2002

By 

Rebecca Herman (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The House Next Door (Paperback)

The house next door to Emma Donovan is a creepy, falling-apart old mansion that's been abandoned for many years. The house has always spooked Emma, and every time she looks at it, she gets a cold feeling of dread. When her best friend, Valerie, doesn't have a date for the school dance, Emma begs her twin brother Charlie to take her, and he agrees - on the condition that Emma spend a night alone in the house next door. Emma agrees, not knowing what she's getting herself into. Because during her night in the house, Emma will relive the events of many years ago, and a love with a handsome young man that can only lead to tragedy. Charlie says it was all a dream, but Emma knows it wasn't. She's determined to find out the truth about what happened in the house all those years ago, but is she risking her own life in the process? I highly recommend this book to teens who enjoy supernatural thrillers.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting But Lacking, February 5, 2002

By 

Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The House Next Door (Paperback)

Emma and Charlie Donovan share a lot of things. Their birthday for one, CD's, and dreams. On a dare, Emma bets Charlie that she can spend a night alone in the house next door. Which is, supposedly haunted. After one night in the house Emma begins having strange dreams, and living the life of a girl who lived in the house, who had the same name and age as Emma. Now her life is spinning out of control. While other girls her age are planning their outfits for the school dance, Emma is trying to rid her mind of a spirit and a love from 100 years ago.

While this book was very good at times it lacked in certain areas. I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the Buffy the Vampire slayer book series. Or anyone interested in the paranormal.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Tragic Love!, July 15, 2002

By 

Aleisha (Lake Mary, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The House Next Door (Paperback)

Emma Donovan, in an attempt to get her twin brother Charlie (to whom she is physciclly linked) to take her friend Val to a dance at their school, accepts his challenge to spend a night in the old, deserted house next door that is supposedly haunted. The Haunted Farmington House. But while there Emma meets the Farmington ghost, Daniel and she steps straight into a tragic love story between the stable boy Daniel and his lady love, the beautiful Emma Farmington. Emma's father is an abusive drunkard who disapproves of their relationshp. One night Emma's father locks Daniel and Emma in a barn and sets fire to it. But only one person escaped. Now Emma has to relive the whole tragic accident so Daniel's ghost can be at peace. Will Emma survive? What will happen with Charlie and Val?

This was an excellent book. It was funny especially the dialouge between Charlie and Emma. And it was romantic. Great read!