If this were a Young Adult novel, I would have gone into the details of the problems I've mentioned above. That meant, of course, that there was no depth to characters, the plot - although creepy in some parts - was simplistic, the mystery was passable but its conclusion seemed jarringly out of the blue as there had been no foreshadowing or any small hints that would lead us to draw such a conclusion. So I went into the novel, expecting a more mature style than the one that was used. I actually thought The Ghost of Graylock was a Young Adult horror/mystery novel, since that was how it was shelved in the (deceiving) Goodreads shelves. Of course, Middle Grade novels can also be written with a level of depth in them, so target age doesn't automatically excuse a book from failing short in these aspects. This includes character development, plot progression, prose, and other such things that may detract/add to a book when done a certain way. That screws everything up because I usually have a standard expectation of quality, which I compare against a book when writing a review. so this wasn't really geared towards my age group. Scary, suspenseful, and surprising, Dan Poblocki's latest ghost story will keep you turning pages deep into the dead of night.Įrmmm. But he's certainly not prepared for what follows him home. Neil might think he's prepared for what he'll find in the dark and decrepit asylum.

He's got fresh batteries in his flashlight, a camera to document the adventure, and a new best friend watching his back. Especially since rumor has it that the building is haunted. Eventually, the hospital was shut down, the building abandoned and left to rot deep in the woods.Īs the new kid in town, Neil Cady wants to see Graylock for himself. Several young patients died under mysterious circumstances. It was meant to be a place of healing - a hospital where children and teenagers with mental disorders would be cared for and perhaps even cured.

Does an abandoned asylum hold the key to a frightful haunting?Įveryone's heard the stories about Graylock Hall. Amazon Editors recommend this book for readers who want books with more complexity and length (with content suitable for a pre-teen audience).

The Ghost of Graylock by Dan Poblocki