Parents' Guide to

Anna Dressed in Blood

By Carrie R. Wheadon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Hip, gory teen ghost hunter story delivers on its title.

Book Kendare Blake Horror 2011
Anna Dressed in Blood Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

age 16+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 13+

Excellent

As a teacher in a long-term residential behavioral health facility, my students love this book! While there is some graphic violence, I wouldn't say that it is misplaced. I would recommend this book.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
age 18+

Very interesting book to read

Thank you. I have read many of these, but have so many more to seek out. I'd never heard of some of these. I may start with them first. http://collectairdrops.com

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (4):

Reading this gory haunted house/ghost hunter tale full of hip characters and creepy magic, you can't help imagining it as a movie you'd want to watch over and over every Halloween. Or picturing yourself reciting scenes form it aloud by a campfire. Main character Cas has the confident attitude about ghost hunting you'll find in Anthony Lockwood from Jonathan Stroud's fabulous Lockwood & Co. series mixed with the kind of hip vibe you find in the ghost series Shades of London by Maureen Johnson. If you're drawn to either of those series and the occasional slasher film, Anna Dressed in Blood will be a huge thrill.

Author Kendare Blake (Three Dark Crowns) builds her story so efficiently that readers are hunting ghosts with Cas on page one. She fills in the backstory of Cas' father's death -- doing the same dangerous job, of course -- without every slowing the story down. She also builds on her secondary characters, starting with a few cliches -- Carmel, the Queen Bee -- and then surprises us with their hidden depth. The only thing not as much a surprise as Blake may have hoped: There's something's in the attic. Waiting. The cat knew, so most readers will, too.

Book Details

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