Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Saunders
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Inventive tale of teen possessed by ghost has swearing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
When THE CORRUPTION OF HOLLIS BROWN begins, Hollis, a 17-year-old White boy, lives in an industrial town where people have few options for their future. He is frequently bullied in school, but he's supported by friends Annie and Yulie. Schoolmates plan an overnight stay in a haunted part of town, where Hollis becomes possessed by a ghost name Walt, who has unfinished business to attend to. But when Walt and Hollis begin to understand each other, things get complicated.
Is It Any Good?
This is a fascinating, layered tale that unfolds slowly. In The Corruption of Hollis Brown by K. Ancrum (Icarus), the author explores the question of what makes up our "real" self and how much control we have over changing it. The main characters face challenges to their identities historically, psychologically, socially, and physically. While the story is emotionally engaging, it will appeal most to readers who enjoy wrangling with challenging concepts and ideas. The relatively tame romance is intriguing, given that the character is falling for the spirit that possesses him, but it still feels genuine and ultimately reveals much about compassion and what it means to have a self.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the characters in The Corruption of Hollis Brown use communication to build empathy, and how they use empathy to improve communication.
Is it important to be curious about yourself? Have your own thoughts, feelings, or behavior ever taken you by surprise? What did you do to understand yourself better?
What can The Corruption of Hollis Brown suggest about the costs of having compassion in contrast to the costs of withholding compassion?
Why do you think the author chose the word "corruption" for the title?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School ) , Fantasy
- Character Strengths : Communication , Compassion , Curiosity , Empathy
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Harper Collins Publishers
- Publication date : April 22, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 17
- Number of pages : 384
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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