Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Intense horror thriller might go too far for some readers.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Carly and Kaitlyn Johnson are two souls who share one body. Carly appears during the day, and Kaitlyn emerges at night. Twenty years ago, their school, Elmbridge High, burned down, three teens lost their lives, and Carly/Kaitlyn disappeared. THE DEAD HOUSE tells their story through psychiatric reports, transcripts of video footage, and a recently discovered diary.
Is It Any Good?
Filled with unexpected plot twists and turns, this chilling thriller mixes mental illness and the supernatural in ways that leave readers guessing until the end. (And they may be scratching their heads further on.) Dawn Kurtagich's writing gets a bit overwrought sometimes, but that's understandable given the level of angst experienced by the characters. All in all, The Dead House is an ambitious, creepy debut.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about mental illness. How could you get help for a friend in psychological distress?
Why are stories about the occult so popular? Is studying the supernatural dangerous in any way?
What would it be like to be conscious only during the day or only at night? What kinds of adjustments would you have to make to fit that schedule?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : School ( High School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : September 15, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 432
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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