Parents' Guide to

There's Someone Inside Your House

By Mary Cosola, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Exciting serial-killer tale blends gore, suspense, romance.

Book Stephanie Perkins Horror 2017
There's Someone Inside Your House Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 14+

Based on 2 parent reviews

MP223
MP223 Adult
January 30, 2020
age 14+

Cool just a little graphic

I am the guardian/parent of a young set of twins who just read this book and I had to give it a go. I am just going to say the storyline was THE BEST THING EVERRRRRR!!!!!! I myself am into scary books like this but this one was just different in a very good way. The discretion though for the murder were a little graphic and the only reason I say 14+ but otherwise very good and even though there was mentions of ummm how do I put this....... “sexual activity” it wasn’t to much and if I am honest was quite frankly brief and not to in details other reason I say14+ but good book middle schoolers 13 could reas this book and be very satisfied but a little disturbed but that’s my bit of this.

This title has:

Great role models
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Farie
Farie Adult
January 21, 2019
age 13+

Amazing read:just don’t read alone at night

As a 10th grader, I’m fine with the cursing and the talking about sex and the sex scene, but it is a well written horror book that made me scared to sleep at night alone in my room
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

THERE'S SOMEONE INSIDE YOUR HOUSE finds Makani Young trying to figure out life in the town of Osborne, Nebraska. She moved to the small farm town from Hawaii to live with her grandmother, leaving behind family turmoil and a shameful, dark secret. She has a few close friends, a quiet life with her grandma, and a crush on a boy at her high school. The usual calm of Osborne is thrown into chaos when a serial killer starts targeting students at the high school. No one can figure out the pattern, so no one knows who's next. Adding to the suspense is that the killer is likely someone they all know. Makani worries that the secret, troubling incident from her past will make her a victim or a suspect. Her inner turmoil is heightened by her longing for a loner boy named Ollie. People at her school love to gossip about him, and she risks getting to know him better, against the advice of her closest friends. As the killings increase in viciousness and frequency, everyone in town feels the terror pressing in on them. Anyone could be next.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (10 ):

Gruesome murders, high school cliques, dark secrets, and teen romance abound in this suspenseful page turner. The action in There's Someone Inside Your House kicks in right away and keeps up at a good pace throughout the book. The story never lags, but it has enough fun and sweet scenes to give the reader a breather. Otherwise, the murders and gore would be too much to handle. Perkins has an excellent ear for teen dialogue. The characters feel like smart, funny, real teens you might know. The serial killer suspense is fun, if that's the right word for gory murder and dismemberment. Without giving away spoilers, one murder is given short shrift, and the killer's reveal and motive are unsatisfying. The story is great on most fronts -- the mysteries, friendships, and romance -- but the ending could have tied things up better. An epilogue would have been a perfect addition and would have rounded out the story well.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the popularity of gory books and movies like There's Someone Inside Your House. Why do you think they're so popular?

  • Do you ever judge people based on appearances or gossip you've heard about them? Has there been a time when you got to know someone and found out he or she was different from what you first thought?

  • How honest are you with your family and friends about important things going on in your life? Where do you think the line is between regular privacy and keeping secrets?

Book Details

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