She Is a Haunting

By Trang Thanh Tran

Book Overview

William C. Morris Debut Award Finalist
Instant New York Times and Indie Bestseller

This house eats and is eaten . . .

"A riveting debut from a remarkable new voice Trang Thanh Tran weaves an impressive gothic mystery in which Jade's father is determined to restore a decrepit home to its former glory and Jade is the only person who feels the soul-crushing devastation of colonialism lingering within its walls." --Angeline Boulley, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Firekeeper's Daughter

A House with a terrifying appetite haunts a broken family in this atmospheric horror, perfect for fans of Mexican Gothic.

When Jade Nguyen arrives in Vietnam for a visit with her estranged father, she has one goal: survive five weeks pretending to be a happy family in the French colonial house Ba is restoring. She's always lied to fit in, so if she's straight enough, Vietnamese enough, American enough, she can get out with the college money he promised.

But the house has other plans. Night after night, Jade wakes up paralyzed. The walls exude a thrumming sound while bugs leave their legs and feelers in places they don't belong. She finds curious traces of her ancestors in the gardens they once tended. And at night Jade can't ignore the ghost of the beautiful bride who leaves cryptic warnings: Don't eat.

Neither Ba nor her sweet sister Lily believe that there is anything strange happening. With help from a delinquent girl, Jade will prove this house--the home they have always wanted--will not rest until it destroys them. Maybe, this time, she can keep her family together. As she roots out the house's rot, she must also face the truth of who she is and who she must become to save them all.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1547610816
• ISBN13: 9781547610815
• Release Date: February 2023
• Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.92 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.8" x 8.6"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 and higher

Customer Reviews

A multilayered story of the horrors of colonization & the hungry ghosts it leaves.

A fantastic read that hooked its claws into me and had me craving more. There were times where it was like watching a train wreck about to happen. Definitely not a book for those who have a phobia of bugs, haha. I appreciated the interwoven stories of how the real horrors of colonialism impact the supernatural horrors within the house. Tran did an excellent job showcasing the alienation that happens when there’s a disconnect from one’s family culture and the frustration associated.

Pretty good!

3.75* I enjoyed this for the most part, I don't have a lot of cultural knowledge of Vietnam so when I was learning about Vietnam, I was in it to win it, baby! Certain elements felt a little clunky and didn't pay off like I think the author hoped but I still really enjoyed myself and overall this wasn't bad for a debut novel. This author will be one to watch!