The Darkhouse

Book cover of The Darkhouse

Book description

Fifteen-year-old Gemma’s life on a small New Brunswick island with her father, Jonah, is not an exciting one. Her mother ran off when she was an infant, and Jonah, an amateur scientist, spends most of his time conducting experiments he thinks will one day bring him fame. But when a…

Explore

Topics

Genres

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked The Darkhouse as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Diane Terrana

Author

The stranger in a strange land theme is unveiled slowly in The Darkhouse. The story follows Gemma, a teen abandoned by a “crazy” mother. She lives on an island and her only friends are either old or imaginary. Her very protective father is dutiful, though consumed with rodent experiments in his shed out back. Yes. It is creepy! Also poignant: both a goosebumpy thriller and and a heart-breaking coming of age story. And I must mention the lyrical writing, like this line: “The ache of wanting what I can’t have throbs like blood.”

Disclosure: I read this in manuscript…

From Diane's list on YA featuring strangers in strange lands.