Reviews

Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn

myriadreads's review against another edition

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5.0

Still chilling and fun after all these years! My 9-year-old couldn't wait to read the next chapter.

13tmcfar's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

aimeebrand's review against another edition

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4.0

Oh my gosh, this book freaked me out when I was in elementary school...Still I read it 2 or 3 times. I loved it!

evesn's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

somesubtlebutessentialway's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I was obsessed with ghost books as a kid. And this was my favorite ghost book of all. 

I read this twice in elementary school, once in fourth grade and once in fifth. There was something that chilled me to the bone about it but also had me totally invigorated. Now that I'm older, I can see what drew me to it. I had just moved to a rural podunk town, with a stepfather that I didn't like and a mom who was trying her best. I felt like nobody understood me. I felt like it was me against the world, and I think that version of me saw herself in this book. Though thankfully I didn't have to deal with vindictive little stepsisters or vengeful ghosts. 

Reading this as (what some would call) an adult was so interesting. It's strange to reread what once was your favorite book, to fall again into the pages that were once the greatest thing to your small eyes. I grew out of ghost books. I grew out of the podunk town. And yet rereading this it was like fourth grade was just a blink away; like I could reach out and touch it. 

That little girl I was then, the ghost. That little school I borrowed this from, the lake. 

rylew's review against another edition

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tense

4.0

kb_hg's review against another edition

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4.0

Read this so make sure it wasn’t to “scary” for my son. It’s pretty good and had a good overall message

onceuponthesewords's review against another edition

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3.0

Childhood me is screaming for not reading this sooner… would’ve been a fantastic and creepy AF book for younger me! Loved it!

queenbeelyn's review against another edition

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4.0

So creepy. Another preteen favorite of mine. Recommended it to my little sister and she loves it too..a good quick read even if you're not under 15

charlottesometimes's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5