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A review by chubby_little_butter_books
Who Haunts You by Mark Wheaton
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
"The irony of actualising the clichés of a gothier-than-thou, black hoodie wearing library lady is that I enjoy working here not for the easy access to books but for the solitude and order."
3.75
Bex is a senior, trying to keep her head down at an academically competitive school where she middles, at best. When her fellow students begin dying in supposedly unrelated incidents, Bex notices a pattern where one doesn't appear to be. As danger swirls and ghosts of non-existent people haunt her waking hours, can Bex trust her instincts?
Centring an actually autistic teen, Who Haunts You examines the way neurodivergence and mental instability influence trust in yourself but also interactions with the world. In this case, with an added layer of complexity, because Bex and those around her are being haunted...or are they? Bex's struggles with her autism, such a sensory processing and overwhelm, seem authentic and portray some of the realities of living with neurodivergence in a world not designed for you. It is unsurprising then to learn author Mark Wheaton is autistic, and thus renders autism in a realistic and authentic manner. Who Haunts You starts out really strong and sustains that momentum into the second act, I was really on board and thought Annalee Scott was absolutely killing it with the narration. Unfortunately, the wheels came off a little bit for me in the third act, the resolution to the mystery felt a bit shoehorned in and I wasn't really able to connect with it's reality in the story. However, Wheaton did pull it together in the dying moments of the book to go out with a bang and overall, I really enjoyed the listening experience. This book would suit readers who want an accessible, YA horror read for Halloween, without the gore.
Thank you to Mark Wheaton and NetGalley for the audioARC.
3.75
Bex is a senior, trying to keep her head down at an academically competitive school where she middles, at best. When her fellow students begin dying in supposedly unrelated incidents, Bex notices a pattern where one doesn't appear to be. As danger swirls and ghosts of non-existent people haunt her waking hours, can Bex trust her instincts?
Centring an actually autistic teen, Who Haunts You examines the way neurodivergence and mental instability influence trust in yourself but also interactions with the world. In this case, with an added layer of complexity, because Bex and those around her are being haunted...or are they? Bex's struggles with her autism, such a sensory processing and overwhelm, seem authentic and portray some of the realities of living with neurodivergence in a world not designed for you. It is unsurprising then to learn author Mark Wheaton is autistic, and thus renders autism in a realistic and authentic manner. Who Haunts You starts out really strong and sustains that momentum into the second act, I was really on board and thought Annalee Scott was absolutely killing it with the narration. Unfortunately, the wheels came off a little bit for me in the third act, the resolution to the mystery felt a bit shoehorned in and I wasn't really able to connect with it's reality in the story. However, Wheaton did pull it together in the dying moments of the book to go out with a bang and overall, I really enjoyed the listening experience. This book would suit readers who want an accessible, YA horror read for Halloween, without the gore.
Thank you to Mark Wheaton and NetGalley for the audioARC.