Reading Metrics
Description
Don Lark's plan to renovate and sell an old Greensboro house takes a terrifying turn when he discovers a secret tunnel beneath the cellar, revealing the house's hidden past. As he uncovers the property's dark secrets, Don finds himself targeted by a relentless stalker whose motives are tied to the house's history. With danger closing in, he must confront the threat before his family is drawn into the same peril.
Quick Summary
If you're into mysteries with a spooky twist, "Homebody" by Orson Scott Card is worth picking up. Don Lark thinks he's found an easy fixer-upper project when he buys an old house in North Carolina, but the moment he discovers a hidden tunnel in the cellar, things take a turn for the unsettling. The book blends home renovation details with a creeping sense of dread as Don uncovers increasingly strange secrets about the house and its past residents. It's perfect for readers who enjoy creepy stories but prefer atmosphere and mystery over pure horror think along the lines of "Goosebumps" for older teens, with more depth and subtlety. Parents should know the tone is genuinely eerie in places, with some creepy moments that might stick with readers, but nothing gratuitously violent or inappropriate for older middle schoolers and high schoolers. The pacing keeps you turning pages as you piece together what actually happened in that house, and Card's writing makes even the renovation stuff feel compelling. If you've ever wanted to explore a supposedly haunted house vicariously without the commitment, this one's for you.