The Women in the Walls

Gr 8 Up—In her sophomore horror novel, Lukavics creates a present-day world within a centuries-old Victorian estate. Lucy Acosta grew up being told that she must always have perfect control and never show weakness. Now at 17 years old, after discovering Walter the cook hanging by his neck from his bedroom ceiling, and dealing with the mysterious disappearance of her aunt Penelope—who was more of a mother to Lucy than to her own daughter—she is finding it increasingly difficult to maintain her composure. It doesn't help that Lucy's cousin and best friend Margaret is hearing voices in the attic, quickly withdrawing from society, and threatening to tell Lucy's greatest secret—the protagonist cuts herself. When more tragedy strikes, Lucy starts hearing the voices of several women in the walls of their estate. Readers will be either delighted by the creepy twists and turns of each chapter or disappointed by it not being creepy enough to necessitate sleeping with one eye open. The ending might leave teens wanting more, giving Lukavics a good opening for a possible sequel. There are several uses of profanity, and the theme of self-mutilation runs throughout the book.