The Haunting of Sunshine Girl

Paige McKenzie narrates her own novel quite capably, with support from veteran narrator T. Ryder Smith. Though McKenzie rushes through descriptive passages and doesn't clearly differentiate between characters, she successfully captures the innocent candor of her young heroine, Sunshine, who moves with her mother from the warmth of Austin, Texas, to rain-soaked Ridgemont, Washington. That straightforward youthful tone makes the eerie, inexplicable experiences in Sunshine's new house truly disconcerting. As Sunshine begins to uncover Ridgemont's secrets--and her own dark destiny--it's difficult to forget that McKenzie is reading, as her narration doesn't build tension even as the plot speeds towards a showdown. However, she captures the emotional bonds Sunshine forms as she adapts to her strange new reality. B.E.K. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

December 1, 2015

Gr 8 Up-McKenzie is the creator and star of the web series by the same name. Sunshine and her mom, Kat, move from warm and sunny Texas to cold and damp Washington State. In their newly rented home, Sunshine begins to experience strange occurrences-sounds from upstairs, toys moving and rearranging themselves in her room-and so with the help of her new friend Nolan, she sets out to prove to her mom that something is very wrong. But despite Sunshine's best efforts and photographic evidence, Kat remains skeptical. And then, late one terrifying night, everything changes. Sunshine will need to figure out who, and even what, she is in order to save herself and those she cares about. McKenzie narrates, filling Sunshine with teenage angst and apathy, which, while appropriate to the character, tends to be monotonous and whiny. T. Ryder Smith provides the eerie voice for the "strange observer" who breaks into Sunshine's story throughout. VERDICT Recommended for fans of the web series and lovers of supernatural and suspenseful tales. ["A good choice for readers who enjoy Holly Black": SLJ 3/15 review of the Perseus Weinstein book.]-Chani Craig, Converse Middle School, Palmer, MA

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