Insanity

January 1, 2014
A psychiatric hospital in Never, Ky., forms the locus for all sorts of occult and paranormal activities. Forest has just aged out of the foster-care system and is new on the job at Lincoln Psychiatric, hoping to earn enough money to get to college. Darius has also just taken a job at Lincoln to save money for college. Trina is Darius' girlfriend, and she leaves college to take an internship at Lincoln. And Levi--since Levi was murdered and then brought back to life (sort of) by his grandmother, "granny-woman" Imogene--has haunted the halls of Lincoln, helping the recently dead "cross over" and keeping tabs on all of the malevolent spirits that Lincoln seems to attract. Though born at and living in different times, the four teens converge for a series of paranormal adventures. In four linked novellas, each teen tells a story of utmost creepiness, but aside from the locale and atmosphere, there is little overarching logic. The paranormal knack that comes with "Madoc blood"--descent from the Welsh prince who, according to folklore, came to the New World in 1170--is one element, but there's also witchcraft and plenty of garden-variety evil. The central question of exactly what makes Lincoln such a magnet for ghosts, haints, shades and whatnot is never satisfactorily addressed. Readers content to do without the plotted throughline of a novel will find plenty of effective horror set pieces here. (Horror. 14 & up)

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June 1, 2014

Gr 7 Up-The spirits living at Lincoln Psychiatric Hospital in Never, Kentucky, are restless, creepy, and memorable. They don't play nice with the four teen employees who each tell a different story. Forest meets a dead teen whose job is to help others cross over; Darius, haunted by the words of his grandmother, must defeat the ghost of his murdering grandfather; Trina, a witch, is at odds with her father who is out to exterminate those with Madoc blood; and Levi, a lost soul, helps connect the four stories. The secrets that lurk in the tunnels of the hospital are revealed throughout. While the novel is eerie, the magical powers that are introduced tame the darker elements. Readers will appreciate the way that Vaught has brought the four tales together to an overall climax but first brings each story to its own conclusion. At times, the stories stray a bit, but readers will want to stick with it as Vaught has made the ending worth the trip. Teens looking for an eerie ghost story will want to check this one out.-Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton High School, Linden, MI

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2014
Grades 7-10 If all was well at Lincoln Psychiatric, it wouldn't make for much of a book, would it? The reopening of ancient tunnels beneath the facility has stirred up spirits, not all of which are nice. Vaught structures her ghost story in four sections, each centered upon and told from the point of view of a teen employee: Forest, a girl whose first night shift includes an encounter with a dead teen who helps people cross over; Darius, who is tasked with vanquishing the ghost of his murderous grandfather; Trina, a witch whose father is out to eradicate those with Madoc evil powers; and Levi, a lost soul who is, in many ways, the linchpin of the novel. The quickness at which magical powers are introduced cuts the legs out from the eeriness, but Vaught's gradual building of her ghost-busting team nicely juggles attitude and fright, and she excels at bringing each story to a conclusion while still driving to an overall climax. Readers not ready for full-on nightmares will eagerly check into this madhouse.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)