Bedlam

In Ally Kennen's "Bedlam," 16-year-old Lexi Juby is less than thrilled to move to a dull village with her estranged mother. Her initial boredom quickly gives way to unease as strange howlings and break-ins plague their home. A search for her mother's dog leads Lexi into the woods, where she's attacked by a wild animal and stumbles upon a decaying, abandoned asylum. This middle-grade novel blends a coming-of-age story with a gripping mystery and horror elements, exploring themes of fear, resilience, and family estrangement against a chilling backdrop. It's suitable for readers aged 10-14 who enjoy suspenseful narratives.

When 16-year-old Lexi is forced to move in with her estranged mother, she thinks she'll die of boredom. Yet midnight howlings and regular break-ins convince her otherwise. When Lexi follows her mother's dog into the woods and discovers an abandoned asylum, it is only too apparent that there is something out there. Something real and something very shocking indeed.