White Smoke

"White Smoke" is a gripping young adult psychological thriller that blends a classic haunted house story with deeper themes of systemic issues and personal trauma. Marigold, a teen grappling with past struggles, moves with her newly blended family to a free house in a struggling Midwestern city. What starts as unsettling household occurrences, like vanishing items and strange smells, escalates into a full-blown haunting that only Mari perceives. The narrative expertly weaves Mari's internal battles with the external horror, exploring themes of mental health, family dynamics, and the hidden secrets of a community. Parents should be aware of prominent scary scenes, psychological tension, and themes of community neglect and potential social commentary, making it suitable for mature teen readers aged 12-18. It's an excellent choice for discussions about perception, trust, and confronting difficult truths.

Marigold is running from ghosts. The phantoms of her old life keep haunting her, but a move with her newly blended family from their small California beach town to the embattled Midwestern city of Cedarville might be the fresh start she needs. Her mom has accepted a new job with the Sterling Foundation that comes with a free house, one that Mari now has to share with her bratty ten-year-old stepsister, Piper. The renovated picture-perfect home on Maple Street, sitting between dilapidated houses, surrounded by wary neighbors has its... secrets. That’s only half the problem: household items vanish, doors open on their own, lights turn off, shadows walk past rooms, voices can be heard in the walls, and there’s a foul smell seeping through the vents only Mari seems to notice. Worse: Piper keeps talking about a friend who wants Mari gone. But "running from ghosts" is just a metaphor, right? As the house closes in, Mari learns that the danger isn’t limited to Maple Street. Cedarville has its secrets, too. And secrets always find their way through the cracks.