About This Book
Reach for this book when your teenager is feeling isolated by a chronic health struggle or the fatigue of an invisible illness. It is a sophisticated gothic mystery that validates the physical and emotional toll of being 'the sick kid' while offering a gripping supernatural escape. The story follows Ellen, a modern girl sent to recuperate from a mysterious blood condition at her grandmother's house, where she discovers a Victorian diary that mirrors her own experiences in terrifying ways. This novel uses the vampire trope as a powerful metaphor for the way illness can drain a person's life force and identity. It is developmentally appropriate for middle and high schoolers who enjoy darker themes and historical fiction. Parents will appreciate the way it addresses resilience and the bond between generations, providing a safe space to discuss the fear and lack of control that often accompany medical uncertainty.
