The Haunting of Sunshine Girl

The Haunting of Sunshine Girl by Paige McKenzie

Published by Macmillan Childrens

26th March 2015

Paperback Edition

 

 

In that place where you're more asleep than awake any more, I hear something else. A phrase uttered in a child's voice, no more than a whisper: Night Night.

Something freaky's going on with Sunshine's new house . . . there's the chill that wraps itself around her bones, the giggling she can hear in the dead of night, and then the strange shadows that lurk in her photographs. But the more weird stuff that happens, the less her mum believes her. Sunshine's always had a quirky affiliation with the past, but this time, history is getting much too close for comfort . . .

If there is something, or someone, haunting her house, what do they want? And what will they do if Sunshine can't help them?

As things become more frightening and dangerous, and the giggles she hears turn to sobs and screams, Sunshine has no choice but to accept what she is, face the test before her and save her mother from a fate worse than death.

 

I'm not a great fan of the horror genre, I scare quite easily but having read some earlier reviews of this book, and lured by the cover, I decided that I'd give it a try - a nothing ventured, nothing gained attitude.

The Haunting of Sunshine Girl is a YA book by Paige McKenzie that began life as a web series initially broadcast on You Tube.  It follows teenager Sunshine as she moves house across state in America with her nurse mother Kat.  From the first time Sunshine sees the house, the only word she can find to describe it is 'creepy' - and as it turns out, she's more than right about that.

From footsteps she hears running about the landing, to voices and giggling at night, Sunshine is convinced that there is more to the house than meets the eye.  The only problem is that her sceptical mum is less keen to believe what Sunshine not only hears but begins to see too. 

Sunshine can't convince her mum that anything is happening in the house, and their once tight relationship seems to be weakening, with Kat spending more and more time at work and less at home with her daughter.  Sunshine makes friends with Nolan, a boy in her art class, and confides in him about what is happening at home.  He is instantly interested and, at last, Sunshine has found someone who believes in her.

As with all horror stories, there's a ghost here who wants to be heard, and they are not planning on leaving quietly.  The story progresses with more twists, turns and tensions than I am usually comfortable with until the dramatic climax.  There is a sequel, I believe.

I really did enjoy this book, but I have to admit, if it was on the big screen, I'd have been watching from behind a cushion!  I'll give the next book a go though...

 

Happy Reading

 Miss Chapter x