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Buildings have memories. Places bear scars. We've all had those moments - a chill in the air, a sense that something terrible once happened where we stand. But some houses are more than scary. They're hungry.

Larkspur House has lured five kids inside, and they're trapped. The five will have to look carefully - there are clues to the house's secrets scattered all over the grounds, and if they can figure out the past, it might show them a way out of their terrifying present. Will they stay strong enough to discover the house's weakness and escape? Or will the horrors of Larkspur House scare the five right out of their minds?

This was pretty spooky, definitely fulfilling if you're looking for a campfire ghost story type feel. If I would have read it at night, I would have had that prickly back feeling. ( )

I'm usually not a big fan of middle grade books but this one was definitely creepy. There are some pictures in this one that really freaked me out and the story was way creepier than I was expecting. It reminded me a lot of the movie House on Haunted Hill but with young kids. It even had a little twist at the end that I wasn't expecting. It does end in a pretty good cliffhanger so I'll continue with the series at some point. ( )

Literary Merit: Good
Characterization: Good
Recommended: Maybe
Reading Level-Middle school

This book had a different ending. It seemed to just end without finalizing things. Which does leave it open for the sequel. I did like the characters and could relate to them. I wanted them to succeed and come out okay. And they were getting things worked out at the end, but the book just ended, without accomplishing everything. The characters did come to self realization, but it was left without completion. ( )

This is the first book in the Shadow House series for middle grade readers. This horror story tells the tale of five children, invited to Shadow House, who try to discern who really invited them and how they can get away. They encounter personal demons and spooky children wearing animal masks. The house itself seems haunted with moving hallways and disappearing doors. Can they escape alive?
This is a good haunted house story for children. It isn’t frightening per se, but it definitely has some spooky bits. The children in animal masks certainly stand out in this regard. Horror isn’t really my genre, but I was intrigued by a surprise reveal near the end of the book. If your kids are too young for Stephen King, but still want to read horror, this series is a good place to start. ( )