by Nick Lake
First published 2022
Lily has grown accustomed to hospital visits due to her ongoing health problems. When her mother goes into labor, her parents leave her at her grandmother's house and head to the hospital. Lily worries the new baby will take her place in the family. She also realizes she forgot to bring Willo, her beloved toy. While her grandmother isn't paying attention, Lily sneaks back to her house to retrieve Willo. She expects to find the house empty but discovers her parents are there. Something is wrong with them. They appear normal from a distance, but up close their eyes are completely black. These dark versions of her parents claim the house belongs to them now and won't let her inside. Lily meets unexpected allies in her garden who agree to help her fight these shadow creatures. She must find the strength to defeat the imposters and get her real parents back. The question remains whether she has enough power to win this battle.
Genres: mystery, fantasy, horror
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: found-family, underdog
Setting: Grandmother's House
240 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Content warnings: anxiety, child-death, mental-illness