2017 Bram Stoker Awards Final Ballot Nominee for Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel
Growing up in rural Maine led Gillian French to believe that the mystery of the past is all around. She uses her surroundings as a setting for her dark stories that often have a creepy twist. While she's never seen a ghost, she's pretty sure she's heard ghostly footsteps in the night. French's short fiction has appeared in various publications and anthologies. The Door to January is her second YA novel; her first, Grit, was released by HarperTeen in May 2017. French holds a B.A. in English from the University of Maine and is perpetually at work on her next novel.
"Readers will feel connected to Natalie and her plight of past,
present, and future, and though there are supernatural elements to
the story, the emotions and feelings are all too real. [...] A
provocative mystery that would be a strong purchase for libraries'
supernatural/mystery collections."--School Library Journal
Chilling and suspenseful, this paranormal thriller with a touch of
romance will keep readers on the edges of their seats.--Kirkus
Reviews
Keen plotting, evocative writing, and dynamic characterization make
French a writer to watch.--Booklist
Ever since a tragedy caused her family to move away from home,
Natalie has had intense recurring nightmares in which she is drawn
toward a door in an old house back in her hometown. Now sixteen,
Natalie is determined to resolve the nightmares and put to rest the
events she and her cousin Teddy endured two years ago. The cousins
set out to solve her nightmare mystery, visiting an abandoned house
on a hill (from her nightmares) back in their hometown of Bernier.
The two set up a recorder, and after the first electronic voice
phenomena (EVP) recordings, Natalie becomes increasingly convinced
her nightmares are calling her to solve a crime. With each visit to
the house, Natalie is pulled back in time to 1948 where she
witnesses several tragedies unfold in the house through the course
of that long-ago year. Teddy and Natalie's reappearance in town
reignites animosities, and two mysteries--one in the present, one
in the past--come together as Natalie and Teddy challenge bullying,
abuse, and murder. Rich characters, paranormal activity, small-town
high school bullies, and a hint of romance for Natalie balance out
challenging time sequencing and occasionally ambiguous
relationships in this fast-paced cliffhanger. Readers looking for a
frisson of fear and/or seeking a sense of justice will find this
compelling suspense story worth the effort.
--Kim Carter. The Door to January focuses on Natalie Payson and her
cousin Teddy. Natalie, who moved away from her hometown because of
intense bullying in middle school, has come back to town with Teddy
for a short visit. She must face the reason she left and not get
caught by the ghosts of her past. The characters' interactions are
realistic and the dialogue is short and snappy, moving the story
along quickly. Readers who enjoy stories with a mixture of humor
and suspense will definitely enjoy this book. 4Q, 4P.
--Anisa Amrani, Teen Reviewer. --VOYA Reviews 2017 October
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