Review: Creepers by Joanne Dahme

genre: young adult
rating: 4/5

The first thing that caught my eye about this book was its fantastic shade of green and the shiny ivy leaves crawling along the spine. Quite appropriate, since the ivy "twisting up the trunks of the trees and dribbling across the lawn" was the first thing that Courtney noticed when she arrived at her new home - a Puritan era house next door to a centuries old cemetery. The ivy seems to have a mind of its own as the days go by and Courtney can practically watch it grow. The cemetery also catches Courtney's interest, especially when she notices a father and daughter who repeatedly visit the same grave.

Creepers is a Gothic mystery, a tale introducing early teens to history and spirituality. We begin to wonder if there is life beyond the grave and Courtney even becomes a bit of an activist when the cemetery becomes threatened. The author does a fantastic job of making things just scary enough, planting doubts that what we see is all there is. The plot is accessible for younger teens but still engaging enough for adults who like the genre - and Dahme doesn't just spit out the answers at us, things are left unsaid to let our imaginations take a turn. Courtney is a believable teenager who finds herself suddenly very interested in the past and how it intertwines with the present. I love how the author uses different media to make the past come alive - letters, journals and newspaper articles. Even the pages have a green tint and the occasional picture that make the book's Gothic feel even more apparent.

I think this is a great pick for mother-daughter book groups or for teen reading. I know I'll be holding on to my copy until my own daughter is ready to read it with me.