A GOOD DAUGHTER'S GHOST

A babysitter discovers something terrifying lurking in a grieving family’s home.

When 16-year-old Rachel Bei accepts a job babysitting for the Morin family, she looks forward to both earning money and escaping difficulties at home; the biracial teen has been raised by her single Chinese mother—her white father, an English exchange student, died before she was born—and the two have struggled since the death of her grandmother Wàipó. But the Morins, who present white, aren’t without their own troubles: Their elder daughter, Maddie, recently died, and 8-year-old Blythe is wrestling with grief. As Rachel bonds with the Morins and attempts to win Blythe over, she learns that Blythe believes she can see Maddie’s ghost. Rachel doesn’t believe in ghosts, despite Wàipó’s having been a spirit medium. Rachel is also embarrassed by her mother’s traditional spiritual practices. But as sinister truths about the Morin household come to light, she must draw upon her family heritage if she has any hope of surviving. Rachel’s cultural background and her complex relationship with her mother add texture to a traditional ghost tale. The creeping narrative slowly builds a foreboding atmosphere that eventually leads to a riveting finale. Readers looking to dip their toes into horror will find much to enjoy, although seasoned fans of the genre may find some of the twists predictable.

An eerie debut that explores just how haunting grief can be.