As a reader, I tend to gravitate toward adult fiction. I used to read a lot of young adult fiction—when I was writing more young adult fiction myself—but have seldom strayed into middle grade fiction. At least, not since I was at the “right” age for middle grade fiction.
For a long time, I also (mistakenly) assumed that middle grade horror didn’t have any bite. I didn’t think it could unsettle me or find a way to get under my skin. The first book I read that changed my mind was Seeing Things by Sonora Taylor.
Released in June 2020, Seeing Things tells the story of a girl named Abby who is spending the summer at her uncle’s house. Of course, there’s a lot more to it than that, as you can tell from the back cover text:
Abby Gillman has discovered that with growing up, there comes a lot of blood. But nothing prepares her for the trail of blood she sees in the hallway after class - or the ghost she finds crammed inside an abandoned locker.
No one believes Abby, of course. She’s only seeing things. As much as Abby wants to be believed, what she wants more is to know why she can suddenly see the dead. Unfortunately, they won’t tell her. In fact, none of them will speak to her. At all.
Abby leaves for her annual summer visit to her uncle’s house with tons of questions. The visit will give her answers the ghosts won’t - but she may not like what she finds out.
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In Seeing Things, we experience the world through Abby’s point of view. I’m not so far removed from being a preteen that I don’t remember what it’s like, and Sonora does a great job of portraying such a youthful character without oversimplifying her thoughts and emotions.
The story is a mystery, but more than that, it’s horror with the elements of a supernatural thriller. It’s also an engaging narrative about a girl trying to find her place in the world and in her family while solving a decades-old local murder. I love the voice in the book as well as Abby’s frustration—not only with her sudden ability to see ghosts, but with the adults in her life for treating her like a child and not taking her seriously because of her age.
The ghosts presented throughout the book are also pretty scary. Sonora’s use of evocative description and vivid imagery made it easy for me to picture them, as well as to understand why Abby is so afraid of them. I was surprised by how spooky they were.
Author, Sonora Taylor
I love a good coming-of-age story intermingled with some family drama, and Seeing Things provides exactly that. Along with Abby’s newfound ability to see the dead comes the unraveling of some long-buried secrets. Like most of the other books I’ve reviewed for this column so far, this one is short, so I won’t go too much in depth here. But trust me when I say this story builds toward a compelling climax that wraps up in a neat resolution.
Seeing Things makes a short, emotional read that’s perfect for the summer. If you’re looking for bite-sized thrills, you’ll want to snag a copy. The book is available on Amazon, and you can follow Sonora Taylor on Instagram and Twitter. I’ll also be tabling with her at Scares that Care! It’s okay to be jealous.
Briana Morgan (she/her) is a horror author and playwright of books such as THE TRICKER-TREATER AND OTHER STORIES, UNBOXED, and BLOOD AND WATER. She is also a proud member of the Horror Writers Association. Briana lives with her partner and two cats in Atlanta, GA.
