Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.

Night of the Living Head

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

Few campers at Camp Apple Hill Farm have found the mysterious cabin rumored to be hidden deep in the woods—but those who have whisper of a mysterious woman who tells tales of horrors beyond imagination. Are you brave enough to visit Cabin 23?

Twelve-year-old Alia has always had the worst luck. Whether it's her parents moving her all the way from Kuala Lumpur to a tiny village or her shoes constantly coming untied, Alia can't help but feel as if the universe has it out for her.

To top it all off, her estranged older sister, Ayu, has just reappeared in their lives after years away. Alia's parents are delighted, but Alia is not so sure. She remembers the fights, the tears, the pain her sister caused and knows this is just another case of bad luck following her around.

Then Alia's school fills with rumors of a horrifying creature spotted flying in the night sky. And Alia realizes that perhaps it's not just her bad luck this time—but something more sinister is lying just under the surface of her town...and it's up to Alia to put an end to it for once and for all.

And don't miss the first book in the Tales from Cabin 23 series: The Boo Hag Flex!

  • Creators

  • Series

  • Publisher

  • Release date

  • Formats

  • Languages

  • Reviews

    • Kirkus

      July 15, 2024
      The return of a long-lost sister disrupts the peace of a quiet town. Melur, a Malaysian girl at a U.S. summer camp, wanders into the woods on a dare in order to find the Witch of Cabin 23. The Witch tells her a terrifying tale about a 12-year-old Malaysian girl named Alia who's moved with her family from Kuala Lumpur back to Negeri Sembilan, where she grew up. Alia struggles to fit in; she also hears eerie noises and feels as though someone's watching her. Things start to look up when her older sister, Ayu, now 21, returns after mysteriously leaving home years ago. But strange things keep happening, and her classmates report seeing a floating head in the night sky. Could it be a penanggalan, a vampiric monster that, according to Malaysian lore, preys upon children and can remove its head? Alia's parents are thrilled at Ayu's return, but Alia suspects that Ayu is connected to the odd occurrences, and she devises a plan to uncover the truth. The reality she confronts is far more complex than she could have ever imagined. The latest in this anthology series--each of which is written by a different author--beautifully weaves Malaysian folklore into a gripping, deeply moving thriller that grapples with the devastating toll that secrets can take upon a family. Both Melur and Alia are Muslim; Melur wears hijab, while Alia often repeats Quranic verses to herself. A nail-biting, heart-pounding--and heartbreaking--adventure.(Horror. 8-12)

      COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • School Library Journal

      Starred review from October 18, 2024

      Gr 5 Up-Alia has bad luck-really bad luck. She's always losing homework and tripping over her own feet, and her parents didn't even ask her before moving the family from Kuala Lumpur to a small village. Even her birthday is unlucky; she was born on Friday the 13th, and now that she's turning 12 her birthday falls on Friday the 13th again. Her parents might think she's just superstitious, but Alia keeps seeing dark shadows out of the corner of her eye, and her classmates whisper stories about penanggalan, women whose heads fly through the night, drinking children's blood and strangling them with their entrails. And now, as if things couldn't get worse, her estranged older sister is moving back in. Something is different about her now, something uncanny. Set in Malaysia, this horror story also explores themes of family and what it means to be home. The writing is evocative and suspenseful, even when painting everyday scenes, such as a sunny living room or a moonlit garden. With just the right amount of eerieness, this is a perfectly crafted horror read for tweens that celebrates determination, resilience, and making one's own luck. VERDICT Reminiscent of Coraline and the "Are You Afraid of the Dark" series, this book is original and heart-pounding. Recommended for middle grade collections.-Shelby Hogle

      Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

Languages

  • English

Loading