The house next door

Japanese American 12-year-old Rory Parker becomes convinced that the house next door is haunted following a frightening encounter with an elderly apparition, who cautions Rory that children aren't safe there. His suspicions solidify when one of the home's human residents--a fellow middle schooler--is injured in a mysterious incident. Soon after the family's departure from the house, Korean American Jack Yoon, also 12, and his family move in, spurring Rory into action; he resolves protect his new friend with help from his grandfather, who suspects a yokai is the cause of the haunting. Then, during a sleepover, Rory and Jack encounter Timothy, a young ghost who reveals the true nature of the old spirit's warning and the entity inhabiting the abode. Up against supernatural monsters who prey on children, Rory must take a stand. Leveraging both evergreen adolescent worries and chilling depictions of things that go bump in the night, Oh (Haru, Zombie Dog Hero) cultivates an eerie, fast-moving tale of ghosts, creepy critters, and resourceful heroes with horror elements that induce just the right amount of shivers. Details drawn from the characters' respective backgrounds, including each family's cultural cuisines, enrich the narrative as the children bond over their similarities and revel in their differences. Ages 8--12. Agent: Marietta B. Zacker, Gallt & Zacker Literary. (Sept.)

It's summer in Bethesda, Maryland, when a Korean American family moves into the long-abandoned house next door. Twelve-year-old Rory Parker knows that lurking behind the doors of the newly renovated home are frightful ghosts and hordes of yellow-eyed, rat-sized monsters creeping around in the dark. Vowing to protect his new neighbors from impending danger, Rory turns to his Japanese grandfather, who advises him on how to use salt, iron, and holy water to ward off yokai: "demons, monsters, supernatural creatures." As Rory befriends new resident Jack, who believes there's a scientific answer to everything, and his lively younger sister, Mira, they uncover the truth about the ghosts, learn more about the monsters living beneath the house, and work together to defeat the sinister beings preying on small children for their teeth and bones. Inspired by Oh's formative experience of watching the horror movie Don't Be Afraid of the Dark as a child (as an opening note explains), the novel explores themes of friendship, family, trust, and teamwork, with Japanese and Korean cultural elements woven throughout. Suspenseful passages lead to satisfying but not-too-scary monster reveals. With lovable characters uniting to overcome a common enemy, Oh delivers an engaging haunted house story with a heartfelt conclusion. Kristine TechavanichNovember/December 2025 p.75 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Two 12-year-old boys join forces with unexpected allies to defeat malevolent creatures. Japanese American Rory Parker watches uneasily as movers unpack his new neighbors' belongings next door. The house has a tragic history--and it's haunted. Rory's former BFF Joey used to live there, and Rory saw a ghost and other small shadowy beings skulking around with his own eyes. Though reluctant to enter the house, Rory becomes fast friends with its new inhabitants, Korean American Jack and his younger sister, Mira. When Rory discovers that the same evil that afflicted Joey years earlier is targeting Mira, he resolves to keep her and her family safe. Rory and Jack will need the help of Jack's plucky corgi, Rory's ragdoll cat, and the benevolent spirits residing in the house to vanquish the monsters living beneath it. Oh, founder of the nonprofit We Need Diverse Books, treads familiar territory, offering an inspired take on the haunted house trope and delivering a message that friends working together can defeat the greatest of challenges. Her novel is rife with creepiness and peril, leavened by moments of levity, making this an ideal tale for newcomers to the genre. Elements of Japanese and Korean culture are integrated, especially through detailed descriptions of foodways. Spooky fun for novice horror fans.(Horror. 8-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.