Dreaming Darkly

Gr 8 Up—After her mother's suicide, Ivy Bloodgood is sent to live with a strange uncle, whom she previously never knew existed, on a secluded island off the New England coast. Mood is the driving element in this gothic suspense tale as Ivy hears rumors about her family's murderous past and tries to grapple with the mental illness that she is afraid runs in her blood. Readers will struggle along with Ivy as they try to determine what is real and what is in her head after she wakes from a nightmare clutching bloody objects. A long-standing feud between the Bloodgoods and their neighbors also creates a forbidden romance between Ivy and the mysterious boy next door. While some of the secondary characters and school story line are less developed, the tension of Ivy's family story propels this mystery. There are several satisfying twists along the way, and the climax leads to an action-packed showdown.