review: The House Next Door

Rory Parker (Japanese American) has new neighbors. The Yoons (Korean American) have moved in next door with their children, Jack and Mira. This is the same house where Rory’s friend, Joey, used to live until the ghosts scared he and his family away. Rory, Jack and Mira quickly become friends over Asian cuisine, video games, and their pets.

There’s an old lady ghost in the Yoon’s home that tries to tell everyone that no children should live in the house, but they kept moving in anyway. Rory gave up on trying to help protect Joey when it seemed there was more to the old lady ghost and it wasn’t going away. But this time around, he wants to be a better friend to Jack. Rory doesn’t want anything bad to happen to his new friends.

The story, told in third person, focuses on Rory’s perspective. Ellen Oh, gives middle grade readers a safety blanket with a world of characters who are kind and caring toward each other, even little sisters. That little Mira is such a bad ass, but we only get her story through Rory. But, there are those…things… in the Yoon’s house that physically attack and plan serious harm upon the Yoon children. The action amps up toward the end of the story, after our young monster hunters have researched these creatures, rationalizing them to readers.

The book serves as a gateway to the horror genre for young readers.

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