  | Dark becomes her Author: Lin, Judy I. | |
| Price: $23.78 | ||
Summary:
When a ghost from the spirit world transforms her sister, Ruby Chen confronts the dark upheaval in Vancouver's Chinatown as she enters into an ancient battle over the gateway to the underworld as she attempts to save her sister and her community.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (08/15/24)
School Library Journal (+) (10/01/24)
Booklist (10/01/24)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 10/01/2024 Gr 7 Up—An atmospheric horror novel imbued with Taiwanese and Chinese mythology. Sixteen-year-old Ruby Chen bears the weight of heavy parental expectations. On top of this, she has always been haunted by spirits. Her world changes when one attacks her in Vancouver's Chinatown neighborhood, and she is rescued by a boy named Shen who has a tiger tattoo. He, along with his friend Delia, introduces her to a world of deities she has never believed in. Even so, she has to trust her new friends in order to save her sister who is acting unusually. Lin excels at creating dread with every page without resorting to cheap scares. Initially, the book appears to be a simple possession narrative, but really, its themes are multitudinous. Her story is about managing relationships with family and friends which comes with their own horrors. Simultaneously, Ruby also wrestles with identity questions that many children of diaspora communities know too well. Readers' fear while reading is heightened by having such a whip-smart protagonist. Her actions make sense, and readers are with her every page. All of the main characters are Taiwanese. This is sophisticated horror for both fans and non-fans of the genre alike. VERDICT A superb addition to horror collections that will also satisfy fans of mythology, too.—Wilsinia Ocasio - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
