Watch Over Me

Mila accepts a teaching position at an isolated farm on the Northern California coast, hoping for a fresh start after aging out of the foster care system. At the remote property, she joins a small community that takes in foster children and teaches them alongside the regular curriculum about farming, cooking, and living off the land. The farm holds an otherworldly quality, with unexplained occurrences and ghostly presences that mirror Mila's own haunted past. As she builds connections with the children she teaches and her fellow staff members, she must confront the traumatic memories she has long tried to bury. The story moves between Mila's present experiences at the farm and fragments of her past, creating a layered narrative about grief, belonging, and healing. LaCour's spare prose and atmospheric setting frame this contemporary ghost story that explores both literal and metaphorical hauntings. This meditation on trauma and recovery examines how the past shapes identity, and what it means to find home after experiencing profound loss. Through supernatural elements and psychological depth, the novel considers how people carry their histories and learn to move forward.

Readers describe this ghost story as atmospheric, melancholic, and slower-paced than typical YA novels. Many connect with the authentic portrayal of trauma, grief, and healing. Readers appreciated: - Beautiful, lyrical prose style - Realistic depiction of foster care experiences - Integration of ghosts as metaphors for past trauma - The isolated farm setting - Treatment of found family themes Common criticisms: - Plot moves too slowly for some - Limited action or traditional ghost story elements - Some found the ending unsatisfying - Character motivations not always clear Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (23,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (500+ ratings) BookPage: 5/5 Reader quote: "The prose reads like poetry and the ghostly elements serve the story's deeper themes about confronting your past." - Goodreads reviewer Critical quote: "The pacing drags in the middle section and the supernatural elements feel underdeveloped." - Amazon reviewer

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart A story of family secrets and memory loss on a private island where the line between reality and imagination blurs, mirroring the psychological elements and unreliable memories found in Watch Over Me.

The House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig Set in an isolated manor by the sea, this tale combines gothic elements with grief and sisterhood as the protagonist grapples with loss and unexplained supernatural occurrences.

The Haunted by Danielle Vega The narrative follows a girl who moves to a new house haunted by dark forces, exploring themes of trauma and healing through both supernatural and psychological lenses.

Tiger! Tiger! by Polly Clark Set in a remote landscape, this story weaves past and present while examining human connections and healing in an isolated setting that shapes its inhabitants.

The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden A series that combines magical realism with coming-of-age elements in an isolated setting, featuring a protagonist who must reconcile her past with her present while navigating supernatural occurrences.

🌟 The novel won the 2021 White Pine Award, an annual literary prize chosen by Canadian high school students. 🏳️‍🌈 Nina LaCour is the author of several acclaimed LGBTQ+ young adult novels, including the Printz Award-winning "We Are Okay" (2017). 🌊 The Northern California coastal setting was inspired by LaCour's experiences living in Mendocino County, known for its dramatic cliffs and persistent fog. 👥 The foster care system, which features prominently in the book, serves approximately 424,000 children in the United States on any given day. 📚 The book's unique blend of ghost story and contemporary realism was influenced by LaCour's love of Victorian Gothic literature, particularly works like "The Turn of the Screw" by Henry James.