Review by Ariella Sebba
G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, April 6, 2021
336 pages, Ebook, $2.99, ebook ISBN 9780593110355
12+, Grade 8+
Fiction, Mystery, Magical realism
“Some people go missing because they want to; some go missing because they’re taken. And then there are the others—those who go missing because they fall through a gap somewhere and can’t claw their way back.”
“The Halfway was a story,” I said. “I know. That doesn’t mean it can’t be true.”
What if you weren’t at all who you thought you were?
Iris Hollow and her two sisters Vivi and Grey went missing mysteriously ten years ago. When they returned home one month later, their dark hair turned white, their eyes went black, and strange, magical things started happening around them. No one knows what happened to them during the month they were gone, and neither do the three girls. One day, Grey disappears again, leaving her sisters a cryptic note. Iris and Vivi set out in search of her, but the clues reveal that Grey and their parents have been keeping a much more dark and ominous secret from them.
The story depicts the complexity of family and the strengths of sisterly bonds. It succeeds in displaying the true dualities that come with these relationships such as love and devotion layered with greed and dishonesty—flaws that are common in many families. The sisters’ passionate loyalty to one another made me feel I was physically with them; shocked when they were shocked, hurt when they were hurt, and loving when they were loving.
House of Hollow is a captivating and whimsically written work of mystery, fiction, and magical realism with a fairy tale atmosphere. The plot is twisted, spooky, and strange, making the novel incredibly unique. It is full of dark flowers, colours, odd scents, and beautiful-looking people, creating a woodsy, natural mood throughout. At the same time, however, the novel is full of many descriptions of rotting scents, blood, and decay, which although atmospheric, I found these descriptions repetitive and distracting from the plot. This novel is full of twists and turns with unexpected events that will keep you guessing, but there are a few plot points that were reused throughout. A lot goes on in this packed story, and it does tend to feel a little unrealistic and confusing at times. While most of the confusion slowly gets answered, I was still left with some questions. Nevertheless, Sutherland still manages to keep the plot flowing smoothly throughout, the uncertain aspects of the story keeping me hooked all the way to the end, and the vivid setting allowing for an immersive and grounded reading experience.
With an incredibly unique setting and characters, a dark aesthetic, and uncommon ideas, House of Hollow feels like a story Tim Burton and Neil Gaiman would write together. The novel is emotional, mysterious, magical, and dark, with loveable characters that will keep anyone on their toes.
Ariella Sebba is a fourth-year student at UBC with a major in English Literature and a minor in Creative Writing. Graduating soon, she hopes to pursue writing, hopefully completing a novel of her own, while still continuing to read many books.
YOUNG ADULTING 