The Girl from the Well - by Rin Chupeco (Paperback)

About the Book

"The Ring" meets "The Exorcist" in this haunting story set in Japan about an American boy whose last hope for protection lies with a vengeful ghost.

Book Synopsis

"[A] Stephen Kinglike horror story...A chilling, bloody ghost story that resonates."-- Kirkus

From the highly acclaimed author of the Bone Witch trilogy comes a chilling story of a Japanese ghost looking for vengeance and the boy who has no choice but to trust her, lauded as a "a fantastically creepy story sure to keep readers up at night" (RT Book Reviews)

I am where dead children go.

Okiku is a lonely soul. She has wandered the world for centuries, freeing the spirits of the murdered-dead. Once a victim herself, she now takes the lives of killers with the vengeance they're due. But releasing innocent ghosts from their ethereal tethers does not bring Okiku peace. Still she drifts on.

Such is her existence, until she meets Tark. Evil writhes beneath the moody teen's skin, trapped by a series of intricate tattoos. While his neighbors fear him, Okiku knows the boy is not a monster. Tark needs to be freed from the malevolence that clings to him. There's just one problem: if the demon dies, so does its host.

Suspenseful and creepy, The Girl from the Well is perfect for readers looking for

• Spooky books for young adults
• Japanese horror novels
• Ghost stories for teens
• East Asian folklore

Praise for The Girl from the Well

"There's a superior creep factor that is pervasive in every lyrical word of Chupeco's debut, and it's perfect for teens who enjoy traditional horror movies...the story is solidly scary and well worth the read." -- Booklist

"Chupeco makes a powerful debut with this unsettling ghost story...told in a marvelously disjointed fashion from Okiku's numbers-obsessed point of view, this story unfolds with creepy imagery and an intimate appreciation for Japanese horror, myth, and legend." -- Publishers Weekly STARRED review

"It hit all the right horror notes with me, and I absolutely recommend it to fans looking for a good scare. " -- The Book Smugglers

Review Quotes

"This gorgeously written story reads like poetry--despite the demons." - Brazos Bookstore

"There's a superior creep factor that is pervasive in every lyrical word of Chupeco's debut, and it's perfect for teens
who enjoy traditional horror movies...the story is solidly scary and well worth the read.
" - Booklist

"Rin Chupeco does a fine job of integrating folklore and culture with J[apanese]-horror elements..It hit all the right horror notes with me, and I absolutely recommend it to fans looking for a good scare. " - The Book Smugglers

"This horror mystery has just the right blend of contemporary teenage life and the fantasy of a ghost story. It is well written and fast paced, and the characters both dead and alive are developed and engaging...well worth having in a teen collection that caters to fantasy and horror lovers." - VOYA Magazine

"Chupeco makes a powerful debut with this unsettling ghost story...told in a marvelously disjointed fashion from Okiku's numbers-obsessed point of view, this story unfolds with creepy imagery and an intimate appreciation for Japanese horror, myth, and legend." - Publishers Weekly starred review

""A dark novel that will appeal to horror fans, lovers of Elizabeth Scott's 'Living Dead Girl.'"" - School Library Journal

"The "Girl from the Well" is part The Ring, part The Grudge and part The Exorcist...A fantastically creepy story sure to keep readers up at night... Okiku is one of the most interesting YA characters to date. 41/2 Stars-TOP PICK!" - RT Book Reviews

""[A] Stephen Kinglike horror story...A chilling, bloody ghost story that resonates." " - Kirkus"

"The writing is beautiful. Descriptive in a poetic way, which just makes everything even creepier...I don't even know how to properly praise her [Chupeco], but she has to be one of the most talented writers to be published recently." - Paperback Wonderland