This book was scary as heck. The premise of a family moving into a home with such a dark history. The things that happened, the things happening, had me on the edge of my seat. Mari's trying to escape her demons only to be thrown into a situation ten times worse. And, because of her past she has little credibility when it comes to her family. So, what chance does she have making them believe her about their new, shiny home being haunted? I was so impressed with how the author tied everything together. The haunting, the insidiousness of the Stirling Foundation, the mob mentality, Mari's own fears and anxieties. Mari's very real phobia of bed bugs had me so grossed out, but thoroughly hooked. Every so often she would state a fact about bed bugs and I would go through my mind wondering if our house could be infested. This fear was as haunting and debilitating as the actual ghosts. The bed bugs also work as imagery for what is happening to her family, the invisible pest, the infestation of little things that bite. The idea that something can be growing and thriving in the dark, the unseen terror that only worsens and can never truly be removed. Because that is what racism is, this horrible manifestation of thoughts and ideas and prejudice. Mari finally begins to make friends and progress. She thinks she is finally going to overcome her past. However, it is all thrown away by lies, assumptions, and misdirected anger. I was so often upset on Mari's behalf, that no one cared for her struggles, pushed them off as less than their own, or put others above her. Her step-father was so quick to condemn Mari for something she did not do and protect his own daughter for something she very much was a party to. My rage swelled as the story unfolded. And even while Mari felt so lonely from no one listening or understanding, she pushed herself to understand others and why they may also be feeling alone or lost. I loved Mari's brother though (Sammy), he was the bright beacon in this story. At first he was as unsure as anyone else about his sister, because of the prior hurt she caused him. But he still loves her and listens to her and begins to believe her. He offers support to her when few others do and he is just such a ray of utter sunshine. Him and their dog, Buddy. Which made up for her new friend (Yusef), who thought that his problems were harder than Mari's and did not stop to consider that marijuana is often times medicinal now and not just a bad drug. And sure, his past has made him jaded, but he should also know what it means for others to be criminalized unjustly. I did wish there was more to the ending. It felt abrupt and unfinished. Too much was left undone. I do suppose that the novel leaves it up to the reader whether justice was actually delivered to those who deserved it. It also highlights that fighting injustice and racism is a long road and sometimes is not so neat and tidy. It is a continuous battle of trying to teach others and Mari has that battle fully ahead of her. Because what is more scary? Possible ghosts or very real racial injustice?
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