Marina Cohen

I wasn't sure I really liked this book when I first finished it, but even weeks later, I find myself still thinking about it. That's what made me sit down and write this review. The writing wasn't super impressive, but the plot was interesting and sufficiently creepy without being overly frightening for most middle readers. There were a few parts that were more disturbing than others, but overall, it really was more of a strange mystery that slowly resolved itself as the book went on. I feel show more like the ending resolved a lot of unfinished business for the characters, especially Quinn, who discovers that things are never as simple as they seem and that sometimes good people make bad decisions that can turn out to have very tragic consequences. They are still good people, even if they feel that they can't possibly be because of what happened, but sometimes people just have the bad luck to be extra irritable or tired or angry or rushing ...and make a decision in a split second that ends in something horrible..something they never could have forseenand would give anything to undo.

Quinn made such a decision that has haunted her for a long time, something that she can't forgive herself for or move past. The events at the strange hotel that she and her friend Kara, and Kara's family, end up at for the night on a cross-country road trip, help Quinn deal with her past and help her learn to move forward, forgive herself, and appreciate her present and fight for her future. Clearly more to this book than I originally thought, since it's wormed it's way into my head and thoughts in such a deep way. show less

3.5 stars

Genuinely creepy all the way through.
We need more books like this.

Imagine the world shift just so: everything's a bit different, but only enough for you to notice that it's not quite right for reasons that elude you. Living on edge becomes a new normal.
Now imagine THAT, throughout.
In all seriousness - this book is genuinely spooky. Just the way proper horror should be.
(now that I think about it, it reminds me of Are you afraid of the dark? TV series)

I'm glad it has the ending it show more does - it truly is perfect. It might not sit well with some readers, but there are just too few anythings with open endings that leave you both satisfied AND guessing.

FINAL VERDICT : READ THIS FOR A GOOD PROPER SPOOK show less

Marina Cohen’s The Inn Between is best approached cold. Really, the description on the book jacket actually reveals too much information.

Here’s what I can tell you: Quinn Martin and Kara Cawston, both 11 and best friends since kindergarten, are making one last trip together. The Cawstons are relocating from Denver to Santa Monica, and they’re taking Quinn with them so the girls can spend a little more time together before Quinn has to return to her life in Denver.

The Cawstons pull show more over at a Victorian mansion of a hotel called the Inn Between, and check in. But soon Quinn realizes that the Inn Between isn’t what it seems. And soon Quinn is discovering things about the hotel — and herself — that will surprise the reader. The ending took me completely by surprise.

The book’s beginning was a bit clunky, but Cohen more than made up for it with her imaginative treatment of — well, that would be telling, wouldn’t it? Recommended not just for its middle-grade target audience, but for anyone who would enjoy a unique yarn imaginatively crafted.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Roaring Brook Press, in exchange for an honest review. show less

The Doll's Eye is a delightful gluten & dairy-free middle grade novel. It has just the right amount of creepy, and would make a perfect modern day episode of Twilight Zone. A girl and her new family move to a new house in a new city. She finds a dollhouse in the attic and a glass eye marble, and then things are never quite the same. Can the upstairs neighbor, Granny, help? Is her new friend who loves bugs able to save her? Along with the present day, the story tells the narrative of the show more little girl who first owned the dollhouse. Her housekeeper tells her about the kobold, a house spirit which can grant wishes but is also tricky and dangerous. This is a quick read that dramatically shows you the two sides of wishing for perfect. "If you believe you are happy, then aren't you?" show less