'The Silenced': A YA Delight That Will Haunt You this Fall

Disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book from the NetGalley. This post also contains Amazon affiliate links [*]. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

If my somewhat worn-out memory serves me right, I've come across the name Diana Rodriguez Wallach scattered across the shelves of bookstores—perhaps languishing in that ever-familiar bestseller section, which nowadays doubles as the YA section. I can’t say I’ve ever picked up any of her books, but when I stumbled upon the cover of her latest release, The Silenced, it was hard to ignore. That cover is a slice of atmospheric creepiness that feels perfect for the spooky season looming ahead. With a head cluttered by a million worries and the urge to seek an escape, I decided to read it. If you've got a spine that can handle a little fright, grab a copy ^[*] and join me; every read helps keep the wheels turning for future reviews on this blog.

Now, let me paint the plot for you: Hazel Perez, our protagonist, approaches her school project on the forsaken Oakwell Farms School for Girls—the locals call it "the Farm"—expecting the assignment to be just another box to check off her list. But after a late-night escapade into research that leaves her unconscious, she wakes up gripped by an insatiable thirst for revenge that doesn’t even feel like it belongs to her.

As Hazel struggles to free herself from these sudden violent impulses and the haunting visions of an unfamiliar girl looming in the mirror, she realizes that to reclaim her sanity, she must dig into the dark history encapsulated in Oakwell Farms. What she uncovers are the harrowing tales of girls trapped under the watchful eyes of sinister men, their spirits still lingering in the shadows. With some unexpected allies on her side, Hazel must traverse the treacherous landscape of corruption, history, and the supernatural to bring peace to the restless spirits and unravel the mystery of her family's ties to this haunted past.

Now, I want to be clear—this isn’t a dig at Diana Rodriguez Wallach. Her writing style undoubtedly aligns with the modern YA genre. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, but it does sometimes seem like many emerging authors are churning out adult narratives with the same stylistic choices cluttering the YA landscape. It’s a little frustrating, to be honest, bordering on lazy. After all, what you read ultimately shapes who you are as a writer. It’s one of the reasons I indulge in a smorgasbord of genres; I crave the multifaceted style that diverse reading can create.

But enough of my meandering thoughts—let's get into what you came here for: my take on The Silenced.

This book is a departure from my usual taste. I adore horror, but the modern YA vibe didn’t exactly mesh well with my preferences. Still, I persevered, pushed aside my nitpicks, and just allowed the narrative to unfold. Story-wise, I ended up enjoying it; the original premise of the haunted Oakwell Farm gripped me tightly and kept the pages turning. I blitzed through this book in about 90 minutes, pacing back and forth in the early morning hours—insomnia can be both a curse and a peculiar blessing.

Hazel, our protagonist, is instantly relatable. Sure, I’m nowhere near her age, but I connected with her character on some level, and I suspect younger readers will find her just as engaging.

Let’s circle back to Diana Rodriguez Wallach: despite my YA-inspired nitpicking, her narration shines. While some descriptions might lack the grandeur I crave, they fit this particular story like a well-worn glove, and the dialogue crackles with life. So, while I might have my mental pokes and prods, there’s no real flaw in her writing. I’m heartily recommending The Silenced to both the YA crowd and adult readers alike. Happy haunting—I mean, reading! ╌★★★★✰

〜B.J. Burgess