The One Thing You Can Tell Anything To: The Hidden Diary is a story of mystery and suspense for readers young and old

 

The Hidden Diary (Bone Chillers #2)

Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar

Unveiling Nightmares Press, 2024

ISBN-13: 979-8304610063

Ebook, 210 ppg.

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When I was a kid – specifically, 12 years old, like the main character in this book – I always loved hearing a good ghost story. What’s more, I was always eager to play the role of detective and try to solve the local mysteries in the neighborhood.

 

I was always up for those things, as long as it didn’t involve the house that I lived in!

 

And that’s the case in the new middle grade novel The Hidden Diary by Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar, where 12-year-old Alyssa Morgan, who moves into a house with her 6-year-old brother, Billy, and her newly-single mother that everyone in their new town assumes is haunted. In fact, anytime Alyssa tells the locals where she lives, they react with fear and mumble things like “I’ll pray for you.”

 

And you would think that would be enough to set Alyssa on alert on have her packing her stuff back up. But, nope! She doesn’t believe her new home is haunted – except that she does have doubts after she finds a diary hidden in her new bedroom. The diary was kept by a girl named Elaine, also, 12, who lived in that house with her family in the seventies. One day, they were there and the next day, they were not. The whole family plus a boy that lived with them disappeared just out of the blue, leaving behind all of their worldly possessions. So, yeah, that’s enough mystery to get people talking.

 

And as much as Alyssa tries to brush off all the rumors and stories circulating about her house, she can’t help but wonder what really happened to that family. As she ponders, what girl would want to leave behind her own diary?

 

I was asking myself the same thing as I read this story. And, like Alyssa, I was curious about what happened to that family.

 

And just like Alyssa, I, too, had misgivings about reading Elaine’s diary entries. Alyssa knows she shouldn’t, but her curiosity wins out. I think the diary might hold some clues as to what happened to the family, so, yes, reading it was probably the best thing to do.

 

After all, detectives do rely on journals and diaries to help them find clues about a missing person. It does feel weird reading another person’s diary, but in this case, it is one thing that could prove useful in solving the mystery.

 

I loved the part where Alyssa agrees to investigate the family’s disappearance. Of course, it took a lot of convincing on Jeremy’s part, but I think she wanted to know mostly because of what she read in the diary. And when she brushes off the possibility of paranormal involvement, determined to keep a level head about the whole thing, I suddenly pictured this duo as a young version of Mulder and Scully.

 

This was a really interesting story to read, even if it is for kids. I mean, it’s a detective story! It’s a murder mystery! It definitely kept me turning the pages, wanting to know what happened next.

 

I thought that Alyssa and Jeremy did a good job at trying to be detectives, even if their knowledge of detective work comes from TV shows or books. I also understood their frustration over constantly running into dead ends. This is something that can happen when doing detective work, and you just have to hang in there and keep going. Keep searching for clues and investigating leads. Well, Alyssa certainly does have a good lead with the diary she found in her bedroom, and as she kept reading this diary until the end, I was shocked over the information she uncovered! What a surprise!

 

The Hidden Diary is an un-put-downable mystery story that would entertain readers of all ages. Filled with suspense, surprises and plot twists, this story will keep readers young and old on the edge of their seats!

 

 

Five stars.

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.