Review By: Anonymous
Published: 2020
Genres: Horror, Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller
Audience: Grades 7–9
Number of Stars: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Goodreads Link: Harrow Lake
Content Warnings: Inferences to child and domestic abuse; violence
Publisher’s Summary
The daughter of a horror film director is not afraid of anything—until she gets to Harrow Lake. Lola Nox is the daughter of a celebrated horror filmmaker; she thinks nothing can scare her. But when her father is brutally attacked in their New York apartment, she’s quickly packed off to live with a grandmother she’s never met in Harrow Lake, the eerie town where her father’s most iconic horror movie was shot.
The locals are weirdly obsessed with the film that put their town on the map—and there are strange disappearances, which the police seem determined to explain away. And there’s someone—or some thing—stalking her every move. The more Lola discovers about the town, the more terrifying it becomes. Because Lola’s got secrets of her own. And if she can’t find a way out of Harrow Lake, they might just be the death of her.
Review
Middle school students often ask if I have any Stephen King books in the collection. Since I believe these books are more suitable for high school, I don’t include them. However, I’m always searching for horror fiction appropriate for their age level. Harrow Lake meets many of these criteria. In this story, Lola Nox, the daughter of a famous horror filmmaker, is sent to live with her grandmother and finds herself in a real-life horror film. Harrow Lake, the setting of one of her father’s most renowned films, becomes the scene for numerous strange occurrences. Supernatural events, mysterious disappearances, a “bone tree” adorned with human teeth, and unsettling sightings of a character named Mr. Jitters are some of the eerie elements in this tale.
The cover of Harrow Lake depicts a black and white cinematic image of a blurry girl’s face. It’s definitely eye-catching and it reminded me of the character Samara in the film The Ring. I believe the book’s cover would attract students who enjoy the supernatural. The author, Kat Ellis, hails from North Wales and has written other young adult thrillers and horror books. Her biography mentions her love for scary movies and exploring cemeteries, drawing inspiration from books like Unwind by Neal Shusterman.
Horror and thriller novels are generally popular with middle school students year-round, and this book would be an excellent choice for Halloween displays. It’s a suspenseful novel and can be described as a frightening thriller with supernatural elements. There are many nightmarish plot twists to keep horror fans enthralled, although some (not all) of the “surprises” are probably predictable.
📝 Classroom & Library Applications
- Media Literacy: Since Lola is the daughter of a director, this book is perfect for discussing how “horror” is constructed. Use it to talk about camera angles, pacing, and how “jump scares” are translated from film to text.
- Creative Writing: Have students create their own “Urban Legend” for a fictional town, similar to the legend of Mr. Jitters.
- The Anatomy of a Thriller: Use the “nightmarish plot twists” to teach students about foreshadowing and the “unreliable narrator.
