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meaganmart's review
4.0
I had put "The Cherished" towards the bottom of my to-be-read pile after seeing that it had received somewhat mixed reviews. I have to admit that I felt lukewarm at best about reading a run of the mill young adult thriller. I am happy to say, however, after finishing the novel, that "The Cherished" was a homerun. I'm not sure what was missing for other readers, but as a librarian that reads hundreds of middle grades and young adult novels each year I can say, without reservation, that "The Cherished" will be a smash hit for its target audience. The creeping, all-encompassing dread that Patricia Ward manages to build chapter after chapter, the way that she roped me in as a reader to suspend my disbelief in the imaginary, and honestly to be terrified by what might be going "bump" in the dark felt masterful.
Jo finds herself in the middle of an endless summer, wishing for any escape to provide her a respite from the suburban nightmare she finds herself living. A mother expecting a half-sibling that will be 17 years younger than she is with her staid and controlling stepfather, a Nana who won't ever let her forget that she doesn't fit the upper crust model she had dreamed of for her grandchildren, and a best friend who seems to already have one foot out the door. The letter from her father's mother, Gammy, comes as a surprise and a salvation as she discovers the old woman has left her a working farm in Vermont.
Her mother insists that she sell the property, but Jo becomes determined to see the farm in person. She hadn't been since a fateful trip over a decade ago that ended with her father being accused of custodial kidnapping.
Upon their arrival any dreams Jo may have had of a rural farm escape instantly disappear. The tenants that live on the land send chills up her spine, and the boarded up "Old House" emanates a chill that invades her nightmare and sends her backwards to hazy memories of that long ago visit. As Jo works to piece together the cryptic message left for her in her grandmother's will along with the stories her father used to tell her as a child, she's left to wonder, what if this place is one where the boundaries between worlds wears thin? And what if the stories she'd thought were bedtime tales for a little girl contain more truth than she'd ever imagined?
I will definitely be ordering copies of "The Cherished" for our collection. This is the perfect mid-winter book for teen readers looking for something spooky to occupy the long. dark nights. Perfect for those interested in the paranormal, and for those who enjoy their mystery with a side of horror, this will be a book I recommend again and again and one that I feel certain will be swapped around with the accompanying whisper "you won't BELIEVE..." Special thanks to NetGalley and to HarperTeen for providing an Advanced Reader's Copy of "The Cherished" in exchange for an unbiased review. I will be eagerly awaiting Ward's next effort!!
Jo finds herself in the middle of an endless summer, wishing for any escape to provide her a respite from the suburban nightmare she finds herself living. A mother expecting a half-sibling that will be 17 years younger than she is with her staid and controlling stepfather, a Nana who won't ever let her forget that she doesn't fit the upper crust model she had dreamed of for her grandchildren, and a best friend who seems to already have one foot out the door. The letter from her father's mother, Gammy, comes as a surprise and a salvation as she discovers the old woman has left her a working farm in Vermont.
Her mother insists that she sell the property, but Jo becomes determined to see the farm in person. She hadn't been since a fateful trip over a decade ago that ended with her father being accused of custodial kidnapping.
Upon their arrival any dreams Jo may have had of a rural farm escape instantly disappear. The tenants that live on the land send chills up her spine, and the boarded up "Old House" emanates a chill that invades her nightmare and sends her backwards to hazy memories of that long ago visit. As Jo works to piece together the cryptic message left for her in her grandmother's will along with the stories her father used to tell her as a child, she's left to wonder, what if this place is one where the boundaries between worlds wears thin? And what if the stories she'd thought were bedtime tales for a little girl contain more truth than she'd ever imagined?
I will definitely be ordering copies of "The Cherished" for our collection. This is the perfect mid-winter book for teen readers looking for something spooky to occupy the long. dark nights. Perfect for those interested in the paranormal, and for those who enjoy their mystery with a side of horror, this will be a book I recommend again and again and one that I feel certain will be swapped around with the accompanying whisper "you won't BELIEVE..." Special thanks to NetGalley and to HarperTeen for providing an Advanced Reader's Copy of "The Cherished" in exchange for an unbiased review. I will be eagerly awaiting Ward's next effort!!
loralyyn's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This was another one of the books I bought simply because the cover was cool!
It was okay, but definitely for a younger age group! Still a fun easy read though.
It was okay, but definitely for a younger age group! Still a fun easy read though.
rkiladitis's review
5.0
Jo is a teen living with her very pregnant mother and her stepfather. She doesn't see eye-to-eye with them or their social circles, so when a letter arrives, informing her that her grandmother has died and bequeathed her home and land to her, she sees a way to freedom: even if she has to wait until she's of legal age for it. Her mother insists she must sell the home - despite Jo's grandmother's very firm assertions that she must never sell - and heads to the home, with Jo, to clean it up and prep for sale. Once there, she meets the tenants of her grandmother's land: a gruff male househand and a childlike teenage girl. As Jo's mother becomes sicker and sicker, Jo spends more time wandering the home and learns more about her father and the delusions that plagued him for his entire life... and she learns some truths that may be too incredible to believe, but are very real and very much a threat. Ward's pacing is excellent, building the suspense to allow readers time to grasp the book tighter as they progress, waiting for answers. An excellent gothic horror novel for teens that enjoy dark fantasy.
thenextgenlibrarian's review
A YA horror novel for those looking for a contemporary thriller.
brittrivera's review
3.0
The Cherished is a story full of creepy atmospheric descriptions, suspense, and generations spanning mystery. What starts out as a relatively normal story of a young girl with a strange inheritance becomes something much more sinister and sad. The slow build-up to the end helps build tension. I also like how the ending remains a bit open ended, answering just enough to satisfy the reader's curiosity while still leaving some questions unanswered.
I do wish there was more about the other townspeople in the story. Most of the development came at the end when it felt too late. But the history of the town and their involvement in what takes place (trying to keep this vague to avoid spoilers) was one of the most interesting parts.
The Cherished is a quick, easy read for those looking for something to fill a rainy weekend.
*Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the arc of this book.*
I do wish there was more about the other townspeople in the story. Most of the development came at the end when it felt too late. But the history of the town and their involvement in what takes place (trying to keep this vague to avoid spoilers) was one of the most interesting parts.
The Cherished is a quick, easy read for those looking for something to fill a rainy weekend.
*Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the arc of this book.*
navardareads's review
2.0
I can't quite decide how I feel about this one. As far as the storyline goes, it was decent enough it held my attention. But the way it was written confused me and was hard to follow, whether that's because I had it in audiobook format or not, I don't know. I have an inkling in written format it may have been easier to understand, because I found some parts bled together in a way that didn't make much sense. It's also in third person, which usually isn't too much of a problem, but with so many characters and "events" going on, it made it hard to follow.
adventure_in_books's review
2.0
I found this read kind of offensive. The way of thinking was just not for me. It felt like we took 10 steps back. I wasn't engaged in the writing. This was a DNF for me. I stopped at about 20%. I was excited to read this book but it just filled me with an icky feeling. The cover alone is amazing. But don't be fooled this book has a selective audience. I agree with what other reviewers are saying its pretty outdated in ideas and problematic.
Its a paranormal YA fantasy read. My daughter has no desire to read it. This book was marked to be like White Smoke and I LOVED that book. This book no way in any form compares to that read. Sadly this fell flat for me. But I am sure that there are readers out there looking for reads like that will truly enjoy it. But I am not one.
Its a paranormal YA fantasy read. My daughter has no desire to read it. This book was marked to be like White Smoke and I LOVED that book. This book no way in any form compares to that read. Sadly this fell flat for me. But I am sure that there are readers out there looking for reads like that will truly enjoy it. But I am not one.
daramillz's review
3.0
Sixteen-year-old Jo doesn’t feel like she fits in with her straight-laced family, and hasn’t ever since her father’s death. Her memories of him, though, while filled with love and fun, are also full of holes — things almost remembered. Things that feel dangerous. When her estranged grandmother dies, leaving her the family home alongside a mysterious letter, Jo may finally have a chance to solve the mystery of her memories and find where she truly belongs.
I liked the concept of this book and what it did with faerie lore quite a lot. It was interesting, and I liked the way it was clearly tied in to the history of the town and the family. However, this is currently being billed as a “visceral horror thriller in the vein of Midsommar” and it was decidedly NOT that. It’s more like a slightly darker version of the Spiderwick Chronicles. I wouldn’t categorize it as horror at all, although it could probably get there if some of the “scary” aspects were explored more thoroughly. The character relationships also seemed a bit stilted to me, and I particularly would have like more complexity and growth in the relationship between Jo and her mother.
This is still a good ways out from publication, so there could still be rewrites (and hopefully a sensitivity read) happening that would get this book closer to its vision. I still enjoyed it overall — it’s a quick read that should appeal to anyone who likes a good dark fairy tale.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
I liked the concept of this book and what it did with faerie lore quite a lot. It was interesting, and I liked the way it was clearly tied in to the history of the town and the family. However, this is currently being billed as a “visceral horror thriller in the vein of Midsommar” and it was decidedly NOT that. It’s more like a slightly darker version of the Spiderwick Chronicles. I wouldn’t categorize it as horror at all, although it could probably get there if some of the “scary” aspects were explored more thoroughly. The character relationships also seemed a bit stilted to me, and I particularly would have like more complexity and growth in the relationship between Jo and her mother.
This is still a good ways out from publication, so there could still be rewrites (and hopefully a sensitivity read) happening that would get this book closer to its vision. I still enjoyed it overall — it’s a quick read that should appeal to anyone who likes a good dark fairy tale.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
trisha_thomas's review
2.0
After loving the cover, I was really excited for this one. Imagine my surprise when I was 4 or 5 chapters in and just bored. It was a lot of family drama and arguing over a house. It was a lot of family history but not a lot else. The story just never pulled me in and I never connected to a character or story. I wish I'd liked this one more.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.