The Visitors

by Greg Howard (Author)

Reading Level: 6th − 7th Grade

From the author of The Whispers comes a heartrending tale of friendship, hard-won truths, and the healing power of forgiveness.

A lonely twelve-year-old boy spends his days “stuck” at the deserted Hollow Pines Plantation in Georgetown, South Carolina with no recollection of his name, how long he’s been there, and no idea how to leave. Things never change much for the lost souls at Hollow Pines and time is strange when you’re dead. But when visitors from the living world arrive for the first time in a long while, the boy feels a spark of hope. These visitors are around his age, and they seem to understand more than others that the plantation is not just spooky or eerie, it’s a sad place where the unspeakable happened again and again. And if these kids could understand the truth about Hollow Pines, maybe they could help him uncover the dark secrets of his past and help him find a way to finally move on. But Hollow Pines doesn’t like visitors. And with a malevolent spirit lurking in the shadows and painful memories buried deep, and for good reason, the boy wonders if he’ll ever find his way home or be stuck at Hollow Pines forever.

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Hardcover
$16.99

Kirkus Reviews

An atmospheric reckoning with the past and present, heavy but rewarding.

Booklist

A ghost story of substance.

Review quotes

Praise for The Visitors

"Beautiful, bracing, heartbreaking, and uplifting in equal measure. Not to mention deliciously creepy. Just wow." —Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Gilded Wolves and Aru Shah and The End of Time

"Howard's intriguing novel . . . is smoothly written, the characters are appealing, and some surprises keep the plot percolating." —Booklist

"Howard's fourth novel is ambitious in form and quite successful in that regard; the perspective shifts between the first-person ghost in the present day and a third-person story about a White boy named Will Perkins, bullied for his same-sex attraction by his father, former best friend, and other classmates. There's a bit of mystery about who the narrator is as well as an interesting—and heartbreaking—twist. . ." —Kirkus Reviews

Greg Howard's latest book, The Visitors, truly has something for every reader: a haunting ghost story, a decades old mystery, a bit of history, and characters—both living and dead—you root for. An important page-turner! —Bobbie Pyron, author of Stay and A Pup Called Trouble

Praise for The Whispers

A 2022 Garden State Book Award Nominee
A 2020 Edgar Award Nominee
A 2020 Wisconsin State Just One More Page List Pick

"This taut, moving tale delves beyond loss into issues of sexuality, conformity and self-acceptance...a masterful exploration into the power of storytelling but also its dangers, including self-denial and escapism." —The New York Times Book Review

"With sensitivity and skill, Howard handles themes of sexual identity, self-worth, loss and friendship." —The Washington Post

Howard's personal story helps create a fictional narrative both realistic and relevant, while also calling on the fantastical magic of the imagination.... A tale of family, friendship and loss, filled with magic and heart. —Associated Press

A dreamy novel recalling Bridge to Terabithia. —Entertainment Weekly

A heartbreaking, beguiling debut... This poignant journey through the badlands of grief is crammed with tenderness, wit and warmth. —The Guardian

★ This is a story of a boy coming to grips with heartbreak and trying to understand why he is the way he is, who must learn to discern what is real, and who discovers redemption. —School Library Connection, starred review

Praise for Middle School's A Drag, You Better Werk!:

"What a fun book! I love the book's message of being yourself and accepting others. You better werk! I definitely recommend this book to all kids and teens, but especially drag kids." —Desmond Is Amazing

"This fun, funny, and heartfelt novel will leave you feeling hopeful and triumphant!" —Donna Gephart, award-winning author of Lily and Dunkin, In Your Shoes, and The Paris Project

"A funny, fabulous, and ultimately life-affirming story that will uplift and entertain young readers from many different backgrounds. So, should you check this one out? Mikey says, yas queen!" —Booklist

"Lovely . . . Shows that when people give proper due to each other, they learn and celebrate together, and maybe even heal." —Lambda Literary

"A heartwarming story perfect for fans of Tim Federle's Better Nate Than Ever." —School Library Journal
Greg Howard
Greg Howard grew up near the coast of South Carolina. His hometown of Georgetown is known as the "Ghost Capital of the South" (seriously...there's a sign), and was always a great source of material for his overactive imagination. Raised in a staunchly religious home, Greg escaped into the arts: singing, playing piano, acting, writing songs, and making up stories. Currently, Greg resides in Nashville, Tennessee, with his husband, Steve, and their three rescued fur babies Molly, Toby, and Riley.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780593111888
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Publication date
February 20, 2022
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV069000 - Juvenile Fiction | Ghost Stories
JUV060000 - Juvenile Fiction | LGBT
Library of Congress categories
South Carolina
Ghosts
Ghost stories
Bullying
Haunted places
Forgiveness
Gays
Novels
Plantations

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