Both horror and mystery, this book gave me chills and made me question how we define “monster.” It combines supernatural and real-life horror to tell a story about trauma, protection, and the bonds of girls. I was constantly trying to piece together how all the screamers were connected if the past had any impact on the current, and if the terrors inside St. Bernadette’s were real. Hanna Alkaf’s use of multi-perspective drove the story in a way that I really enjoyed. The girls felt real and I related strongly to Rachel and her constant drive to be a perfect daughter. I also loved that the book was set in Malaysia. It’s not an area I’m familiar with, so I enjoyed researching some of the phrases and other cultural references. For anyone who has an interest in mass hysteria events, old buildings full of secrets, or the ways in which trauma impacts protection, The Hysterical Girls of St. Bernadette’s is the perfect fit.
The Hysterical Girls of St. Bernadette’s by Hanna Alkaf, (List Price: $19.99, Salaam Reads, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9781534494589, September 2024)
Reviewed by Ashley White, Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs, Louisiana