I was genuinely pulled in to this story within a story, 244 page middle grade scary read.  I was not expecting Islamic representation from the Muslim Author, I'm not sure why, but I was happily surprised all the main characters are Muslim and unapologetic, praying, reciting ayats when the fear mounts, and seeing the world through their Malaysian and Islamic perspectives. It was really well done, engaging, spooky, and then it came to a screeching halt, like slam on the breaks, story is over now we are going to talk and explain and make it about family and forgiveness.  I admittedly don't read much "horror" if any, so perhaps the over explanation at the end is formulaic to put the target audience reader at ease, and prevent lingering nightmares.  Even if that is the case however, the climax in the book came way too early making the explanation way too long.  I would imagine most target readers don't expect the same literary refinement in a scary book as they would in other genres, but the more "explaining" the book tried to do, the more holes were revealed. By the end, the book made no sense and I wished I would have stopped reading halfway through and had the unknown lingering vibes be the ultimate takeaway.

SYNOPSIS:

It starts at Camp Apple Hill Farm where Melur is for a two week summer camp, when she chooses "dare" and is forced into the woods alone to find the witch that tells stories in Cabin 23.  When she finds herself at the cabin, the story she is told is about Alia, her missing sister who has returned, and a penanggalan that is terrorizing the town.  Twelve year old Alia has moved from Kuala Lumpur to the city of her birth, she doesn't have a lot of friends, and her missing sister has unexpectedly returned.  Something is off with her sister, she smells weird, and is too perfect.  Alia's parents don't seem to want to discuss it, and what is the whooshing sound that seems to follow Alia everywhere.  When kids at school start whispering about seeing things and hearing things, Alia is worried that her sister and the sightings, might be related. Yep no further spoilers here, sorry.

WHY I LIKE IT:
I love that the characters are Muslim and it is just who they are, it isn't othering or explanatory, it is just part of the characters, that comes out as they try to figure out what is going on.  I really enjoyed the first half, I know that often in scary movies, at least the ones I can handle, the build up is usually fun, and the resolution a little bit of a let down, so I was anticipating that, but this book really seemed to fall apart as it tried to wrap up all the threads.  It ultimately ended up being rather disappointing and I'm honestly kind of mad about it. Despite it all, I will still shelve it for middle graders to read.  We need Islamic rep in all genres for all ages and this one I think is the first I have seen, and for that alone I do appreciate what it offers.

FLAGS:

It is "scary", there is gore, abandonment, possession, creepiness, no one will accidently pick it up and be surprised.  The cover has a head with its entrails hanging out and the title is "the living head."

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
As stated above I would shelve the book, I think fans of creepy book will be delighted to see a Muslim protagonist, and the Malaysian rep is nice to see as well.

Hanna Alkaf is one of the best contemporary writers of youth literature and even this slim entry in a Goosebumps-esque anthology series is rich with her wonderful writing and intriguing story. I just wish there was more!

The next in the Cabin 23 series, where a mysterious old woman tells horror stories to children who stumble across her cabin. This one featured a story about Alia, who is convinced her sister is a monster when her sister returns after years away.

This gave me Goosebumps vibes! I think it took a little to get into the story but then it was pretty enjoyable. Definitely spooky though!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Few campers at Camp Apple Hill Farm have found the mysterious cabin rumored to be hidden deep in the woods—but those who have whisper of a mysterious woman who tells tales of horrors beyond imagination. Are you brave enough to visit Cabin 23?

I love this series so much! The second volume was just as good as the first, if not better. Highly recommended!

Tales from Cabin 23 is part of a series. In this book, the story is told that a cabin is nestled in the woods at a wilderness camp and once challenged to go find it, the seeker never returns. The story begins and ends here, but the bulk of the story takes place in a small town in Malaysia featuring Alia and her sister Ayu. This is a spooky tale featuring a wendigo that takes babies and little kids. I think teens will really enjoy this book and it has enough scary bits and gore to make it a big hit.
Thank you #netgalley #harpercollins for the ARC of #TalesfromCabin23NightoftheLivingHead

This was a good read. Students who enjoy spooky books will definitely enjoy this one. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, which is always a plus. I think students will enjoy an eerie tale that they might not be familiar with.

Love this spooky book! I’m excited for the rest of the books in the Cabin 23 series. This story definitely provided the chills that horror-loving young readers will expect. Highly recommend.