I will admit that I judged this book by the beautiful cover, but I'm glad I did because it was a great read! This felt longer than its 160 page count due to the descriptive writing and how much is packed into the story. Even though this book is geared towards a younger audience, I think it is a great book for adults who are looking for something heartwarming, with a bit of a spooky atmosphere for an October fall reading day.

Thank you to NetGalley and North Star Editions for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

First and foremost, thank you to NetGalley and North Star Editions | Jolly Fish Press for the eARC copy of The World Inside for review.
Monthly reading breakdown with review will also be posted on IG and TikTok the first week of April

Review: 3.75 ⭐ rounded up to 4

The World Inside follows 15-year-old Tamika during a summer vacation that wasn't going as she had hoped. While her two best friends are in Paris, she has been left home as her mom has deemed the two other girls 'bad influences'. Early on in the summer, they receive a call that Tamika's great-aunt is in a coma, so mother and daughter pack up and drive out to Virginia from Chicago to make sure that the house is ready for Great-Aunt Lati to come home. Tamika, a young artist, is immediately intrigued by the aunt she has never met as the home is completely filled with artwork, all created by Aunt Lati.

But Tamika knows that something is off with the paints and begins to realize she may not be as 'normal' or 'overly imaginative' as her mother insists she is.

At the surface, Tamika is an absolutely normal teenager. She feels her mother doesn't treat her like she's almost 16 years old (and I do largely agree), she's moody, and extremely curious.

As for her mother...I had some issues with her character. She is extremely vocal about every single person that Tamika wants to spend time with. Her two best friends who went to Paris (and invited Tamika) are too spoiled and too wild (which Tamika does explain they really aren't). Semora, who she meets at her great-aunt's house is a bad influence for BELIEVING IN GHOSTS. Yup, believing in ghosts and nothing more has equated to her being a bad influence on Tamika. She also did not communicate to almost any degree with Tamika and constantly brushed off questions and concerns from her daughter and boiled it down to her daughter having nothing more than a vivid imagination.

But Tamika knows she sees things in the mirrors and that there are definitely people in the paintings and they are moving.

The atmosphere for The World Inside was delightfully spooky for being such a quick read and while I do wish there was more information provided (such as Tamika seeing things in the mirror), I did really enjoy how things ended.

There were a few choppy spots where pacing felt just a bit off, but honestly, the plot line for this was fun and engaging to the point I could easily look over that.

This was a really fun read. Intriguing from start to finish; although it did start a bit slow. The descriptions were so well written.

I didn’t expect this book to be a short read but I did enjoyed a lot reading this. It is different from my usual reads and even that’s towards more of middle graders, It helped me getting out of my reading slump.

A great fun read! The author describes the paintings so clearly and can picture it on your head. A great read for kids and teens!

I read this book because the cover and title reminded me of an old Are You Afraid of the Dark episode. I love the cover art and it evokes exactly the storyline that this book has.

I was surprised at how much story was packed into this super short read. Nothing was unnecessary, nothing was fluff. The characters were well built, and the storyline had great pacing. I could actually see having a sequel to this one as the main character learns to handle her talent.

I would definitely recommend this one to others, it will absolutely live rent free in my head for years, and I definitely want to read more from this author!

Jan Fields’ The World Inside is a gripping, atmospheric read that blends supernatural mystery with personal discovery, creating an engaging story perfect for reluctant teen readers. With its fast-paced plot and eerie premise, this book keeps readers hooked from start to finish.

The novel follows Tamika Warren, a young artist who finds herself spending the summer in her great-aunt Lati’s old farmhouse—a place that is both mesmerizing and deeply unsettling. The farmhouse’s walls are covered in stunning landscape paintings, all created by Aunt Lati, who now lies in a coma. But as Tamika settles in, strange things begin to happen. The paintings seem to react to her presence, shifting and revealing hidden secrets, making her question whether art can truly come to life—or whether something more sinister is at play.

Fields masterfully builds tension, balancing the novel’s eerie elements with Tamika’s emotional journey. The story explores themes of family, artistic identity, and the weight of the past in a way that feels both personal and universal. Tamika is a relatable and determined protagonist, and her growing connection to Aunt Lati’s art adds depth to the unfolding mystery.

What makes The World Inside especially effective is its accessibility. As part of the Horizon Hi-Lo series, the book is designed for struggling or reluctant readers, with short chapters and simple sentence structures that maintain engagement without sacrificing storytelling quality. The writing remains vivid and immersive, ensuring that the suspense and emotional weight of the story hit just as hard as in more complex narratives.

For readers who enjoy ghostly mysteries, unsettling atmospheres, and stories about self-discovery through art, The World Inside is a perfect choice. Jan Fields crafts a tale that is both haunting and heartfelt, proving that sometimes, the scariest stories are the ones that stare back at you from the canvas.

I thoroughly enjoyed this short story, it didn't take long to read which was a nice change. It started a little slow but got interesting very quickly. The story was great and I loved the ending. I would definitely read more of these books. Thankyou to the publishers and NetGalley for this wonderful ARC read.

I was really intrigued by the title of this book and the cover. I was given the opportunity as an ARC reader through Netgalley and voluntarily chose to read this book. I will say I read this book in 1 sitting because I could not put it down. It was so good! The story is face paced and very easy to read. Every interaction, every description, every scene felt very purposeful to the overall story line. I really loved the MFC Tamika and felt she was very relatable. The story progresses and flows meaningful. I really enjoyed this story and felt it felt like I was watching a movie. It was beautiful, a bit spooky, and heart warming. My only regret is that its not a cold October fall evening with the leaves falling down - because this would have been the perfect book to read. I give this a 5 star because I would buy this book, reread it and recommend it. Thanks for the opportunity to read this story!