What am amazing YA book. I didn't want to stop reading it. Growing up in Pennsylvania, we all knew of a haunted building or deserted haunted building with a shady background. This book took me back to the campfire stories and dares to go find one. Definitely would recommend this book.

Throughly enjoyed it. It was one of those books that stays with you a bit after you finish reading which is my favorite kind of book. It was engaging and a quick read.

The way I ate this up in one sitting. It was everything! Now I loved small town monsters and thought I knew what to expect. But no. The entire script of horror had been flipped and written into an amazing book that’s more than just scary. While this read was quick (single sitting) and incredibly immersive. It also brought up topics that weigh on you emotionally. And that’s exactly what I want from my horror. Spooky and emotionally damaging

“The Silenced” centers around high school student Hazel who could be considered as close to perfect as a teen could be. While working on a group history project at a nearby abandoned girls’ reform school, Hazel suffers an accident that is more than it first appears. Now faced with eerie and unsettling feelings and visions, Hazel must get to the bottom of what really happened at The Farm. What follows is a great YA thriller that explores the insidious nature of the troubled teen industry and the corruption that can and does occur in these types of facilities.

I greatly enjoyed the inclusion of the flashback chapters, which covered the events leading up to the facility’s major accident and closure in 1995. These were particularly poignant and horrifying as the story progressed. The characters, for the most part, were engaging and relatable. The narrative was fast-paced and kept me glued to the page. I think this is an awesome addition to current YA thriller offerings.

Normally, this is exactly my type of read but this one just did not grab me at all.

I just could not get into it. The characters do not make any kind of lasting impression on me, which would have been OK if the plot was captivating....but it's not.

Thank you Netgalley and Delacorte Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Diana Rodriguez Wallach’s “The Silenced” is a gripping and unsettling young adult horror novel that combines the supernatural with real-world horrors. At its core, the story is a chilling exploration of the Troubled Teen Industry (TTI), a loosely regulated network of reform programs where abuse and neglect run rampant. With a ghostly vengeance plot layered over a deep dive into institutional trauma, “The Silenced” delivers more than just scares—it carries a powerful and necessary message.

Hazel Perez, an anxious high schooler, becomes entangled in the sinister history of Oakwell Farms, an abandoned reform school for girls once known as “The Farm.” What starts as a simple group history project takes a terrifying turn when Hazel visits the site and experiences an accident that leaves her acting strangely. Soon, she realizes she is being possessed by Deirdre, a girl who died at The Farm and is desperate for revenge. As Hazel’s memories blur with Deirdre’s and her personality begins to shift, she is forced to investigate the institution’s dark past before losing herself completely.

Through flashbacks to 1995, the book reveals the cruel realities of The Farm, where girls were forcibly taken with their parents' permission and subjected to psychological and physical torment. Wallach deftly builds suspense, bringing together Hazel’s supernatural experiences with the all-too-real horrors of abuse, neglect, and systemic corruption. It seemed impossible to me that these kinds of “schools” were still happening in the 90s, and the book is very eye-opening in showing that these kinds of schools still exist today (there is a detailed author’s note at the end, which provides more information about TTI programs). While the possession amplifies Hazel’s confidence and helps her grow as a person, it also raises unsettling questions about identity, morality, and justice. The spirits of the girls who suffered at The Farm demand the truth to be exposed, and Hazel becomes their reluctant but determined voice.

Wallach’s writing is fast-paced and immersive, making “The Silenced” a quick but emotionally weighty read. While the haunted elements may feel familiar to seasoned horror fans, the book’s true strength lies in its exploration of real-world injustices, which further ground the story in reality and emphasizing the importance of accountability and reform.

With its mix of supernatural chills and hard-hitting social commentary, “The Silenced” is a must-read for YA thriller and horror fans. The bittersweet but satisfying ending ensures that the ghosts can finally rest—but their story, and its implications, will haunt readers long after the final page.

When one family suffers so much loss because of another, it starts a generational trauma. This book is full of haunting and ghosts. A good scary book to curl up with when it’s raining outside.

A wonderful young adult read. I do wish that we would have gotten to spend more of the book in the 1995 storyline.

"The Silenced" is a young adult novel by Diana Rodriguez Wallach. Hazel Perez is a high schooler who ends up doing a group history project on "The Farm," a former "troubled teen" camp for girls that has been abandoned and rotting away for some time. After an accident happens while visiting The Farm, Hazel starts behaving strangely and seeing things. What terrible things happened on The Farm? An interesting and informative novel that scratches the surface of the dark iceberg that is "troubled teen" retreats. More information and resources are included in the back of the book. A recommended purchase for YA fiction collections where thrillers are popular.

A chilling and important read, Diana Rodriguez Wallach’s The Silenced is a gripping horror novel that delivers more than just scares—it carries a crucial, terrifying message about the realities of the Troubled Teen Industry (TTI) programs and other institutions that have harmed countless youths. Youths who were left to fend for themselves at the hands of so much evil. We likely will never even know the worst of it, sadly..

With the discoveries in recent years of Canada’s Residential Schools that I followed a lot—where thousands of Indigenous children suffered and died, left in unmarked graves—it’s heartbreaking to see stories that echo such real-world tragedies. The way The Silenced mirrors the experiences of teens worldwide who have been subjected to similar abuse makes it all the more impactful. This is something that needs to be talked about more and, even more importantly, governed a lot more.

I really enjoyed Wallach’s writing style; it was engaging and made for a quick read. The haunting aspect of the story did feel a bit cliché and predictable, though, reminiscent of many horror movies I’ve seen before (particularly the Japanese version of "Shutter" that I watched a decade back with that ghost on his back. I never forget her. I can't watch those anymore lol). While it added to the eerie atmosphere, it wasn’t the most original part of the book for me.

Overall, The Silenced is a strong, thought-provoking novel that horror fans will appreciate. While some elements feel familiar, its message is deeply important, making it a worthwhile and unsettling read.