The Silenced is compelling and skillfully intertwines the supernatural with the harsh realities of the Troubled Teen Industry (TTI). Wallach’s writing is sharp and captivating, making the story both quick to read and hard to put down.
The Silenced carries a vital message about the dangers of unaccountable institutions. It’s a thought-provoking read that leaves a lasting impression.

Wow! One of the best books I have read in a long time. This book gripped me from the start and didn’t let go.

The story centers around Hazel, a high school student, who is assigned a group project. She ends up being in a group with her former best friend Becca (she still has no idea why Becca just started ignoring her one day back in middle school), Amber (Becca’s new best friend), and Simon (Becca’s boyfriend). Becca insists they do their project on a former Girls reform school called “The Farm”. Becca’s family owns the property and her grandfather ran it when it was still operational. The group decides to visit The Farm and this is where the story really takes off.

This story alternates between present day Hazel and her group project on The Farm and 30 years prior telling the story of the girls who had to endure life on The Farm. This book sheds light on the Troubled Teen Industry and the horrors and abuse teens endured when sent to these institutions. It also has supernatural and religious/spiritual elements. It was completely chilling, intense, and kept me wanting to read late into the night. I couldn’t put this book down and devoured it. Highly recommend!!

*Thank you for NetGalley and Random House/Delacorte for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

4-Star ARC Review: The Silenced by Diana Rodriguez Wallach

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of The Silenced in exchange for my honest review.

This gripping thriller pulled me in right from the start and didn’t let go. The Silenced is a twisty, tension-filled ride that blends psychological suspense with a dark, emotional undercurrent. Diana Rodriguez Wallach has a knack for pacing—each chapter ends with just enough intrigue to keep you turning pages late into the night.

The premise is chilling, and the plot unfolds in a way that keeps you guessing without feeling forced. There’s a strong emotional thread throughout the book that adds depth to the mystery, and the main character’s voice felt authentic and raw, which made her easy to root for.

My only reason for holding back that last star is that a few of the twists felt slightly telegraphed, and I would’ve loved just a bit more complexity from a couple of the supporting characters. Still, this is a highly enjoyable, well-crafted thriller that fans of fast-paced, emotionally grounded suspense will definitely want on their radar. I’ll be looking forward to more from this author!

Wow I normally don't read YA but I am glad I read this one. The Silenced absolutely blew me out of the water. EXCELLENT! Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

Hazel Perez hasn't gotten over her former BFF Becca's rejection. Hazel is usually a loner and is surprised when Becca invites her to sit with her and her friends during social studies, where they decide to do a group project on the abandoned Oakwell Farms. Becca's family has ties to the property. During a visit, Hazel is knocked unconscious. Waking up, she senses a supernatural presence attached to her. Rage and revenge surface, that has nothing to do with Hazel. While trying to make sense of what is happening, Hazel learns her family is connected to a horrific secret of the Farms. A secret that the spirit will do anything, including harming anyone, who stands in the way of the truth.

What worked: Haunting, suspenseful thriller where generational trauma refuses to remain silent. Add ghosts of those who died at a so-called rehabilitation farm into the mix. The author uses two different time periods to show us Deirdre in 1995, whose parents have her kidnapped and taken against her will to the Farm due to her being gay. These scenes show the inhumanity and cruelty that were inflicted on those teens sent there. The present day has Hazel, who uncovers a family secret that ties them to the farm and what happened there.

Hazel starts off as shy and a loner. She's the 'good' girl of the family, so when a supernatural presence attaches itself to her and changes her personality and her actions, those around her question what's happening. But since she never got into trouble, at first family and the school administration brushed it all off as a concussion she got from the fall. This happened due to a prank that went wrong.

What I really liked was how Hazel searches for what might have happened to close the Farm, even when others around her try to stop her. The truth, though painful, needs to be told. Add the supernatural part with her grandmother using espiritismo. This is a belief that spirits can interact with the human world.

Becca at first comes across as the Mean girl, but little by little, it's revealed what really happened to cause the friends to break up. The truth is haunting and heartbreaking. Quint is her brother and had a relationship with Hazel, but ignored her when school started. This story is more about uncovering the truth of a rehabilitation Farm than romance. Quint does his best to stand by Hazel, even when his overbearing father does everything he can to sever any relationship.

What's beyond sad is that these so-called troubled teen places still exist. Paris Hilton has made it one of her missions to bring light to the terrible conditions at these places. When she was a teen, she was at a well-known camp in Utah. Sharing her story has brought long-needed awareness to this troubling industry.

The Reformatory meets the Troubled Teen Industry with supernatural suspense mixed in to make this a captivating thriller. At the end of the novel are links to information on a couple of schools that were part of the troubled teen industry and the truth behind what happened.
Good Points
1. The Reformatory meets the Troubled Teen Industry
2. Supernatural suspense mixed into a captivating thriller
3. Dual time periods

Wow. Just wow. This was scary, sad, inspiring, and informative. Diana does her research and it shows. I very much enjoyed this book. Each of her books gets better and better. I don't get scared easily, and I got scared at moments.

A harrowing look at generational trauma and the power of truth. Hazel's journey of discovering herself and more about her family was poignant and moving. The troubled teen industry topic is still getting its buzz from stories coming out and people coming forward, and this book provided a different look at the industry that still has so many secrets. This is a story about forgiveness and reconciling with one's past mistakes but also about letting go of those people who hurt and will continue to hurt.

I also love a ghost story and love when the ghost is simply there to uncover a truth and get their justice rather than be there to cause trouble.

The main character and her family are so likeable. The book felt spooky at times but never in a scary way. I was surprised to enjoy both the book content and truth research on the troubled teen industry at the end of the book. I was engaged through the entire book. It managed to keep my attention and make me root for certain characters. The way that one of the minor antagonists is written really made me hate the character, which really implies to me that this author did a fantastic job writing her. I would read a sequel to this book in a heartbeat.

This book had a supernatural undertone while bringing to light the awful horrors that teens endure as part of the TTI (troubled teen industry). It was an interesting read for sure!

The Silenced by Diana Rodriguez Wallach gives off Layla by Colleen Hoover vibes! The blend of paranormal elements with the complex dynamics between characters adds depth to the story, making their relationships feel intricately woven.

The novel follows a standout, straight-A student who suddenly becomes the target of relentless bullying after falling out with the school’s popular crowd. As she struggles to navigate fractured friendships, family tensions, and her complicated relationship with her boyfriend, she also wrestles with her fears and religious beliefs. Leaning on her sister for support, she finds herself caught in an emotional whirlwind where trust is fragile and nothing is as it seems.

Woven into the narrative is a chilling thread about the troubled teen industry, reminding readers of the lasting impact of family relationships and the dangers of parents relinquishing discipline to outside parties. With its eerie atmosphere, emotional depth, and thought-provoking themes, The Silenced is a haunting read for fans of paranormal thrillers and psychological drama.

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.