Alone [Hardcover]

<p><strong>This must-read for lovers of Stephen King's <em>The Shining</em>will leave readers breathless as Seda and her family find themselves at the mercy of a murderer in an isolated and snowbound hotel. Get ready for what <em>Kirkus</em>calls "A bloody, wonderfully creepy scare ride." </strong></p><p>When her mom inherits an old, crumbling mansion, Seda's almost excited to spend the summer there. The grounds are beautiful and it's fun to explore the sprawling house with its creepy rooms and secret passages. Except now her mom wants to renovate, rather than sell the estate—which means they're not going back to the city...or Seda's friends and school. </p><p>As the days grow shorter, Seda is filled with dread. They're about to be cut off from the outside world, and she's not sure she can handle the solitude or the darkness it brings out in her.</p><p>Then a group of teens get stranded near the mansion during a blizzard. Seda has no choice but to offer them shelter, even though she knows danger lurks in the dilapidated mansion—and in herself. And as the snow continues to fall, what Seda fears most is about to become her reality...</p>"A bloody, wonderfully creepy scare ride<br><br>" - <strong><em>Kirkus</em></strong>"Even careful readers will be caught off guard by twists and unexpected but divine surprises. This first-rate thriller delivers everything a thriller should, and adds more. With a wink and a nod to Stephen King's The Shining, Balog provides a shocker for the young adult crowd." - <strong><em>VOYA Magazine, VOYA Perfect Ten</em></strong>"This is the perfect premise for a chilling tale, and Balog fills every inch with classic horror references, red herrings, and uncertain motivations. As Balog gradually builds tension and paranoia, she manipulates reader expectations to set up several possilc+