Dickens & Rumi
Cover of SHE IS A HAUNTING

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SHE IS A HAUNTING

Trang Thanh Tran

Jade Nguyen travels to Vietnam with her younger sister, Lily, to visit their father who’s restoring an old French colonial house which is haunted. (Ages 13 to 17)

Ages 15+Source checked

Why this age? Sustained horror, threatening supernatural events, disturbing imagery, violence, death, and emotionally intense family and colonial themes make this better suited to mature teens. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended age15+

Strongest cautions

  • Frightening scenes5/5
  • Death of a character4/5
  • Graphic injury3/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience4/5
  • Diverse representation4/5
  • Positive messages4/5

What’s in it?

Death of a character4/5
Why this rating?

Death and the lingering effects of past deaths are important to the plot, with grief, trauma, and supernatural consequences.

Graphic injury3/5
Why this rating?

Some descriptions of decay, supernatural manifestations, and blood.

Strong language2/5
Why this rating?

Occasional mild swearing and harsh language reflective of intense situations.

LGBTQIA characters3/5
Why this rating?

Queer identity and relationships are meaningfully represented through the protagonist and her personal relationships.

Religious themes3/5
Why this rating?

Features ancestor worship and Vietnamese folk religious traditions significantly.

Romance2/5
Why this rating?

Includes a budding sapphic relationship.

Frightening scenes5/5
Why this rating?

Horror is central, with a haunted house, ghosts, escalating dread, frightening manifestations, and danger to young characters.

Sexual content & nudity1/5
Why this rating?

Minor, age-appropriate mentions of attraction and romance.

Alcohol or drugs1/5
Why this rating?

Minimal mention of substances, not glamorized.

Violence3/5
Why this rating?

Includes intense imagery of hauntings, past colonial violence, and psychological threats.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5
Why this rating?

The protagonist must face supernatural danger and painful truths, with courage framed as solidarity and principled resistance rather than recklessness.

Creativity & curiosity3/5
Why this rating?

A highly atmospheric and imaginative blend of horror and historical commentary.

Diverse representation4/5
Why this rating?

Features a Vietnamese-American cast and explores specific cultural identity deeply.

Educational value2/5
Why this rating?

It can prompt learning about Vietnamese diasporic experience, colonialism, inheritance, and cultural memory, though education is not its primary purpose.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Kindness is explored through familial loyalty and supporting loved ones.

Positive messages4/5
Why this rating?

The novel emphasizes confronting exploitation, acknowledging historical harm, protecting others, and resisting oppressive family or colonial legacies.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Protagonist shows resilience and growth under immense pressure.

Family discussion

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Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. Which moment felt most tense or frightening? What helped the characters handle fear?
  3. Which choice in SHE IS A HAUNTING would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in SHE IS A HAUNTING, and what caused that change?
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These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

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