Dickens & Rumi
Cover of THERE'S SOMEONE INSIDE YOUR HOUSE

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THERE'S SOMEONE INSIDE YOUR HOUSE

Stephanie Perkins

Makani Young tries to figure out who is behind a string of murders at her high school. (Ages 14 to 17)

Ages 16+Source checked

Why this age? Repeated student murders, gruesome horror, threat and trauma make this more intense than typical middle-grade fiction; teen romance and mature emotional themes also require judgment. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended age16+

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character4/5
  • Frightening scenes4/5
  • Graphic injury4/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience3/5
  • Diverse representation3/5
  • Creativity & curiosity2/5

What’s in it?

Death of a character4/5
Why this rating?

Multiple students die in the central murder plot; the deaths drive the mystery and emotional stakes.

Graphic injury4/5
Why this rating?

Includes detailed, gruesome descriptions of injuries and crime scenes.

Strong language3/5
Why this rating?

Moderate use of strong language typical of high school peer dialogue.

LGBTQIA characters2/5
Why this rating?

LGBTQIA representation appears in the high-school friend group, but it is not a central focus of the story.

Romance2/5
Why this rating?

A central romantic relationship develops between Makani and Ollie, but it is secondary to the horror plot.

Frightening scenes4/5
Why this rating?

This is horror about a killer targeting high-school students, with terror growing as danger closes in.

Sexual content & nudity1/5
Why this rating?

Contains brief, mild references to teenage sexual behavior.

Alcohol or drugs2/5
Why this rating?

Teen drinking or partying is referenced incidentally rather than presented as a central theme or heavily glamorized behavior.

Violence4/5
Why this rating?

Students are killed in a series of murders, with an active hunt for the killer and escalating danger.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

Characters confront a serial killer and escalating terror rather than simply avoiding danger.

Creativity & curiosity2/5
Why this rating?

A standard, albeit effective, execution of the high school slasher mystery genre.

Diverse representation3/5
Why this rating?

Makani is described as half Hawaiian and half African American and moves from Hawaii to Nebraska; the cast includes varied backgrounds.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Friendship and group support are evident in the face of threats.

Positive messages2/5
Why this rating?

Explores themes of personal accountability and the long-term impact of past mistakes.

Good role models2/5
Why this rating?

Characters act realistically for their age, including making mistakes; some demonstrate resilience.

Family discussion

Talk about it

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. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in THERE'S SOMEONE INSIDE YOUR HOUSE would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in THERE'S SOMEONE INSIDE YOUR HOUSE, 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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