Fear and uncertainty
Barney is pursued by footsteps and a commanding voice, while the reality and meaning of the haunting are investigated.
Book details
Margaret Mahy - Author
A tense supernatural mystery in which siblings work together while Barney tries to understand frightening experiences and uncover hidden family history. Its imaginative haunting sits alongside sharply observed family dynamics.
Book Brief
Sign in to see how this book fits your child and family preferences.
Sign in for personalised guidanceA tense supernatural mystery in which siblings work together while Barney tries to understand frightening experiences and uncover hidden family history. Its imaginative haunting sits alongside sharply observed family dynamics.
Barney is pursued by footsteps and a commanding voice, while the reality and meaning of the haunting are investigated.
The children uncover a hidden relative, past rejection and unusual abilities within their family.
Barney’s sisters help him investigate the haunting, while other family members offer different ways of explaining it.
The haunting is described as frightening and psychologically unsettling: footsteps approach, a voice gives orders, and Barney feels physically controlled.
This is a grounded book brief while Suitabook strengthens the analysis: some draft conclusions still depend on unresolved evidence.
Anything not established here remains open; it is not being treated as absent or safe.
These links show the original reading lists. Inclusion is not a guarantee of suitability for your child.