Into the Grey by Celine Kiernan

Into the Grey by Celine Kiernan. 290 p. Candlewick Press, August, 2014. 9780763670610. (Finished copy courtesy of publisher for review.)

This atmospheric ghost story is set in Ireland in the 1970s and is narrated by fifteen-year-old Patrick Finnerty. He and his twin brother, Dominick and baby sister Dee live with their parents and their Nan, who has some sort of dementia. After Nan burns their house to the ground, the family moves to a rental on the sea shore. It is cold and blustery and the house is musty. Patrick is awakened the first night by a voice he thinks might be Dom's. It's not Dom, it's a "goblin boy" with eyes as black as coal. The two basically terrify each other but Patrick is convinced that goblin boy has it in for Dom. And he does.

The writing is not Americanized but easily figured out. It is also just lovely conveying not only a strong sense of setting but fleshed out characters. Patrick is terrified for Dom but also wants to protect his over-stressed parents. It doesn't help that both his baby sister and his Nan sense that Dom isn't Dom. The suspense ratchets up unbearably as the plot takes a few twists and turns. The pieces all fall into place in a satisfactory conclusion. 

This is a 2014 favorite.