The Girl in the Walls

About this book

After a hard school year, V has been sent to her Grandma Jojo's house for the summer in order to get away from it all. But unlike neurodivergent, artistic, sock-collecting V, Jojo is uptight, critical, and obsessed with her spotless house. She doesn't get V at all. V is sure she's doomed to have the worst summer ever.

Then V starts hearing noises from inside the walls of the house...

Knocks, the sounds of a girl crying, and voices echoing in the night.

When V finds a ghostly girl hiding in the walls, they seem to have an immediate connection. This might be V's chance to get back at her perfect grandmother by messing with her just a little bit.

But the buried secrets go much deeper -- and are much more dangerous -- than V even suspects. And they threaten to swallow her and her family whole if she can't find a way to uncover the truth of the girl before it's too late.

A contemporary novel-in-verse with a ghostly twist by the author of Good Different, this book is about the power -- and danger -- of secrets. The Girl in the Walls will grab you and not let go until the very last page.

Reviews

Praise for The Girl in the Walls:

“This book will give you shivers, like looking in a mirror too long. It’s a stunning, healing work.” -- Ann Clare LeZotte, Schneider Award-winning author of Deer Run Home

"Meg Eden Kuyatt's latest book is more than an entertaining ghost story with a mysterious twist; it's also an ode to the importance of openness." -- Padma Venkatraman, Walter Award Winning Author of The Bridge Home

"Raw, honest, and mesmerizing! Kuyatt takes us through a dizzying, darkly supernatural journey -- evocative of Coraline and Doll Bones -- with emotion rooted in very real autistic trauma. I was riveted!" -- Sally J. Pla, Schneider Award-winning author of The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn

"The perfect story for anyone who has struggled to be seen or understand others." -- Ally Malinenko, Bram Stoker finalist for This Appearing House

"An insightful, tense tale of family and self acceptance." -- Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Meg Eden Kuyatt's Good Different:

A Junior Library Guild Selection

A School Library Journal Best Book

A Bank Street Best Book of the Year

A Schneider Family Book Award Honor Book

Chicago Public Library Best Fiction for Older Readers

ALSC Notable Children’s Book

"The next Wonder. Good Different should be required reading." -- Good Morning America

★ "This beautifully written novel-in-verse follows one girl's journey as she learns that she's on the autism spectrum and comes to embrace herself. Readers will rejoice with Selah as she learns to accept herself as she is." -- Booklist, starred review

★ "Heartfelt. Kuyatt uses candid lines to present Selah’s own experiences, self-knowledge, and eventual self-advocacy." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

"This moving new novel in verse will build empathy among neurotypical kids for the challenges their autistic peers face, and help autistic kids discover the power of their own voices. Highly recommended." -- A Mighty Girl

"Here's a book that throws that dumb stereotype of the stoic autistic experience out the window -- it's full of deep feelings and soul-searching and is just an absolute joy." -- Common Sense Media

"Relatable, profound and beautifully heartfelt. I loved it." -- Elle McNicoll, author of the Schneider Family Book Award Honor-winning A Kind of Spark

"A powerful addition to literature about the autism experience. Selah is funny, insightful, and poetic in her quest to balance fitting in and staying true to herself." -- Laura Shovan, co-author of Sydney Taylor Notable novel A Place at the Table

"Meg Eden Kuyatt portrays the experience of being an autistic girl with authenticity and heart. Her beautiful verse paints a vivid picture of the challenges and the joys of being autistic. Selah is a hero that readers will root for and remember." -- Sarah Kapit, author of Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen!

"Throughout Good Different, Selah learns it's okay to stand up and it's okay to stand out. Meg Kuyatt's powerful debut finds Selah answering the age-old question: Why be normal when you can soar like a dragon?" -- Eric Bell, author of Alan Cole Is Not a Coward