Watch Over Me
A modern ghost story about trauma and survival, Watch Over Me is the much-anticipated new novel from the Printz Award-winning author of We Are Okay
★ “Gripping; an emotion-packed must-read.” –Kirkus, starred review
★ “A painfully compelling gem from a masterful creator.” –Booklist, starred review
★ “Moving, unsettling, and full of atmospheric beauty.” –SLJ, starred review
Mila is used to being alone.
Maybe that’s why she said yes. Yes to a second chance in this remote place, among the flowers and the fog and the crash of waves far below.
But she hadn’t known about the ghosts.
Newly graduated from high school, Mila has aged out of the foster care system. So when she’s offered a teaching job and a place to live on an isolated part of the Northern California coast, she immediately accepts. Maybe she will finally find a new home—a real home. The farm is a refuge, but it’s also haunted by the past. And Mila’s own memories are starting to rise to the surface.
Nina LaCour, the Printz Award–winning author of We Are Okay, delivers another emotional knockout with Watch Over Me about trauma and survival, chosen family and rebirth.
★ “Gripping; an emotion-packed must-read.” –Kirkus, starred review
★ “A painfully compelling gem from a masterful creator.” –Booklist, starred review
★ “Moving, unsettling, and full of atmospheric beauty.” –SLJ, starred review
Mila is used to being alone.
Maybe that’s why she said yes. Yes to a second chance in this remote place, among the flowers and the fog and the crash of waves far below.
But she hadn’t known about the ghosts.
Newly graduated from high school, Mila has aged out of the foster care system. So when she’s offered a teaching job and a place to live on an isolated part of the Northern California coast, she immediately accepts. Maybe she will finally find a new home—a real home. The farm is a refuge, but it’s also haunted by the past. And Mila’s own memories are starting to rise to the surface.
Nina LaCour, the Printz Award–winning author of We Are Okay, delivers another emotional knockout with Watch Over Me about trauma and survival, chosen family and rebirth.
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Community Reviews
This was absolutely *nothing* like what I was expecting, but, in the end, was truly a beautiful piece of writing - a solid 4.5 stars. It was a beautiful story of grief and becoming okay with all the feelings that go along with it.
If you've read We Are Okay, you already know LaCour has a knack for yanking at your heartstrings with the finesse of a master puppeteer. This time, she's back with a hauntingly beautiful story that'll leave you feeling like you’ve been hugged and haunted at the same time.
Meet Mila: freshly graduated, newly emancipated from the foster care system, and desperate for a place to call home. When she lands a job at a farm on the Northern California Coast—think flowers, fog, and dramatic wave crashes—she jumps at the chance. Sounds idyllic, right? Not exactly, because no one told Mila about the ghosts. And I'm not talking about Casper the Friendly Ghost here; these are the ghosts of past traumas, and they’re ready to stir up some serious feels.
Mila’s journey at the farm is more than just tending to crops and soaking in the coastal vibes. It's a refuge for others like her, young souls burdened by their pasts, all trying to find some semblance of peace. The farm, with its eerie yet comforting atmosphere, becomes a crucible where Mila’s own dark memories begin to bubble to the surface. LaCour's lyrical prose makes you feel every haunting moment, every flicker of hope, and every step towards resilience and rebirth.
What really makes this story stand out is LaCour's magical realism—the ghosts are both literal and metaphorical. They’re manifestations of the characters' internal struggles, making the supernatural elements feel grounded and deeply personal. The way LaCour weaves this into a narrative about finding a home, healing, and the power of community is nothing short of masterful.
Sure, it's a ghost story, but it's not about the paranormal. It's about confronting the past, embracing your scars, and finding beauty in the broken pieces. LaCour’s empathetic storytelling will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt lost or alone, and her tender touch ensures you’ll finish this book with a full heart and maybe a few tears.
So, if you're up for a read that blends emotional depth with a touch of the supernatural, this book is your ticket. LaCour once again proves she's a force to be reckoned with in YA literature, delivering a tale that’s as haunting as it is hopeful. Grab your tissues and dive in—you won’t regret it.
Meet Mila: freshly graduated, newly emancipated from the foster care system, and desperate for a place to call home. When she lands a job at a farm on the Northern California Coast—think flowers, fog, and dramatic wave crashes—she jumps at the chance. Sounds idyllic, right? Not exactly, because no one told Mila about the ghosts. And I'm not talking about Casper the Friendly Ghost here; these are the ghosts of past traumas, and they’re ready to stir up some serious feels.
Mila’s journey at the farm is more than just tending to crops and soaking in the coastal vibes. It's a refuge for others like her, young souls burdened by their pasts, all trying to find some semblance of peace. The farm, with its eerie yet comforting atmosphere, becomes a crucible where Mila’s own dark memories begin to bubble to the surface. LaCour's lyrical prose makes you feel every haunting moment, every flicker of hope, and every step towards resilience and rebirth.
What really makes this story stand out is LaCour's magical realism—the ghosts are both literal and metaphorical. They’re manifestations of the characters' internal struggles, making the supernatural elements feel grounded and deeply personal. The way LaCour weaves this into a narrative about finding a home, healing, and the power of community is nothing short of masterful.
Sure, it's a ghost story, but it's not about the paranormal. It's about confronting the past, embracing your scars, and finding beauty in the broken pieces. LaCour’s empathetic storytelling will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt lost or alone, and her tender touch ensures you’ll finish this book with a full heart and maybe a few tears.
So, if you're up for a read that blends emotional depth with a touch of the supernatural, this book is your ticket. LaCour once again proves she's a force to be reckoned with in YA literature, delivering a tale that’s as haunting as it is hopeful. Grab your tissues and dive in—you won’t regret it.
Beautiful and Haunting
If we could all regain the innocent and happier times of our lives would we, no matter how much pain it caused us? Could we bare to relive the painful memories that came after the happier times?
Mila has a dark past that has lead her to different foster families but this last one may be her final stop. It is a farm in the middle of nowhere, and it is haunted. The family offers Mila a warm welcome but are they hiding something behind that welcome. A page turner I would recommend for high schoolers and adults that live to read a good ya book.
If we could all regain the innocent and happier times of our lives would we, no matter how much pain it caused us? Could we bare to relive the painful memories that came after the happier times?
Mila has a dark past that has lead her to different foster families but this last one may be her final stop. It is a farm in the middle of nowhere, and it is haunted. The family offers Mila a warm welcome but are they hiding something behind that welcome. A page turner I would recommend for high schoolers and adults that live to read a good ya book.
What a delightfully haunting book that really resonated with me. I first heard about this book from an email sent to me inviting me to download materials and read within a book club. Since it wasn't available from NetGalley, I decided to order it from Amazon and tore through each page through two evenings!
The story has a dreamy and ethereal touch that as you read along to know more about the main character, Mila, you feel as though you've crossed over on to the page and are living within that realm with her. It's a spiritually lifting read.
The story has a dreamy and ethereal touch that as you read along to know more about the main character, Mila, you feel as though you've crossed over on to the page and are living within that realm with her. It's a spiritually lifting read.
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