HAUNTED : The Cursed Lake by Mahtab Narsimhan

It has been challenging for 12-year-old Jonah Anders to develop lifelong friendships because he and his mom have moved around a lot, especially since the passing of his father two years prior. When they bought Camp Sunny Acres, they received a wonderful deal, and they have high expectations for future success.

Before Jonah and his mother bought the camp, a horrible incident took place in the neighbouring lake, and its ramifications may still be felt today in a number of ways. They discover that what they initially believed to be a terrifying campfire tale may actually be true as Jonah and another camper are literally dragged into the lake’s depths. They then realise that they must band together to find a solution if they want the camp to survive.

In comparison to the first book in the “Eerie Tales from the East” series, this second volume (HAUNTED: The Cursed Lake) is noticeably more intense. A frightening ghost story is not just shared around the campfire at night; the story also comes to life, adding a further element of dread to the story. Jonah is in a difficult situation because, in addition to being the camp owner’s son, he is also the same age as the campers.

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Jonah struggles to strike a balance between his obligations and his relationships with his peers because he has few friends and a lot of responsibilities. In order to include others into a life that had been largely independent up until that time, he courageously learns to step outside of his comfort zone.

The stories in this collection as a whole will appeal to readers who enjoy spooky tales from other literature and traditions. Despite the fact that each story is set in a different location, they are all structurally similar, which gives readers a sense of familiarity and comfort with the author’s writing and how each novel is presented.

The writing in this second book has significantly improved from that of the first, and it is presented superbly. The accessibility of this book and the other tales in this series will appeal to middle grade readers who are interested in both the supernatural and eerie stories from around the world. Middle school kids will find this book to be a captivating addition to their library.

About The Book

12-year-old Jonah and his mother have just reopened Camp Sunny Acres after a horrific tragedy drove the last owners away. They’re desperate to make it a success, but new camper, Dexter, won’t stop breaking the rules. To make matters worse, Jonah suspects that the mysterious disturbance in the lake might be a restless ghost.

Jonah’s worst fears come to life during a freak storm when the malevolent ghost captures his mother. Can Jonah and his friends find a way to appease the ghost and rescue her—or is he going to lose his mother to the vengeful ghost?

Eerie Tales from the East brings you scary stories from around the world. Ordinary characters must rise to extraordinary challenges or risk losing the ones they love in these chilling, fast-paced novels with heart for 8-12+ year old fans of Coraline, Goosebumps, and Small Spaces.