Halloween Theme: Possession: Katie Alender Books

For full reviews of the Katie Alender books please check out burnbright.com.au under "Krista Reviews"

When Alexis's little sister Kasey becomes obsessed with an antique doll, Alexis thinks nothing of it. Kasey is a weird kid. Period. Alexis is considered weird, too, by the kids in her high school, by her parents, even by her own Goth friends. Things get weirder, though, when the old house they live in starts changing. Doors open and close by themselves; water boils on the unlit stove; and an unplugged air conditioner turns the house cold enough to see their breath in. Kasey is changing, too. Her blue eyes go green and she speaks in old-fashioned language, then forgets chunks of time.

Most disturbing of all is the dangerous new chip on Kasey's shoulder. The formerly gentle, doll-loving child is gone, and the new Kasey is angry. Alexis is the only one who can stop her sister — but what if that green-eyed girl isn't even Kasey anymore?






Alexis is the last girl you'd expect to sell her soul for beauty and popularity. After all, she already has everything she needs--an adorable boyfriend, the perfect best friend, and a family that finally seems to be healing after her sister Kasey's unfortunate possession by an evil spirit.

But then Kasey tells Alexis about the mysterious new club she has joined, and the oath she has taken to someone named Aralt. Worried that Kasey's gotten in over her head again, Alexis and her best friend Megan decide to investigate by joining the Sunshine Club, too. At first, their connection with Aralt seems harmless. Alexis tries a new -- normal-- look, and finds herself reveling in her elegance and success.


Still, despite the Sunshine Club's outward perfection, the group is crumbling from within, and soon Alexis finds herself battling her own personal demons. She can hardly even remember why she joined in the first place. Surely it wasn't to destroy Aralt...why would she hurt someone who has given her so much, and asked for so little in return?



These books have just enough creep factor in them to be creepy but not too scary. They would be a good starting off series for those that are unsure if they are really going to enjoy horror stories.
They are also good for more of the older Middle Grade/tween ages because the scare factor is creepy enough but unless you are really sensitive should not give you nightmares.
The first book deals more heavily with the little sister and problems fitting in and keeping friends. Although the story is told from the older sister's perspective we see Kasey through Alexis' eyes and even though there is a love interest in the older girl's life, there is nothing heavy other than the girls interactions with each other and their family relations. Kasey acts much younger than her age (13) and through most of the book you can see that Alexis has a hard time dealing with the immaturity of her sister and is kind of hard on her. Pushing her to stand up for herself and to act like her age.
The second book is still told from Alexs's perspective but takes on some more heavier details than the first book. The romance is still on the light side, but it deals heavily with fitting in and maybe a little bit of bullying. As the Sunshine Club becomes more evolved and more members join the pressure that they put in each other takes the forefront of most of the story. The horror scenes take a back burner, but become heavier in the end of the book, but still should not keep you up at night unless you are sensitive.

They both deal with Possession: Bad Girls Don't Die deals directly with a ghost that has been haunting the house they now live in.
From Bad to Cursed deals more with an ancient power source that is brought out of an old book that the girls have managed to get their hands on.


I have heard people refer to the 2nd book as a companion book to the 1st but I disagree. I 100% recommend that you read Bad Girls Don't Die first. There are several references to the first book in the 2nd and it is a continuation almost from when the first book leaves off.

What are some of your favorite Halloween reads
Do you like Ghost stories or those re: Possession?

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