Bliss by Lauren Myracle

When Bliss is dropped off at her uptight grandmother’s house, she is a total outsider in an unfriendly world.  Naïve Bliss grew up on a hippy commune and has been sheltered from the casual racism and complicated social hierarchy that dominates her preppy new school.  She is sweet, trusting, and desperate for friends, which unfortunately makes her a perfect target for the sinister forces that haunt Crestview Academy. 

A creepy voice keeps invading her thoughts and it’s difficult for Bliss to tell if the danger is coming from the ancient “blood magic” trying to contact her or from her secretive new friends.  I thought that Bliss’s relationships with her friends were the best and scariest part of this book.  She has to decide who to trust, and there are some scenes that are absolutely chilling. 

This novel takes place in the late sixties and Myracle does a good job of capturing the time period without getting bogged down by too many details.  There are quotes from the Andy Griffith Show and the murder trial of Charles Manson in between the chapters that really set the tone for an intriguing mix of horror and wholesomeness.  Bliss is a must read for fans of stories that will keep them up at night and give them chills.  However, the creepy descriptions are pretty intense and some readers may be disturbed by the ending, so I recommend Bliss for mature teens only.

Check out the spooky book trailer video!