The Haunting of Tyrese Walker

Product Information

It was important to me to be authentic, however, writing full Patwa for the Jamaican characters might exclude some readers as unless you know the dialect or can hear it in your head it can slow down the reading experience and I didn't want that as it was important that this book was for everyone. I still wanted readers to feel Jamaica and experience it so rather than make the characters speak full Patwa, I sprinkled it with Patwah, along with phrases and Jamaican sayings, which hopefully gives readers a real sense of authenticity. I didn't struggle to include it, although as a society we are getting better at talking about grief and mental health, more needs to be done, and I wanted my book to be open about these subjects, although it was important to include hope in this book. Hope and emotional light. When the adults in Tyrese's life can't help him, he must band together with his cousin Marvin and new friend Ellie to uncover the reason why he is being singled out. They must find a way to save his family, reveal the terrifying history of the Shadow Man and release Tyrese from his clutches. Will Tyrese finally face his inner demons and inability to face his father's death when he discovers it might have something to do with the events that are unfolding? This moment of clarity was the beginning of a wonderful journey with Tyrese. I wanted to explore grief and mental health for all readers, but I especially wanted Tyrese to be a vehicle for boys to examine loss and processing pain, as well of course as create an atmospheric ghost story. As I began to listen to Tyrese’s voice and hear the story he wanted to tell, little did I know that it would become a transportive and cathartic experience from the emptiness of loss to the celebration and light of life and all that still lives in my heart.

I'm not a fan of ghost stories, but I could definitely appreciate this one, where the heart of the story is not so much ghosts but Tyrese's grief at losing a beloved father. And I very much enjoyed seeing the setting, culture and language of the island, and feel it's beneficial for young readers to experience different lives to their own. Then Tyrese is warned he’s being hunted by the mysterious Shadow Man. Under threat, Tyrese and his friends set out on a terrifying journey across the island to try and uncover the Shadow Man’s sinister history. Who can Tyrese trust when his own mind is falling apart and there’s nowhere left to hide? Bestselling author Alexandra Christo, author of TikTok sensation To Kill a Kingdom, introduces her new book, The Night Hunt (Hot Key Books), a dark... The Haunting of Tyrese Walker is both skin-crawlingly creepy and beautiful. It magnificently and powerfully links supernatural activity & grief together, so much so I was mesmerised. Tyrese is grieving and he is struggling to process such a monumental loss so young in his life. He doesn't want to talk about it, he doesn't know how. Tyrese's grief is front and centre of this story but there are scary paranormal events aplenty happening around him too and he needs to find out about 'The Shadow Man' and what he wants.And he certainly doesn’t want to be in Jamaica; he wants to be on his own in his bedroom at home. But Grammy and Mum love him and hope the change of scenery will help him move on. The horror in this book is two pronged, first the actual boogeyman and supernatural happenings that take place (the use of insects is particularly unsettling), and secondly the grief that Ty is feeling over his dads death and the chasm it creates between him and his family. I really enjoyed the mixture of local folklore and Jamaican mythology in this story and it made for a decent YA read. November 2022 Book of the Month | Longlisted for the Jhalak Children’s & Young Adult Prize 2023 | Shortlisted for The Branford Boase Award 2023

Peppered In This Stimulating Atmosphere Is The Tension, Suspense & Fright Factor. I Did Not Expect To Get As Creeped Out As I Did. I Definitely Found Myself Either Holding My Breath Or Breathing Faster While Reading This Book With Each Of The New Twists Or Revelations. I Already Wasn’t A Fan Of Bugs But This Book Has Definitely Cemented That As A Phobia Especially Toward Centipedes 🐛 Tyrese can’t explain what’s going on and he’s scared that he’s losing his grip on reality. Then Tyrese is warned that the mysterious Shadow Man is hunting him. Under threat, Tyrese and his friends set out on a terrifying journey across the island to try and uncover the sinister history of the Shadow Man. Who can Tyrese trust when his own mind is falling apart?”

He, Marvin and a new friend called Ellie, herself left to her own devices by a busy father find themselves running round the island, escaping unknown enemies and not-quite-real beings, and have no idea what's going on. Who is the Shadow Man who seems to be after Ty - and why? This is a stunning tale that could’ve easily been expanded for a second book in the same universe. Tyrese was an extremely loveable lead character and pairing this with Rose’s magnetic prose allows for a truly enjoyable read despite showcasing darker elements of life. Tyrese can't explain what's going on and he's scared that he's losing his grip on reality. Then Tyrese is warned he's being hunted by the mysterious Shadow Man. Under threat, Tyrese and his friends set out on a terrifying journey across the island to try and uncover the Shadow Man's sinister history. Who can Tyrese trust when his own mind is falling apart and there's nowhere left to hide? About This Edition ISBN:

The Haunting of Tyrese Walker, set in Jamaica, follows a boy in the depths of grief and who is taken to visit his 'Grammy' in Jamaica. What his mother hopes will help him with his grief only seems to make Tyreese more closed off. The cover, which is to be revealed, will be designed by artist Dananayi Muwanigwa, a young self-taught digital illustrator based in Harare, Zimbabwe. After his father’s death, Tyrese Walker spends time in Jamaica, refusing to mourn. After Tyrese is targeted by the mysterious ‘Shadow Man’ he vows to find out why he is being targeted. Alongside his cousin (Marvin) and their friend Ellie, the three children vow to find out why Tyrese is being targeted. From the moment they arrived at Grammy's, strange things start to happen, beginning when Tyrese starts to see and hear things. Tyrese is not very receptive when he arrives at Grammy's house and is a bit rude to Grammy and his cousin. Later that first night, Tyrese goes outside to talk to Grammy who is spreading rice on the ground outside her home. Grammy explains it is to keep the evil spirits away but Tyrese thinks his Grammy's superstitions are just that . So, when she asks him to finish circling the house with the rice, he gets scared and brushes it off, leaving the house exposed because he didn't finish the job. That night more strange things begin to happen.... I’ve always been a fan of the psychological nature of ghost stories, especially when it is based in the every day. It’s a delicious way of exploring the human mind and the unreliable narrator, it’s also a way of exploring more difficult subjects. I also was intrested in writing a haunting ghost story as I found that actually when you look, there aren’t that many out there for that vital age between upper middle grad to lower YA. Plus, the challenge of creating fear and tension purely with the written word was an exciting challenge.It varies, but mainly in my office in the morning. If I've been chattering away with friends or been out and about, it doesn't help my writing at all, as I need my mind to be still and settled, almost in a meditative state. Losing motivation, I have to often override with the fact I have deadlines, so sometimes I can't afford to lose motivation, at other times I just turn off my computer and go and do something else and give my brain a rest. As Tyrese Feels He Is Losing His Grip On Reality As He Learns It Is The Shadow Man Who Is After Him. Can Tyrese, His Cousin & New Found Friend Solve This Mystery Or Will Tyrese Succumb To The Darkness & Madness? 😱 Tyrese. Of course, I loved the main character. He was perfectly written. And a great representation of being lost to the darkness of one’s grief. My heart truly ached for him. I very much enjoyed this book, I devoured this in one sitting as I simply could not put this one down. However, I didn't realise until a little under halfway through that the book leans more to the middle-grade/younger side of the YA spectrum. However, the descriptions of the various duppies and the haunting scenes got under my skin far more than some more 'adult' YA horrors that I've read ever have.

The descriptions. You go from the sinisterly atmospheric to the most tender words possible. And then you have the descriptions of the insects, infection and the surrounding evil. It truly is terrifying and gross. When I first started writing there weren't so many opportunities for authors of colour, especially in the children's sector but thankfully the publishing world is becoming more inclusive for authors and publishing a variety of wonderful and diverse stories, reflecting and celebrating each other. I also have to mention the beautiful dedication at the beginning of the book. Although not relevant to the story, it gives a lovely insight into the author. First of all, the book takes place in Jamaica and that's one of my fav things about it. I loved the setting and I loooooooved the folklore.There are several terrifying set-pieces throughout the book, each involving an encounter with one of the famous duppies who haunt the island. We worked together to ensure that each of these distinctive scenes lead the characters further along on their adventure, and made sure that the clues Tyrese uncovers all come together in the book’s frightening conclusion. We also discussed the way in which the Shadow Man possesses Tyrese. Jacqui’s brilliant idea was that psychological trauma and grief can distort your perspective on the past and alienate you from your true self. So we worked on ways to ensure Tyrese’s descent to the dark side felt gradual and believable for the world of the story.