Atmospheric, dreamy and macabre, a young misfit at an orphanage dreams of her mother, who has left her only a cryptic diary. When our hero orphan is called home unexpectedly, she encounters her cursed lineage with a bravery that ultimately attenuates into stoic resignation. I enjoyed the latent sadness in every detail and felt my fears of death well-expressed. I liked the ambiguous ending as well. Surprisingly good middle school horror that appealed to this old reader.