The Girl in Green coming September 15th, 2026 from HarperCollins Teen; 242 pages
Content Warning: Death, violence, descriptions of mutilation
About the Author: “Laura Creedle is ADHD, dyslexic and neuro-divergent. She writes young adult novels and blogs at http://adhd-writer.com. She lives in Austin, Texas in an urban forest with her husband and son, a cat who thinks he’s a dog, and a tiny dog who acts like a cat. Also, a half dozen raccoons who have burrowed into her attic. Unless she plays NPR on a radio in the attic, because as everyone knows, raccoons hate low key pleasant liberalism. Like most people in Austin, Laura plays guitar. She also owns more than one pair of cowboy boots. Neither of these is a requirement, but they help. When not writing, Laura volunteers with a kindergarten pre-literacy program at a local school” (Bio from author’s Goodreads profile).
Find Laura Creedle on the following platforms:
When her acceptance letter to Danvers-Cutteridge comes in, Jess is already plotting how she will escape. Not one to stay too long in behavioral schools she doesn’t want to be in, Jess runs into unexpected hurdles while looking for an escape route at Danvers. This old, historic, and grand school carries centuries-old secrets kept up by a disturbing, twisted family tree. They learn of a dark history of brutal mutilations and the tale of a mysterious “girl in green” that has Jess and her friends investigating the school’s storied past and the disappearance of another student. When they uncover the truth, nothing but long, dark tunnels and flashes of green stand between Jess and her freedom.
This story was insane! Just based on the author’s note that this story was inspired by a real asylum set in the middle of nowhere in West Virginia, and would potentially haunt my dreams, I was immediately hooked. I’ve never read a horror story before, and this did not disappoint. The “girl in green” was insanely creepy and unsettling. The detail with which she was described was crucial to me being able to picture what was happening and be able to understand Jess’ fear throughout the duration of the book. I felt the tension. Jess is complex and so very human, and easy to empathize with. She’s not the monster she believes she is, and I’m glad she was able to recognize that within herself by the end. Her friends are also a saving grace; not only do they help push the plot forward, but they give Jess the chance to grow as a character as well. The school itself and the location were eerie and matched the vibe of the story perfectly. I will say, there was a lot of abrupt death in the book, so do not get attached to characters too quickly!! You will be disappointed. Overall, this was a great read, and I can’t wait to dive into more horror.
The Girl in Green releases on September 15th, 2026.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank HarperCollins Teen for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Bryanna Thompson, Pine Reads Review Writer and Social Media Manager