Review of Take Your Turn, Teddy

[Jenna Floyd]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Take Your Turn, Teddy" by Haley Newlin.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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When Teddy is uprooted from the life he knew and brought to an isolated house in the country, he's overcome with loneliness. That is until he meets a friend in the basement who makes him feel warm and protected. In Take Your Turn, Teddy by Haley Newlin, a young boy learns the hard way that friendship can come at a great cost.

The story begins with Teddy unknowingly catching his father in an affair. When Teddy's mom tries to leave, his father's abusive side emerges, and they barely escape. They flee to an old country house that, unbeknownst to Teddy, has a dark history. Scared and lonely, Teddy eventually encounters a shadow creature in the basement who becomes a friend in his time of need. When an unexpected visitor arrives at the house one day, Teddy's new friend makes a bargain to protect the child - a deal that leads to murder, destruction, and the end of Teddy's hope for a normal future.

I enjoyed this novel. The author did a masterful job of capturing the perspectives and emotions of childhood. Reading this brought me back to moments from my youth when I felt afraid or unsettled by something creepy. She also did an exceptional job capturing the ways in which a child idolizes their parents. Furthermore, I appreciated the author's note in the beginning, which frames her mindfulness of mental health. Newlin highlights how this story captures the dark sides of mental illness, in contrast to her previous novel, which emphasized a healthier angle. The novel was an excellent mixture of varied perspectives and genuine emotions. The characters felt authentic and complex, which brought the novel to life.

There were only two things I didn’t like about this book. First, some transitions between chapters were sometimes a little confusing. For example, Teddy was in the basement at the end of chapter seven and then was suddenly in his room at the beginning of chapter eight. The end of chapter seven felt unresolved, so it caught me off guard when I realized he wasn't in the basement anymore. This happened a few times between chapters. While not a big deal in itself, the abrupt changes were a little disorienting. Second, I felt like something was missing from the story. I can’t articulate what that something is, but I felt a little unsatisfied at the end and felt like there was a piece of the plot missing somehow.

Considering the aforementioned points, I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. This novel is well-crafted and an enjoyable read; there’s just a little something missing that leaves me feeling unfulfilled and keeps me from giving it a full five stars.

There are some complex and painful issues in this book that may be offputting to some readers. Domestic abuse is discussed and described, which could be upsetting for some. Most interested readers would likely be horror fans already, but I'd be remiss if I didn't note the inclusion of death, gore, murder, and profanity. Finally, the book addresses mental health concepts, including hallucinations, depression, and anxiety. Some readers may find comfort in the narrative, while others may find the topics offputting. I recommend mindfulness when reading if you are sensitive to issues surrounding mental health or abuse. Otherwise, I recommend it to any fan of horror.

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Take Your Turn, Teddy
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[Amy Luman]

Teddy seems to have already endured almost more than is bearable before he gets to the farmhouse where he meets his new “friend”. I wonder what happens. I guess I’ll have to read to find out.

[Edwardsjay]

This storyline would be super great as movie. I find this book interesting and thoroughly enjoyed this review.

[Patty Allread]

This novel is dark indeed! A la Stephen King. I can see the movie version of this.

[NetMassimo]

This seems like a dark story that addresses some very serious issues such as abuse and mental problems, so I need to be in the right mood to read it. Regardless, thank you for your great review!