Thornhill

Written & illustrated by Pam Smy

A girl uncovers the eerie secrets of an abandoned institute, bridging past and present.

3.8/5 Goodreads · 14,154 ratings

539 pages· 18,010 words· Est. 2.5 hour read

$19.99Save 7%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

In 1982, Mary, a lonely orphan, faces a bully at the closing Thornhill Institute, leading to a haunting legacy. In 2017, Ella, new to town, spies a mysterious girl in Thornhill's window. Driven by curiosity, Ella delves into the institute's dark history, seeking connection across time. As their stories intertwine, secrets emerge, revealing the chilling truth behind Thornhill's walls. Will Ella uncover the past before it consumes her?

From the publisher

Parallel stories set in different times, one told in prose and one in pictures, converge as a girl unravels the mystery of the abandoned Thornhill Institute next door. 1982: Mary is a lonely orphan at the Thornhill Institute For Children at the very moment that it’s shutting its doors. When her few friends are all adopted or re-homed and she’s left to face a volatile bully alone, her revenge will have a lasting effect on the bully, on Mary, and on Thornhill itself. 2017: Ella has just moved to a new town where she knows no one. From her room on the top floor of her new home, she has a perfect view of the dilapidated, abandoned Thornhill Institute across the way, where she glimpses a girl in the window. Determined to befriend the girl and solidify the link between them, Ella resolves to unravel Thornhill’s shadowy past. Told in alternating, interwoven plotlines–Mary’s through intimate diary entries and Ella’s in bold, striking art–Pam Smy’s Thornhill is a haunting exploration of human connection, filled with suspense. A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2017A New York City Public Library Notable Best Book for KidsA 2018 ALSC Notable Children’s BookA VOYA Top of the Shelf Pick

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