Lindsey Reviews; Sheltered - Debra Chapotan

 

 

 

Sheltered

Debra Chapoton

Big Pine Lodge Books

2012

Sheltered is centered on a group of teenagers who are living together and have major issues in their lives.  There is Ben, the father figure of the group, who is using one of his stepfather’s rented run down properties to provide sanctuary to the teens whilst trying to escape his own troubled home life.    Then there is the Goth Cori, who has major anger issues; shy fragile Emily that cuts herself to help her deal with the abandonment from her mother and to deal with her problems; twins Adam and Chuck who are schizophrenic and the latest recruit is Megan, a teenage mother estranged from her parents, who is fighting to gain custody of her son.  Ben offers them a place of shelter from the outside world. Yet the house has a dark history and in the heady mix of the troubled teenagers it enables their problems to manifest from their psyches and a force is unleashed within. 

This was an unusual book which dealt with many diverse themes; mental health issues, self mutilation, family and home life problems.  Set against this dysfunctionality is an undercurrent of the supernatural ; demons and possession. As the teens live together, they find out about the history of the house which causes odd things to happen to them and put them in danger.  The story tells the perspective of each of the five residents and as the tale unfolds, the sinister atmosphere in the house increases and threatens each of the teens both mentally and physically.

This is a creepy gothic tale to be read by candlelight.  Unusual and entertaining, the tale was well structured with an array of diverse and interesting characters.