I enjoyed the story itself but it felt a little disjointed. I've always seen others have issues with SGJ's writing style and I usually don't have an issue, but this time I understand. However I think it could be do to the fact that this story is about a young boy. So maybe the issues I had was intentional. But regardless it made it a bit hard for me to get through.

Mapping The Interior follows a young boy who has just lost his father. The boy is 12 years old, which is such a tender age, on the cusp of maturity and on the precipice of really and truly needing that father presence in his life. We follow this narrator as he "maps the interior" of his home, seeing his father around every bend and turn. He goes through the motions of taking note of his mother as well as his special needs brother, Dino. I'd like to start out by saying I think ALL of that- every single tidbit- is beautiful. This book is truly not for me, and sadly- I don't think this author is, in general. The way he writes is beautiful- it is truly poetic prose in its finest- but I think the nuances went entirely over my head in this one. I think if you read this, you'll each come away with a different interpretation- and that to me makes it so worth the try. Thank you very much to the publisher and the author for giving me the chance to provide an eARC.

Mapping the Interior is a brief but powerful novella that blends eerie supernatural elements with deeply emotional themes like grief, trauma, and cultural identity. It follows a Native American teenager who begins seeing the ghost of his father, uncovering painful truths about the past. The horror is subtle and psychological, with a heavy emotional core that lingers long after the final page. It’s a haunting and beautifully written exploration of memory, legacy, and loss.

This novella was perfectly weird. And the stream of consciousness made it extra moody. Perhaps how disjointed it is will be too much for some people. But if you love “weird lit” this is for you.

The vibes:
dirt dust dogs dingy days
grime
memory & emotion
the sheriff’s deputy
rusty truck
old tether ball pole
are you seeing what I’m seeing
magical realism
losing his father young

It’s not a horror in the sense of being scared. It’s a moody unsettling novel from the point of view of a 15 year old. And that’s what made it so good.

I’m really getting hooked on novellas this past year. I can’t believe I avoided them for long.

Mapping the Interior is a haunting and beautifully written novella that lingers long after the final page. Stephan Graham Jones masterfully blends horror with raw emotional depth, creating a story that is as heartbreaking as it is chilling. The atmosphere is one of the book’s greatest strengths—eerie, dreamlike, and disorienting in the best way. The haunting presence that creeps through the protagonist’s home is described with such subtle yet vivid detail that it felt almost tangible, making the familiar setting of a small, ordinary house feel deeply unsettling.

What struck me most was the way Jones uses horror as a vehicle to explore grief, identity, and the aching bond between father and son. The supernatural elements never overshadow the deeply human story at its core—instead, they enhance it, making the protagonist’s longing and confusion all the more powerful. The prose is sharp and spare, but every sentence carries weight, adding to the book’s haunting, hypnotic rhythm.

I also appreciated how the story blurs the line between reality and hallucination, making it impossible to tell whether the protagonist is being haunted by his father’s ghost or by his own memories and trauma. This ambiguity makes the book even more powerful, leaving room for interpretation and lingering unease.

If you’re looking for a short but profoundly atmospheric and emotionally resonant read, Mapping the Interior is an absolute standout. It’s the kind of story that seeps into your bones—quiet, sorrowful, and unforgettable.

Mapping the Interior is vintage Stephen Graham Jones. It’s a novella that takes us though a young teenage boy’s mind, shows us a little bit of life on and off a Blackfeet reservation, gives us some supernatural horror and makes us wonder… was it? It is a truly touching story that is hard to pin down.

The main character is a young teenager, living with his mom and younger brother who seems to have a learning disorder and other health complications. They have recently moved off the Blackfeet reservation after the controversial death of his father.

After a late-night sleepwalking episode he thinks his father has returned from the dead and tries to help, but is that what’s best for the family?

Mapping the interior made me feel for the family, the characters and their life. I really wanted things to go well for each of them. There is some real horror as well as supernatural horror in this story. I was reminded of some Stephen King stories, like Cujo and Pet Sematary at times, but this is something different that stands in its own.

It’s what I think should simply be described as Stephen Graham Jones. His style is his own. His genre is his own. I’m glad for that.

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got a copy of this on ebook from NetGalley.

Thoughts: This was a novella I had been wanting to read for some time. It ended up being okay, but I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style or the story. The story was a bit ambiguous for me, and the writing felt disjointed.

The boy here tries to map out his house meticulously after he thinks he sees his dead father walk through a doorway. His brother is getting sicker and sicker, and he thinks it has something to go with the figure he saw. When he ends up under his house, he finds a strange cavity that he thinks is related.

I think I kind of understand what happened in this book, but I also found it somewhat confusing. I am not sure how the boy got away with some of the things he did, or if those things really happened at all.

The writing style didn't flow well; I kept having to re-read parts of the story. I am not sure why I struggled with this so much. It was a fairly quick read, and I appreciate the odd horror-like magical realism here, but it was just not for me.

My Summary (2/5): Overall I struggled with this novella quite a bit, the writing didn't flow well for me. In the end, I am not exactly sure what happened here, things are left ambiguous and not all that well explained. I had a lot of questions when I finished reading this. I appreciated the odd and eerie tone to the story but just didn't find it very satisfying to read. I don't plan to check out other stories/books by Jones.

wow! what a powerful gut punch! I was not expecting this little novella to hit me so deep. SGJ is climbing the ranks to be one of my very favourite authors!

thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review

Stephen Graham Jones always provides a unique reading experience. Mapping the Interior fits that bill perfectly. On the surface this book is about a fifteen-year-old native American teen, while sleepwalking one evening, sees an image of a person stepping though a doorway. He lives with his mother and younger brother and what he observes is neither or them but bears a strong resemblance to his father who died mysteriously.

This book is deep, man. It is deep. At first, I didn't know quite what to make of this book. I often initially feel, when I pick up a book by Stepehen Graham Jones, that I am in over my head. His writing is wonderous, mesmerizing, dripping in symbolism, deep, and dark. He takes a story about a male teenager who lives with his mother and younger brother who has seizures, and swirls in culture, identity, trauma, loss, and memory.

Mapping the Interior is in the horror genre but is more horrific than horror. I will note that this book does have bullying and violence to animals.

Stephen Graham Jones delivers another chilling, thought-provoking tale with Mapping the Interior, a novella that seamlessly blends supernatural horror with deep emotional resonance. Told through the eyes of twelve-year-old Junior, the story follows his desperate attempts to reconnect with his father—who, despite having drowned eight years ago, has mysteriously returned. But bringing back the dead is never without consequences.

Jones masterfully crafts an atmosphere of creeping dread, balancing psychological terror with an intimate exploration of grief, family trauma, and Indigenous identity. The novella’s short length only intensifies its impact, making for a fast but unforgettable read that lingers long after you turn the last page.

Poignant, terrifying, and deeply unsettling, Mapping the Interior is a must-read for horror lovers—just don’t read it alone at night.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

SGJ - how dare you end a story like that, you evil genius! Real talk, Stephen Graham Jones is one of the best horror authors out there. The way he intertwines grief and trauma and love and fear is unmatched. There is a pervasive sense of anticipation that sits on your shoulders when you read his work, keeping you on edge just to see how deeply human the characters will be. Junior is the perfect example. We see him dealing with his father, then dealing with his son, and the two are almost impossible to reconcile. He will do anything for Dino, and then he will do anything for his son. It's baffling and horrific and poetic and... wow.

[ Huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC! ]

I went into this read not really knowing what kind of horror to expect and ended up being sucker punched right in the gut. This was such a raw story. I honestly have no idea how Stephen Graham Jones packed so much emotion into such a short page count. I was thoroughly compelled by the characters and really feeling for this family in just a few short pages. The storytelling and character work was just incredible. I would def recommend to people who would enjoy a quieter horror with emotional depth.

More hauntings from SGJ please. Pacing and prose are exceptional and this works perfect as a read in one sitting novella that will give you plenty to talk and think about.

Mapping the Interior was published in 2017 and now published again. Jones does it again with this banger of a novel. Short novel. Perfer his longer works.

Mapping The Interior, Stephen Graham Jones, pub: April 2025

This is a shorter story and I devoured it in one sitting! The main character is a young man that has just lost his father. He lives in a small home with his mother and younger brother, who has mental health and/or developmental challenges. The young man believes his recently deceased father, is haunting their home, and maybe doing far worse.

Pros: Just great storytelling! No one writes kids as well as Stephen King and Graham Jones. Besides the ending, my favorite part is when the kid gets ran under the house, being chased by the neighbor mean dogs. We feel his fear and his plea that someone would come save him…and someone does.

Cons: Too short! Lol, this wraps up nicely but, there is nothing holding him back from revisiting these folks a couple years into the future.

This is a story where the ending will shock you so I cant say much! But, I thought it was great, surprising, worth the read. Lovers of The Only Good Indians, and  I Was A Teenage Slasher will enjoy this!

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor for my pre-release copy of Mapping the Interior. Below is my honest review.

I am really enjoying getting to know the works of Stephen Graham Jones, and this novella was a gem. It built the horror up easily, tore it down, and built it back up again - over and over until the end came. It provided depth of both character and plot, and the setting was absolutely spot on.

Honestly, I'm very impressed with a novella with this much power and worldbuilding.

Definitely recommend this one for horror fans, but be warned there's some serious trigger warnings for family trauma.

This was a short story about a 12 year old dead father who came back to life. Yes, it is horror and the ending is most definitely creepy!

It’s very atmospheric, and engrossing.
This 12 year old boy is stuck between his grief from losing his father, protecting his special needs brother, and helping his mom as the “man of the house.”

I feel like I didn’t grasp all the symbolism in this, but I enjoyed it! Additionally, I think people will interpret this in their own way, which is the beauty of art. For me, this was an exploration of grief, generational trauma (and the repetition of trauma), and a reflection of one’s life choices.

I absolutely love the indigenous speech pattern used in this, it’s unique and true SGJs style, and I eat it up, despite being confused sometimes.

Great story telling. Themes of grief, hopelessness, and optimism thrown into one great story. I enjoyed a glimpse into a 13 year old boy who was thrown into a “man of the house” position he didn’t want, and the supernatural aspect of his dad returning

I have read several of Stephen Graham Jones’ novels and short stories, and while some resonate more strongly with me than others, his talent as a storyteller is undeniable. He is widely respected within the horror community, and his ability to craft compelling narratives rooted in Native American culture and history is truly distinctive. Regardless of personal preference, I always look forward to exploring his work. This particular novella falls somewhere in the upper-middle tier of his works that I’ve read.

This is a haunting and atmospheric tale, one that will likely evoke a wide range of emotions and interpretations from readers. At its core, it is a story about grief, loss, and the inescapable cycle of becoming our parents—even when we desperately hope to break free from that fate. It explores themes of identity and heritage, capturing the paradox of feeling both deeply connected to and distant from one's roots. More than anything, it is an unsettling meditation on the ways we cope with loss and the lengths we go to in order to hold on to those we love.

The novella follows a young boy who, late one night, believes he sees his long-dead father stepping through a doorway. Living with his mother and his mentally disabled brother, he is surrounded by the struggle to survive amidst ever-present violence. This is an easy read in a single sitting, and while it contains a few genuinely tense and unsettling moments, the narrative style occasionally took me out of the experience. I recognize that this stylistic choice was intentional, and my difficulty connecting with it is likely a matter of personal preference rather than a flaw in the writing itself.

Ultimately, this is a unique and thought-provoking story, and I would readily recommend it to any fan of Stephen Graham Jones.