Jan Fields' "The World Inside" definitely starts with a really intriguing premise – I was drawn in by the idea of mysterious, possibly haunted paintings connected to family secrets and a comatose relative. The atmosphere has its effectively eerie moments, and the story moves along very quickly, focusing squarely on the supernatural mystery surrounding the protagonist, Tamika, and her great-aunt's artwork. The connection to art itself is a nice touch.

However, reading it, I found the very straightforward and direct writing style, along with the overall simplicity of the narrative, while making it incredibly easy to get through, ultimately left me wanting more depth. For my own reading preferences, the characters and plot felt somewhat simplified, prioritizing accessibility and a fast pace over exploring nuance or complexity in great detail. It felt clearly geared towards a younger reader or someone seeking a very quick, uncomplicated story structure.

So, while the concept is certainly cool and it creates a decent spooky mood, the overall reading experience felt a bit too simplified for me, lacking some of the layers I typically look for in a novel.

Tamika Warren is stuck at home while her friends are vacationing in Paris. Fearing that Summer can’t get any worse, her mom receives a call that her Great Aunt is in the hospital and this is the first she’s hearing about this relative. Tamika and her mother make their way to Virginia to make arrangements. Upon entering the home of Aunt Lati, Tamika notices the walls are covered with paintings. Mysterious and eerie subjects start appearing in the paintings and Tamika is left to figure out what it is they want.
I love young adult fiction ever since I read Harry Potter as an adult. There is so much symbolism and ultimately our protagonist ends up discovering who they are throughout the novels plot.
Fields main character, Tamika, is a teenager who is artistic, struggles in school and with reading so lacks confidence, constantly fights and blames her mother for being too protective, and is struggling with a “gift” that she doesn’t understand. The novel focuses on her self discovery while also painting a nice little ghost story for its readers. The ending of this novel fell short and felt a little quick to finish leaving me wanting more ghosts and a scarier antagonist that helps Tamika reach her climatic ending and truly discover who she is; but, I have to keep in mind that this novel is meant for 12-14 year olds. Fields was on point with the atmosphere created by always feeling like someone is watching you. The feeling was claustrophobic and I really wish more came about the ghosts in the paintings. In the end we have a story about family, finding oneself, and the burning question of what really happens after we die.
I want to thank NetGalley and Northstar Editions for this ARC in exchange for a honest review of the novel.

When Tamika is told she's not allowed to go to Paris for the summer with her best friends, her life is ruined, her friends will be mad and she's going to miss out on all the fun and not to mention a summer with her mom isn't going to be all that great. But when her mum has an unexpected phone call regarding an estranged Aunt in hospital and is told that they'll be going to Virginia, little does she know that things are going to take an unexpected turn.
The World inside features found friends, found family and is a great tip toe into a haunted house genre with a twist. Great for those who enjoy the heartfelt writing style of Gabrielle Zevin, with an emotional thought provoking view on what comes after we pass on.

I had the joy of starting my journey with NG with this lovely book, The World Inside by Jan Fields! This is an extremely beginner friendly book if you’re apprehensive to get into the horror genre or have a younger/learning reader at home that enjoys a spookier theme. This one is ideal for a teen audience with a lighter reading level.

When her mother gets news that her estranged aunt is in a coma and they must travel to Virginia to prepare her (haunted?!) home for when she awakes, Tamika braces for a miserable summer vacation at best.

Upon discovering that her aunt is an artist, just like her, she forms a connection with her paintings and begins to notice changes in them over the days.

Will Tamika be able to solve the mysteries within these paintings before it’s too late?

Reminiscent of a milder version of the Goosebumps books I read as a kid (and now. Let’s be honest.), I enjoyed the sense of nostalgia I got while reading this! The characters had time to change and grow despite the book being quite short. And can I just say, I think I want to live in Aunt Lati’s house? Maybe without all the creepy paintings though 👀

I'm giving it 3 stars here only because I prefer a more adult book, but this is cute for kids or those who struggle with reading.

I picked this up to see what Horizon Books offers for scary titles. For such an accessible reading level, the title succeeded in making real Tamika's exile to Aunt Lati's house. A surprising amount of plot and emotional resolution took place in a really short amount of time, and this was a rewarding reading experience with excellent spooky notes. I will be looking for more of these for my reluctant readers.

Thank you Netgalley from my arc. What a great read and that cover!! I was intrigued from start to finish! It was tad bit slow at the beginning but over all I enjoyed it.

A spooky cozy horror read with immersive descriptions, a nice writing style, a compelling premise and intriguing plot that’s executed with skill. Tamika’s mom doesn’t like her friends or her plans, and Tamika is more than a little frustrated. When Tamika learns she has a great aunt in a coma, she sets out on a road trip with her mom which brings secrets to light. Her great aunt is an incredible artist whose house reveals to Tamika some creepy and sneaky truths. This book nails slow-burn atmosphere, builds psychological dread, and ultimately transports the reader through shifting plays of colors, shadows, and light. The premise of this quiet horror morsel is intriguing, A quick yet satisfying read, unease lingers long after the final page. You may catch yourself doing double-takes when looking at images.

4.25/5

Great concept, but comes up a little short. I would like to read a longer version of this book. I liked where the author was going with this book, but I feel like I read the Reader's Digest version of it.

I will admit that I judged this book by the beautiful cover, but I'm glad I did because it was a great read! This felt longer than its 160 page count due to the descriptive writing and how much is packed into the story. Even though this book is geared towards a younger audience, I think it is a great book for adults who are looking for something heartwarming, with a bit of a spooky atmosphere for an October fall reading day.

Thank you to NetGalley and North Star Editions for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

First and foremost, thank you to NetGalley and North Star Editions | Jolly Fish Press for the eARC copy of The World Inside for review.
Monthly reading breakdown with review will also be posted on IG and TikTok the first week of April

Review: 3.75 ⭐ rounded up to 4

The World Inside follows 15-year-old Tamika during a summer vacation that wasn't going as she had hoped. While her two best friends are in Paris, she has been left home as her mom has deemed the two other girls 'bad influences'. Early on in the summer, they receive a call that Tamika's great-aunt is in a coma, so mother and daughter pack up and drive out to Virginia from Chicago to make sure that the house is ready for Great-Aunt Lati to come home. Tamika, a young artist, is immediately intrigued by the aunt she has never met as the home is completely filled with artwork, all created by Aunt Lati.

But Tamika knows that something is off with the paints and begins to realize she may not be as 'normal' or 'overly imaginative' as her mother insists she is.

At the surface, Tamika is an absolutely normal teenager. She feels her mother doesn't treat her like she's almost 16 years old (and I do largely agree), she's moody, and extremely curious.

As for her mother...I had some issues with her character. She is extremely vocal about every single person that Tamika wants to spend time with. Her two best friends who went to Paris (and invited Tamika) are too spoiled and too wild (which Tamika does explain they really aren't). Semora, who she meets at her great-aunt's house is a bad influence for BELIEVING IN GHOSTS. Yup, believing in ghosts and nothing more has equated to her being a bad influence on Tamika. She also did not communicate to almost any degree with Tamika and constantly brushed off questions and concerns from her daughter and boiled it down to her daughter having nothing more than a vivid imagination.

But Tamika knows she sees things in the mirrors and that there are definitely people in the paintings and they are moving.

The atmosphere for The World Inside was delightfully spooky for being such a quick read and while I do wish there was more information provided (such as Tamika seeing things in the mirror), I did really enjoy how things ended.

There were a few choppy spots where pacing felt just a bit off, but honestly, the plot line for this was fun and engaging to the point I could easily look over that.

This was a really fun read. Intriguing from start to finish; although it did start a bit slow. The descriptions were so well written.

I didn’t expect this book to be a short read but I did enjoyed a lot reading this. It is different from my usual reads and even that’s towards more of middle graders, It helped me getting out of my reading slump.

A great fun read! The author describes the paintings so clearly and can picture it on your head. A great read for kids and teens!

I read this book because the cover and title reminded me of an old Are You Afraid of the Dark episode. I love the cover art and it evokes exactly the storyline that this book has.

I was surprised at how much story was packed into this super short read. Nothing was unnecessary, nothing was fluff. The characters were well built, and the storyline had great pacing. I could actually see having a sequel to this one as the main character learns to handle her talent.

I would definitely recommend this one to others, it will absolutely live rent free in my head for years, and I definitely want to read more from this author!

Jan Fields’ The World Inside is a gripping, atmospheric read that blends supernatural mystery with personal discovery, creating an engaging story perfect for reluctant teen readers. With its fast-paced plot and eerie premise, this book keeps readers hooked from start to finish.

The novel follows Tamika Warren, a young artist who finds herself spending the summer in her great-aunt Lati’s old farmhouse—a place that is both mesmerizing and deeply unsettling. The farmhouse’s walls are covered in stunning landscape paintings, all created by Aunt Lati, who now lies in a coma. But as Tamika settles in, strange things begin to happen. The paintings seem to react to her presence, shifting and revealing hidden secrets, making her question whether art can truly come to life—or whether something more sinister is at play.

Fields masterfully builds tension, balancing the novel’s eerie elements with Tamika’s emotional journey. The story explores themes of family, artistic identity, and the weight of the past in a way that feels both personal and universal. Tamika is a relatable and determined protagonist, and her growing connection to Aunt Lati’s art adds depth to the unfolding mystery.

What makes The World Inside especially effective is its accessibility. As part of the Horizon Hi-Lo series, the book is designed for struggling or reluctant readers, with short chapters and simple sentence structures that maintain engagement without sacrificing storytelling quality. The writing remains vivid and immersive, ensuring that the suspense and emotional weight of the story hit just as hard as in more complex narratives.

For readers who enjoy ghostly mysteries, unsettling atmospheres, and stories about self-discovery through art, The World Inside is a perfect choice. Jan Fields crafts a tale that is both haunting and heartfelt, proving that sometimes, the scariest stories are the ones that stare back at you from the canvas.

I thoroughly enjoyed this short story, it didn't take long to read which was a nice change. It started a little slow but got interesting very quickly. The story was great and I loved the ending. I would definitely read more of these books. Thankyou to the publishers and NetGalley for this wonderful ARC read.

I was really intrigued by the title of this book and the cover. I was given the opportunity as an ARC reader through Netgalley and voluntarily chose to read this book. I will say I read this book in 1 sitting because I could not put it down. It was so good! The story is face paced and very easy to read. Every interaction, every description, every scene felt very purposeful to the overall story line. I really loved the MFC Tamika and felt she was very relatable. The story progresses and flows meaningful. I really enjoyed this story and felt it felt like I was watching a movie. It was beautiful, a bit spooky, and heart warming. My only regret is that its not a cold October fall evening with the leaves falling down - because this would have been the perfect book to read. I give this a 5 star because I would buy this book, reread it and recommend it. Thanks for the opportunity to read this story!