I read this book when I was 8 years old. I am 31 now, and I have never forgotten it. I was a voracious reader as a child, always 3-4 grades above my age. It was terrifying. I had nightmares for over a year and my parents actually complained to the library about its cataloging in the chilsren's section once they reviewed the book. The 1 star rating does not relate to the book's content but to its publisher's classification as children's literature. It is a horror novel, plain and simple. I would not recommend this to any reader under the age of 16.