66 pages • 2 hours read
Mary Downing HahnWait Till Helen Comes
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1986A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Wait Till Helen Comes, siblings Molly and Michael navigate family tensions while encountering the ghost of a young girl named Helen after moving to a renovated church in the countryside with their mother, stepfather, and hostile stepsister, Heather. As Heather becomes increasingly obsessed with Helen's grave, Molly must confront her fears to protect Heather from the ghost's potentially malevolent influence. The book deals with themes of family, loss, and overcoming guilt.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn receives praise for its eerie atmosphere and well-crafted suspense, making it an engaging read for young adults. However, some critics feel the character development is somewhat lacking, and the ending can be predictable. Despite these flaws, it remains a popular choice for fans of ghost stories.
Who Should Read Wait Till Helen Comes?
Readers who enjoy suspenseful, supernatural tales with well-drawn young characters will relish Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn. Ideal for fans of Lois Duncan's Down a Dark Hall and R.L. Stine's Goosebumps series, this novel is perfect for middle-grade readers who crave spooky mysteries with emotional depth.
RecommendedReading Age
9-12yearsLexile Level
750LBook Details
Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction
Children's Literature
Relationships: Friendship
Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride
Relationships: Family
Grief / Death
Religion / Spirituality