Room for Rent
Nya can’t remember the last time she felt safe.
The rundown rental house didn’t seem so bad at first. But now, someone is stealing her food. Rattling her bedroom doorknob. Digging through her belongings.
Each night brings more disturbing incidents. And each night, Nya is more convinced that it’s not an intruder. She suspects the culprit is hiding in plain sight: her peculiar roommate-of-necessity, Sidney.
Nya can’t afford to live anywhere else. The horrible rental is her only option. In a few months, she’ll finish her final semester of college—and get the hell out of dodge. But to her horror, the sinister mind games are just the beginning. Before long, she’s forced to face the possibility that her physical safety may be at risk. Maybe even her life.
The truth is more terrifying than Nya could have guessed. And as the situation spirals out of control, it’s suddenly clear that surviving the night may no longer be an option.
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At what point did you realize Curtis wasn’t who he said he was?
Did that knowledge increase or decrease the “thriller” aspect of the novel?
If you were in Nya’s situation, what would you have done?
How did Nya’s background set her up to stay at the house longer than she should have?
Do you think Nya’s parents would’ve been as resistant to helping her as she thought they would be? Why or why not?
What does Alebrije, the little wooden, relate to Nya’s overall character development?