Based on true events of a haunting in Austin, Texas
Do you believe in ghosts? Whether you do or not, Arthur Mills’ traumatic true-life experience in The Empty Lot Next Door will make you question the nature of reality. Find out who Candle Face was, her taunting behavior, and how she turned a boy’s childhood into a living nightmare.
The Second Edition: More Truth, More Terror
The much-acclaimed memoir The Empty Lot Next Door (originally published in 2010) returns in its more terrifying second edition, released in 2023. While the original captivated young readers worldwide, this reimagined version is crafted to unsettle even the most seasoned horror fans. Arthur Mills masterfully reworks the story to align more closely with true events, adding greater depth, psychological tension, and vivid imagery.
The Empty Lot Next Door Storyline
In an Austin neighborhood, Ray (Arthur’s childhood name) and his family excitedly moved into a small house in the midst of a big, green lawn. Beside their house is a strange, vacant lot where a house once stood, and a huge hole in the back lies mysteriously. As a young boy with many new friends, Ray considers the empty lot an exciting playground. But the tale behind the lot keeps the boy intrigued and frightened as he learns that the house that was once there was burned down years ago, leaving a girl dead amid the fire. As the neighborhood kids say, the little girl will haunt anyone who dares to jump into the hole. Determined to validate the authenticity of this tale, Ray daringly and mistakenly challenges the ghost, a challenge that he will forever regret. Soon, he becomes haunted by the little girl, whom he named Candle Face, due to her charred face and body. The apparition began visiting his dreams and leaving handprints and other signs around the house, even when Ray was awake.
The Empty Lot Next Door is more than a ghost story. It’s also a story of the desperation, pain, and helplessness experienced by children whose parents work long hours away from home, necessarily leaving them to fend for themselves against real and imagined evils. It's about sibling abuse and the scars that such abuse leaves on the victims and the abusers. The Empty Lot Next Door is also a story of an intense struggle of a child to make sense of the world without communicating his fears and thoughts to the adults in his life since he doesn't want to add to the family's problems.
What the Critics Are Saying
Critics agree that The Empty Lot Next Door is a ghost story at its finest, perhaps all the more so because it’s a true story. Professional book critic Lisa McCurley says, “After the first night of sleeping with the light on, I ended up taking off two afternoons from work to finish it which is all it took because I couldn’t put this book down.” Kirkus Reviews agrees, “In a coming-of-age story that’s well paced and layered with emotion, Mills creates moments of true suspense through guileless prose as he unearths a family tragedy.” Anyone who enjoys being scared or wants to investigate whether ghosts are real will add The Empty Lot Next Door to the must-read list.
Award-Winning Book
When Arthur Mills wrote The Empty Lot Next Door, some neighbors and family quit speaking to him; they didn’t want to acknowledge the local element of his true-life story of ghosts, bullying, and suicide, but that didn’t stop his new book from winning awards.
Reviewers Choice Awards (First Edition)
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Kids Award for Best Teen / Young Adult Book of the Year
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Teen (12-16) – First Place
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Regional South – First Place
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Parenting, Family, and Relationships – Honorable Mention
MAIN CHARACTERS
CANDLE FACE
Candle Face is a symbolic and/or supernatural character that represents fear, trauma, and the enduring impact of childhood experiences.
Candle Face's true nature and purpose remain ambiguous throughout the story. Readers are left wondering whether Candle Face is a product of Ray's imagination, a supernatural entity, or a symbol of repressed trauma. This ambiguity adds to the story's atmosphere and leaves room for interpretation. Candle Face's ambiguous nature adds uncertainty and unease, while also serving as a catalyst for Ray's personal journey toward closure and understanding.
RICKY
Despite many traumatic experiences, Ricky remains silent, even in the presence of his family. His internalized pain and reluctance to speak about his feelings or defend himself are defining aspects of his character.
Ricky can be seen as a symbol of innocence lost and the vulnerability of childhood. His creative spirit mixed with his traumatic experiences, underscores the story's themes of the supernatural and the psychological impact of fear.
RAY (NARRATOR)
Ray is Ricky's younger brother and haunted by Candle Face. Ray is both the narrator and a participant in the events in the story and an introspective commentator, providing insights into the emotions and relationships within the situations the characters find themselves in.
Throughout the story, Ray evolves as he seeks answers to the mysteries surrounding Candle Face and the traumatic events he witnessed. His quest for understanding drives the story forward and serves as a vehicle for exploring the supernatural elements.
GRIFFIN
Griffin is Ricky's imaginary friend who acts as a protector and comforter for Ricky.
Griffin also symbolizes tragedy and lost innocence in the story. His role in the story contributes to the mystery surrounding Candle Face and the traumatic events of Ricky's and Ray's childhoods. Griffin's revelation brings about a sense of closure and understanding for Ray as he reflects on the past.
THE EMPTY LOT
The empty lot serves as a symbol of mystery and intrigue throughout the story. It's a place where rumors and legends circulate among children, including Ricky and Ray, and their friends. The rumors about the empty lot being haunted and associated with tragic events create an aura of uncertainty and curiosity.
The empty lot plays a significant role in the story's exploration of Ray's past and the supernatural elements woven into the story. The empty lot ultimately represents the journey of self-discovery and the quest for closure.
HANDPRINT
The handprint represents the supernatural, the persistence of childhood traumas and memories, and the unsettling presence of Candle Face. It triggers fear, uncertainty, and emotional turmoil, impacting both Ray and the story's themes.
The handprint symbolizes the unresolved questions and mysteries that linger in Ray's life. Despite his attempts to understand its origin and meaning, he is left with uncertainty and a sense that there's more to the story than he can comprehend.
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The Empty Lot Next Door
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