logo

66 pages 2 hours read

Wait Till Helen Comes

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1986

A 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.

Book Brief

logo
Mary Downing Hahn

Wait Till Helen Comes

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1986
Book Details
Pages

192

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Maryland • 1980s

Publication Year

1986

Audience

Middle grade

Recommended Reading Age

9-12 years

Lexile Level

750L

Roundup icon

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.

Mysterious

Dark

Unnerving

Suspenseful

Emotional

Reviews & Readership

4.4

26,299 ratings

77%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

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 this

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.

4.4

26,299 ratings

77%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Character List

Molly

A twelve-year-old girl with a vivid imagination and deep sensitivity, who often reads and writes creatively. She is troubled by fears and anxieties, which are intensified by her supernatural experiences.

Molly's ten-year-old brother, who is rational and interested in natural sciences. He struggles to get along with his stepsister Heather and is skeptical of supernatural occurrences.

Seven-year-old stepsister to Molly and Michael, cunning and manipulative, who seeks her father Dave's undivided attention. Her secretive behavior and vulnerability reveal deeper personal struggles.

A talented painter and mother to Molly and Michael, who moves to the country for artistic inspiration. She navigates the challenges of her family's new dynamics with her marriage to Dave.

Molly and Michael's stepfather, who dotes on his daughter Heather and is often blind to her faults. He aims to maintain family harmony while prioritizing Heather's emotional needs.

The caretaker of Saint Swithin’s cemetery, knowledgeable about its history and inhabitants. He cautions the children about the dangers of the graveyard while hinting at possible supernatural elements.

A local policeman who is skeptical but open to discussing the supernatural rumors surrounding Saint Swithin’s cemetery. He provides a balanced perspective on the possibility of ghostly activities.

Book Details
Pages

192

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Maryland • 1980s

Publication Year

1986

Audience

Middle grade

Recommended Reading Age

9-12 years

Lexile Level

750L

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.