Wait Till Helen Comes is a 1986 novel by the author Mary Downing Hahn. It is held in almost 2,000 U.S. libraries, according to WorldCat.[1] It won the Young Reader's Choice Award in 1995.[2]
It starts off with Molly, the oldest sibling, and her family moving to the countryside. The house used to be a church, and a graveyard is located near it. Heather, a 7-year-old girl, still does not trust Molly (stepsister), Michael (stepbrother), and their mother, Jean(stepmother). She tends to stay close with her dad, Dave. When Molly hears of Heather having a ghostly friend, she immediately spies on her, causing later arguments to occur. While Molly tries to have a sisterly relationship with mommy Heather, Heather continues to deny the trust given to her. Heather threatens Molly later on that if she continues to bother and "spy" on her, too, Helen, "Wait Till Helen Comes". Helen comes while Heather, Jean, and Dave are gone and destroys Molly, Michael, and Jean's room. Molly sees Helen, but no one believes her. Helen gives Heather a locket, and later while Jean and Dave are gone, Heather sneaks out to see Helen. Molly follows Heather. Helen tries to lure Heather into a pond and drown her, but Molly saves Heather. While Molly give Heather CPR, Helen comes back to get Heather. Molly takes the locket and throws it at Helen. She runs after it. Molly tries to escape, dragging Heather behind, and falls into a hole where they found Helens parent's bones. Molly finds out that Helen had killed her parents by accidentally setting a fire, just like how Heather accidentally played with the stove that started a fire that killed her mother when she was three. Once Molly and Heather are found and rescued, the parents' bones are removed and buried with their daughter. Helen is finally at rest and Heather comes to love her stepsister.
On January 14, 2011, Variety reported that a film based on the novel will be released. Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt will direct. Wait Till Helen Comes will be her feature film directorial debut. The film will begin production in summer 2011.[3]