Perfect middle grade thriller that entertains in every possible way.

Detention for 4 very different kids becomes a deadly game of cat & mouse, & a journey of self-discovery, as they unravel a monstrous mystery.

Lots of chilling suspense with plenty of laughs & so much heart. 🕷

I absolutely adored this book from the very first page! I have never read a children's 'scary' book before and wasn't sure what to expect but this really did impress. Jennifer Killick has mastered the perfect balance of humour and horror.
The characters are all likeable in their own ways, Angelo instantly stole my heart. Jennifer's clever writing makes you feel like you are one of the gang, living it all with them. Which sometimes is not ideal (when reading just before bed).
I would recommend this to anyone who loves reading! Even if this isn't your usual style, I can assure you, you will love this!

I read this in one sitting, fast paced, atmospheric and tense makes this the perfect read for children that love books like goosebumps and beast quest. I have been waiting for a series to come out that would be like R L Stine for this new generation and this could definitely be it. I cannot wait to read more.

The first book in the DreadWood series, DreadWood is a Young Adult / Middle Grade book that is definitely a fast paced story. Jennifer Killick is an author that's new to me, so I didn't know what to expect. The cover and blurb grabbed me straight away and I could only hope the story within would keep me hooked.
A chilling horror mixed with adventure and even some humour, that introduces us to Angelo, Gustav, Niara and Hallie, The Loser Club. All made to attend a Saturday detention. None of them are looking forward to it but when it turns into something truly terrifying,they wished they could have just had the detention for sure!
Aimed at 9-12 year old children it's a story of survival for four children who are classmates but never proper mates. Narrated by Angelo, a loner who is determined he won't get involved at all with any of the three kids with him. As the day moves from being rubbish due to a detention, then starts to dial up a few notches until they are absolutely pooping their pants, we see Angelo and the others bonding as a group. This was heartwarming to be a witness to.
I loved the banter from them all,. It was really authentic, to the point that I could see these words coming out of my own grandchildrens mouth easily. Each of these kids had their own unique traits and voice throughout the book. That, along with the scary, spinetingling at times, settings made for a really atmospheric, intense read.
Jennifer Killick has created a plethora of vivid characters, the villains are so bad and every single one makes this story what it is, fantastic!
A definitely entertaining and scary, without actually going overboard for the age range it is aimed at. A brilliant start to the series, I want to read number two now please.

The children loved this book, and so did I till I found out what the scary bit was about. One of the girls had to take over the reading until I got a coffee and sat down for a bit. Not to give the surprise away but it was something that I'm scared of and the children (cruelly) enjoyed it all the more for that. Very good book not too scary for children, might give delicate phobic Grannies the heebie jeeies.

Dread Wood is an absolutely amazing adventure, brimming with just the right amount of scariness, edge-of-your-seat tension and humour that is sure to keep older children engrossed, giggling and freaked out!

Love, love, love Dread Wood. This story is a very well-written middle-grade novel that follows funny and smart kids
There are parts that are funny while others are more serious and fast-paced. To be honest I haven't read a middle-grade novel since I was in middle school. That is up until the past year. I have definitely been missing out a lot on these books because they are so good!
There are a couple of kids that have a big role in Dread Wood. Instead of them blending in together they are all vastly different. So many books have characters that pretty much blend in with one another so I'm happy with how well Jennifer did with this one!
I can't wait to read more of her books!

What a fun and incredibly entertaining book! 4 kids with a detention on a Saturday, and you think that’s bad fortune? It doesn’t stop there. What starts with a detention, turns into a mad scrabble fight for their lives. With giant spiders, death defying escapes and true acts of bravery and friendship.

I loved all the characters in this and I think there’s a character in there for everyone. It was such a easy book to read and settle into. The pages honestly flew by and I’d finished it within a few days without even realising! Couldn’t believe how quickly I read it; I was hooked.

I think it definitely draws you in to a level where you just have to keep reading, and quickly, to see how they’re going to get out of the scrapes they find themselves in and how it’s all going to conclude. It was a great, fun, happy sort of book to read and a great way to spend my afternoons reading!

The narrative was written so well that it felt eerie the entire time, even when it was only subtle. There were several twists and turns in the story, and it made me gasp in surprise a few times. The spiders were horrific, but I had no idea what to expect from the rest of the novel.

Jennifer Killick is a rare talent. She’s an author that gets better with every book she publishes. Her mastery of the comedy-horror genre increasingly astonishes me and just when I think her books can’t get any better, she releases an even more deliciously dark delight. I absolutely loved the Crater Lake series and so approached Dread Wood with equal parts excitement and trepidation. Could another gang of pre-teens possibly capture my heart like Lance and co had? And yet, with her rare brand of writing magic, Killick brings to life Angelo, Hallie, Gustav and Naira; a crew every bit as believable and intricately created as their Crater Lake counterparts.Dread Wood brings sinister to another level: it’s a properly creepy, goosebump-inducing read, off-set perfectly by genuine laugh out loud moments. When four classmates are forced to attend a Saturday detention, the last thing they expect is to have to contend with is a disappearing teacher, two creepy caretakers and endless untold horrors. Can they make it out alive or will this detention be their last? Killick’s ability to capture the voice and essence of her young characters is truly remarkable. The character development is excellent; the dialogue witty; and the plot unpredictable and well-paced. Dread Wood is a perfect book for pupils in Year 6 and beyond who fancy a frighteningly funny tale.

I know many of us used to love The Goosebump books as children, I know I definitely did and while I don't ordinarily like to compare books Dread Wood creeped me out in exactly the same way.
When four classmates are given a detention on a Saturday morning they assume they are going to do their punishment and go home. Little do they know they are going to end up in a life and death situation.
Four unlikely heroes, two even more unlikely villains and gigantic spiders what's not to love.
This fast paced middlegrade full of twists and turns and more action than you can shake a stick at will leave you on the edge of your seat.
Jennifer Killick sets the perfect atmosphere in this eerie, fun adventurous story and I honestly loved it. I loved the characters and they all came together as a team. Angelo is such a dark horse.
I can't wait to read the sequel even if I am petrified of spiders! It really is brilliant!

Dread Wood follows Angelo and classmates Hallie, Gustav, and Naria as they head to detention on a Saturday. They are only told to wear PE clothes and shoes for "outdoor activities" so they are figuring they'll be stuck doing chores around the place. Gustav is described as "walking chaos", Naria being the "uptight, overachiever", and Hallie as "vegetarian, an LGBTQ+ ally, and welcome of refugees." None of them are friends but they are all stuck in this together.

It doesn't take any time for the tension to really get ratcheted up. Mr. Canton is in charge of this Back On Track session as it's called but he quickly goes missing while looking for the groundskeeper. They find Mr. C again, but something sucks him straight into the ground and he's gone, clawing and scraping at the grass that is sucking him under. From there it's a mad dash of twists and turns, as these four play a terrifying game of survival.

I appreciated that there was more to the characters than at first anticipated. They are so much more than their first takes and as they find a way to work together, all these unexpected qualities shine through. As it turns out, they all have personal struggles and it actually bonds them together as they learn more about each other. There are some pretty serious issues that they are grappling with: bullying, poverty, disability, and living up to parental pressures. It's all handled with grace and a lot of quippy humor.

Don't think just because it's middle-grade that it doesn't have its share of chills and thrills! Arachnophobes may want to bypass this one. (There are spides on the covers so no spoiler there.) Dread Wood is a fun, action-filled romp through creepy town!

Quite rightly dubbed the queen of Middle Grade horror, Jennifer Killick brings us her newest hair-raising adventure Dread Wood and it could be her best yet. Think Eight Legged Freaks meets Tremors, it’s Goosebumps with a fresh new feel for the tweens of today. Creepy caretakers, eeerie school grounds, mad scientists and an underground threat to make your skin crawl!

As with Jennifer’s highly acclaimed Crater Lake series, I binged Dread Wood in a matter of hours. These stories are so compulsive and once you open the cover there’s no turning back – I literally could not turn the pages fast enough and found myself completely unable to tear myself away from the thrils, spills and chills that lurked inside.

This is one nightmare detention. When classmates (but not mate-mates) Hallie, Angelo, Gustav and Naira are forced to come to Dread Wood High on a weekend, they think things can’t get much worse. But they’re wrong… Aside from spending the day with bum bag-wearing Mr Canton, things are about to get seriously scary – and not just because he’s confiscated their phones!

Soon after their smart phones are incarcerated in Mr Canton’s man-bag, a piercing scream tears through the abandoned school grounds. The group split up to investigate and when they go to check on the school’s animals, they make the grim discovery that one of the pigs has disappeared.

Back at the main school building the children search and search for Mr Canton but it seems he has also vanished without a trace. All that remains is a strange sticky white substance on the ground…

It’s not long before the earth beneath their feet begins trembling and any second now they’re about to be snatched into a sinkhole. Cut off from help and in danger each time they touch the floor, the gang’s only hope is to work together to battle against the unknown. The ground is literally about to open up and swallow them!

And as if trying to evade deadly subterranean crawlers wasn’t enough, the group discover it’s no coincidence that they’re all there on weekend detention together. Something brought them here. A web of lies, betrayal and deception connects them all and someone has been watching and plotting and is out for revenge.

As well as some truly terrifying moments (oh my goodness… the eye!!) Dread Wood is super funny and the balance between horror and humour is absolutely on-point – I’m still chuckling about Mr Canton’s man-pouch (don’t ask!) The constant banter throughout- even in the most death defying situations. Jennifer writes the most brilliant characters – Gus is a total legend! – and they each come with their own ‘baggage’ that young people will be able to identify with.

Killick’s crown well and truly remains in it’s rightful place. Her brand of horror is hugely popular and tearing through Dread Wood it’s easy to see why. I was ridiculously excited to learn that this fantastic group of characters will return to our bookshelves in the Autumn in a spine-tingling sequel when The Fear Ground lands. Now I’ve read the teaser, I’m not sure how I’ll stand the wait!

I love a good Middle Grade book that I can recommend to our pupils and Dread Wood will certainly be going onto that list. I got Point Horror vibes crossed with Breakfast Club crossed with Karen McManus but written in a more appropriate, younger tone. It’s spooky, atmospheric and a little bit creepy – without going overboard and scaring the life out of younger readers. It’s so much fun to read as an adult too.
One thing I love about this book is that it is set in England, with English teens and English school related vocabulary. Quite a few American Middle Grade books have a lot of terms that English children often don’t relate to or understand e.g. food brands etc. and I think at that age it can stem the flow of reading a little.
The setting of the school grounds, forest and animal pens etc really created a spooky atmosphere. Noises, movements, the weather etc. all contribute to establishing the perfect scenario for a horror and really help to build tension.
There is a lot of light relief, mainly from banter between the 4 main characters. All very different personalities, each with their own secrets and issues, they worked together really well to compliment each other. Through this the book also raises some issues such as disability, poverty, pressure to perform and I feel these are things most middle grade children can relate to easily. These characters are very real and relatable for children that age.
This is a fast paced, easy read that just flows really well. The good stuff kicks off straight away and kept me engaged all the way through. As a youngster – this would have been a one sitting book for me.
A great fun read for adults and younger readers alike and a good gentle introduction to horror.

This is my first ever blog tour with The Write Reads and I want to say a big thank you to them for giving me a place and to Farshore who gave me a Netgalley Arc.

This is my second time that I have read a book written by Jennifer as I had read Crater Lake which was okay but I think Dread Wood is far far better.

Here we meet Angelo, Hallie, Naira and Gustav who you would probably see together let alone in detention and I love that premise it was a really good hook.

But what gave me the total creeps were the caretaker and his wife who incessantly sung a certain song which I am not going to mention as I don't want it playing in my head as I shall be going to bed soon. And don't get me started on what the creatures were they actually made my skin itch a bit as this girl is not keen one bit.

While this was all going on we began to learn something about each character which gave each of them an insight into one another which helped them working as a team and yet there were some lol moments which did the lighten the mood.

Now let me tell you have much I enjoyed the reveal which I was not expecting and love the fact that the chapters were short too which kept the action going. So when I have to give a rating I have decided to go for 4 stars and will definitely picking up the sequel when it comes out

Having detention sucks, having detention on a Saturday is even worse. And for our four students it is down right scary.

Dread Wood High is an old manor house, with newer buildings added once it became a school. It has a field and gardens plus animals for the students to tend to.

It also home to a pair of creepy grounds keepers. Who seem to get more and more sinister as the book progresses. Why do they keep humming the Itsy Bitsy Spider?

There is something scary happening under the ground at that school. And if it wasn't for Angelo, Hallie, Gustav and Naira having detention on that Saturday no one would ever know.

A mssing pig, a teacher who disappears when the ground opens up swallowing him whole. Strange sticky white substance. What is going on?

Will these kids survive detention?

Dread Wood captivated me from the start. It is very fitting to be compared to RL Stine. I felt like I was watching an episode of 'Are you Afraid of the Dark?'

Normally when authors use modern slang in their books I am kind of iffy about it because it can take me out of the story but for this book it actually worked in its advantage. Because it a group of preteen kids and that's how they talk. It also wasn't forced in and if flowed well for me.

I found Dread Wood to be a very quick read and I know could easily be read I one sitting if I hadn't have had to work. I enjoyed the set up of the 4 kids, finding out the connection they all had in common other than classmates, because they were not friends. And what actually caused them to have detention. There is more going on then just kids acting up. I love that from the start I was getting creepy vibes and I wanted to know more of what was happening. I guessed correctly with one part of the storyline but it wasn't until other events happened that I figured things out.

I honestly can see middle-graders, those that read MG aswell as those that don't typically read MG really enjoy this book. When an author can write something that will universally appeal to all age ranges that is a wonderful sign that you are getting a great story.

I really am looking forward to The Fear Ground and anything else Jennifer Killick writes. Time for me to check out her backlog.

Originally posted on I Can Has Books? as a part of The Write Reads Ultimate Book tours

Children love something that's a bit scary, when in the comfort of their own home. School on a Saturday is sure to put the frighteners on any child, but then Killick ups turns the screw even more. It's most definitely a page-turner!
Meet Hallie, Gus and Naira in detention on a Saturday at Dreadwood High and staff - teacher, Mr Canton and groundsman, Mr Latchitt. You can see how they landed detention. On a Saturday is odd enough, but then strange things start to happen, starting with the mysterious disappearance of Mr Canton...
Mr and Mrs Latchitt have something about them that feels toe-curlingly strange! That, once past the behaviours of the children and their ideas and lifestyles is when it really gets interesting. Holes sealing up is just one thing as the intrigue deepens and the mystery gets darker and twisty, with its tunnels, spiders and references to well-known fairytales and rhymes.

Children will find this nail-bitingly atmospheric and entertaining to read, with its fast-paced spookiness and characters to latch onto.

The next story is - The Fear Ground. I have had the privilege to read the extract and it is most definitely going to be a book that will be worth the wait.

Thanks to Farshore Books and The Write Reads for inviting me onto the blog tour and for the book.

I loved this, I loved all four kids and how they had really realistic secrets, I loved the mystery at the school, and there were parts I really thought were scary and horrific. Thank you for having me on the tour!

Middle Grade Horror is a sub-genre that I’ve been meaning to read more of for a while so, when I found out about Dread Wood I was instantly both intrigued and drawn into it. Both the cover and synopsis gave off extremely creepy vibes, and to say I couldn’t wait to get stuck into it would be an understatement.

In the story, we follow Hallie, Gustav, Naira and Angelo as they are forced to come into their school – Dread Wood High on a Saturday for detention. The foursome think things couldn’t get any worse, that is until their teacher is dragged underground, animals go missing and the creepy caretaker follows them humming the tune to Incy Wincy spider. The four of them soon discover that horrors are lurking within the school, getting stronger by the minute. The group must work together to put an end to the horror, and find out why they are being watched.

Well, this was such a creepy, terrifying tale that had me on the edge of my seat throughout. From the get-go I was instantly pulled into the sinister surroundings of Dread Wood High, and its creepy inhabitants. Also, the atmosphere within the story was both eerie and disturbing, and there were times when my heart was racing with panic, both for our protagonists and the school. There were times within the story when I started to get scared for our foursome, and I was worried about how things would pan out for them. Would all of them survive this? Would only a few? Or just one? Or would none of them? I love when a horror keeps me guessing like this, and it was one of the reasons why I find it so hard to put this book down.

The story itself is fast-paced, only taking place within a few hours. This was another reason why I was so engrossed in it, as you are automatically whisked into the action you don’t want to risk putting the book down and having to wait a while to know what happens next. The twists and turns were next to none, and I had no idea of how the story was going to conclude. The whole plot is incredibly creepy, and as someone who is scared of spiders, I was scared witless at times. Nevertheless, I powered through and found myself wanting to know answers to several questions mentioned throughout. Why were the children being targeted? How did our antagonists create these monsters? and would they be stopped? Despite this being a horror, there were several comedic moments throughout that brought a lighthearted feel to a terrifying situation. The way the children worked together, whilst trying to laugh, caused me to have a few chuckles amongst the horror. I feel that in a Middle Grade Horror you need a few moments of joy to take a break from the sinister story you are reading, and in Dread Wood this was done extremely well.

Each of our protagonists was brilliantly developed and we saw each of them grow both as individuals and as a team too. I feel like I got to know more about Angelo the most, but this was mainly because it was him narrating the story, so we saw it through his eyes. Despite this, I felt like I found out what I needed to about Gustav, Hallie and Naira. They are all struggling with different burdens, and it was lovely to see how they all supported each other, despite what they were going through together. In my opinion, I feel that this experience made them stronger, and I’m interested to see where their newly formed friendship will take them in book two.

Dread Wood was a frightening, creepy, sinister read that had me both terrified and on the edge of my seat. It’s the perfect middle grade horror, that anyone (not just children) will devour. One thing is for certain though…I will never be able to hear Incy Wincy Spider in the same way again.

Jennifer Killick knows how to grab her readers from the first pages and keep them on the edge of their seats until the end.

This book is billed as a middle-grade horror story. Don’t let that classification deter you if you aren’t of that age group. As a Nana with MG grandkids, I found it perfect for middle-grade readers and up…way up. The creepy atmosphere is extremely well-done.

The four main characters are diverse and entertaining. I particularly enjoyed that initially loners, they survived the Saturday detention from hell by working together. You will find several subtle themes running through the book.

I enjoyed the pace of the story. It kept me turning the pages and most anxious to learn what was coming next.

If you love a fast-paced, entertaining, light horror (unless you are deathly afraid of spiders) tale that’s perfect for ages 12 & up, this is definitely a must-read for you.