If you are ready for a fun read, then you are going to love this book! I am looking forward to sharing this one with my boys.

When four students are given detention, they are not sure they want to tell anyone why they are really there. It is not long before weird things begin to happen, starting with the disappearance of their gym teacher. It is as if the ground swallows him whole - but Angelo is sure that he saw an arm pulling the teacher underground. Naira, Gustov, and Hallie are pretty sure he is telling a tall tale - until they see the groundskeepers acting funny - and feeding chickens to holes in the ground that are opening.

These four misfits are determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, figure out what is going on at their school, and save their gym teacher if possible.

WOW! This was one book that I had a hard time putting down. I had started it and then walked away for a couple of days. When I finally sat down to read some more, I finished the book before I could stop. There was non-stop enjoyment, and it was one of those books that young adults will love.

I loved Crater Lake and its sequel, so I was absolutely delighted to receive a copy of Dread Wood to review. Jennifer Killick is a master of middle grade horror and Dread Wood was fantastic! I read this book in one afternoon and felt right on the edge of my seat throughout. There were so many spine tinglingly scary moments through the whole novel and I will never look at a spider the same away again. I know that Dread Wood will be a hit with the years 6 and above as kids love a chilling story. I know that I definitely want more.

The gang of misfits develop nicely through the story and their different personalities shine through with some excellent depth. Jennifer writes fantastic characters that seem very real (I can completely imagine a group of children acting just like this!) Most of the story is told through the point of view of Angelo and I found him a strong main character who led the breakfast club esque group. The others are great and I particularly liked Naira and her dilemma of trying to stay on the straight and narrow and maintain her model student image (obviously didn’t work out well, given she has detention in the story!) Make sure you keep an eye on the creepy Latchitt’s who are incredibly intriguing, but also seriously evil…

Gripping and chilling, Dread Wood is a fantastically scary story that does not let up. 5 out of 5 stars.

This book was so much fun. It’s a Middle Grade horror that crosses The Breakfast Club and One of Us is Lying with Tremors and Arachnophobia. There’s even faint echoes of IT! - Club Loser is the first chapter title.

I really liked the cast of child characters and the creepy adults and their motives were not something I would have guessed. There were some cute piglets at risk too and I love the idea of having farm animals at school. I was not as keen on the Spiders - but they definitely are scary to me so - horrifying monsters brief achieved.

The teacher overseeing the detention calls it a Back on Track session (Teamwork, Respect, Attitude, Curiosity, Kindness) and it is interesting to see all these qualities at play.

Naira, Gus, Hallie and our narrator Angelo all seem likeable though, so what was it that got them all a detention? And most importantly will they all get out of it in one piece?

It’s spooky when what is being sacrificing is chickens… but are children next on the menu?

The story wrapped up and the ending gave us the promise of a sequel. Reading this has reminded me how much I enjoyed Point Horror books when younger. I’m off to catch up with Jennifer’s other horror series Crater Lake now.

I read and reviewed this book for a blog tour, so thank you to the blog tour organiser for having me on this tour. Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Trigger warnings: death, animal death, violence, gore, blood, falling down holes, SPIDERS (very big TW!!), revenge.

Dread Wood by Jennifer Killick is a middle-grade horror, and actually the first book in what appears to be a middle-grade horror series, which I’m very excited about continuing after having read this book. It is the kind of book that you can read so fast and still like you’ve been immersed in a world for hours, and it was thankfully not too scary, just the right amount of edge-of-your-seat and “omg what the hell is happening” vibes! I’m so glad I got to read this book because I had a great time and it let me discover this great author, who I’ll definitely be reading more of.

This book is set in Dread Wood High School and its grounds on a Saturday detention session for four students who got a bit out of control during a lunch break. I’m sure I’ve already mentioned that I love school settings, and this one was very different with the horror vibes, but it was still so fascinating. I really liked this setting, although I think I imagined it smaller than what the author really had in mind since the plot was so fast-paced and didn’t really leave me time to fully immerse myself in this setting.

I did, however, very much enjoy the way the whole place felt. There was a particular vibe and atmosphere that was really spooky, and you all know I’m a sucker for a great atmosphere in a book. This one had the same kind of vibes as Home Before Dark by Riley Sager, and I kept remembering that book while reading this one. I loved Home Before Dark, so that is definitely a compliment to Dread Wood as it really pulled off the atmosphere nicely.

I found the manor on the property to be quite spooky, although I would have really loved to read more about it, have some more descriptions of it, as most of the plot takes place outside or in other buildings. I read the chapter from the second book in the series which was included at the end of my eARC, and I have a feeling that my desire of knowing more about Dread Wood will be sated quite soon.

I don’t want to go into too much detail about the characters in this part as I usually would, because I found that going in blind and just learning about them and what linked them made the plot and the book very engaging. What I will say is that this was definitely a kind of “found family” vibe because the characters kind of hate each other at the start, or at the very least are trying to avoid each other like the plague.

They are chucked into this wild race-against-time plot where everything goes wrong and the impossible happens, and that brings them closer. They all have their demons, their fears, their regrets, their guilt, and I really enjoyed reading about each of their stories because I found it made them very relatable, human and above all, very endearing. I didn’t have a preference when I started reading this book, but now I definitely love them as a whole and through their moniker “Club Loser”.

Angelo, Naira, Gus and Hallie are just great characters. They have their flaws, but in the end, they do what is right, they stick together and they help one another out, which is such a fantastic thing in a book like this. You’ll be happy to hear they did not succumb to the age-old horror trope of “one leaves, dies, the others follow and then die as well” while the person watching or reading is screaming at them to stop and turn back. Well… there was a tiny moment like that, but do not fear, friendship prevails and saves the day!

A spooky atmosphere to go with a great new voice in MG horror: And the final point I want to touch on in this review is one of my all-time favourites = ATMOSPHERE! This was done great here. The story was creepy, not scary, which is a really tough balance to get. I think this would creep out anyone, especially kids, but I don’t think it would scare them unless they are sensitive to one of the TWs mentioned above. The school setting was spooky, especially the manor, some of the characters were so creepy it honestly made my skin prickle and the revelation of what’s going on is just spine-tingling. I loved it! It was so well done and I haven’t read a book like this since Home Before Dark, so it was a really great one to pick up.

The writing style was really solid and I just flew through this book. Jenifer Killick has a great voice and I found the whole story really fluid, original, atmospheric and I especially loved the characters and their friendship that came out of this detention session. I didn’t expect a lot of the plots and the revelations were well done and definitely surprised me as I would have never expected the direction it went. Although I will say it does need a massive “stop here if you are afraid of spiders” trigger warning because they are a big part of the book. That’s probably a bit of a spoiler, but I do think it needs mentioning.

I gave this book 4 stars and overall, I really enjoyed it. It was a great middle-grade horror read that kept me guessing and I just couldn’t put it down until I had gotten to the end as I was genuinely worried about each character once the action really got going.

If you love middle-grade books with that spooky/creepy factor, a fantastic group of teens that come together and learn from their mistakes all while having each other’s backs, a school setting and some very surprising twists, you should definitely pick up this book. But only if you are not afraid of spiders!!

If The Breakfast Club were ever combined with Tremors, you might have the movie version of Dread Wood. On a fine Saturday, four students at Dread Wood (High School) have gotten detention for their roles in an incident in the cafeteria. The principal, a very eager educator who relies on energy and cliches to help students better themselves, has set out a wonderful day for the students to learn, to bond, to benefit the school and others, and generally to make better choices.

 

I’ve worked with teenagers. Energy and cliches only take you so far. When the students are facing detention, that is usually not the most effective approach, at least not in my experience. But I digress.

 

Suffice it to say, this principal is in for a very bad day. It is, however, not the fault of his detainees. First he is knocked on the head and left unconscious. Then he is swallowed into a hole in the ground, a hole that was not there before he got pulled in and disappeared immediately after.

 

The principal had the kids’ cell phones. The gates to the school are locked. There are creepy people on the grounds and even creepier things under the ground that are getting bolder and bolder. All in all, the punishment for a food fight looks to be way out of proportion to the actual discretion.

 

But, of course, there are reasons beyond the food fight why the kids are there. There are secrets they do not want to get out, secrets that have come back to haunt them. An elaborate plan of revenge has begun, and these four students are at the center of everything.

 

Dread Wood is a great book for young teens and tweens who like mysteries, science fiction, and a little bit of horror. A bit more mature than Goosebumps, not quite as scary as Frankenstein. (Yes, I know the doctor was the real monster. I’m referring to the book.) Jennifer Killick has created a young ensemble, centered by Angelo, with diverse characters from differing backgrounds. One of the more appealing things to me was the diversity in economic backgrounds of the students. Angelo’s parents work long hours, leaving him to care for his little brother. Others are much more middle-class or even well off. Having a financially troubled kid at the center of a school-based story is a nice change of pace.

 

Killick also includes a lot of humor in this book. Whether it is one-liners from class clown Gustav or simply humorous situations (two people and a pig riding a lawn tractor in super-slow motion to safety is a scene I would love to see on a screen), the humor keeps the creepy from getting too disturbing, an important factor for younger readers.

 

Funny, likable, enough horror to create a few chills but not so much to create nightmares, Dread Wood is a fun book that should find a receptive audience among younger kids ready to tackle something different. I liked it.

Dread Wood is an absolutely gripping page-turner that kept me utterly engrossed throughout: horror, humour and heart blended together perfectly. I’m glad I read it inside in daylight as I’m not sure I would have coped if I’d been reading it outside for reasons that will become clear when you read it – and you really must read this edge-of-your-seat, action-packed deliciously spine-tingling delight!

Classmates, but not friends, Angelo, Hallie, Gus and Naira are forced to spend their Saturday morning in school as they have all been given detention. Yes – on a Saturday! What could be worse? Well, their teacher also expects some team bonding and confiscates their phones! NOW, how could it get worse? Well, there is the matter of the terrified scream, the strange substance and the missing teacher …

And then things take a turn for the seriously scary and weird as the group begin their search locked inside the school grounds with the groundskeeper and his wife who keep humming Incey Wincey Spider; as they witness their teacher being dragged underground; and, as they find themselves being hunted, but by who, or what?

Will the children be able to work together to outwit the horrors that lurk underground, ready to attack as soon as they touch the ground? Will they uncover the real reason they have been brought together on detention?
Now this is how you do middle-grade horror! Tense, thrilling, twisting and oh so very, very creepy. It gave me Stranger Things vibes. I loved the cliff hanger chapter endings; the sudden and unexpected occurrences that made me jump; the real sense of the danger and threat that faces the team; and, the slow realisation that they have been brought together for a reason. I also loved the sharp humour shown by the children which feels so genuine and really helped to relieve the tension in more scary moments. Definitely needed to keep my nails from being bitten off!

Angelo, Hallie, Gus and Naira are brilliantly written protagonists, portrayed with a genuineness that I found really refreshing. They all have different motivations, strengths and vulnerabilities, and are dealing with a range of difficult issues including parental pressures, poverty and disability. As they find themselves facing terrifying danger, they learn the value of teamwork and, through that, open themselves to friendship. I love how the four learn to trust each other enough to share their secrets, admit their mistakes, and to find real value and strength in their friendship.

Dread Wood is an absolute corker of an 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!

Being a fan of adult horror, I’m always a little sceptical about middle grade horrors, as they can be a little hit and miss on the creepy/scary aspect, but I was very excited when Dave announced this tour because Dread Wood sounded great, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed!

The story starts with Angelo, who is on his way to a Saturday detention. Upon arrival, he is joined for detention by Hallie, Gustav, and Naira. From first impressions, Gus was immediately my favourite character. He was very clearly the class clown, the prankster, and obviously a good laugh. He remained my favourite through out the book.

Soon after being joined by Mr Canton, things being to get weird… Mr Canton, who is in charge of the days detention is one of those teachers who wants to be friends with the kids, and tries way too hard (we all know the type). While discussing what they will be doing for their detention, the group hear what sounds like a scream/squeal, and after going to investigate, they realise that one of the school’s pigs is missing. But where has it gone? What happened to it? And why are the rest of the pigs acting so strangely? Not long after, while searching for the pig, something grabs Mr Canton and drags him underground without a trace. This is where things really start to get serious.

When Angelo comes to the realisation of what they are actually up against, and that its way of travel is underground tunnels, it gave me really strong James Herbert’s The Rats vibes, but obviously with spiders instead of rats, and a more child friendly version (The Rats is certainly nowhere near acceptable for middle grade!). This made me so excited, and definitely made me more invested in this book.

Despite being middle grade, Dread Wood is undeniably creepy. As someone with a fear of spiders, this one really got me. It was almost like I could FEEL them on me. My worst nightmare. But the group (who refer to themselves as “Club Loser”) were incredible brave under the circumstances, much braver than I would have been! They went in to survival mode, and it was great to see them really pull together and not only work as a team, but form a solid friendship along the way.

The culprits behind the horrors they are facing are revealed fairly early on, but that didn’t hinder the book at all. In fact, it created more questions, and I was desperate to get the answers. Why were they targeted? Because it was no coincidence that they all found themselves in Saturday detention. The answers were slowly drip fed to you as the story goes on, leading to an explosive and exciting climax, that will have you on the edge of your seat, and a big reveal that ties this story up perfectly.

Overall, this book was much more than I had anticipated. It was funny, enjoyable to read, and actually rather creepy. I really hope that we get more books, and that this becomes a series, because I would love to continue on a journey with these characters. This is definitely one of the best middle grade horrors that I’ve ever read.

I give Dread Wood a 5 star rating!

Angelo, Hallie, Gus and Naria are all serving a Saturday morning detention at school. Things begin in a pretty normal way with their teacher, Mr Canton, confiscating all of their phones for the morning, storing them safely in his bum-bag so they can't be used. He's an incredibly upbeat teacher who is trying his best to be trendy but just isn't endearing himself to the group. The school is located in an old mansion and is set in its own grounds on the edge of Dread Wood, which means animals such as pigs can be kept and looked after by the students. The group have only just handed over their phones when a scream pierces the air and Mr Canton races off to investigate, instructing the group to remain where they are. Of course, they completely ignore his instructions and follow him. They head to check on the pigs and quickly discover one of them is missing. And then things really begin to get strange: before they know it, Mr Canton has been dragged under the field by an unknown creature and Mr Lachitt, the caretaker, and his wife are behaving in a very strange manner - and why on earth is Mr Lachitt constantly humming a nursery rhyme to himself? Alone, and with no way of getting help from the outside world, it's up to Angelo, Hallie, Gus and Naria to get to the bottom of these strange and terrifying goings on before it's too late.

I am a big fan of Jennifer Killick's books and loved the scariness of the Crater Lake series, so I was intrigued and excited to get hold of an early copy of Dread Wood. This is a book that gets to the heart of the matter quickly, taking you in its hold and not letting you go until the very end. It's creepy in the best way will have you both scared, chuckling and compelled to read on in equal measure.

The characters are a group of mis-matched senior school students who have all been given detention for different reasons and their different personalities shine through from the very beginning. There's a stand-offishness about them and they are all wary of revealing too much at first, but as things take a turn for the worst, they have to learn to trust in each other and they begin to open up about their lives and the reason they are in school on a Saturday morning. It's from this building of relationships that we get the banter that adds a lighter side to the rather terrifying events that are unfolding before their very eyes, revealing a human side to the children - I find Jennifer very good at this in all of her books: the way she creates that natural vibe between them feels very real.

I don't want to say too much about what is lurking beneath the surface of this book, but it's safe to say that I most definitely needed my teddy bear to keep me company whilst I read, and that reading in bed before I put the light out was definitely an error! Jennifer has managed to create a completely fictional idea and make it sound totally believable and I, for one, will definitely be looking more closely at the school field when I arrive at work at the start of next term - you just never know!

Jennifer Killick is becoming known as the queen of funny/horror fiction in the world of middle grade and Dread Wood places that crown very firmly on her head. This is a brilliantly funny/scary book about why you should behave in school, but also looks at friendships and remembering that we don't always know what other people are going through. So grab a copy (and your teddy bear!) and get ready to be thoroughly entertained and terrified as you bravely enter Dread Wood.

I don't read a whole lot of middle grade but the synopsis of this one had me intrigued. When I started the book I had planned on taking my time with it and reading it over a few days but once I started it I couldn't stop reading it. I ended up reading this in one sitting and I don't do that very often these days.

This book starts off with 4 kids going to school for a Saturday detention. Once the gates close behind them weird things start happening immediately. I don't get scared or creeped out when reading books but I have to say what was revealed as the culprit kind of had me creeped out. I don't like these things in real life and they are smaller than I am so I was imagining this happening in real life and ugh it just gives me the chills thinking about it. I don't want to say what it is because I think you should go in not knowing about it like I did because it adds to the creep factor but you can read other reviews for trigger warnings.

I loved how the kids start off not being friends and each one of them are dealing with realistic problems outside of school and over the course of the book they all open up about their struggles and become friends because of it. I like how this book dealt with poverty, disability (one of which I have never read about in a book before), bullying (whether you mean it or not) and the pressures parents put on you. While it deals with all of these serious issues on top of them fighting for their lives there is also some pretty funny banter between the kids that lightens the mood a little bit.

Overall, this is a fast-paced book that I loved so much and can't wait for the next book in this series. I will also be checking out other books by this author as well.

Dread Wood is what happens when a middle-grade version of The Breakfast Club meets a Goosebumps book. Four classmates have all received a Saturday detention, they aren't friends but each has accepted their fate of spending their Saturday together with the eager and eccentric teacher Mr Canton, who is eager to get them to work together to get back on track! He plans to do this by having the kids pick up litter, and tend to the school animals. However, this isn't going to be any normal Saturday detention. When Mr Canton goes missing looking for the school groundskeeper after they hear weird noises and find weird substances on the ground, the weirdly quiet and ever-present Mr Latchitt goes from being a simple groundskeeper to the prime suspect in a day that just keeps getting weirder. When they find Mr Canton again, it isn't for long when suddenly a giant hole swallows him into the ground, leaving the children to their own devices and having to protect themselves from whatever is trying to swallow them through the ground and whatever scheme the Latchitts are up too. Spoiler: its spiders. Giant ground laying spiders who hunt in packs and have been created by the Latchitts, who aren't really the Latchitts, they're disgraced scientists who want to prove they can do something great. The kids also find out that their detentions aren't so random. Each has been selected specifically for this detention, on this day.

I grew up on Goosebumps books, frankly, I still find some of them horrifying to this day. If I had read this 15 years ago and been told it had been concocted by RL Stine, I would believe you entirely. This reads like a Goosebumps book written for kids in 2022. It's spooky, fast-paced and it has characters I think a lot of kids would be able to relate to. There's the main character, Angelo comes from a working-class family and is strong-willed and headstrong, naturally taking leadership where he can, but he doesn't necessarily excel in school. Naira, is the hard-working princess of the group who is under pressure from her mother to do well and excel in life. Gus has a big energy and an even bigger heart. Finally, Hallie, the adrenaline junkie of the group throws herself head first into every scenario.

I don't often read middle grade but the blurb selling this as a book similar to that of a Goosebumps book had me sold, and I wasn't disappointed. I feel like I should maybe give middle grade books more of a chance now.

Book source ~ Tour

Classmates Hallie, Angelo, Gus, and Naira end up serving a Saturday detention together. The horror! No, actually, the horror is much much worse. It’s basically Thunderdome. Four classmates go in, will four classmates come out?

Pigs and chickens and spiders, oh my! This isn’t The Breakfast Club, not by a long shot. Ok, maybe a little bit. All four of our naughty detainees have something in common (besides being classmates and having done a dastardly deed) and they’ll find out what that is before the day is done. The action keeps the plot advancing at an even pace, the horror is sufficiently icky, and the villains are creepy but not too much so (this is MG after all). But what really makes this book shine are the kids. I love how pieces of them are revealed a bit at a time. No, not those kinds of pieces! Nobody is chopped into bits or anything so gross. Eeeeew! I also love how they are basically loners who figure out they have to work together to get out of their dangerous situation alive. And they show incredible courage and fortitude against impossible odds. If you like your MG books to have awesome characters plonked down in an awful situation then this is the tale for you! There’s humor, horror, and humility, oh my!

I’ve been reading a lot more middle grade than usual, and let me tell you, I am having a blast! This book was a whole lot of fun, from the creepy atmosphere, to the eerie absence of adult figures, to the creepy crawlies prowling in the dark.

The story follows four students who have found themselves in weekend detention after they each committed various atrocities at school. Detention starts, a blood-curdling scream is heard, and the teacher goes missing. What the heck is going on??

The whole band-of-misfits thing this book had going for it reminded me a lot of some of societies favorite horror tv shows and movies such as IT and Stranger Things. I could definitely see this book being adapted into an amazing film or series. The characters are all flawed in character, but in ways that are both relatable and understandable. With their funny banter and childish glee, you can’t help but root them on until the end.

Dread Wood is definitely a book I would recommend to anyone looking for a Goosebumps-esque MG novel. It also seems to be the first in an upcoming series, so you can bet your bottom I’m excited to see what other adventures this fun, loyal, and incredibly scrappy group will get into!

P.S. the blurb says Itsy Bitsy Spider but the eARC I had said Incy Wincy Spider (both are correct depending on geography) so just be aware that there might be two different versions of the novel out there depending on where you get it from, much like with A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.

Oh my word this is one scary book! A tricky one for me to read due to certain fears I have had since a child - in fact the only way I managed to finish it was to block the images that usually come up in my head whilst reading - but wow it’s well written. Full of suspense, horror and with much to say about bullying and working as a team , as with Crater Lake I think this will be extremely popular with upper KS2 upwards thrill seekers. There’ll be a lot of kids (& adults) walking on grass very carefully after reading this!

The best part however are the four main characters and how they go from four random classmates to become a team. It is an experience the reader can rejoice in as they become a part of that gang

I don’t know what I was expecting when I started Dread Wood. I’d just come off the back of reading a genuinely scary sci-fi horror book -which you may hear more about soon-, and that was off the back of reading a not so scary but very atmospheric folk-y horror-y book. This, apart from being middle grade, sits on the other side of the horror spectrum from those two. It’s an attempt to make a monster movie fit into a middle grade novel, and you know what? It works. It doesn’t do any one thing especially well and it has its flaws, but the package as a whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

For our cast we have Spunky Girl, Cautious Girl, Comedy Relief Guy and Narrator, whose primary character trait seems to be that he’s poor. Speaking as someone who is poor I don’t really mind that. I’ve banged this drum plenty already. More poor characters in our fiction please! Particularly kid’s fiction. And it does affect your personality and your decisions. It does become a part of who you are and filter how you see the world. Being that none of the other characters are particularly deep, I don’t mind that he isn’t. Then we’ve got our antagonists who aren’t not cliche, but who are effective none the less. The setting is nice and claustrophobic, as all good horror settings have to be, if the characters can just walk away it ruins the plot somewhat. A locked gate and a groundskeeper who doesn’t want to let you out are as good a narrative device as any other.

There’s some light spoilers incoming at this point, so if you want to avoid them I’ll give you a takeaway now: I liked this book, it was good dumb fun, written well and compellingly. The plot moved along at a good clip and the tension started nice and early. Flat but serviceable characters. Probably won’t read again, but enjoyed it a lot all the same. Three and a half stars. Maybe four if I’m feeling generous.

Okay, squad. Spoilers.

Have you ever seen the film Eight Legged Freaks? I wouldn’t blame you if you hadn’t. It came out in 2002 and was only okay, but this book is like a small scale version of that. The monsters are dog sized sliders, and they’re pretty cool. The explanation for how they became dog sized is nonsense, but it doesn’t have to be scientifically coherent for it to be cool, and these badboys are cool. Also, apparently Scarlett Johannsson was in Eight Legged Freaks. I suppose not even she is immune to being in a bad film.

The book isn’t immune to plot holes. The groundskeepers apparently have their pet spiders well trained and when they’re whistling a jaunty tune the spiders don’t attack, and that works just fine for the two or three hours on a Saturday the book takes place in. But what about the five weekdays before that, and the five before that and so on. Are you telling me one of them is always stood on the school field whistling or humming so an errant dog sized spider doesn’t gobble up an unsuspecting student? But I only thought about that plot hole as I closed the book. It didn’t distract me at the time. The plot moves quickly enough, and the book kept me interested enough that I didn’t stop to think of it during the story, only once I’d finished it. And even now, thinking about said plot hole, it doesn’t detract from how much I enjoyed the book. Some plot holes do that, because the story they’re in isn’t good enough to make you not mind it, but for some stories, like this one, you’re willing to suspend your disbelief just that little bit further.

Dread Wood is a good time. Definitely worth reading.

I’ve been actively trying to read more middle-grade, especially the sort I wouldn’t have picked up as a kid. I probably wouldn’t have picked up a copy of Dread Wood back then, a lot of kids’ horror can be a lot creepier than anything geared at adults, so I was very excited. I was lucky enough to recieve an e-book copy of this book through Write Read Tours.

In this book, we follow a group of four Year 7 students: Angelo, Hallie, Naira and Gustav, as they have to deal with detention on a Saturday. After having their phones taken away, their teacher disappears, and the only staff they can find are the creepy caretakers who won’t stop humming Itsy Bitsy Spider. Something dark is going on in the school, and these four classmates have to be the ones to figure it out.

The first thing I want to do is praise Killick for the four main characters. If you went to high school in the UK, you know what year 7s are like. They’ve just gotten out of primary school and started high school, so they still think they’re big and tough. Many of them are very annoying because of this, and the kids in this book behaved perfectly. It felt like I was seeing actual kids being portrayed, not just 11 to 12-year-olds, how so many people think they should behave. They weren’t sweethearts and innocent. They were somewhat crass – with some limitations due to the age range of the book obviously – and they were having fun with it. I really appreciated that.

Story-wise this book was pretty creepy. You have the one teacher disappearing alongside some animals and these weird old people who are going around humming a nursery rhyme. Not something you’d expect to see in a school. But that made it more interesting than it would have been at a campsite or somewhere similar. The villains were people that you genuinely dislike. There is a back story as to why they have chosen this school and now to act out. But the way they do it – aside from the spiders – is pretty horrible. Yes, these kids deserved to be taught a lesson, but not killed by giant spiders. I am pretty sure both Angelo and I could be somewhat okay with having a giant pet spider. Provided that it did not eat other animals we love.

I also liked that Angelo had some knowledge of spiders. It was interesting reading what he knew, but I felt like he might have had a bit more knowledge. I could guess what a few of the spiders were that he just gave names to, so it’s a little odd that he didn’t make guesses about their species. I like animal documentaries too, but I’ve not watched many on spiders as I live with a sister who is scared of them. So someone who loves them should’ve known a little more. That’s just a tiny critique though, and it didn’t take anything away from my enjoyment. It’s just me being nit-picky.

If you’re an animal lover, then you should be warned that there’s plenty of animal death in here. It’s suggested that a pig has been eaten, and you see a few chickens get grabbed. They are killed by the spiders for food, so that bothered me a little less though I was sad. But you should be warned. The spiders themselves are also dealt with at the end, and there was a particular line about a baby spider that upset me, but overall it’s not too bad. It’s a kid’s book after all, so it’s not going to be too painful. But it won’t be for everyone.

This is the first book in a series with these kids, and I’m planning on carrying on with it. The second book looks completely different, and I’m very intrigued. There’s something about a game, and that sounds right up my alley when it comes to horror and mysteries.

I wouldn’t say this book was a new favourite, but it was a fast and very enjoyable read. If you’re looking for something creepy to dig your teeth into any time soon, then I highly recommend picking this book up.

Well, it’s rare I read any horror book that fully creeps me out, but Dread Wood managed to do it, and do it really well.

Dread Wood is Middle Grade, aimed at kids around 11 – 13, though horror fans of any age will enjoy the absolute hell out of it. Sent to detention on a Saturday, of all days, Angelo, Hallie, Gustav and Naira are expecting to spend the day bored, doing small tasks around the school grounds as punishment for their misbehaviour. But it’s no coincidence they’re all in detention at the same time, and when strange things start happening – including their teacher disappearing into the ground – the group have to work out what is happening, before it’s too late.

The book was creepy and fun, keeping the tension high while giving the characters enough room to bond and grow closer. There’s plenty of mystery here to keep the reader engaged, too, from the creepy caretakers to why they’ve all ended up there, to what, exactly, is stalking them. Killick sets these things up really well without ever allowing anything to distract from the story, and the characters remain sympathetic throughout, despite some poor choices on their parts.

There are some excellent scenes here, and when things head a bit far into darkness, Killick skilfully pulls us back with a touch of humour without minimising what the characters are going through. The setting worked really well too, the school becoming a character in its own right, and its enjoyable to see the characters working out how exactly they can work as a team.

Overall I think this is a really great book that knows its target audience well and doesn’t falter. I fully recommend picking this one up!

Technically I received an e-book copy to review, but I bought my own copy as I was already planning on doing so + the e-book didn’t work for me. So happy my copy came in on time!

OK, this is so going to be a hard review to write, so bear with me, because it may get very messy. Haha. XD

I just LOVE Jennifer Killick’s works. I followed her from the start with Alex Sparrow series, went to Crater Lake, and now thus Dread Wood as a new series (yes, there is a sequel coming and BOY do I need it know in my hands).

If I have to shortly describe the book it would be: Breakfast Club x Worms (but with Spiders) x Jurassic Park x Floor is Lava. It is a beautiful and terrifying thing. Because I was scared for a lot of this book. For real. I mean, spiders are already big on my NOPE NOPE NOPITY list, and these aren’t just cute little ones. Oh no. These are big, bad, hungry, very hungry, did I mention hungry?, and they will kill you. If they get the chance. And if you think, but you can see them coming? OH, OH, how cute. Nope. Nope, floor is lava all right. Run. Grab a mower. Climb a building. But if you will be safe? Well, you have to read the book. But it was certainly a ride for me. And I was really on the edge of my seat, or curling up in bed as I did with the first 200 pages. There is never a dull moment.

In this book we follow Angelo and he detention-mates, Hallie, Naria, and Gus (Gustav). They are having detention on this Saturday, you know, a few hours of doing stuff because of things they did. If only they knew what detention would really mean. I loved that while we follow Angelo because he is the MC, we learn about the characters along the way. We see a glimpse in each of their lives and it was just perfect. I really warmed up to all of these characters and I loved seeing them bond, get closer. See that each of them isn’t so bad. Even Gustav, a character most avoid, is actually a very sweet guy who will do anything for his friends/comrades. I was so sad to read that each of them haven’t had the easiest of times, especially Angelo.

But yes, I was angry with our cast as well. For what they have done. We do find out why each of them has done it, but I still wanted to shake them around a bit. Throwing them for the spiders is a bit harsh, but I can shake them at least a bit. And then later we find out something even more important and I just wanted to shake them even harder. I am glad that they all realised what they did wasn’t right. That it was wrong.

I love the animals (the pigs especially), though we all know what happens to animals in horror, right? At times I just wanted to step into the book and rescue some animals. Just like Hallie wanted to do.
There are SO MANY references and I love love it! Scooby Doo, talk about my sweet raptors (and then decided who is who and finding out who really are the raptors), Jurassic Park/World, there is mention of anime (Gustav, yas), Harley Quinn, and more. I had so much fun finding all the references and then squeeing in delight at them. It made the book even more fun to read.

I just LOVE love the mad scientist trope, seriously, if it is a good one? You can wake me up for it. Haha. And Mr and Mrs Latchitt? They are THE mad scientist! They are like professor Wu from Jurassic Park/World. Let’s make scary and deadly beasties, teehee. Why is that wrong? We just want to make a fun and happy family. That is not bad right? OK, their reasoning for why these 4 kids was a bit outlandish, BUT looking back on it? I think it did fit how craycray they were. It was clear that they very much lived in their own world. And whoever thought they were wrong? Well, I guess they were safe up until the things in this book, I guess people should just run now. XD Also, the Incy, Wincy, Spider song? Brilliant addition. I mean, horror just gets many times scarier when you add a children’s song to it. XD

The ending was just a big NOPE-fest, but very awesome! And it definitely opens up A LOT of possibilities for next books.

I would HIGHLY recommend this book to all, and thanks to The Write Reads tour for allowing me to be part of the tour!

UPDATED/ADDITION: I was just putting the book on the shelves and I noticed THAT THERE ARE SPIDERS ON THE COVER! I never noticed! OMG! That is brilliant! Love it! YAS!

What I loved
Dread Wood is a fun yet creepy middle-grade horror that is full of action, banterful humour and suspense to keep you on your toes. I love how fast-paced and easy the plot is to follow, it is great for it’s intended audience of 8-12 year olds who love a good creepy mystery but also great for anyone older who used to love Goosebumps or anything spooky like me!

The Story
Four student’s lives are turned upside down after being forced to come to school on a Saturday for a detention at Dread Wood High School. And that’s not even the worse thing. What starts off as any normal detention quickly turns into something from a horror film! Their phones are taken, their teacher disappears, the gates are locked behind them and unimaginable, spooky things start to happen. Angelo, Gus, Hallie & Naira who don’t really know each other must work together in order to survive and solve this mysterious and eerie situation they have found themselves caught in.

I was instantly hooked from page one and I couldn’t get through the pages fast enough to see what would happen next. There is a perfect mix of spooky moments and creepy villains that will just give you shivers but also light hearted, funny moments when four unexpected kids start to become friends.

The Characters
I always love a good bit of humorous banter between characters and this was no exception. All four of the kids bounced off each other in a way that will have you laughing but also leave you with a heart-felt feeling. It is true when they say ‘kids say the funniest things’, I couldn’t stop myself from laughing or smiling at some of the conversations they had. The author has done an incredible job at creating realistic characters with such distinct personalities and being able to pull in funny aspects but also take a more serious and sinister approach when needed. I really enjoyed getting to know all four of the students and I loved seeing them slowly open up to each other and become friends.

Overall Thoughts
Overall, Dread Wood is a book you definitely do not want to miss out on. It certainly has its creepy moments and twists you won’t see coming and will grip you till the end but it is also a fun and quick read with charming characters that add to how amazing this book is as well. Every aspect in this book for me was great and I now have that feeling of sadness after finishing a good book. I’ve seen a few rumours about of a sequel so I am super excited to possibly find out what happens next!

Rating: 5/5

Thank you to The Write Reads, the publisher, and Netgalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Though I’ve been a fan of the horror genre for awhile, I never thought to look to middle grade when I want to read a scary story. That has been my loss because the last few middle grade horrors I’ve read were properly creepy. I also loved that they were quick, engaging reads. That’s why, when the call went out for bloggers to join the tour for Dread Wood, I was instantly on board! I’m glad I joined, too, because this book had everything I love about middle grade horror.

The story follows four kids who have ended up with a Saturday detention. Angelo, Hallie, Naira, and Gus are all at Dread Wood High on the weekend for their own reasons and none of them are feeling particularly amped about it. But things go from bad to worse when the teacher who is supposed to be leading them through their detention gets snatched underground by something. The only other adults around are the caretakers of the school who seem less inclined to help and more inclined to walk around humming a nursery rhyme in the creepiest way possible. What is lurking underground? And can they work together long enough to figure it out before it gets them too?

This was such a fast-paced and wild ride, y’all! I was instantly gripped and loved all the twists and turns the book took us through. I loved the creepy atmosphere of this story. It’s not a slow burn kind of creepiness where it settles into you over time. It’s the kind of feeling you get when you think you’re being watched or you hear a noise and go to investigate. You just know a jump scare is coming and it keeps you on edge, ready for the moment to get ya. This read like watching a scary movie and I loved that about it! I will say that the plot was a bit predictable. I’m also an almost 40 year old woman who has years of watching horror films behind her. I think, for the target audience, the plot will hit just right. Also, if you don’t like to see animals harmed in a book, maybe stay away from this one.

My favorite part of this book, however, were the characters and their budding friendship. The scares were great, but I loved watching Angelo, Hallie, Naira, and Gus start to trust one another and start to bond. They were all wonderfully written characters, with a lot of nuance and a lot of heart. I enjoyed that it was a diverse cast, as well, with kids from varying backgrounds and ethnicities. The four at the heart of this story were well-rounded and interesting, but, I have to say the adults felt a little flat to me. I understand the kids were the focus (as they should be in a middle grade novel!) but I would’ve liked the adults to be built up a little more, especially given their roles in the story. Still, it was an overall great cast of characters and I can’t wait to continue their story!

Final thoughts: This was an engaging and quick read that certainly leaves you with a few chills! It reads like you are watching a horror movie and I loved it for that. The atmosphere is well done, giving a deliciously creepy vibe to the whole book. And our main cast of characters are wonderfully written. I especially enjoyed watching them develop their friendship as the story went on. The plot was a tad predictable and the adult characters fell a little flat for me. Overall, though, this was a scary good time and I’m excited to continue this series!