"Hide and Shriek" by Alison Hughes is a middle-grade mystery novel that combines elements of humor, suspense, and friendship to create an engaging read for younger audiences. Hughes' novel follows a group of children as they embark on a thrilling adventure to uncover the secrets of a haunted house in their neighborhood.

The premise of "Hide and Shriek" is intriguing, with the promise of spooky thrills and exciting discoveries drawing readers into the story. The author effectively sets the scene with vivid descriptions of the eerie house and its mysterious past, creating a sense of atmosphere that adds to the tension and excitement of the narrative.

The characters in "Hide and Shriek" are diverse and relatable, each bringing their own unique strengths and quirks to the group dynamic. The protagonist, in particular, is a likable and empathetic character, whose determination to solve the mystery drives the plot forward. The friendships that develop between the characters are heartwarming and authentic, providing a strong emotional core to the story.

Despite these strengths, "Hide and Shriek" may struggle to fully engage readers who are looking for a more sophisticated or nuanced mystery. The plot unfolds in a somewhat predictable manner, with clues and red herrings that may be easily deciphered by astute readers. Additionally, some of the twists and turns in the story may feel contrived or convenient, lacking the subtlety and complexity that would elevate the mystery to a higher level.

Furthermore, while the humor in the novel adds levity to the story and makes it more accessible to younger readers, it may occasionally feel forced or overly silly. Some readers may find that the comedic elements detract from the overall atmosphere of suspense and mystery, preventing them from fully immersing themselves in the story.

In conclusion, "Hide and Shriek" by Alison Hughes is a middle-grade mystery novel that offers an entertaining and engaging read for younger audiences. While it may lack the depth and sophistication of some other mysteries in the genre, it succeeds in delivering an enjoyable adventure filled with humor, suspense, and heartwarming friendships. Readers looking for a light and fun mystery to while away an afternoon may find "Hide and Shriek" to be a satisfying choice.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review for my honest opinion.

Fun quick read about friends who rebel against town curfew and find themselves in trouble. Can easily be read in an hour or two.

Most definitely did not think this was scary at all. All of the main characters were extremely annoying and just didn't get what I expected from this book in the slightest.

Not really for me. I always have problems finding actual scary stories in YA. The writing isn't terrible, I just want to be scared and it's not giving it to me.

This book was interesting. It held my attention. If your in a reading slumb, this book its great to get you out of it!

I spent the last five weeks in a terrible reading slump, and this was just the story to get me out! It was a quick, fun read that I got through in a single sitting of about 90 minutes. As I’m sure many of you did, I grew up playing hide and seek with the neighbourhood kids, and watching it grow into something so much darker was an amazing concept. Each reader would be able to feel the same anxiety that our characters do, the build-up of being caught, and the constant racing of your heartbeat.

The characters were relatable, the suspense was intriguing, and the plot was realistic. The only thing I could suggest to make this story better, is expanding it into a full-length novel! There were some things that I felt were left unanswered at the end, and I would like to get complete closure.

I'm not quite sure how I feel about this one. Was it a quick read? Yes. Did it keep me entertained and on the edge of my seat? Yes. But the major problem, while I get this is supposed to be more like a novella, is its lack of ending. We are where it may inevitably be going, but it could also be left open for a potential sequel. And while the chase was fun, it could have been more cleverly crafted. I was waiting for a fun twist, but it just ends. I know I'm YA we need to be more forgiving in its lack of depth, but I feel the potential of this story was a bit squandered and could have been so much more.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I hate to admit it but I really enjoyed Hide and Shriek. The simple premise was made creepy and exhilirating by Alison Hughes writing. Told through Emily as she is chased and terrorized along with her sister Tess, along with neighbors Cam and Dylan. What was to be their regular Friday night game of Hide and Seek turned in to a night of survival when the group of teens decide to break a city wide curfew to to go to the local creek. There they are witness to a crime that changes the outcome of their once playful game.

Hughes builds upon the anxiety and terror by creating just enough diversion and unease that you do take time to consider what will happen next. However, I was so into and invested in Emily crazy journey that I was blindsided at the ending. I was prepared to give this title 5 stars, but changed that with how abrupt the ending was. I sucked every bit of emotion that I was feeling out of me like a sharp jab to the ribs. The story to me feels incomplete and unfinished.

Over all it is a great thrill ride read, but needs just a little more for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review!

This is a book about 4 friends; Emily (14), Tess, Dylan and Cam (16) who have a Friday Night Hide-and-Seek game going. Every Friday night they go out into their backyards and the alley behind their houses to play hide-and-seek in the dark. Then they get news that there is a curfew of 2300 for all children under 17, which means they shouldn't bee out doing their hide-and-seek game, but they do anyway. After they play their game, they don't go home, instead head out to sit by the river. This leads them to be hunted through the forest and back into their normal game area, and stuff goes down.

I loved this, it was such a fast-paced read that kept me on the edge of my seat. It only took me about an hour to read because I couldn't put it down. I definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a quick, thrilling story. The ending was a bit abrupt though, I do feel that there could have been a little more. I would love to see more from this group of friends in the future!

Hide and Shriek was such a fun read. The characters were nice and the suspense was great. This was actually one of the better Orca books I've read and I liked how fast paced it was -- I seriously finished it in about an hour.

A game a hide and seek turned dangerous...they end up running for their lives and one is taken. It makes for a very scary night and the MC surprised me with how brave she was at times.

All in all, a good read.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

I've never read anything in the Orca series and didn't actually know anything about this series, so I didn't really have any initial expectations of what was to come. However, the synopsis looked really fun, so I was hoping it would be enticing.

This was a really good, albeit very short read! It took me about 40 minutes in one sitting to start and finish. I expected the story to be different than what it was, but I was still pleased with how the story came along. The pacing was quick but well done, and while you don't really get to have any character development because the story is so short, I was still rooting for Tess, Em, Cam, and Dylan nonstop. The whole thing kind of reminded me of the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine, minus the magical or supernatural elements that sometimes come into play with R.L. Stine books.

Meh! the plot for this book felt overdone and the writing was not all that engrossing.

I found the pace very slow and none of the characters are particularly well developed. I have read YA books that were a lot more entertaining and gripping.

Five stars for it being a perfect example of what it claims to be. The Orca books are sooooooo popular with my students because they get right to the suspense. Reluctant readers don't want a lot of character building or descriptions of scenery. No flowery language or challenging metaphors. I'll give this to students who want life-in-danger suspense but need shorter and simpler than April Henry. The only unrealistic part is that these 16 year old kids are saying things like "jeez" instead of swearing. Though that means it's "safer" for libraries, I think that ship has sailed. Crude language is no longer accepted as a reason to not give a kid a book.

A great little read I just wish there was more!

“Hide and Shriek” tells the story of the ultimate game of Hide and Seek as the stakes raise when an innocent game on a Friday night past curfew turns into something of a nightmare when a group of friends stumble upon a a couple of men in the woods who are hellbent on keeping the rendezvous a secret and will stop at nothing to silence those unlucky enough to cross their path.

This book is so short! It’s such a great story but it feels rather like a quick rundown of a much larger book that is to come. The entire idea of a childhood pastime unintentionally played on a larger scale is such a great concept and Emily, the main protagonist, perfectly carried the role as she sets us up with her awkward place in the group of friends who has to work harder to gain their respect and how that works to her advantage when it stops being a game.

With it being so short I feel like there are so many things left unanswered or rather things I wish we could explore more concerning the core four themselves and how some of them managed to escape once Emily took off and why the men were in the woods in the first place!

There’s just so much potential here I really feel like if it was expanded into a full length novel it would be something really incredible but for now I’ll have to take it for what it is and that’s a great 20 minute read.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review!**

Thanks to orca for the arc of this book.
This was a very short story, and it just finished mid story I felt

4/5 stars

I had a great time with this book! This book isn't very long, and I got through it in about an hour, as I read pretty quickly. The book picks up very quickly, and it doesn't leave much room for slowing down. Once it gets going, it doesn't stop. The most interesting parts are when we see how quickl and clever these 4 main characters are with trying to blend in or get away. My major gripe with this are the characters themselves. This was a short and fastpaced book, so there wasn't much room for getting to know the characters. Since that's the case, I wasn't very concerned on whether they made it or not, but was still invested in seeing what their next move would be. The ending was fun, for lack of better words. It was an easy way out, but was still effective given the pace of the book. I think that if you want a quick read while on the go, this is a great one to pick up. All in all, it was a fun, fastpaced book and I'd definitely recommend it.

This are my own, honest opinions. I received this copy from NetGalley for free. In no way are my thoughts skewed or biased in any way.