Is it possible to love Halloween too much?

That’s the question plaguing protagonist Esther Gold, an 8th grader desperately clinging to childhood holiday traditions in this sweet, fun middle grade novel.

Fans of Welcome to Nightvale will recognize flashes of Joseph Fink’s signature wacky and tamely creepy humor in this one, as well as his unique breed of world building.

For those who love atmospheric creepiness, this one isn’t quite on par with Katherine Arden’s Small Spaces, which I consider the gold standard for that quality in books for this age group. But it’s close, and is sure to delight the same readers who enjoyed Arden’s book.

I didn’t love the over-sentimental climax to this book, but the lesson is a decent one and I love the found friendship aspect of the storyline.

Charming, funny, and a little bit spooky, this one is a cant miss Halloween read that’s fun for kids and adults alike.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for a digital copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As a huge fan of Joseph Fink and the mother of a 6th Grader, I was thrilled to read his first middle grade book for children.

Esther Gold is a 13 year old who loves Halloween. On her *possibly*last year trick or treating, strange things are afoot in her neighborhood. The adults all fall asleep, little siblings go missing, and two strange ice cream trucks are roaming the streets with questionable drivers, It is up to Esther, her best friend, her middle school bully, and a local dentist to figure out what is going on and to save the day.

This book was definitely enjoyable and well written, although I was slightly disappointed that it didn’t have the same delightful weirdness that I had grown to love in his other works. Fans of Neil Gaiman and Catherynne Valente will certainly devour this book and I definitely recommend it for any kids who love Halloween as much as Esther.