the best thing about wretched waterpark was how kiersten white perfectly balanced the creepy, atmospheric narrative with deadpan humour and quick-flying banter between endearing characters.

A fast & fun read! I love how much attention was given to developing each one of the main children during this book and their characters/personalities. I also found the plot and pacing to be very well done. I was never bored while reading and feel like middle grade audiences would really enjoy this for that reason. Personally, I do wish that there was just a little bit more explanation given during the reveal of the mystery and also more explanation about the children’s current situation for the summer (like why they’re with their aunt and who she is). I’m sure that these explanations will come later in the series, but I wish we got a bit more information about the children’s situation in this book.

If you're in the mood for a delightfully eerie middle-grade mystery with lashings of gothic whimsy, look no further than Kiersten White's Wretched Waterpark. This series opener introduces readers to the delightfully macabre Sinister-Winterbottom twins and sets them loose in the supremely unsettling (but wildly entertaining) Fathoms of Fun Waterpark.
From the ominously-named "Chairity Falls" to the suspiciously sludgy wave pool, Fathoms of Fun is the last place any sensible kid would want to spend their summer vacation. But sensible is most definitely not a word you could apply to brave, adventure-seeking Theo or her timid brother Alexander as they find themselves stuck at the park with their deliriously odd Aunt Saffronia.
What follows is a masterfully creepy romp that blends hauntingly eerie atmosphere with laugh-out-loud humor and heart. White deftly toes the line between spooky and silly, crafting set pieces and characters that radiate an unmistakable Edward Gorey-esque gothic vibe even as the story zips along with Lemony Snicket-worthy satirical wit.
Beneath all the phantasmagorical waterpark weirdness lies a truly endearing portrait of sibling bonds and the ways we find courage in the unlikeliest of places. Theo and Alexander make for eminently lovable heroes - a perfect blend of pluck, vulnerability, and quick-thinking under pressure that will endear them to any young readers who can't resist a delicious frisson of literary fright.
With madcap mayhem, deliciously dark humor, and a tantalizing mystery at its core, Wretched Waterpark is pure middle-grade Gothic fun. Fans of spooky classics like Roald Dahl's The Witches or John Bellairs' Lewis Barnavelt novels will absolutely eat this up with a rictus grin. Consider me fully submerged in the Sinister-Winterbottom waters - I can't wait to see what creepy destination White has in store for the twins next.

The setting of the book really made this story. The mystery was fun and twisty but what really kept me engaged was wanting to see more of the water parks mysteries. The characters are interesting but I do wish we got a little more of their backstory. It's really obvious this is just the start of their adventures and there is also a larger mystery to be solved here. This is both interesting and left the characters feeling a little flat. That said I would like to read more of these adventures and did enjoy this book.

Where would you go if you were looking for some supernatural fun? The Wretched Waterpark has what you're looking for!

"A middle-grade mystery series that's spooky, creepy, and filled with gothic twists! Meet the Sinister-Winterbottom twins, who solve mysteries at increasingly bizarre summer vacation destinations in the hopes of being reunited with their parents—or at the very least finally finding a good churro."

The Sinister-Winterbottom Twins- sister Theo, brother Alexander, and their older sister Wil are staying for the summer with their Aunt Saffronia. She drops them off at the Fathoms of Fun Waterpark. This is where weird happens and excitement and mystery solving begin! Each triplet has strong characteristics that add to finding out who is haunting the waterpark and what happened to them.

I loved these kinds of books as a kid. This is the first book in the Sinister Summer series that Kiersten White has written. I sure hope she is writing more!

I recommend this to so many that I might have added so many more children to Ms. White's fan base! You should read it too. It makes the perfect bedtime story ritual.

I was unable to review this book earlier, but I have since purchased it and am reviewing it now. This book was an amazing read, and one that I would fully recommend to encourage young readers and broaden their minds. This is the type of book that can create a generation of book lovers.

This is a fun, quirky read with just enough mystery without feeling scary or suspenseful! I’m excited to introduce this to my students and am looking forward to. A continuation of the series! Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of Wretched Waterpark by Kiersten White. This is a wonderful start to a middle grade series.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this book. I was a little hesitant to pick it up, but I’m glad I did. It gives off the vibes of Lemony Snicket but with a twist. I cannot wait to get into the rest of the series.

My kids and I started this series at the beginning of spooky season and it has been the perfect series. I love how funny it is, the autistic/anxiety representation in it and how it is spooky without being scary. It is a great series that we will follow to its completion.

This book read like a Lemony Snickets meets The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place. It was funny and quirky. I really enjoyed the pace of the book, and I couldn't wait to get to the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for this DRC.
What a great beginning for this series. Filled with more twists and turns than a gothic rollercoaster, the Sinister-Winterbottom twins are dropped off with a previously unknown Aunt for the summer. With their older sister, Wil, they decide to figure out what is going on Fathoms of Fun, the nearly empty waterpark they have a week pass to.
A delightful frolic, with lots of fun horror story references for adults, I look forward to reading the rest.
#WretchedWaterpark #NetGalley

What a delightful story! The setting was super fun. The mystery was great. I loved the sibling relationships. Overall an awesome summer read!

This is spooky fun and the patrons at my library are really enjoying this series. It's fun to see White writing for a middle grade audience.

💦 One of my favorite books – The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein – was written by this author. I’ve never read one of her middle grade books, so I thought I’d give this one a try.

💦 I enjoyed this! What’s not to like about a strange and mysterious waterpark! The “horror” is middle-grade appropriate with just enough creep-factor to be mysterious, but not truly scary. It has a great gothic vibe and I loved it.

💦 I really loved the gothic lit references – maybe that will encourage younger generations to read those books someday!

💦 The Sinister-Winterbottom siblings - twins (Theo and Alexander) and their older sister Wil - are perfect amateur sleuths. They made the book fun and you will love them.

💦 I loved the silly vocabulary! (Example - To NOT go willingly became to go won’tingly.)

💦 The mystery was solid and the resolution was good. Younger readers will understand it and they will definitely want more of the Sinister-Winterbottoms!

💦 This is book one in the Sinister Summer series. Books two through four are also available for reading now. The fifth book in the series is scheduled for publication in January 2024. I’m looking forward to reading them all.

Thank you @NetGalley and @randomhousekids @DelacortePress for an eARC of this book, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

One of the best YA books I've read. Kids and adults both will enjoy exploring this "Addams Family" type waterpark with a mystery to unravel. Imaginative, well-written, and fun with just enough spooky to delight.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC for review.
I quite enjoyed this book. I read it during my day off from work while drinking juice and it matched the summer vibe that I was going for. I found it a little hard to differentiated between each sibling but I loved their connection. Im excited to see what the other books in the series have to offer. This one was a quick read. It doesn't require much thinking, simply pick it up and enjoy the adventure.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

An entertaining mystery with an intriguing cast of characters — what a great story from the fabulous Kiersten White!

Kiersten’s writing has always captivated me, as have her world-building and characters. In Wretched Waterpark, she introduces us to the quirky Sinister-Winterbottom family (featured throughout the Sinister Summer series) against the backdrop of a creepy waterpark during their unexpected summer vacation. The mystery of the park’s missing owner sucks the Sinister-Winterbottom children in, creating a twisting storyline that manages to be both spooky and fun.

By far, my favorite thing about this book was the characters! In my opinion, it is so important to kick off a series with characters that make you want to come back for me, and I feel like we get that with the Sinister-Winterbottom siblings. The story is certainly enjoyable, but the characters are what is going to entice me to continue reading this series.

Overall, I really liked Wretched Waterpark and happily recommend it! This is a book that I felt comfortable suggesting to my 12-year old son but encourage parents/guardians to pre-screen materials that your children may consume if you have concerns about the content.

*Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book. This did not affect my opinion or the content of my review.

My favorite thing right now is spooky middle grade and this is a perfect addition to that list. This is fun and spooky and I love that it's going to be a series! I love the mystery aspect especially for kids and getting thrm to use those critical thinking skills in such a fun way!