What a perfect way to start off spooky season! I am a bookmobile librarian, and I constantly am asked for scary stories, ghost stories, and all things spooky from kids. Stage Fright was a fun, quick read for me! If being stuck in a haunted theatre with a malicious spirit wasn't scary enough, dealing with secrets from your childhood friends takes it over the edge!

In my spare time, I actually own a paranormal team-- so I typically am not phased by ghost stories. I will say-- most of this book is just good old spooky fun, but it did actually have some moments that creeped me out!

So if you're a fan of spooky YA books, I recommend checking this out on September 17th when it is published! I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an advanced copy of this book!

This wasn't your average children's book, it's a nice coming of age cozy horror/mistery and it's oh so good and just in time for spooky season! We follow our MC Avery that is coming home to visit he group of friends after moving away, and she noticed that a lot has changed while she was away, she feels the edge and how things are falling apart between her group of friends and in order for her to keep friend group together after a couple fail attempts of deciding what to do next she suggest holding a séance in the old abandoned theater and that's when shit hits the fan! It's such a good read of coming of age, friendship falling apart and evolving and growth. If you like a cozy read I highly recommend this for your or your teens to read! And thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this title ♡

Stage Fright is an intriguing story with interesting characters. The story is spooky and perfect for fans of Goosebumps. Kids will love reading this book around Halloween time. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Ahoy there me mateys! The story follows Avery, who is returning to her hometown during summer break to see her best friends.  She can't wait to return to the old haunts and try to forget the move ever happened.  Unfortunately, the school year apart seems to have changed things.  Avery is confused and overwhelmed.  To try and break the tension, Avery suggests a séance at the local abandoned theater.  Secretly she hopes they will say no.  But, the others agree and the quartet enters the theater only to find an actual ghost!  They are trapped by the spirit.  How will they survive and escape?

Wendy Parris' theatre background shows in this fun middle grade spooky story.  Having been in the biz, I was delighted to see how the author used other areas besides the stage itself in the action.  It shows younger readers the dressing rooms, ticket offices, catwalks, and other places rarely seen by the audience.  How the ghost light worked for the plot is also fantastic and clever.  I won't reveal it here.

I would have loved this as a child for the spooky feel and setting.  I also would have loved the four friends trying to figure out how to escape the scary ghost.  The characters are wonderful and easy to root for.  As an adult, I love the lessons suggested throughout the novel.  There are discussions of evolving friendships, gender differences, irrational fears, honesty, and untended consequences.  I also enjoyed the parents' roles and how sibling relationships were portrayed.  Avery was fantastic and used deductive reasoning against the ghost.

The ending in particular was perfect.  The parents are grateful their kids are okay but still there are repercussions for breaking rules.  How the children resolve their changing friendships, outlook for the future, and their feelings about the ghost are also realistic and lovely.  Recommended for spooky story and theatre lovers alike.  Arrrr!

Going into this book, I thought it was going to be like a "Goosebumps" story, but I was way off. This is the perfect creepiness for a middle school read. You not only had the horror from the supernatural elements but also the horror of going from preteen to teen. I think it's great that this was written into the story because every preteen deals with what Avery does.

As for the spookiness of the story, I would've eaten this up as a kid (heck, I loved it as an adult). There were moments when the setting and dialogue were truly chilling.

Thank you so much to Random House Children's and NetGalley for the ARC.

When Avery returns to her hometown after moving away a year earlier, she hopes to rejoin her friend group as if nothing has changed. Unfortunately, new interests, secret crushes, and changing dynamics get in her way. To reunite her BFFs, she suggests they host a séance at an abandoned theater that was the site of a horrible tragedy.

What starts as a fun outing soon becomes a fight for survival after the group gets locked in and discovers they’re not alone. Parris does an excellent job of building suspense and creating a creepy atmosphere that will make readers think twice about exploring abandoned places.

While the premise is intriguing and the tension well-maintained, some of the character dynamics and plot developments feel somewhat predictable. However, the pacing is brisk, and the scares are effective, making this a solid choice for young readers who enjoy a good scare.

Stage Fright is a fun, spooky adventure that captures the essence of friendship and bravery in the face of the unknown. If you’re looking for a thrilling, eerie tale, this book is worth a read.

Middle schooler Avery is excited to visit her former hometown during summer break. Moving away to Philly has not been easy, and Avery is looking forward to seeing her old friends. The visit does not start out as expected, leading Avery to suggest something daring and scary to seem cool: Breaking in to an abandoned, reportedly haunted theater to hold a seance. During the seance, when the ghost of a dead girl appears, the quartet of friends find themselves plunged into a night of terror. Will the friends make it out alive? Middle school fans of creepy terror stories will want to add this to their shelves.

NetGalley, thank you for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Stage Fright by Wendy Parris. I was intrigued by the cover and synopsis and was delighted to be approved to read this story. I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

This book brought back a lot of memories from my childhood about how my friends and I would ride our bikes, play in the woods, and play kickball and tag. It also made me think about all the Point Horror books I read in middle school and how much I loved them. I can definitely say that this story ranks high with me, and kids who like suspense and horror should enjoy reading it. (And, if you know of a reluctant reader who likes to be "scared", this is a book that should be recommended.)

Wendy Parris is spot on with her descriptions of how kids act at 11-14 years of age. It surprised me to be honest but in a good way! And, honestly, the parents reactions at the end were pretty spot on as well. The writing was exceptional and made me want to keep reading throughout the night without stopping. The only thing that could have made it better was if there was a thunderstorm outside while I was reading Stage Fright. This author is such a fantastic story teller.

Even though I am an adult and not the target audience, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and would read more books by the author. I will definitely be suggesting this book to teachers and parents so they can see if this is something their kids might like. I only have positive things to say about Stage Fright by Wendy Parris and give it five out of five stars.

This book was a fast read. The beginning was slow as we had to learn of our main character and her background. Once she and her friends made it to their destination the pacing became faster and more detailed. The spooky nature of the book is great for kids. I wish there was a map of what the theater looked like or a definition page for people who are not in that type of world. I didn’t like the main characters whining nature as she is 13 and some things seemed like what a younger kid would complain about but it all came together in the end. Thank you to Random House Children’s and the author Wendy Parris for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

Stage Fright is another awesome addition to the spooky kid lit portfolio and one that'll have you thinking twice before you turn out the ghost light.

Having the protagonist be 13 years old in a time in the publishing industry where middle grade targets 8- to 12-year-olds and YA is strongly marketed at ages 14 and older is a brilliant move. Not only is it a critically underserved corner of the market, but much of the main character's arc is focused on that awkward kid-to-teenager stage of feeling too old for kid stuff but not yet savvy enough for teen stuff. There are references to beer and smoking, but they're just that - references. There's no demonizing or glorifying, just a simple recognition of the fact that kids in this age bracket are aware of those things, which is perfectly appropriate to the type of book.

Stage Fright is a bottle episode of a book; the main action takes place continuously over the course of one torturous night which adds to the urgency of the plot. The story follows Avery, a girl returning to her hometown after a recent move to visit her three best friends: Page, Tyler, and Jayden. There's definitely a disconnect in the crew, as those who are still in the hometown moving on from their childhood shared interests (and location) and - Avery worries - possibly each other. The interpersonal dynamics are handled well, with all the messiness being a new teenager entails. The horror aspects is a slow burn with some eerie psychological elements such as seeing rats that aren't there, possessed behavior, and the recurring vision of a dead child. This is an excellent transition book for kids who have graduated from kidlit spookiness and are on their way to the much more graphic YA horror.

I loved this spine-tingling tale set in a spooky abandoned theater. Author Wendy Parris masterfully blends a story of the nuances of middle school friendship dynamics with the supernatural (haunting and possession). Avery is returning to her old town for a visit with her best friends after an out-of-state move, but her friends seem to have changed since she was last with them. In order to repair their relationships, she suggests a midnight trip to the abandoned theater to find out if the rumors of it being haunted are true. She quickly finds out what a bad idea that was! But perhaps a frightening night with an evil spirit is the thing that will repair their friendship bonds.

<i>Thank you to Random House Children's, NetGalley, and to Delacorte Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.</i>

I enjoy spooky middle grade books and this one is just about perfect. I even found myself getting a little creeped out as I was reading it late at night and had to turn the light on a couple of times.

Avery, age 13, moved away last year and now she's back for a vacay with her old crew. She's a little dismayed to find that they've all changed over the past year. They aren't as interested in their old haunts and have different cares and worries. In an effort to prove that she's still "hip," Avery suggests a seance at the old theater. It's been closed off for ten years, after the tragic death of a young girl. There are now rumors of a haunting.

Avery and her friends sneak out and get stuck in the theater where they learn that something else is haunting the theater and it won't stop until it has all of them.

I loved the themes that Parris tied into the haunting story - growing up, changing friends, new relationships. Even though it was over twenty years ago, I can still remember all those feelings that Avery was going through. Middle school is such a rough time.

I would definitely use this book in my classroom and recommend it to students.

If youre looking for a cute YA "horror" then this is definitely a great book to read for that. It was fast paced and super easy to read and made you want to keep reading. Not scary at all in my opinion but definitely had some creep factor to it. Perfect for all ages either as a regular read for younger audiences or as a palette cleanser for adults.

This was such a fantastic middle grade spooky story! It was honestly so creepy, even as an adult, and I think middle grade readers who like scary books will adore this one.

The book follows Avery, a girl who plans a séance at an abandoned theater to reconnect her with friends. But as it turns out, things don't go entirely as Avery had planned, and the kids may not be alone in the theater after all.

This was a short, quick read with lots of spooky ghost shenanigans. I especially loved the themes of friendship in the book, and I think this in particular will resonate with middle grade readers. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to kids who are looking for a scary book with deep themes.

Thank you to Random House Children's and to Netgalley for granting me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is a fast-paced, exciting story that is sure to be a big hit. The setting in an old, abandoned theater is spectacular for a spooky story. The protagonist, Avery, is so relatable and a sympathetic narrator as a kid who is thrilled to be back with her old group of friends for a visit after moving away the year before, only to find that everything has changed. In an attempt to bring everyone back together, she comes up with a plan for an adventure that turns out to be a lot more than anyone could have anticipated. Young horror fans will be thrilled by the ghost, as well as the evil skull that can read people's deepest fears. Author Wendy Parris does a great job of creating high personal stakes and character growth along with the need to escape from a terrifying situation. It's the perfect novel to follow her amazing debut, Field of Screams.

What a fun, spooky, and thrilling ride!

The premise of this story pulled this thespian right in, and I also empathized so much with Avery being the odd one out after moving. Been there! So many of my students move or have moved, and I think it’s super important that they have stories like this that show the struggles of making new friends while trying to hold on to the old ones.

Speaking of the old ones, I loved the ensemble cast and how each character was unique with his/her own story & what they brought to the table, or in this case, the stage. It was great to see a central focus on Avery and Paige, but I loved that Tyler and Jaylen had some good page time, too!

The spooky qualities were AWESOME, making me cringe & gasp multiple times. Bravo! Horror & thrillers are a big “sell” on my shelves right now, and I know my readers will love experiencing Maddie and the theater’s scary spectacles!

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC and opportunity to read and review prior to its publication. ☺️

I got this book for free, in exchange for my honest opinion via NetGalley.

13 year old Avery moved to Philadelphia last year, and she's very excited about her trip back to her hometown for the summer. She's excited about seeing her friends, and the treehouse, and reading mystery books with Paige, and just feeling like she belongs, because she's having a lot of trouble fitting in at her new school. However, those things don't seem to be waiting on Avery when she arrives. Instead, she finds her friends have grown apart and they do not seem to be enjoying things they used to. As a way to try and reconnect with her friends, Avery (who is scared of ghosts and horror movies) suggests a seance in an old abandoned theatre where a child died some years ago. Turns out, the ghost is very real, and there are evil things lurking inside the theatre that the kids were not prepared for. Suddenly, Avery and her friends are faced with the problem of getting out of the building, before their minds and bodies become trapped there forever.

This book is a fast paced read that held my attention from start to finish. In fact, if it weren't for the fact that I had to read another book, I would've finished this is one sitting. I thought it was nice to see Avery go through the ups and downs of friendship. While I love all things spooky and horror, I found myself relating to Avery. I also overthink everything, and sometimes I'm more about myself than my friends. Avery also expects the worst out of situations as I do. It was just nice to feel seen. The rest of the characters are believable.

Overall, this was a wonderful a read. I don't think it's too scary for the middle grade crowd, but certain parts could be a little intense. I will definitely be reading this again, especially near the spooky season.

Thank you, NetGalley and Wendy Parris for allowing me to review! As always, my review is my own opinion and thoughts. This review will be shared to my Instagram @fictionluxblog shortly.

This was a fun short horror adventure!

The story is geared toward a middle grade audience. This lightweight introductory horror story invites the reader to experience being locked inside a deserted theater with themes touching on re-establishing strained friendships, new crushes and working together to survive a scary situation.

Overall, I feel like this is a well written, thoughtfully put together tale. I can see how the author can be compared to Katherine Arden, author of Small Spaces and The Winternight Trilogy. I like Wendy Parris' work, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Thank you to Random House Children's, NetGalley and to Delacorte Press for providing this title in exchange for an honest review.

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Avery has moved from the Midwest to Philadelphia, and is glad to be going "home" for summer vacation. She's glad that she will be able to see her old friends and neighbors like Paige, Tyler, and Jaylen. Things get off to a bit of a rocky start when Paige doesn't meet her at the airport, especially when Paige has been off at the mall with Bethany Barnes, who bullied Avery when they were younger. Wanting to revisit the group's old stomping grounds, Avery suggests meeting at Tyler's treehouse, and is surprised that it has fallen into some disrepair. Her friends haven't been hanging out together, so they all try to think of an activity they can do together. Avery suggests their "Ridge Road Detective Club" game, but the others scoff that they are all too old for such nonsense, until Avery suggests breaking into the local Old Winter Playhouse, since it is the tenth anniversary of the death of the director's nine year old daughter. Sneaky out in the middle of the night is always interesting, and when the four get into the theater, there are some scary things that occur. There is a ghost light on the stage, and when they venture too far away, they see and hear eerie things. There is a skull that seems to follow them around, and after touching it, Tyler thinks that they are being surrounded by rats. Jaylen falls off the stage and breaks his ankle; of course, none of the children can get cell phone service. They hunker down to wait until morning, but Jaylen thinks that the walls are closing in on them. In between the spooky ghost manifestations, Avery gets caught up on some things her friends have been going. Paige and Jaylen kissed, even though the kids made a pact to always stay friends, and Paige is worried about her parents' pending divorce. Of course, the altered states of Tyler and Jaylen are even more concerning, as is being followed by menancing ghosts! When things get especially bad, there is a fire started, and the theater is badly damaged. The ghost is put to rest (I don't want to spoil some of the details!), the kids aren't blamed for the fire, and Avery is able to return to Philadelphia with the knowledge that even if she had stayed in her old neighborhood, her friendships still might have changed.
Strengths: Friends changing in middle school and growing apart is definitely more scary (and more common) than viscious ghosts, and pairing the two popular topics is an inspired idea. While as a responsible adult, I can't condone children lying to caregivers and sneaking out in the middle of the night, there is a certain appeal to such activity when one is a tween. There's a good back story to the haunting of the theater, and a good variety of ghost menancing. This is a good length, and moves quickly, as any good killer ghost story should.
Weaknesses: Like this author's Field of Screams, this is more gently scary than terrifying. Also, would people in Philadelphia make fun of a Midwestern accent? Aside from a friend from New Hampshire who once said I had a "nasal" accent (I mean, I did grow up close to Cleveland), I always labored under the delusion that the Midwest didn't have an accent.
What I really think: This is a great choice for readers who have an interest in eerie books with theater connections and enjoyed Gonzalez's Fearless, Key's Twelfth, Schusterman's Olive and the Backstage Ghost or Freeman's Noah McNichol and the Backstage Ghost. Twelfth,

This book was a wonderful spooky MG read! I feel like this is going to become a lot of kids' new favorite book! A delightful mix of horror, relatable problems, theater, and spookes all in a world that leaves you guessing and wanting more. And man, I want more! :)