Avery is excited to go back to her small hometown to spend time with her friends for a summer visit. Her parents moved her to Philadelphia and she hates it there, mostly because she had to leave her best friend Paige behind. However, things have changed. Paige is so different now, more into things that Avery doesn’t like, such as wearing makeup, hanging out with Avery’s former bully; and her two buddies Jaylen and Tyler fight constantly. The group seems to have grown apart. Avery gets the idea of doing a seance at the local closed, supposedly haunted theater as a bid to bring everyone together. When things start to go wrong and the quartet gets trapped in the theater, they realize there is a dark presence there that doesn’t want them to leave alive.

Stage Fright is a book about growing up and facing fears and change. Avery is fixated on the past and things being like they used to be. Her anxiety keeps her from taking chances, such as making new friends and trying different hobbies, putting herself out there. She is distressed at how much her friends have changed and doesn’t understand why Paige is making the choices she’s made. Through their harrowing ordeal in the haunted theater, Avery learns to face her fears and conquer her insecurities.

Avid adult readers of middle grade books may be disappointed at how young the books read initially. Avery acts more childish than she should for this story, and the contrast between her and the overall tone of the book was jarring. This makes the narrative a bit harder to get into. But as the story progresses, there is such an eerie, intriguing tone that draws in the reader. There are some genuinely spooky and unnerving parts that take this book to the next level. While it still feels a little simplistic in the way the characters are written, the horror delivers. The origins of the haunting and the sinister events in the theater was very interesting, and made this a more satisfying read. Underlying the narrative are good lessons about maturity and growth that readers may appreciate. Stage Fright has some good qualities that make it a fun, scary book for younger middle grade readers.

3.5 stars

A fun, spooky locked room ghost story that was a super fast read. Four friends decide to hold a seance to connect with a ghost who died in an old, abandoned theater.

Avery, the main character, struggles a lot with her recent move away from her best friends and how much they've changed since she's been gone. I feel like a lot of MG kids would relate to her feelings, whether or not they moved. Kids grow and change so quickly at that age, and friends can grow apart/start liking different things/mature at different paces, and that was really well demonstrated in this book.

The scary bits were just the right amount of scary- this would be good for a kid who's just dipping their toe into the horror genre.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book is about a group of friends who break into a "haunted" theater and try to talk to the ghost that is there. Things quickly go wrong.

I liked this book. It is a middle grade horror book so it had a lot of spooky vibes and I think it would be a bit scary for kids. It wasn't super scary for me but I bet it would be for kids. It was also a quick read and it was easy to read.

I didn't like the drama between the friends as much. I feel like it wasn't necessary.

Overall, I had a fun time reading this spooky book and would recommend to kids looking for a good Halloween read!

I loved Stage Fright. It was just the right amount of on the edge of your seat spooky mixed with straight up encounters with the supernatural. The perfect creepy read.
Friendships change as we get older. As kids become teens, some people change and some cling to what they feel they have always been. You get so much of these evolving friendships between 4 lifelong best friends, but it is all happening while they are locked in a haunted old theatre.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It had a good message that even adults need to be reminded of every once in a while. It wasn't very scary, but it was sadder than I was expecting. I feel like making the first day of Avery's visit the day everything happened was a bit of a disservice. I would love to have been shown Avery's life in Philly and seen more of her interactions with her old friends, both before and after that night.

"A new locked room scary story about thirteen-year-old Avery, who plans a séance at a deserted theater to bond with her friends, only to realize they're locked inside with someone - or something - else. This spine tingling read is perfect for fans of Katherine Arden and Lindsay Currie!

When Avery returns to her hometown after moving away a year earlier, she is hoping to jump back into her friend group as if nothing's 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."

I adore that the cover has the theater's ghost light front and center.

A big thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for an ARC of Stage Fright, Avery has to move away from the childhood friends she grew up with and on a visit with them after a year of being away involves an abandoned theater and a seance. I wasn't sure if I was going to like this in the lead up to them arriving at the theater. However, once the seance happens and the start of all the frights... well I was hooked! I know this is just a middle grade novel, but it is super creepy. Parris does a fabulous job of being so descriptive and knowing just what makes your skin crawl. I would have LOVED reading this book growing up. It is like one step up from a Goosebumps novel. The ending was satisfying, it wasn't overkill. I will definitely be reading more books from Parris in the future.

**3.5 stars**

This was a great spooky kids perfect, perfect for fall/spooky season. I’m a Middle Ages adult who loves all things spooky and I enjoyed it. It also teaches kids a few different lessons including to trust in themselves, that friendships and people change as we grow up, and to not hold a seance in an abandoned building (lol).

I recommend this for any kid looking for a spooky read and any adult looking for a fun spooky kids book like Mary Downing Hahn books. I liked it enough I’d read another book by this author.


**Thanks to the author and publisher for the e-ARC I received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.**

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.