YA horror is a wonderful thing. It’s not too scary for early-preteens and embraces friendship and coping strategies.

I enjoyed this one. Haunted playhouses with call backs to Shakespeare and Agatha Christie??

Fun if a little predictable middle grade ghost story.. at its best it’s an honest look at the way friends can drift apart as they get older, but the ghost sections and the resolution are a little convoluted. Overall, I would recommend to middle graders that like a ghost story.

It was a decently spooky read. I read it and then I gave it to my daughter for her to read. She loved it especially the seance. I think she is definitely more the target audience of the book. She plans on picking up a copy as soon as it launches!

A new locked room scary story about twelve-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 (Goodreads).

This book was just so amazing. I was thoroughly thrilled, and it was one of the more creepy middle grade thrillers I’ve read. The writing style reminded me of the old Goosebumps books, and I was pleasantly surprised by the complexity of the plot. I read this in one day in a few separate sittings, and I would recommend this to anyone looking for a short creepy novel.

I honestly was not expecting a lot of what happened in this book, and the twists and turns had me so creeped out. The author is great at worldbuilding and painting a portrait of fear, whether that means being eaten by rats, being claustrophobic or just being the new girl with no friends. This book has characters that everyone can identify with, and a great friendship moral at the end.

This was a decent, spooky read. I'm not the target audience, so take the next bit with a grain of salt, but I felt the beginning was a bit slow and a little too much harping on how sad Avery is with the changes. I mean I get it, but also like girl you are back "home" with your friends, try and act like it.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and the publishers for allowing me the opportunity to read this e-arc.

13 year-old Avery is so excited about her trip back to her hometown. She and her three friends haven’t seen each other in almost a year and Avery can’t wait for things to get back to normal. She misses the treehouse, the mystery books, and just feeling like she belongs. However, that is not what is waiting Avery when she gets back to town. Instead, she finds three people who have grown apart in her absence and are not as interested in doing all of the old things they used to do. Looking for a way to connect to her friends, Avery suggests a séance and an old abandoned theater, where a child died years ago. Unfortunately, while the child is no longer around, her ghost is. And her friends are suddenly faced with the problem of getting out of the building, hopefully alive.

Wendy, Paris has written another page-turner for middle school kids. The book is fast-paced, following Avery through the ups and downs of friendship. As a reader, I quickly connected with the feelings she was experiencing, which made me more invested in reading to find out what was going to happen. I loved the ghost story aspect inside the old theater and the story kept me guessing until the very end. All the characters are completely believable, and even the ghost story could make a nonbeliever believe. There are definitely some parts that I was worried would haunt my dreams. Overall, an exciting, clean story for middle grade kids.

This was a fantastic middle school ghost story. There was enough suspense and twisty turns to keep you guessing and engaged up until the last few chapters. The characters are all memorable and likable with exceptional development. The writing flowed easily from one chapter to the next and the descriptive parts were right on target.
Avery, thirteen, has moved away from her life long home. She also had to part with her closest friends from preschool. Growing up, they were all connected at the hip and knew each other’s idiosyncrasies . During a quick visit back to her childhood home, after a year of moving, she soon realizes how much her friends have changed, Feeling nostalgic, she approaches them to have one final detective game, like old times. She plans a scary adventure, which entails a séance hoping to speak to the ghost of a young girl who had lost her life to a tragic accident, in a boarded up theater house called Old Winter Playhouse. Once in the old theater, their perilous journey begins with ghosts and a evil skull, hurt feelings, betrayal and forgiveness.
So much to like about this novel. The author has done a wonderful job with this story

Excellent middle grade horror. Relatable characters in a relatable situation. That is, until the seance. Spooky and suspenseful. But it also sends good messages and showcases the ability to overcome.

This book did a fantastic job of setting up the notion of what it is like to return home to a place you used to love. It follows the main character visiting home for the first time after moving, and grappling with the changes that her friends have made while she was away. She feels the need to prove she is growing up too, even when she just wants things to be the way they used to be. Combining it with facing a fear made it a funny, haunting read for kids.

Thank you, Wendy Parris and NetGalley, for the ARC. I leave this review voluntarily and happily. Also, thank you publishers for your hard work!

This was an easy, quick read. The pacing was definitely quick and one of the things I enjoyed. The chapters weren't too long, and this book was definitely worth the read. If you enjoy a good middle grade spooky tale, then this is definitely a book for you. There are frights, challenges, and triumphs as you read throughout the book. The characters are definitely lovable, and they grow throughout the book for the better.

This is a book about friends that grew up and then a one coming home. They decide to do a seance, and things go horribly wrong. Did they anger the ghost? What's going to happen, and will they all make it out in the end? Read and find out.

I enjoyed the fact that the characters all had challenges they had to overcome. In the end, they were better for it. They all became closer to it and even learned a very important lesson. What lesson is that? Well read and you will find out for yourself.

I just reviewed Stage Fright by Wendy Parris. This is a perfect novel for middle school aged readers who enjoy suspenseful stories because it is the perfect amount of scary and feel-good. This story is based around a girl who moves away to another state and gets to spend the summer rekindling old friendships back at her home state. The story really does a great job diving into character development and relating to situations and emotions kids might experience within the short amount of pages. When the 4 friends find themselves in some action packed situations, Avery (main character) finds herself navigating some difficult situations. The ending was amazing and I will definitely be purchasing when released for my kids to read and enjoy.

"Stage Fright" by Wendy Parris is a thrilling middle-grade novel that captivates young readers with its blend of suspense and the supernatural. In the story, 13-year-old Avery returns to her hometown and reconnects with friends, only to find themselves locked in an old abandoned theater after a séance goes awry. As eerie occurrences begin to unfold, the group must navigate their fears and fraying friendships to figure out if they can escape. The novel skillfully intertwines themes of friendship, bravery, and the supernatural, making it a perfect spooky read for middle-grade readers who enjoy a good thrill. It's sure to keep young readers on the edge of their seats, eager to see how Avery and her friends handle their chilling predicament.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I will definitely be purchasing it for my kids when it is released!!