Parents are always so infuriatingly oblivious to the horror aren't they? This is middle grade but don't let that put you off this is horror that will resonate across all age groups, there is a constant atmosphere of unease and uncertainty which gave me the heebie jeebies, its spooky but not too scary but also kinda real fudgin creepy, the pre teen voice felt authentic and although the ending wasnt in his usual style (we dont want to traumatise the children) it was satisfying, the coming of age tropes will appeal to children and adults, we've all been lonely right? I'm excited for the kids, lucky ducks getting some Tremblay

Tremblay knocks it out of the park here. Often a genre author going into middle grade can feel watered down, but dare I say Tremblay was meant for it? His experience as a teacher leaves the young characters feeling realistic in a way I rarely see (and yeah even Stephen King stumbles here). I haven't felt a sense of dread like I did reading this book. It's a page turner that moves quickly.

This is a fun little middle-grade horror. It reminded me of a Goosebumps, especially in how the horror was happening in the home and the loving parents didn't seem to notice anything was wrong. Casey was having a hard time in school because of personal issues, and his older sister, who is usually a big support for him, has gone away to college. A mysterious clay kid comes to stay during a week-long school break, and things seem okay at first, but then the changes start in the odd clay kid... This was a quick, satisfying read, and when I thought I had everything figured out, I was pleasantly surprised again. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

this was so eerie and creepy it had me at the edge of my seat and to think this is w children horror blew my mind. PHENOMENAL WRITING.

Another is ANOTHER HIT by Paul Tremblay!

Another is the story for all ages. I know many readers might steer clear of this title because it’s a marketed as a middle grade book, but trust and believe this is a story for all ages. It’s disturbing and disheartening and deliriously good!

Casey, the main character, of this story is growing up so expect some classic coming of age moments. However, know that in Tremblay we trust, what could be a cliche is instead written with a style that makes you FEEL all the emotions. Tremblay knows exactly how to make his readers feel an emotional impact. You can expect to grow with Casey within these pages.

Prepare for mycelium mayhem! There are devious twists within these pages that revolve around the fungi world. Readers are going to have a clear expectation of what might be coming, but just like a fungi, you won’t know exactly where these spores will take you until the very end!

This was such a fun story and I really enjoyed it! Readers are going to devour this story and fans of Tremblay NEED to experience this story! It’s perfect for fans of Goosebumps and of the Last of Us! Check it out!

Tremblay delivers us an eerie tale in his first middle grade novel! Ever since the Zoom Incident, Casey has had some pretty big feelings about school, especially since even his best friends have all but stopped talking to him. Thankful to be in the comfort of his own home for spring vacation, even if his big sister Ally is away at college, Casey is content to hang around the house. However, his parents have just informed him that his friend is coming for a visit - which is strange, because currently, Casey doesn't really consider himself to have any friends; and certainly no one has reached out asking to come over. When a strange man delivers a cloth sack containing a not-quite boy to his house, and then departs in a wake of dust-like maybe-pollen, things start to get strange. Because this new friend, Morel, (who Casey has never met) wants to be just like him... Maybe a little too much. Touching on topics of mental health, pandemic life, and family relationships, Another shows us what it really means to be a friend.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview Another. I liked this book but I really like Trembly. He’s a terrific author. I will say this is a great YA book but I did like it. Read it in one day
When a mysterious phone is given to Casey’s mom and dad, Casey is somewhat amused but when a stranger arrives with a new friend for Casey to hang around with for a week things start to go weirdo!!!
The new friend is very different but mom and dad don’t appear to notice. But Casey does, and soon things change. That includes Casey too.
4 stars.

Paul Tremblay dips his feet into middle-grade horror. Is it successful? As a story that will make your skin crawl, absolutely! As a story you will enjoy reading, not so much. It is a tribute to Tremblay's talents how incredibly creepy this body-snatcher adjacent tale is. I felt deeply uncomfortable while reading it and was relieved when it was over. A sense of deep paranoia pervades every page and I predict it will not be for everyone. Will it be for middle schoolers? Maybe. The language is deceptively simple, accessible, and appropriate for this age group. The narrative horror may be too sophisticated, but I'm probably not giving tweens enough credit. This book will stay with me longer than I would like it to. Four heebie-jeebie infused stars. Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC.

I’ll never look at pollen, mushrooms, or a landline phone the same way again!

I was hesitant at first since this is a "middle grade" book, but the cover drew me in, and knowing Paul Tremblay wrote it sealed the deal—I knew I was in for a treat. This book felt like Goosebumps on steroids, and I mean that in the best way! It was unsettling, anxiety-inducing, and full of creepy fun. Overall, it’s a fantastic read, and I’d highly recommend it for young readers ready to dive into spooky stories!

Although I sorta miss the ambiguity of his adult novels, I did really enjoy Paul's first attempt at middle grade fiction.

It's a unique golem/doppelganger story, which has themes of self-identity and self-esteem.

Recommended

This had such a creepy premise. I almost wish it was targeted for adults to really push the boundaries on what transpired.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC

Paul Tremblays first middle school book was a success in my eyes because it was so well written and I think most kids will love it. Thank you so much for this arc.

I love Paul Tremblay’s books, so naturally I was curious about how he’d handle a middle grade novel. Turns out, very well! I enjoyed this book so much, and I’m sure kids are going to love it.

I don’t usually read middle-grade books, but I couldn’t resist picking up something new from Paul Tremblay, and I’m glad I did! This book was honestly pretty creepy and took me back to that childhood feeling of being scared at night. The way the author captures that sense of dread—like not wanting to turn around even though you’re pretty sure something’s lurking—was spot on.

Tremblay also did a fantastic job with the main character. I really felt for him, especially with the way his parents turned on him, leaving him to face all this terrifying stuff on his own.

I especially liked the ending, even though it’s a little ambiguous. It leaves you thinking, but in a way that fits perfectly with the eerie atmosphere of the story. Great read!

A prolific adult writer, this is Tremblays' first middle grade horror.

Great Things
Concept. Very cool idea that will engage middle grade readers.
Characters. The clay-like description and form of the face and body. Kids will love this.

Other Thoughts
The book starts strong with a middle grade voice. At times, this gets lost in the narrative. The actions and thoughts don't match the reality of early teens thoughts and actions.
Not enough back story on the antagonists.
Predictable.

This was such a good creepy read! I love middle grade scary books. I was a little too old for Goosebumps when it started but I still loved reading them. Middle grade scary isn't gore and blood, it's sometimes gross, but usually just unsettling. It's a creep that gets under your skin and sticks with you. And most Paul Trembley books get under your skin anyway, so no surprise that this one was a good kind of creepy.

The story takes place after the first year of covid, as we're figuring out the new normal. It doesn't harp on the covid stuff but it's nice to see it as part of a regular reality and not just forgotten about to make it easier. The main character is Casey, a pre-teen, who had an embarrassing thing happen on during a class over Zoom. He lost his friend group and was struggling with being lonely. That's when he mom gets a phone call that his friend is coming for a sleepover. He never asked any friends to come over and has no idea what to expect when a man shows up at their house with his "friend," Morel. Morel looks like he's made of clay and even has to mold his face to make facial expressions. Casey thinks this is weird but is happy to finally have a friend again and just tried to have fun. Of course things get weirder. His family gets weirder, even he feels weirder. And then you can't stop reading because you have to know just how weird can this all get!

It's so unsettling that this clay boy is there and Casey's parents act like it's perfectly normal. And at times, Casey thinks it's normal too. It's hard as the reader because you want to grab Casey and pull him away from such a scary situation. And you want to help him when his parents aren't. The characters aren't horribly deep, but they don't need to be and they're still all strong, well written characters. The way the end comes together is excellent, even if your heart breaks for Casey for a little bit.

I definitely recommend this to young and older readers, the writing works for all of us. It's spooky and creepy but not overly scary. There's some kinda gross nature stuff, pollen and plant/mushroom things, but nothing over the top for younger readers. And it's a quick read for adults that maybe can relate to being lonely as a kid. Would you have accepted a clay friend showing up at your house?

Middle grade horror set against the post peak COVID-19 world. In a strange way, I see this as a perfect book club title for middle graders. I would love to see the addition of a book club guide in the back. Themes around bullying, neurodiversity, self acceptance, and more feature heavily. One of my favorite parts was the loving relationship between brother and sister. Refreshing to see that relationship on page!

"Another" is a middle grade horror novel by Paul Tremblay. Casey is a middle schooler who is dealing with the fallout of a viral video taken of him during remote class where he had several facial and body tics while reading. He feels lonely and like he doesn't have any friends. One day a mysterious man comes to Casey's house and drops off a living mannequin named Morel to spend the week with him. Morel has a face of clay and can't speak, but is very interested in what Casey does. Though this is all very weird, Casey's parents readily accept it. Things start to get weirder, in the best "Goosebumps"-y fashion. A recommended purchase for middle grade fiction collections, especially where horror is popular.

Paul Tremblay is already a New York Times bestselling and widely acclaimed horror author, a unique voice in the horror world and a master of atmosphere and curiosity gone amok.

With his middle grade debut "Another," Tremblay leans into this reputation with a novel that leans more gently into the horror yet firmly into the atmosphere setting that we've come to expect from Tremblay.

"Another" centers around an unsettling, unbreakable friendship. Casey lives with his parents. He's a social pariah ever since that Zoom incident and has a tic disorder that is clearly getting worse. So, when his parents calmly reveal that he has a friend coming over for a sleepover he can't imagine who it would be.

It's Morel. He's a fun guy.

He's not like any friend Casey's ever met. With clay-like skin and an inability to speak, he's more than a little mysterious at the get-go. Still, Casey's parents seem to adore him and he gives Casey someone to talk to other than his older sister, Ally. Over time, Casey's parents seem to increasingly adore Morel while becoming less interested in Casey.

Still, something's not quite right.

Tremblay's background as a high school teacher amplifies his sense of honest, natural dialogue and ability to infuse Casey with all the awkward, outsider traits we'd expect from a middle-grade outsider with just a hint of self-esteem. "Another" never dips heavily into the horror, however, we can't help but have our minds wander as the key characters here become stranger and this strange world becomes stranger. It's absolutely engaging as Tremblay builds up to a climax that convinces but overwhelms and creates this world that intrigues and makes you wonder and wander.

"Another" wasn't a novel that blew me away, however, I think that was part of the literary aim. I felt immersed in this world and drawn toward both Casey and Morel. This is an uncomfortable, immersive world that leaves you wondering from beginning to end and even as the closing pages wrap up you'll find yourself more than a little unsettled.

As an adult, I’m tickled to say the YA horror genre is really winning me over lately. This book is a winner. I’ve heard a lot about this author in the modern horror genre, and after reading Another, I totally get why.

First off, the premise of this book is perfectly spooky. Not over the top for the audience, but enough there to creep a millennial like myself out. I would have loved this as the target age group and it would have stood up to my favorite Goosebumps books.

I really liked the main character, Casey. To anyone who’s ever been a weird kid, anyone who is still kept up at night cringing over something embarrassing from a decade ago, you really feel the things he’s going through. He’s having a hard time at school, a hard time making friends, and then, when the horror element in the book is introduced, a hard time at home as well. Some of the best horror riffs on very real emotional trauma and one’s vulnerabilities.

The dialogue feels authentic. It’s a big turn off when an author writes kids as impossible little adults. The book is successful here in my opinion.

For the horror genre, the big question always remains: did he stick the ending? The verdict: it was decent to good. Just a bit anti-climactic because it wasn’t a huge crescendo for the plot, but totally solid, especially by horror standards (outrage is usually the bar for being bad).

I can be a tough crowd sometimes, but I think I have to give this a highly coveted 5/5. As a former weird kid (and current weird adult), this is a fun one, check it out.

*An uncorrected proof of this book was provided by the publisher at the reviewer’s request in exchange for a fair and uncompromising review.