2.5 rounded up to 3 stars. This pains me to say, because I’ve been a Tremblay fan since I read A Head Full of Ghosts, but I fear that kids will become bored before they get spooked by this book.

It starts fast but the “scary” parts are quite slow and just borderline worrisome. Considering how the kid has anxious traits, it felt like it was more of an anxiety driven book and not fear. This didn’t drive up suspense though, which was my problem with it.

Perhaps I’d classify it as a middle grade drama? Regardless, I liked the book enough and very much appreciate the ARC from NetGalley.

Another is a book for middle grade children that falls into the horror genre. It begins through the perspective of a young boy named Casey. He lives with his two parents and has a sister away for college. One day, after his father buys a mysterious, old rotary phone, Casey’s family receives a call on the antique phone saying Casey’s “friend” was going to be staying with them. After the sudden arrival of the “friend” things go from weird to terrifying. I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me of the good ole Goosebumps books I read when I was a child. The story of Morel and Casey is easily relatable and summarizes what it’s like for a middle grade child to start noticing changes in themselves. As Morel begins to take Casey’s place within the home, it reminded me of a metaphor for Casey changing before his very eyes. When children begin to hit puberty and notice changes in themselves it can be exhausting, frustrating, and scary, much like things become with Casey. Even the reactions of his parents accurately represent the outward happiness and inner turmoil parents face when they see their child is growing up. This is an easy read and a great reference for children. It does have scary parts, but nothing that I would consider nightmare inducing. The story is an emotional ride that I think children and parents would enjoy. I will definitely be recommending this book to my friends with children in this intended age group and will be gifting my niece a copy when it is released. Amazing work by Paul Tremblay.

This was a great change of pace from Tremblay. A young adult spooky novel was amazing. Definitely had its chill factor to it. Without any spoilers I’ll say this is a new classic for younger readers and a great gateway novel to horror and paranormal novels in general.

I’ve loved everything I’ve read from Paul Tremblay, so I was excited to read his middle grade novel. While it wasn’t graphic or gory like his adult books, it was still very creepy and some scenes made me shudder because they were so gross.

I really liked Casey as a character, and Morel was so strange but still likable in a weird way. This book was really creepy and gross at times. It did a great job showing what it was like living through the pandemic and dealing with the anxiety and uncertainty of that time. Definitely a gripping and unsettling read!

A middle grade book by THE Paul Tremblay?! Yes please!! Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC of “Another.” I was so excited to see that one of my favorite authors had written a middle grade horror novel. This is a quick pace, spooky read. I hope he ends up continuing to write more for middle grades as we need this generations RL Stine! Highly recommend for your middle grade child that likes all things spooky.

I hesitated with this one upon realizing it's actually YA, but I'm glad I stuck with it. In his author's note, Tremblay explains that the only difference between this and his adult novels is there is a clearer "explanation"-- and I found that to but true, though not in a reductive way. Definitely worth the read for a short, horror-lite experience, or if you like Tremblay's writing.

What a delightfully creepy book for middle grade readers! Tremblay delivered a chilling, gripping, and hard to put down tale about an unusual friendship! Don't let the fact that this book is intended for middle grade readers keep you away. Readers of all ages can and will enjoy this wonderful book about Casey Wilson and what happens when a visitor arrives for a sleepover!

I found this book to be hard to put down! Casey is such a great character who I cared about instantly. When Morel arrives for a sleepover, Casey can't help but notice Morel's differences and uniqueness. Something isn't right, but only Casey appears to notice...

This book proved to be a gripping and fast read for me. I had to keep reading to know what was going to happen next. I enjoyed the creepy, tense, and eerie feel of this book. It is just enough to cause unease but not enough to scare younger readers.

Wonderfully written, well thought out, creepy, and a delight to read!

WOOHOO! A middle grade horror from one of today's masters of horror--it was a no-brainer to get a copy. The characters were intriguing and engaging. I enjoyed all the creepy and bizarre happenings that built to the final twist and climax. I would have loved this as a kid and thoroughly enjoyed it as an adult.

What an absolute honor it was to review this middle-grade horror novel. I was so excited for many reasons, the top being that this was my son's very first horror novel and I got to read it to him. Being an avid horror reader, picking a specific author with a specific set of skills was very important to me for my son's first experience. Paul Tremblay has a wonderfully unique specialty when writing horror, blending the psychological with real world, monster, you name it.

My son was absolutely engaged. He almost always requested I read just one more chapter, and then another. He enjoyed Casey, the creepy but intriguing guest Morel, and the mc's family. He was completely drawn in by the uneasiness developing as the guest was undergoing some bizarre things while Casey himself begins to fall into some serious predicaments. The things experienced by Casey were so unique and quite educational, which I really enjoyed, that my son would bring up the story often until we continued reading to venture further into the bizarre happenings. All in all, my son really enjoyed the book and exclaimed he now could understand why I enjoyed so many books by this author. He is hopeful there will be many more soon that he can enjoy either by himself or with me.

My experience was a happy one. I had no doubt Tremblay would deliver on a level that would meet the needs of his readers, no matter the audience. I homeschooled my kids during the pandemic, but knew by others' stories of isolation and depression. The parallel narrative was done so beautifully and the story itself was driving, yes educational, and reflected the importance of self identity and experience. The elements were balanced and the execution was perfect. Despite it being a middle grade novel, and my distaste for YA, this story did more than my desire to continue. I was so invested in the situation Casey was in and how he would come to find a way to save everyone. I myself also hope Tremblay writes more for this audience, because I will pick him every time.

Thank you to Netgalley, Paul Tremblay, and the publishers for the chance to read and review this book. I loved it! This is a great thriller for children and teachers. There is so much quality storyline perfect for classroom discussions and guided reading groups. A perfect book for great discussions. This would be a fun read for parents as well! A child friendly thriller that is sure to be a winner!

What an incredible read! This is one of my favorite reads by this author. The book was engaging and well written. The dialog flowed so well, and the characters were all well written. Casey a middle schooler, who has had a difficult time in school ever since a zoom class incident in which someone took a nervous tic and made a viral meme out of it. So, when his parents tell him that a friend is coming over for a sleepover, he has no idea who it might be, but he is very excited. When Morel appears, he is not like any friends Casey has met, as Morel has a clay like appearance and doesn't speak, but Casey is happy to have a friend to talk and hang out with. However, as the days go by and Casey parents grow distant from him and fawn over Morel, he knows something is very wrong.

Omg this story was chilling and uncanny. I could literally feel everything as it was happening and kept wondering what will Casey do?

This is such a great fun engaging read. I really loved the relationship and dynamic between Case and Morel. I would have liked to get a bit more of a backstory on Morel's caregiver and his end goal, as well as his and Morel’s relationship. I also would have loved to see where Morel was spending his days. Reading the last chapter twice. I loved the ending even more the second time around. I think it was a clever ending, that allows the reader to add up the clues. I really enjoyed reading this story and think it is a great book for school libraries, I think middle graders will absolutely love this book.

I also loved the insight the author shared at the end. I actually didn't know he was a teacher before he became an acclaimed author. Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for this arc for my honest review.

(4.25) This was a great read for me! As someone that’s only recently reading more Middle Grade horror books, I really felt Iike Tremblay did a great job at capturing the essence of a young kid during the early pandemic times—something I think it’s very important to think about because kids experience difficult times, too, they’re just less of a conversation.
The story had small pacing issues in my opinion, but nothing to take away from the dreadful atmosphere that Tremblay creates! Overall, definitely recommend this to Middle Grade fans!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC copy!

3.5 stars. Definitely took me back to my Goosebumps days! A fun read and I enjoyed the creepy aspect.

Wow, what another fun read this turned out to be. I wasn't sure what to expect from a book targeted at school aged kids. But, the creep factor was in full force. All the anxiety and worry was enough to pull me back to the age Casey is in Another. Many thanks to the fine people at HarperCollins for my ebook ARC.

Another by Paul Tremblay is a really great middle-grade horror that is perfect both for newcomers to horror and horror superfans.

Another is about a lonely boy and a stranger that appears bringing him a new friend that comes to stay at his home.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books fore the ARC.

This was a fun read! Definitely reminded me of goosebumps!

Thank you NetGalley & publisher for the ARC

Another by Paul Tremblay is a chilling and captivating middle-grade horror novel that balances genuine scares with heartfelt storytelling. Tremblay masterfully creates an eerie atmosphere that will keep young readers on edge, while weaving in relatable themes. The characters are well-developed, making their journey through the mysterious and unsettling plot all the more engaging. While some moments may feel a bit intense for more sensitive readers, the story’s balance of horror and heart makes it a standout. A perfect read for young fans of spooky, thought-provoking adventures.

New York Times bestselling author Paul Tremblay has solidified himself a master storyteller in the horror genre over the years. With Another, Tremblay has also proven to be capable of weaving tales that captivate readers across generations.

When Casey Wilson’s parents tell him that his friend is coming for a sleepover, he has no idea who that might be. Ever since the Zoom Incident, everyone treats him like a pariah, and his tics are worse than ever.

When Morel appears, he’s not like any friend Casey has ever met. His skin is like clay, and he doesn’t speak. But Casey’s parents are charmed by the strange kid, and it’s nice to have someone to talk to besides his sister, Ally, who is away at college. As his normally loving parents grow distant from Casey, they gush and fawn over Morel. Casey knows something is wrong—but with no end in sight to the sleepover, he’s exhausted. And in the dark, out of the corner of his eye, Morel doesn’t look like a kid at all...

Paul Tremblay's Another brings to the forefront a tale where childhood fears and supernatural elements coalesce seamlessly. As we follow our protagonist, Casey, during a pivotal moment in his life when he feels isolated from everyone around him due to what the book refers to as the Zoom Incident. This opens him up to allowing even a complete stranger into his life which may not go as planned. The author expertly uses this to build empathy for Casey while setting the stage for an unsettling story.

While Tremblay has been known for his horror stories, tackling a middle grade horror is something new. What he was able to accomplish with Another just adds to the storied author's abilities as a writer. Tremblay builds moments filled with tension around every corner (or page flip) experiencing subtle chills rather than overt scares. The book feels more spooky and uneasy than outright scary–similar to what R.L. Stine crafted in his Goosebumps books. While a bit darker and different than a Goosebumps tale, Another falls into the same vein as the classic middle grade horror author.

Another by Paul Tremblay delivers an experience more eerie than frightening, making it accessible yet thrilling for middle graders and beyond. While crafted for a younger audience, Another will truly resonate with all ages. Something a little different from the norm, but Tremblay has another hit novel on his hands (pun intended).

This was my first book by Paul Tremblay, so I’ll admit I didn’t know much about him before starting. I picked it up because of its eerie description and striking cover, even though it's aimed at middle school readers. After reading some reviews that compared it to Goosebumps, I decided to dive in. I thought it was brilliant. The book definitely had an unsettling atmosphere, but as the main character—and as the reader—you find yourself making excuses and convincing yourself everything is fine. But it’s not. Reflecting on childhood, this book taps into all those childhood fears. Despite being intended for younger readers, I’d still recommend it to adults. I’ll definitely be exploring more of this author’s work.

I was extremely excited to receive this book as an ARC. I’m very familiar with Paul Tremblay and his books. He’s a venerated horror author in the horror community. Before I began, I didn’t realize this is Tremblay’s first middle grade book and he explores the theme of what if you were suddenly replaced. It was quite a creepy story and enjoyable.

Out of the blue, Casey’s parents bring home an antique rotary phone. They show Casey how it works and before long, it rings. Casey’s parents inform him a man is bringing a friend to stay for several days. Once he gets there, Casey notices some weird things about this boy, Morel. He can’t speak and he seems to be made of clay. To make simple facial expressions, Morel must sculpt his face. But as time goes on, Morel becomes more and more like Casey. Eventually, Casey’s parents begin to mistake Morel for Casey, and Casey becomes more clay like. Will Casey’s parents realize their mistake before Morel’s father comes to retrieve him?

Even though it’s for middle grades, the story is creepy. I tried to think how I would’ve felt reading this when I was 12 and in my Goosebumps era. The idea of another child coming into my home and replacing me in my family is pretty scary. Especially if the parents can’t tell the difference between the two boys. I think Tremblay’s book is a slam dunk on terrifying 11-13 year olds and I’m excited for my daughter to read it when she’s old enough.

Another comes out July 22, 2025 if you want to get a copy of your own.