This was a quite a fun read. The author does a good job of setting up the story at the uncle's arcade. The video game angle is a great hook for young readers. The author does a good job of enticing the reader with horror elements.

Some a fun middle grade horror! Very retro and nostalgic, which I always love. Characters were fun and thought the overall vibe of the book was a good time!

ARC Review*

D.W. Gillespie's Grin is a thrilling middle-grade dive into the world of retro arcade games mixed with psychological horror. Set in the nostalgic world of PixelWorks, a massive retro arcade, the story follows Danny as he is spending a week with his Uncle Bill. Danny uncovers the dark secret behind an old arcade game called Grin. As the game holds the soul of a deadly serial killer, Danny, and his friends must race against time to stop the killer from taking over his Uncle Bill’s body and the dreadful outcome that there is no returning from. The eerie blend of arcade nostalgia and supernatural horror creates a compelling atmosphere, drawing readers into a story where technology and terror collide.
What truly elevates Grin is how Gillespie taps into themes of anxiety and psychological horror. Danny’s struggles with panic attacks make his descent into terror feel deeply personal and relatable, grounding the supernatural events in real human emotion. The inclusion of modern gaming culture, with references to popular streamers and YouTube/Twitch, adds a contemporary twist that feels fresh. The suspense builds masterfully, with moments of true dread that will keep readers hooked. If you’re a fan of psychological horror with plenty of chilling moments and a gaming twist, Grin is a must-read. I really hope there is a sequel..

Wow, I went into this thinking it'd be just a scary story trying to get in on the scary video game trend, but I was happily surprised. The main character has a great character arc that I feel a lot of kids will identify with and enjoy. The scares were great and gave me the feeling of the kind of terror and suspense of Goosebumps back in the day. While it came across more serious than most middle school horror, I feel like it was still appropriate for the age group. The author definitely wrote with a good knowledge of their target age group and it shows. I feel like this will be a big hit with kids that enjoy video games and scary stories.

Prepare to GRIN and bear it!

DW Gillespie's Grin delivers a spine-chilling, sensational middle-grade horror novel that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The story follows Danny, a young boy who spends a week visiting his Uncle Bill, the owner of a quirky free-to-play arcade. Danny anticipates a fun-filled bonding experience, but instead, he is confronted by a bizarre and terrifying game that seems intent on consuming him.

The narrative unfolds briskly, drawing readers into a world of mystery and suspense. With its fast-paced plot and intriguing mystery, Grin invites readers to join Danny on his brave adventure, solving puzzles and uncovering secrets in real time. Gillespie masterfully blends horror with a touch of whimsy, creating an atmosphere that is both eerie and captivating. The ending is particularly noteworthy, packed with unexpected reveals, chills, and thrills that will leave readers exhilarated for more!

Fans of DW Gillespie's previous works, The Toy Thief and One by One, will find Grin equally compelling. Gillespie's distinctive writing style shines through, offering tailored experiences for readers of all ages. His ability to craft engaging and accessible horror stories is evident in Grin, making it a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good scare. Check it out!

This is a perfect book for young gamers, especially ones who skew towards horror games like FNAF (which gets a shout out in the book, along with lots of other games--both classic and retro). There's a great, creepy build as the main characters peel back the mystery behind the sinister titular game and, unlike a lot of books I've read, it actually has a good handle of what video game streaming culture is like. An easy recommendation.

DISCLAIMER: I requested and received this book as an ARC through NetGalley.

I have to admit, I am a sucker for a good horror/video game combo. Whether the game is about horror or is part of a haunting urban legend, I love it every time! Grin by D. W. Gillespie is a wonderfully scary horror novel about an arcade cabinet that throws off the entire vibe of the arcade. When Danny gets to his uncle’s arcade, he is ecstatic about getting to nerd out and play video games non-stop for a whole week! But when his uncle gets a new game titled Grin, people start behaving erratically and his uncle starts acting strange. Armed with nothing but an old friend and an urban legend about the old game cabinet, Danny has to figure out a way to return the arcade to a certified nerd-halla.

As you can probably tell, I really loved this book. While I have never been a huge gamer myself (unless clocking over 2,000 hours in The Sims 4 counts), I’ve always loved learning the stories of video games, especially horror games. This book perfectly captures the culture around video games, particularly with its incorporation of modern media like YouTube videos and live streams. While including things like YouTube can be a nice bit of set dressing for contemporary fiction, Gillespie understands that for gamers YouTube is the main hub for gamers to connect and share their love of games, and he incorporates that cultural touchpoint seamlessly into the narrative.

Danny, our lead, is also a really well-rounded and interesting character. He struggles with panic attacks, which is a very interesting character choice for a horror novel. At every scary turn, Danny has to figure out how to be brave and help others without pushing himself too far. Danny is also funny and kind and a great character for the reader to spend time with. This book was a breeze to get through, and part of that is because of how relatable and enjoyable Danny is. I think young people reading this book will see themselves reflected in Danny in many ways and will feel that vicarious thrill that a good horror novel can provide!

The plot and horror elements in this book are also really strong. This book was bloodier than I expected. While much of the blood is 8-bit and there’s no slashing directly depicted, I was still a little surprised at some of the violence in this book. In my opinion, it’s totally appropriate for a middle grade audience, however it could be frightening for some children. That being said, the use of violence and blood in this book is not egregious. Its inclusion effectively communicates the danger of the antagonist and does a wonderful job of increasing the tension and raising the stakes in the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It’s obviously perfect for a horror game lover, but I expect it would also be a hit for kids who enjoy scary stories in general, kids who enjoy adventures and mystery, and even adult horror lovers!

Grin by D. W. Gillespie will be available August of 2025 from Random House Children’s.

This was a fantastic middle grades horror story, with just the right amount of psychological terror, minimal gore, and a mostly happy ending. It really reminded me of the Goosebumps series that I enjoyed as a kid. This will definitely hit the sweet spot for tweens who want a scary story and enjoy video games and arcades. The main character and his team of sidekicks all came together using old and new technology--arcades, a handheld Gameboy, and livestreaming with a gamer on YouTube.

I really liked that the main character was dealing with anxiety but was able to find coping mechanisms and ended up saving the day. I will recommend this book to any tweens and teens who like horror and video games. Highly recommended for libraries!

This was a very creepy read! I would believe that it was intended for adults if the protagonists were older. The character connections between the children, the Uncle and employees, and the influencer are realistic and keep the story interesting. The descriptions of blood are eerie, sinister, and strange, but the imagery makes it clear to the reader what type of game and arcade the characters are navigating.

Danny gets to live his dream of spending a week at PixelWorks, his Uncle Bill’s arcade, but things start going wrong after the arrival of a new game, Grin. Now Danny, his friend Jodi, and streamer Mr Griller must team up to save Bill from the clutches of the evil game.

This is a fun middle grade horror that is able to build some tension and deliver a good horror style ending. Danny is a typical middle school boy and relies on the introduction of video streamer Mr Griller to serve as “the guy in the chair,” doing the extensive research needed to uncover the history of Grin. Keeping in mind the middle school audience, I think Gillespie did a great job overall on making a chilling tale. There are some parts of the story where it dragged a bit and the end seemed a bit rushed, but overall, I had a fun time reading and I think any tween horror fan will as well.