BEST OF 2022: MIDDLE GRADE HORROR AND DARK FICTION

Best of 2022: Middle Grade Horror and Dark Fiction

11/12/2022

Best of 2022: Middle Grade Horror and Dark Fiction

2022 was a terrific year for Young Adult (YA) and Middle Grade fiction (MG), so much so that this year we have two distinct ‘best of’ lists which separate out these two important areas of teen and children’s fiction. YA is traditionally aimed at ages 13+, whilst MG covers ages 9-12. However, this is variable depending on the strength of each individual reader, so make sure you also have a look at the companion YA list which Ginger Nuts recently published.

The books are listed A-Z by author and were all published in 2022. Do contact us if you have something we might like to feature on the site in 2023.

Nate Cernosek – The Hiddenseek

Publisher ‏ : ‎ G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

The Hiddenseek was an entertaining debut pitched as the Goosebumps age group of around eight to ten. It was a quick, relatively short speedy read which should keep kids in mid to top of primary schools busy. It was slightly too young for secondary schools but could still be useful as an easy read or for children who struggle with long books. The scares were relatively mild, so it is a very safe book to put in the hands of kids who like spooky stories and ghosts. Behind the supernatural goings on is a nice story about the importance of family, friendship, sibling rivalry and memory. The action opens with Holly and Hector Thorn playing a game of hide and seek, Holly is delighted as she does not have many friends, but she does not realise she is being tricked. Her scheming brother has set her up; as whilst she hides, nobody is looking for her and are having a good laugh at her behind her back. However, this innocent game of hide and seek triggers a supernatural event where they are transported to the land of Hiddenseek, where the game really is a matter of life and death.

Hiddenseek was a great creation, with neither of the siblings initially knowing they are both there in separate locations. They quickly find out there is a never-ending game of hide and seek going on in which if they are caught a shape-shifting witch will turn them into stone. Along the way they meet other children (who might be ghosts) and have a weird connection to their own world, in which they do not exist. There were a lot of clever ideas thrown into the plot as the siblings realise they have to team up if they want to get home and solve the mystery in how to do so. In the end they cracked it pretty easily, but it was a nice blend of fantasy, thriller and spooky goings on.

AGE RANGE 8-11

Lindsay Currie - The Girl in White

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sourcebooks Young Readers

Lindsay Currie has the ability to produce pitch-perfect Middle Grade chillers aimed at kids from ten to thirteen. They have thrills, wonderfully believable characters, clever plots and superb pacing which quickly turn her tales into great page-turners. In The Girl in White twelve-year-old Mallory has not quite adapted to life in the small coastal town of Eastport (Massachusetts) which has turned an old ghost story (more of a local legend) into a cottage industry as tourists flock to the town to find out more about ‘Sweet Molly.’ Like all of Currie’s novels friendships play a key role, with Bri, Emmie and eventually Joshua being pulled into a mystery which has Mallory on edge of which she is certain is connected to the Sweet Molly legend.

I loved the fact that Mallory found the commercial element of the Molly myth annoying, which was worsened by the fact that her parents owned a restaurant which really went over the top about the legend. I also thought her parents were great, not all kids have to come from a broken home to create a convincing Middle Grade story. Early in the tale Mallory wakes up with sand on her feet and realises she has been sleepwalking, coupled with weird visions and her seeing a strange old woman she is on edge. And the fact that it is almost Halloween every day in Eastport does not make things easy, however, she soon realises that her neighbour Joshua has been having a similar unsettling experience. What have they got in common? Neither kids are natives of Eastport. What follows is an entertaining supernatural thriller which plays around with the idea of myths, their commercialisation and reconnecting with the past. This was another winner from Lindsay Currie who is fast becoming one of my favourite Middle Grade authors. Now, which other books have I not read from her back catalogue?

AGE RANGE 10-13

Polly Ho-Yen – How I Saved the World in a Week

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster Children's UK

Polly Ho-Yen has fast become one of those authors I always make a point of reading when she brings out a new book and I was surprised when I saw some websites listing this novel as ‘age 8+’ but at 380-pages, very small writing, and complex story I doubt very few eight-year-olds would manage How I Saved the World in a Week and I would raise the reading age to 10/11+. There is also a lack of action to grab younger readers, in actual fact it takes over 200-pages for the novel to move into its second stage, where the infection takes off, which is much too long for younger age groups.

Billy narrates the fascinating story and we quickly realise that his mum is not like any others and he frequently changes schools and accepts her erratic behaviour as normal. Instead of watching television his mum teaches him survival skills such as tying knots and how to use the stars for direction, a theme which is revisited throughout the book. From our interpretation of Billy’s mum, we quickly assume that the former scientist (crucial to the plot) has mental health problems which he does not understand. The mother’s gradual decline dominates a fair bit of the first 200-pages with Billy going to live with his dad whilst she is in hospital, but at the same time a mysterious virus breaks out which turns people grey and causes chaos in the cities and him escaping from the city to the countryside. This was a great book, which took in family, friendship and resilience issues, before edging into horror with the grey zombie like transformation of those with the illness.

AGE RANGE 10/11+

Jennifer Killick – Dread Wood

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Farshore

Jennifer Killick is fast becoming the queen of UK Middle Grade horror with her third terrific read on the bounce. Like in Killick’s previous novel Crater Lake a group of kids aged around 11-12 find themselves isolated and being hunted after picking up a Saturday detention. The setting is their secondary school, which backs into a large forest, the Dread Wood of the title, and after their teacher Mr Canton disappears they realise something dodgy is going on. The only other adults in the local vicinity is the caretaker Mr Latchitt and his wife who repeatedly hum the old nursery rhythm ‘Incy Wincy Spider’ which gives you a good idea of what is in store for the four kids.

Whilst out and about the four kids spy on Mrs Latchitt throwing a live chicken down a well and become suspicious for what has become of the poor bird. The four kids Angelo, Hattie, Gustav were all very believable characters who are all in detention for different reasons, secrets which are revealed over the course of the story. Although this was a horror novel, it also realistically touched upon real issues such as child food poverty and disabilities. The school setting was terrific, with the plot cleverly reversing what should have been a place of safety to one of great danger, shadows and chills. Dread Wood was a terrific fast paced read and would be perfect for both reluctant readers and as a gateway novel to more mature horror fiction.

AGE RANGE 9-12

Lorien Lawrence – Fright Watch 2 – The Collectors

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Amulet Books

Ginger Nuts of Horror previously reviewed The Stitchers (2020) which was the debut novel of Lorien Lawrence and the first book in the excellent Fright Watch series which is perfect for Middle Grade readers. I was delighted to hear that after defeating the ‘Oldies’ in their previous supernatural mystery Quinn and Mike were back up to their old snooping tricks in a brand-new spooky mystery.

When I reviewed the first entry I noted: “The Stitchers main strength are the two main characters and their interactions with each other (and growing attraction) as the plot develops” and the same could be said of this sequel, with the strong central characters and friendship dynamics nicely balanced against a mystery story which slowly edges into the realms of the supernatural when new neighbours move into Goodie Lane. The arrivals own an interior design firm and although they charm some of the kids, Quinn and Mike wonder why Abigail, Eleanor, Jade, Brea, and Cami seem to always be together, dressed completely white. As in its predecessor the duo begins to investigate and get involved in a fun and spooky mystery which had a few chills but was not scary enough to trouble older kids. Parents or teachers could give this book to younger kids and feel reassured that it’s a great story but not have to worry about the appropriateness of the content.

AGE RANGE 9/10-13

Kate Alice Marshall – Brackenbeast (Thirteens book 2)

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Viking Books for Young Readers

Brackenbeast, subtitled The Secrets of Eden Eld is a direct sequel to Thirteens, published in 2020. We reviewed (and loved) Thirteens a couple of years and had this to say: “Thirteens is such an engaging gateway supernatural novel I would happily recommend it to strong readers from the age of ten and up. The story involves a sleepy town which has a dark secret, every thirteen years in Eden Eld three thirteen-year-olds disappear, which is part of an ancient pact going back to the 1850s. This is a eally peculiar place and the way in which the supernatural is integrated into the story is cleverly done, doubling up with a terrifically well-paced plot which is guaranteed to have young readers turning the pages at speed. This novel also has a great villain, kids are going to love the dastardly ‘Mr January’ and the powerful hold he has over the place they call home.”

Brackenbeast continues the fight against the nasty Mr January, with the three young teens this time coming up against the supernatural sister of the evil presence which has haunted their town for more than a century. After the disappearance of a few of the locals the three realise they have been kidnapped by mud drenched creatures who begin to stalk them, once again they have to use their book of magic fairy tales to lead them against the forces of darkness, uncovering wild family secrets and entering other worlds along the way. Brackenbeast was pitched just right for younger readers, with a lovely blend of fantasy, adventures, scares and strong friendship bonds. Terrific gateway horror for younger kids.

AGE RANGE 10-13

Will McIntosh – The Classmate

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Future House Publishing

The Classmate was a terrific little book and I am not ashamed to say I shed a few tears at the end! Thirteen-year-old Ben is selected to take part in a special school program for gifted children and is sent to a remote boarding school. He quickly realises that this is not a normal school as there is an angry spiky and dangerous looking creature in the class who the teachers also treat as a pupil. Bizarrely, all pupils are fed instructions through an earbud, much of which involve how to interact with the creature, who is called Evie. Will it be possible to become friends with Evie? Go to the cinema with her or do other normal stuff? Ben is an anxious boy and he finds himself becoming friends with her, without knowing the much bigger complex picture, which might just involve the end of the world.

This was a cool book about friendship, acceptance, overcoming fears and has some really great sequences along the way. It finishes on a cliff-hanger and I really hope everything goes well for Evie. I totally loved this easy read but wonderfully engaging book which is absolutely perfect for reluctant readers with its effortless blend of genres and the fantastic.

AGE RANGE 9-12.

JP Rose – The Haunting of Tyrese Walker

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Andersen Press

I was greatly impressed by JP Rose’s The Haunting of Tyrese Walker which uses grief, loss and mental health as a convincing basis to build an excellent horror story which could be read by both Middle Grade and YA audiences. It was a compelling read and I sped through it in a few sittings, I also adored the use of the Jamaican folklore, which had me reaching for Google to find out what the supernatural references of ‘Duppy’ and ‘Soucouyant’ meant. The story was also beautifully paced, had a clever way of eliminating adults from the adventure and had three terrific main characters. It was also refreshing to read a novel with a boy as the main character, as these types of books are virtually always dominated by female narratives. Equally so, I enjoyed the fact that the author did not feel the need to throw in a developing romance, as the story really did not need it and the importance was how Tyrese Walker overcame his own personal, painful and complex inner demons which were portrayed incredibly sensitively.

The story opens with Tyrese arriving in Jamaica with his mother to stay with his grandmother and cousin Marvin for the summer. The boy has struggled to recover from the death of his father some months earlier and is overcome with grief with his mother hoping the change of scenery will do some good. However, rom the first night, strange things start happening: impossible visions, blackouts, swarms of insects, and the discovery of a grave hidden deep in the forest… Tyrese can’t explain what’s going on and he’s scared that he’s losing his grip on reality. However, friendship develops with his cousin and a girl called Ellie who is visiting the island with her developer father. This leads to a mystery which takes in Jamaican folklore and the possibility that he is being hunted by a boogieman type character called the ‘Shadow Man’. The supernatural mystery element, which included some great possession scenes and freaky scenes of people with hooves were great, but the portrayal of Tyrese and how he deals with his grief stole the show. The book carefully shows the reader how grief can change you, but that the power of friendship can trump than. This was an outstanding read and is highly recommended.

AGE RANGE 11-14

Lora Senf - The Clackity

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Lora Senf’s entertaining debut The Clackity fits perfectly into the ten to thirteen age group and is a terrific gateway read for kids who do not want to be scared too much just yet. Getting the balance of chills and threat at the correct level in a Middle Grade novel is never easy and Lora Senf does an excellent job in delivering an eerie chiller which doubles up as a page-turner. Settings are also crucial to the success of Middle Grade novels and the location of Blight Harbor is a super cool place. We are repeatedly told that the town is “the seventh-most haunted town in America” and that living with ghosts is routine for most people who inhabit the town. The fact that the supernatural is normalised was presented exceptionally well, helping set the scene nicely for when the main character genuinely comes up against the nasty ghosts she already has experience of how to deal with them. The main character is twelve-year-old Evie Von Rathe who lives with her aunt Desdemona, who is a local paranormal expert and has a ‘help’ page in one of the local newspapers. Although Evie is very independent, her aunt keeps her close and does not want her messing around with the supernatural unsupervised.

Early in the novel Desdemona investigates a disturbance at the abandoned slaughterhouse at the edge of town and curiosity gets the better of Evie and she follows. After an exorcism style ritual goes wrong Desdemona disappears into the supernatural realms and Evie has to fight to get her back. In doing so she must enter a world of ghosts, witches, and monsters to play a game with deadly consequences and rescue her trapped aunt. The Clackity was an entertaining blend of Coraline crossed with Monster House with one of its major strengths being the fact that the location was a slightly ‘off’ version of our own. Evie was brave, a fighter and has a fantastic relationship with her aunt but was also incredibly relatable in the way that she fought against her own anxiety and continued to grieve for the loss of her parents and the uncertainty around their disappearance. Young children will enjoy the almost gothic fairy-tale vibe of The Clackity and the first-person narrative allows readers to empathise with Evie’s tough predicament. Could this be the start of a new series? Surely Blight Harbor is too good a setting not to return to.

AGE RANGE 10+

Angharad Walker – The Ash House

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Chicken House; 1st edition

Billing a debut novel as “Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children meets Lord of the Flies” is an ambitious move and although this quote was slightly misleading I found The Ash House to be an intriguing read. This rather beguiling tale has much to offer readers who show patience for what becomes a very thoughtful and odd piece of fiction. A new boy arrives at Ash House, which is a cross between an orphanage and a boarding school, there are no adults and the kids seem to self-police the premise. The child cannot remember his name, so is given the name Sol and soon finds himself joining the motley gang of children living in the shadows of the secretive and very secluded house. Inquisitive readers will have fun trying to figure out the location which seems to exist outside of time.

It takes a long time for all the pieces to fall into place and as you proceed lots of questions (where was the Headmaster for example?) will spring to mind in a story which has elements of magical realism and an isolated setting which was top heavy with brooding atmosphere. The plot had many memorable scenes, with the children waiting for the telephone to ring (maybe the Headmaster again?) or ‘school’ being pre-recorded lessons! This was a very ambitious and original dark fantasy debut aimed at stronger readers. AGE RANGE 11+

If you missed Tony's round-up of the best in YA Horror books click here to check it out

The Heart and Soul of MG Horror Fiction reviews

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