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Laura Parnum @lauraparnum.bsky.social · 1d

'Tis the season for spooky stories! I had a great time talking about why scary stories matter with some of my fellow spooky middle grade authors on the SCBWI blog. Check it out! scbwi.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...

@spookymiddlegrade.bsky.social
#kidlit #spookymiddlegrade #spookymg #SCBWI

The Witching Hour: Why Scary Stories Matter by PJ Gardner

The season of ghosts and ghouls is upon us and people everywhere are excited to be scared out of their socks. Young readers are no exception...

scbwi.blogspot.com

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Firefly Press @fireflypress.bsky.social · 2d

It's perilous.
It's hilarious.
It's queer.
It's #DirkJonesisNOTtheChosenOne
and
It's OUT NOW!!

Available from
fireflypress.co.uk/books/dirk-j...
or GWALES (support a Welsh bookshop): www.gwales.com/bibliographi...
or your local bookshop!

@gatlinperrin.bsky.social @bouncemarketing.bsky.social

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Rob Biddulph @robbiddulph.bsky.social · 4d

They say the Hunter’s Moon, which rises tonight, brings secrets to light... so what better time to reveal the cover of The Last Wolf, the first book in my brand-new series The Moonhaven Chronicles. Out 5 Feb 2026 with Macmillan Kids – available to pre-order now via this link: tinyurl.com/4a6w4jfz 🌕🐺

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Jacqui Sydney 📚 @jacquisydney.bsky.social · 4d

A fabulously spooky short read, perfect for brave souls, The Last Day of October by Phil Hickes, illustrated by @oriolvidal.bsky.social is out 09/10 from @barringtonstoke.bsky.social 👻

#KidlitUK #UKKidlit

worldssmallestlibrary.wordpress.com/2025/10/06/t...

The Last Day of October by Phil Hickes, illustrated by Oriol Vidal

worldssmallestlibrary.wordpress.com

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The Author Village @theauthorvillage.bsky.social · 11d

We're celebrating a book birthday!

Congrats to @ellenoh.bsky.social on the release of her middle grade novel, THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR. If you know young readers (primarily grades 4-6/ages 9-12) who like scary books, then they're going to love this one.

Happy publication day! Welcome to the world!

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@MaryLanniReads @marylannireads.bsky.social · 11d

Today's featured #bookreview is a slightly spooky middle grade novel by @lauraparnum.bsky.social, just in time for the season! Find out if it might be a good fit for you or for someone you know:

youtu.be/cEkOQxKPGFc?...

#middlegrade #slightlyspooky

Book Review: The Haunting of Bellington Cottage

YouTube video by @MaryLanniReads

youtu.be

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Walker Books @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social · 15d

Ready or not, here it comes...

Happy publication day to Fear Files: Hide and Seek by @christopheredge.bsky.social! Get ready to experience a new level of fear.

Terrifying illustrations by Mathias Ball.

www.walker.co.uk/978152952737...

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Mary Averling @maryaverling.bsky.social · 16d

autumn is here! time for ghosts and ghouls! and your semi-regular reminder that I have two creepy, magical little middle grade books perfect for when there's a fresh chill in the air <3

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MrsYeppez @mrsyeppez.bsky.social · 18d

1/2 loved, Loved, LOVED the 3rd (and final?) book in the Horrible Bag trilogy: The Cursed Cloak of the Wretched Wraith by Rob Renzetti. The entire series twists your mind and book 3 is no different, except for the ending.

The cover of The Cursed Cloak of the Wretched Wraith has an outline of a dark cloak with the title inside in yellow font. Surrounding the cloak is a red and black vortex.

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Jeremy Dauber @jeremydauber.bsky.social · 22d

Really over the moon about this lovely review from PRESS 1 from @crackingthecover.bsky.social
- "lighthearted and full of twists sure to appeal to a wide selection of readers" and "just plain fun"! Wow!

www.crackingthecover.com/26985/j-a-da...

J. A. Dauber's Press 1 for Invasion is fast-paced MG adventure - www.crackingthecover.com

A kid who just wanted a cell phone ends up being responsible for saving the world from an alien invasion in Press 1 for Invasion, by J. A. Dauber.

www.crackingthecover.com

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Wendy Davis @daydreamerdavis.bsky.social · 21d

This is what I like to think whenever my novels get rejected. It’s a bit like my fashion sense - I’ll keep wearing what feels right for me and maybe eventually it will be on trend 😁

Vicky Weber - Agent, Author, Educator 📚 @vickyweberbooks.bsky.social · 21d

Your book might not sell right now. Not because it’s bad. But because timing, trend, and list-building matter more than most authors realize. Don’t bury your belief in your story just because the market isn’t ready yet.

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Wendy Davis @daydreamerdavis.bsky.social · 22d

Please keep the book reviews coming! There are plenty of ‘dinosaurs’ like me who aren’t on Tik Tok and have no interest in it!

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Jacqui Sydney 📚 @jacquisydney.bsky.social · 22d

The perfect choice for 11+ readers in need of a short read for Spooky Season, The Night House Files: The Wintermoor Lights by @dansmithauthor.bsky.social, illustrated by Luke Brookes, is out now from @barringtonstoke.bsky.social

#KidlitUK

worldssmallestlibrary.wordpress.com/2025/09/18/t...

The Wintermoor Lights (The Night House Files 2) by Dan Smith, illustrated by Luke Brookes

Cover illustration © Luke Brookes Spooky season is fast approaching once again and for those tricky tween readers, this new title from Dan Smith, author of the hugely popular middle grade Crooked O…

worldssmallestlibrary.wordpress.com

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Metamorphosis Literary Agency @metamorphlitag.bsky.social · 24d

A magical Bat Mitzvah gift gets out of control and thrusts a girl into a supernatural quest with the fate of the world at stake in this “refreshing, fast-paced” (School Library Journal) middle grade adventure that’s perfect for fans of Aru Shah.

www.simonandschuster.com/books/Naomi-...

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Jen @popgoesthereader.bsky.social · 28d

☠️ 85 Scary (and Not-So-Scary) 2025 Young Adult Books To Get Readers In The Halloween Spirit ☠️
popgoesthereader.com/85-scary-and... #BookSky #KidLit #YALit

A compilation of twenty-one 2025 young adult book covers organized by colour, beginning with blue, transitioning into red and pink, and finally ending with green. Books featured include Moonsick, Out of Air, Keep Your Friends Close, Deadstream, And The River Drags Her Down, Bad Creek, Hollow, These Bodies Ain't Broken, We Won't All Survive, Let's Split Up, Showstopper, The Devil's In The Dancers, Final Cut, The Protégée, Honeysuckle and Bone, The Devouring Light, Predatory Natures, They Bloom At Night, The Dead of Summer and You've Awoken Her.

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E.L. Norry @elnorrywriter.bsky.social · 29d

Publication day for this spooky beauty! 😱👻🤴👑

Delighted to be included in this anthology with ten other brilliant authors from @kidsbloomsbury.bsky.social and illustrated by Pam Smy. #childrensbooks

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Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · Sep 11

It's my publication day! Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Causing Chaos is out NOW. If you pop to your local indie you might just find a signed edition. And if you're quick? A free gift...

Want a personalised edition? Go here! www.papercatbookshop.co.uk/products/lok... @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social

Pre-Order Signed & Dedicated: Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Causing Chaos

Publishes 4th September 2025 - This purchase can be signed and dedicated to a child of your choice. PLEASE NOTE: Louie is coming to The Paper Cat to sign and dedicate your orders after publication - ...

www.papercatbookshop.co.uk

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Darren Simpson @darrensimpson44.bsky.social · Sep 11

[1] It's publication day. #THIRST is officially out! 🎉
I'm particularly proud of this book. THIRST is my first foray into folklore and horror, and it was just as fascinating to research as it was fun to write.
Responses so far have been wonderful. I won't deny that ->

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Jen @popgoesthereader.bsky.social · Sep 10

🎃 55 Scary (and Not-So-Scary) 2025 Middle Grade Books To Get Readers In The Halloween Spirit 🎃
popgoesthereader.com/55-scary-and...
#BookSky #KidLit #MGLit

A compilation of twenty-one 2025 middle grade book covers organized by colour, beginning with green, transitioning into blue and purple, and finally ending with pink and red. Books featured include Scaring and Daring, Another, Open Wide, Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave, The House Next Door, The Many Hauntings of the Manning Family, Broken Dolls, The Better To Eat You With, The Mystery At The Haunted Dance Hall, Phantom Academy, The Girl In The Walls, The Ghosts of Bitterfly Bay, The Labyrinth of Souls, Finder's Keepers, Welcome To The Ghost Show, Grin, I.R.L, Ride or Die, Gloam, Tales From Cabin 23: The Visitors and It's Watching.

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Wendy Davis @daydreamerdavis.bsky.social · Sep 10

Good to hear! ⬇️

Children's Bookshelf @pwkidsbookshelf.bsky.social · Sep 9

Publishers and agents are seeing an increase in spooky—not scary—tales for middle grade readers

Spooky Middle Grade Still Sells

With editors looking for shorter, more plot-driven middle grade projects these days, agents have seen an uptick in the horror genre for younger readers.

buff.ly

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Jeff C. Carter @carterwroteit.bsky.social · Sep 5

EPISODE 147 – MYSTERY JAMES DIGS HER OWN GRAVE – Middle Grade Horror with Ally Russell

We chat with Ally Russell about Middle Grade Horror, The Hat Man, Cemeteries as Third Spaces, the questionable magic of Val-o-ween, and her new book MYSTERY JAMES DIGS HER OWN GRAVE!

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Wendy Davis @daydreamerdavis.bsky.social · Sep 4

I’m glad I don’t have a basement! 😱

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Jacqui Sydney 📚 @jacquisydney.bsky.social · Sep 2

Mallory and Maggoty are back in The Beast From Beneath by Martin Howard, illustrated by Pete Williamson. Out 25/09 for 9+ readers, expect big laughs, insults, fancy wigs and a visit from Death himself.

@nosycrow.bsky.social
#KidlitUK #UKKidlit

worldssmallestlibrary.wordpress.com/2025/09/02/m...

Mallory Vayle and Maggoty Skull in The Beast from Beneath (Mallory Vayle 2) by Martin Howard, illustrated by Pete Williamson

Cover artwork by Ray Tierney, 2025 Envy is said to be one of the Seven Deadly Sins, which according to Google are major vices that can lead to further immoral behaviour – something that seems…

worldssmallestlibrary.wordpress.com

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Wendy Davis @daydreamerdavis.bsky.social · Sep 1

💙📚Book Review📚👍

Great to read a middle grade horror by a UK writer who isn’t afraid to fully express children’s fears in all their terrifying glory!

Read my review of ‘Gloam’ by Jack MacKay at: www.amazon.co.uk/review/R1WES...

#WritingCommunity #KidLitUK #Horror @rocktheboatnews.bsky.social

Front cover of ‘Gloam’ by Jack MacKay showing a girl with a backpack at the base of a willow tree. In the centre of the tree is a swirling vortex featuring a small house and a black cat. A skeletal hand with long, thin fingers is clawing the top of the tree, and an amulet with a picture of an eye is dangling from the tree’s branches. The tagline reads, ‘Not all monsters come out at night…’ (Illustrated by Ben Joel Price)

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Stephen Connor @sconnor7.bsky.social · Aug 31

109. Conn of the Dead
Dave Rudden & Ali Al Amine

Irish mythology reawakens as the Abhartach comes to life. Can Conn make the right decisions? Humour, horror and a great representation of an ADHD child.

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