Posts Tagged spooky middle grade books

Author Spotlight: Kalyn Josephson

By on September 4, 2025   /   Author Interviews  
Kalyn Josephson

Kalyn JosephsonIn today’s Author Spotlight, Landra Jennings chats with author Kalyn Josephson about her new middle-grade novel, Ravenguard: A Ravenfall Novel (Random House Children’s Books, September 9), the conclusion to the Ravenfall series. Kalyn will talk about what she likes best about this novel and this series and will give us some hints about what’s coming next!

Book Summary:

Cover of book Ravenguard. Three children approach a lit house at night. A girl with psychic abilities and a boy with mysterious powers must unravel secrets and battle dark forces in order to save their world in the final Ravenfall adventure.

As whispers of winter beckon, Anna Ballinkay and Colin Pierce brace for change. The Ravenfall Inn, a magical nexus between worlds, is bustling with preparations for the Winter Solstice ball, which will bring together a mix of otherworldly guests and festive enchantments.

Amid the festivities, a young boy named Declan arrives and claims his new identity as a Raven, sparking a mission to rebuild the legendary Ravenguard.

While the inn buzzes with excitement, a sinister mystery unfolds: Supernatural beings are found lifeless, drained of their magic. As suspicion mounts, Anna, Colin, and their allies must uncover the cause before Ravenfall is destroyed.

Can the Ravenguard rise in time, or will the magic of Ravenfall be lost forever? Ancient legends stir and loyalties are tested in Kalyn Josephson’s thrilling series conclusion.

 

Interview with Kalyn Josephson

LJ: Welcome to the Mixed-Up Files, Kalyn! Thanks for joining us today. 

KJ: Thank you for having me!

 

Ravenguard: A Ravenfall Novel

LJ: I am a big fan of the Ravenfall series and can’t wait to hear about this concluding novel. What challenges can we expect Anna and Colin and their friends and families to face in this next and final installment?

KJ: In addition to returning to everyone’s favorite inn, this book brings Colin’s and Anna’s journeys full-circle with the return of some threads everyone thought were tied up. RAVENGUARD delves back into Irish mythology, but like all the books in the series, the biggest challenges Anna and Colin face are their own doubts.

 

LJ: The characters are so well drawn-out, with so much humor. Who is your favorite character in the series, and why?

KJ: Max! I love how mischievous he is, and his rivalry with the inn is my favorite relationship.

 

LJ: There’s a lot of action in these novels to keep us on the edge of our seats. What was your favorite scene to write in Ravenguard?

KJ: The snowball fight at the beginning. I like how it brings all the characters from the series back together in a fun setting.

 

LJ: Especially for those readers who have followed along on this Ravenfall journey, what do you want readers to take away from this novel and the series as a whole?

 

 

 

 

 

 

KJ: So much of this series is about accepting yourself, which can be hard to do no matter what age you are, but especially during a time when you’re still trying to figure out who that is. It’s something Anna and Colin struggle with throughout, and that I hope readers can identify with and learn from. Embrace the weird!

On Writing

Image of book, pen and coffee

LJ: What do you like best about being a writer?

KJ: Making up magic systems. It’s where each of my books begin, and my favorite part of fantasy.

 

LJ: What advice would you give to writers just starting out?

KJ: Find other writers at the same stage you are. Writing can be so solitary, and having friends who understand the process can make all the difference.

 

What’s Coming Next?

LJ: Is there anything else you would like to share?

KJ: My next middle-grade series kicks off with THE GRIMLORE GAME, out Fall 2026. I like to pitch it as “What if Wednesday Addams and Eeyore had to team up to win the Inheritance Games?” It’s perfect for fans of puzzles, riddles, and hijinks!

 

Lightning Round Questions:

No MUF interview would be complete without our lightning round, so here we go…

Coffee or tea?

cup of teaTea!!!

Sunrise or sunset?

Sunset.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

The ability to fall asleep the moment I get into bed.

Favorite city (other than the one you live in)?

Donegal, Ireland.

Favorite ice cream flavor?

Cookies and cream, though I will accept all ice cream.

Favorite book from childhood?

Dealing with Dragons coverDealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks so much for sharing with us, Kalyn!

 

About the Author

Kalyn Josephson is a NYT Bestselling author, sometimes-baker, and full-time consumer of too much tea. She lives on the California coast with two tiny black cats in a house in constant need of repair. She is the author of the Ravenfall series, The Storm Crow duology, and the This Dark Descent duology.

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10 Reasons I Love Middle Grade Spooky Books

By on September 8, 2023   /   Articles, Book Lists, Fiction  

We’re heading into the spooky season, but I’m a member of a group of writers, Spooky Middle Grade, that promotes the fact that spooky books are favorites year-round. We’re not the only ones who think that. Years ago I was listening to a panel of school librarians. When they were asked what genre of children’s books are asked for the most, they all agreed it was horror. Horror and spooky go hand-in-hand for middle-grade. I like to think of horror as the being on the scarier side of the spectrum with spooky lighter, but some people use them synonymously. So, here are 10 reasons why I love reading (and writing) middle-grade spooky books.

Bookcover of middle-grade novel Don't Want To Be Your Monster by Deke MoultonMG Spooky books can be funny

Laughter and scares are two sides of the same coin, and spooky middle-grade books shows that wonderfully. One of my favorites is THE TOTAL ECLIPSE OF NESTOR LOPEZ by Adrianna Cuevas. This award-winning novel is as hilarious as it is spooky. I’m also excited to read DON’T WANT TO BE YOUR MONSTER by Deke Moulton. Called “humorous and delightfully spooky”, MONSTER was just released a couple months ago.

MG Spooky books can be mysteries or adventures

Many spooky middle-grade books are also mysteries, liked Fleur Bradley’s MIDNIGHT AT THE BARCLAY HOTEL, and Marina Cohen’s THE INN BETWEEN. And Janet Fox’s THE ARTIFACT HUNTERS and Sarah Cannon’s TWIST are both spooky and adventures.

Bookcover of middle-grade novel The Nighthouse Keeper by Lora SenfMG Spooky books can deal with tough topics

Young readers are just learning how to deal with tough topics, like grief and depression, and many spooky middle grade books can be guides. Some of my favorites are Kim Ventrella’s SKELETON TREE, Ally Malinenko’s THIS APPEARING HOUSE, THE NIGHTMARE HOUSE by Sarah Allen, and Lora Senf’s THE CLACKITY. Bonus, Lora has a sequel, THE NIGHTHOUSE KEEPER, coming out on Oct. 17.

MG Spooky books have a spectrum of scary

I’ll admit it: I, a grown woman, found HIDE AND SEEKER by Daka Hermon pretty scary. (Of course, I was listening to the audiobook while alone painting a closed powder room with only a flashlight, so that could have contributed.) But I can’t wait to read Daka’s latest, NIGHTMARE KING, which came out on Tuesday. Lindsay Currie’s latest MG horror, IT FOUND US, looks like it’s going to be higher on the scary chart too, judging by the cover. But there are spooky titles that are lighter, like S.A. Larsen’s MOTLEY EDUCATION series, A TOUCH OF RUCKUS by Ash Van Otterloo, and NIGHT OF THE LIVING CUDDLE BUNNIES by Jonathan Rosen.

Bookcover of middle-grade novel Mari and the Curse of El Cocodrilo by Adrianna CuevasMG Spooky books can show us different cultures

I mentioned Adrianna Cuevas above, but her books deserve to be in this category as well. Her newest, MARI AND THE CURSE OF EL COCODRILO, weaves Cuban culture and myth into an adventure about breaking a curse and comes out on Oct. 3. One of my favorite spooky books from the past few years is JOSEPHINE AGAINST THE SEA by Shakirah Bourne. In this book, mythology from the Caribbean is written into a story about a mischievous girl in real-world Barbados.

MG Spooky books can be graphic novels

If you haven’t checked out the spooky fun in Ira Marcks’ SHARK SUMMER or Reina Telgemeier’s GHOSTS, you must! Not only are the stories great, but the artwork is fantastic and heightens the spookiness, but in a fun way. You should also read the WARREN THE 13TH series written by Tania Del Rio and illustrated by Will Staehle. They’re not graphic novels, but highly illustrated.

Bookcover of the middle-grade novel The Afterlife of the Party by Darcy MarksMG Spooky books make great series

Middle-grade readers love a good series, especially ones that also have fun scary worlds. There’s a reason why there are like a thousand Goosebumps books. But I also love the FRIGHT WATCH series by Lorien Lawrence, THE BOOKS OF ELSEWHERE by Jacqueline West, and Darcy Marks’ series of GROUNDED FOR ALL ETERNITY and the newer THE AFTERLIFE OF THE PARTY. A newer series I’m excited about comes from Rob Renzetti: The first book, THE HORRIBLE BAG OF TERRIBLE THINGS, came out this year and THE TWISTED TOWER OF ENDLESS TORMENT is due in 2024.

MG Spooky books help children build their bravery

Teachers, librarians and students often ask me why spooky middle-grade books are important, and I always tell them the same answer: Spooky MG books help children build their bravery in a safe place. Our real world can be very scary to kids. There are strange noises, zooming cars, tense conversations they don’t understand, dark closets and corners. Kids deal with these and more every day. When kids read books that scare them, however, if they get to a part that’s too scary, they can snap the book closed and walk away until they’re reading to face that fear again. And they will get ready quickly, because they’ll want to see how the story ends. Spooky middle-grade books are places where kids can explore their fears while knowing they’ll always have an exit.

MG Spooky books are great teaching tools

Spooky books encompass so many different types of story-telling, while also giving young readers really fun stories that they love. This makes them great teaching tools for plot, suspense techniques, and even language. My book THE BOY, THE BOAT, AND THE BEAST uses a lot of figurative language and I know teachers who use the book in their classrooms. To help, I developed some creative writing lesson examples from the book and they’re downloadable for free on my website.

MG Spooky books are written and read by awesome people

Yep, I’ve met some of the most wonderful people since my THE BOY, THE BOAT, AND THE BEAST came out. They like to write stories that give our readers goosebumps, but they also like to make readers laugh, be brave and feel. I’m honored to be among them.

What’s your favorite spooky middle-grade book?

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TALES TO KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT ~ An Interview With Author Dan Poblocki

By on August 18, 2022   /   Author Interviews  

Welcome to my interview with Author Dan Poblocki and his latest release *cue booming voice* TALES TO KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT. This book has it all – an endearing main character, a creepy attic, and a suspense-filled world made up of multiple tales!

**Make sure you scroll to the end of this interview to enter for your chance to win your very own copy of this book!

THE BOOK

TALES TO KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT by DAN POBLOCKI

Publisher: Penguin Random House

Release Date: August 16, 2022

Amelia is cleaning out her grandmother’s attic when she stumbles across a book: Tales to Keep You Up at Night. But when she goes to the library to return it, she’s told that the book never belonged there. Curious, she starts to read the stories: tales of strange incidents in nearby towns, journal entries chronicling endless, twisting pumpkin vines, birthday parties gone awry, and cursed tarot decks. At the center of the stories lies a family of witches. And witches, she’s told, can look like anyone. As elements from the stories begin to come to life around her, and their eerie connections become clear, Amelia begins to realize that she may be in a spooky story of her own.


TALES TO KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT is the perfect next–read for fans of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark!. An excellent addition to Halloween round ups, middle grade readers will be glued to the pages, up way past their bedtimes, reading with flashlights, as they explore each of these interconnected stories. With frightening artwork at the start of each chapter, this book keeps readers engaged and terrified from beginning to end.

THE INTERVIEW🎙️

Hello Dan! It’s wonderful to have you join us. I am a huge fan of spooky books, so when I saw this book I knew I just had to chat with you about it. How about we start with – Can you describe Tales To Keep You Up At Night in five words?

Five words? I’ll try. How about these: Amelia’s tales comes to life!

Haha! It sure does.

Share a few insights into the story world you’ve created for your main character Amelia.

Amelia’s world is very much based on my own childhood growing up in the northeastern US. There was a time when my friends and I would ride bikes around our neighborhoods after school, occasionally pausing to relay some kind of legend to one another about some particular place we’d stumbled upon. Ravines. Deep forests. Strangers in grumbling cars. Spooky old houses. All of these elements felt like classic elements of scary tales, so I used them to fill Amelia’s world and set the stage.

Ooh . . . I think we might have lived in similar neighborhoods.

Tales To Keep You Up At Night is like a story – well, more like a bunch of stories – within the main story. How did keep all the details that weave the inner stories to the main story straight?

I use writing software called Scrivener, which allows me to sort each chapter into its own file. While I was writing one story, the software allowed me to pull up the other stories. This helped me remember what was what. Also, keeping lists and notes of which characters appeared in each tale helped me keep things straight. It was a challenge!

That’s a fantastic writing tool. I’m sure some of our writing readers use it.

Okay, random question: Picture Amelia standing in a grocery store. What three snacky foods will she purchase to eat while she’s reading from the old book in the attic?

Mmm. Snacks and devouring a book go hand in hand. Amelia’s the type who would probably grab a pack of strawberry Twizzlers, some chocolate milk, and maybe some Teddy Grahams or a bunch of grapes. 🥛

STORY CHARM 🌟

Why will middle grade readers relate to Amelia and Tales To Keep You Up At Night?

I hope that the readers will see themselves in Amelia in the way she cares for and worries about her family. This part of her personality is what drives her to do what she does, to fight for them, and to try and survive the scary troubles that arise.

Aw, she definitely will touch the hearts of readers.💚💚💚

What do you hope readers will take with them after reading this tale?

A whole bunch of different ideas. But most important: To look closer. To question what’s presented as the Absolute Truth.

AUTHOR INSIGHT 🔍

What is it about writing stories that moves you to keep writing?

My brain just keeps demanding I put my ideas on the page, and so far, I’ve listened.

Were you a reader as a kid?

I liked reading. But even more, I loved exploring book stores and the library. All the possibilities of the worlds on the shelves made me curious. Early on, what I loved most were comic strips: Calvin and Hobbes, The Far Side, The Family Circus. Anything that gave me a sense of accomplishment. This is kind of why I wanted to write in the short-story format – to appeal to readers (like myself) who might feel intimidated by longer work, but whose attention would be rewarded if they choose to read ALL the stories.

Did you have any favorite books to read when you were a kid?

I loved books by John Bellairs, Mary Downing Hahn, Bruce Coville, Shel Silverstein, and Zilpha Keatley Snyder. Favorites include The House With a Clock in Its Walls, Wait Till Helen Comes, The Monster’s Ring, Where the Sidewalk Ends, and The Headless Cupid. Then, of course, came RL Stine and Christopher Pike and Lois Duncan – whose books were like candy. I ate them right up.

Do you have any advice or suggestions to share with librarians, teachers, and parents of how to encourage a love of reading in their middle grader?

I’m not a librarian, teacher, or parent, but I have a distinct memory of being a middle grader. What I wanted at that time was access to books, all kinds of books, because I never knew what I might find myself in the mood for. Also, I loved when I was allowed to read what I wanted to read. I will say that I’ve gotten much mail from parents and teachers who’ve shared that kids who’ve never wanted to pick up a book before ended up LOVING some of mine. Scary stories can be a gateway for reluctant readers to step into worlds of literature, so maybe, start there!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Author Dan PoblockiDan Poblocki is the co–author with Neil Patrick Harris of the #1 New York Times
bestselling series The Magic Misfits (writing under the pen–name Alec Azam). He’s also the author of The
Stone Child, The Nightmarys, and the Mysterious Four series. His recent books, The Ghost of Graylock
and The Haunting of Gabriel Ashe, were Junior Library Guild selections and made the American Library
Association’s Best Fiction for Young Adults list in 2013 and 2014. Dan lives in Saugerties, New York, with
two scaredy–cats and a growing collection of very creepy toys.


About the illustrator: Marie Bergeron was born and raised in Montreal. After studying cinematography,
she attended École de Design. Her style is inspired by many things, including films and games,
contrasting a more graphic approach with organic strokes. Her clients have included Marvel Studios,
Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Fox Entertainment, and more.

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enter for your chanced to WIN a copy of TALES TO KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT. Giveaway runs through August 24th. Winner will be announced on Twitter (and in the comments below) on August 25th. Good Luck!🍀🍀🍀And if you like spooky books, feel free to check out more HERE and HERE! Thank you for stopping by to support Dan. Your visits are always appreciated.

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