Only If You Dare

July 1, 2021
Contemporary creeps. This collection features recognizably realistic kids in a variety of horrific situations. The first entry involves a substitute teacher regaling his class with tales about Them, a supernatural race of vampires feeding on youth. It ends with a shocking twist that sets the stage for the rest of the stories that follow. In "The Perfect Girl," a boy invents a fake girlfriend and discovers the dangers of projection when she arrives at his school. In "Crazy Playz," a 13-year-old employee who looks older than his years is excited to get a summer job but gets more than he bargained for, as he's paid to take on the physical pains of his customers. "One More Piece" uses the figure of the creepy doll to great effect, and "Lumpy, Lumpy" is a picky eater's nightmare. Atmospheric illustrations are scattered throughout, and each tale is just the right length--short but satisfying, with consistently taut suspense that keeps readers turning pages. Ethnic diversity is signaled through names. From the standpoint of reader engagement and enjoyment, this is an excellent offering for young people looking for real scares that don't condescend to them or pander to adult anxieties about what might be "too scary." This book will fly off the shelves. (Fiction. 8-13)

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Starred review from August 1, 2021

Gr 3-8-Allen (Out to Get You: 13 Tales of Weirdness and Woe) has done it again in his second volume of scary stories. This collection of 13 atmospheric scares centers characters (monster and human alike) that are rooted just enough in reality to make an impact. In "The Substitute," a middle school class sits down to a teacher who is strange and refusing to stay on topic, instead talking about "Them"-a race of monsters that don't even have a name or if they did, it's been forgotten. Like the best stories in the genre, there is a twist. Adept at crafting effective horror for youngsters, Allen has cemented himself as the heir-apparent of Alvin Schwartz; this is the new quick pick for patrons who want more after reading all the classic "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark." Put this book into reluctant readers' hands, and they will beg for more. VERDICT This is a must-buy for middle grade collections; a chilling anthology of memorable scares that will leave even the biggest horror buffs sleeping with the light on.-Patrick Tierney, Barrington P.L., RI

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 9, 2021
From creepy dolls to self-aware smartphones, cursed ice cream to prophetic board games, tween protagonists are plagued by speculative terrors beyond their control in Allen’s (Out to Get You) unnerving collection. Thirteen tales of existential dread, everyday nightmares, and disquieting fates offer fare ready to thrill, nauseate, and disturb younger readers. Happy endings are few and far between, as characters—mostly implied white, though casts feature an inclusive range of names—find themselves unable to escape consequences both accidental and deserved, such as in “Lumpy, Lumpy,” in which the protagonist, after refusing to eat a bowl of oatmeal, confronts the increasingly disgusting leftovers every night, or in “My Hand, Right There,” which presents an unwelcome surprise for a boy determined to leave his mark in wet cement. Attempting to assert individuality proves impossible in “One of a Kind,” while a dismissive substitute teacher gets a rude awakening in “The Substitute.” Realistically sketched b&w full-page illustrations by Coleman, augmented by hand-lettering and washes of ink, lend additional ambiance to each well-paced tale. Though horror fans will enjoy this spine-tingling selection, readers with more delicate sensibilities may wish to approach with caution. Ages 8–12. Agent: Rick Margolis, Rising Bear Literary.

August 1, 2021
Grades 4-7 What would you do if your oatmeal came back to haunt you every night? Or if a broken doll followed you to school? What about if your cell phone started to talk to you or if your art started to come to life? How would you feel if everyday objects started to haunt every corner of your mind and chase you through your every waking moment? All of this and more is explored in Only If You Dare, a short-story collection that serves up chills and thrills through clever conceits, finding inspiration in day-to-day routines and things that are otherwise given little attention. These ordinary objects and everyday occurrences become not only disconcerting, but downright terrifying to a variety of characters in this new collection of 13 stories by Allen (Out to Get You, 2019), hauntingly illustrated by Sarah Coleman. This delightfully dark and spine-tingling anthology will keep young readers and horror lovers on the edges of their seats. Perfect for fans of Christian McKay Heidicker Scary Stories for Young Foxes (2019).

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September 1, 2021
Thirteen illustrated short stories range from eerie to totally terrifying. Each tale stands completely alone, but a strong sense of foreboding, unease, and utterly chilling twists runs through the collection. Readers will get a good dose of scary clowns, spiders, and other horror staples, while a few more unusual terrors feature as well: think cursed oatmeal, a sinister summer job, and a cellphone with a little too much personality. Some of the main characters -- all are roughly middle-school-aged -- deserve the terrors that befall them, but others are snatched by specters while simply, for instance, playing a board game at home. There's no relying on logic or fairness in Allen's imaginative world. The writing is crisp and lively, getting right to the point while still building suspense. The frightening concepts and grisly illustrations may put off more timorous readers, but intrepid tweens and teens who enjoy a thrill will be thoroughly sucked in. Sarah Berman

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2021
Thirteen illustrated short stories range from eerie to totally terrifying. Each tale stands completely alone, but a strong sense of foreboding, unease, and utterly chilling twists runs through the collection. Readers will get a good dose of scary clowns, spiders, and other horror staples, while a few more unusual terrors feature as well: think cursed oatmeal, a sinister summer job, and a cellphone with a little too much personality. Some of the main characters -- all are roughly middle school-aged -- deserve the terrors that befall them, but others are snatched by specters while simply, for instance, playing a board game at home. There's no relying on logic or fairness in Allen's imaginative world. The writing is crisp and lively, getting right to the point while still building suspense. The frightening concepts and grisly illustrations may put off more timorous readers, but intrepid tweens and teens who enjoy a thrill will be thoroughly sucked in.

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)