Nightbooks: A Spellbinding Award-Winning Horror Fantasy about a Boy Who Must Tell Scary Stories to Survive for Children (Ages 8-12)

This book is about a kid named Alex who finds himself trapped in an apartment by a witch who holds him captive. He is held captive and allowed to live but only if he writes horror stories and then reads them to her. Along the way he manages to befriend the other captive girl in the apartment and together they make a plan to escape. The overall message of the book is that it’s ok to be different and that what we really need to do is embrace and accept ourselves regardless of what others think about us. I purchased this book to read to two of my sons who are ages eight and ten. Something I enjoy doing with them is reading a book to them and we discuss it together and immerse ourselves in the story we are reading. This particular book is geared towards 8-12 year old and as a parent I had no concerns about the “horror” elements inside of this book. There are absolutely no inappropriate words or innuendo and I appreciated that. The stories told inside of the book by Alex were spooky in nature but not overboard in my opinion. Not only were my kids absolutely captivated by this story, so much so that we have spent entire afternoons just reading the book, but I found myself equally captivated. The writing is spectacular and my kids and I loved it!

Alex loves scary stories, scary books, & scary movies a little more than the average kid his age. Alex doesn’t only love scary stories, but he also writes scary stories in, what he calls, his Nightbooks. When Alex realizes that these Nightbooks aren’t normal for people his age he decides that he has to get rid of them. He waits until the dead of the night and sneaks out of his apartment, headed for the boiler in the basement of his apartment building. On his way down to the basement the elevator is stopped on the 4th floor, but it seems no one is there. Before the elevator door closes Alex hears his favorite scary movie at the end of the hall and decides to go see what apartment it’s coming from. He walks up to the door and knocks, the door opens and Alex walks in and closes the door. Alex then finds himself trapped in this apartment with his Nightbooks & a women who resembles a Witch, and we find ourselves wondering if Alex will ever be able to leave the apartment? I can’t remember the last time read a book like this, but I am so glad I picked this one up. This book is part of the Books A Million February Book Club and I understand why! J.A. White did a great job of building anticipation throughout the novel and throwing in major twist, making the ending perfect!

Bought this book for my sixth grade classroom, and students are really enjoying it! Just the right amount of scary for middle grade.

This book is full of mystery, suspense, and imagination. Perfect for teen/pre-teen readers. I thought this was age appropriate content.

Such a great book and a decent Netflix movie.

Had to read when I found out the movie is based on this book, have not watched it yet, my son was worried it would be too scary but also didn't want me to watch it without him. So, I decided I could read the book myself to see if it would be too scary. Thinking we will read the book as a family than watch the movie all together. Definitely checking out more J.A. White books. The book was just the right amount of scary. I loved how it pulls on some old fairy tales.

I watch the film first on Netflix, its so much better reading them! So many good horror stories here, love all of them!

My personal rating is 3 stars, but readers of scary, creepy and gruesome will rate it much higher. The main character of Nightbooks is Alex, lover of monsters, dark magic, and anything terrifying. He records his very creative horror stories in regular black and white composition books until an event pushes him to destroy them. On his way to do just that, he is lured into an apartment in his building and enters a witch’s lair. (Shades of Hansel & Gretel.) Poor Alex is thrust into a prison with not only Witch Natacha, but her loyal feline familiar Lenore, and fellow captive and apparent slave Yasmin. In order to stay alive and soothe the earthquake-like rumblings of the magical dwelling, Alex must tell Natacha a terrible story each night or face dire consequences. (Yes, 1001 Arabian Nights.) Author J. A. White spins short horror stories within the main book that will send chills up the spine of even the most calloused lovers of the genre and I was very interested in how or if Alex and Yasmin would escape and return to their homes and families. Ultimately, the conclusion had few surprises, but I found myself pleased with how the author wrapped it all up. But this book is truly dark and will be disturbing to many. There isn’t a single instance of profanity or the slightest sexual innuendo or action, but librarians and parents should give serious thought to the age group they are purchasing for. It would not surprise me if professional reviews place it squarely with at least the 12 and up crowd as White’s Thickety series was. A 2020-2021 Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee

Un producto muy bueno e inmersivo, aunque la portada decepcionó un poco

Eu achei interessante a história e como eu comprei na Book Friday esse livro saiu de graça. A capa é linda, as páginas são as comuns americana (papel jornal) e sem orelha na capa. Estou ansiosa pra ler.

Read this to my kids (8 and 9 years) and then we watched the movie afterwards. Was a lot of fun. They were very invested in the story. A little spooky but not too scary.

Bought it for the movie, the book was much better of course but the ending was a bit meh

This book is amazing it is totally worth the money. If you like suspense and thrill this is the book for you. If you like the book then you will like the movie