A boy is imprisoned by a witch and must tell her a new scary story each night to stay alive. This thrilling contemporary fantasy from J. A. White, the acclaimed author of the Thickety series, brings to life the magic and craft of storytelling. Alex’s original hair-raising tales are the only thing keeping the witch Natacha happy, but soon he’ll run out of pages to read from and be trapped forever. … from and be trapped forever. He’s loved scary stories his whole life, and he knows most don’t have a happily ever after. Now that Alex is trapped in a true terrifying tale, he’s desperate for a different ending—and a way out of this twisted place.
This modern spin on the Scheherazade story is perfect for fans of Coraline and A Tale Dark and Grimm. With interwoven tips on writing with suspense, adding in plot twists, hooks, interior logic, and dealing with writer’s block, this is the ideal book for budding writers and all readers of delightfully just-dark-enough tales.
* Summer 2018 Kids’ Indie Next List * YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Nomination * 2019-2020 Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award * 2020 Rhode Island Children’s Book Award Nominee * Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year 2019 (9-12) * 2020-2021 Missouri Association of School Librarians Truman Readers Award Preliminary Nominee * Texas Bluebonnet Award List 2020-2021 * South Carolina Junior Book Award Nominee (2021-2022) *
Plus return to the world of Nightbooks—if you dare—with J. A. White’s follow-up, Gravebooks!
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This book is different, but enjoyable. It is a very twisted modern day fairytale. Bring your imagination along when reading! Even though this is intended for kids, I loved it!
Brilliant story and a contemporary twist on 1001 Nights. Highly recommended!
Such a creative story! Not just for kids or middle grade – this story if for anyone who loves fairy tales with a twist.
Fun and creepy!
After being lured into Apartment 4E by his favorite movie, Night of the Living Dead, Alex realizes he’s been tricked and captured by a witch named Natacha, and that the apartment is somehow magical (and evil). Natacha informs Alex that if he wants to live, he must read her one of his scary stories every night. The only other inhabitant, a fellow prisoner named Yazmin, assures Alex there is no way to escape, but he doesn’t believe her. Determined to find a way out, he continues to read the witch a story every night while searching for a way out during the day. But soon, he only has one story left.
What I liked: fabulous storyline! An evil witch, a magical apartment, a ticking time bomb—great setting for suspense! And the stories Alex shares with the witch, and the reader, are creepy and fun. It’s like a cross between Hansel and Gretel and Scheherazade. Great characters, too.
What I didn’t like: not much. It might be a little dark for some younger readers (7 or 8-year-olds) who get scared easily, but if they’re good with Goosebumps, then they should be fine.
Great and fun book.
5 out of 5 stars
I read this book to my son as part of a reading challenge. Oh, we really liked it. It had just enough spook in it, and just enough danger, to be really fun and exciting. He sprinkled in a bit of mystery too, which was fun to sometimes be able to figure out, and sometimes just read along and be happily surprised about when the time came. We’re going to go see what else he’s written. This book makes you want to write, and read more, which is a wonderful thing for a book to do!
Actual Rating 3.5
Very well written middle grade novel that will be very enjoyable for its target audience. Since I’m a bit older, it didn’t quite hit the mark with me, but as a younger reader I would have really enjoyed this book. It was just creepy enough not to give kids nightmares, but also very enjoyable to read. I think the story was well written and I really liked the main character Alex and Yasmin. The alliance and friendship they form while being trapped in magical apartment with a deranged witch was fun to read.
Wow I loved this i read it to my grandson over the weekend we enjoyed it.i couldn’t get over how much a 9 year old would enjoy this. I loved reading it to him. It’s well written and has a great plot to.. It’s one I’m keeping to read to the grandkids