GIVE ME SOMETHING GOOD TO EAT

Mason Miller and his friends take on a dangerous mission to save his little sister—and their town—from the clutches of an evil witch.

Halloween is a celebration like no other in Pearl, North Carolina, with loads of decorations and epic trick-or-treating. But something sinister always happens during this grand tradition, and Mason seems to be the only one who notices. Each year, a child goes missing, never to return, and completely forgotten by everyone in the town. This Halloween, it’s Mason’s 9-year-old sister, Meg, who vanishes. Desperate to find her, seventh grader Mason enlists the help of friends Serge, Becca, and Mari. The kids find themselves in UnderPearl, a dangerous world full of monsters—and a witch who’s eager to drain the life from Meg. Gillespie’s terrifying world is imaginative and spine-tingling. The creepy characters are original, as interesting as they are scary. Mr. Crow, a delightful creature who’s a larger-than-life scarecrow with a flaming jack-o’-lantern head, becomes a surprising, meaningful addition to the story. Though the motivations of some characters and plot points feel flimsy, the richness of UnderPearl’s worldbuilding and the likable characters make this a worthy read for young horror fans. Mason and Becca present white; Serge has dark-brown skin, and Mari is Japanese American.

An immersive, well-imagined world with plenty of spooky bits.