GRIN

Playing video games can be bad for your health—even deadly.

Thirteen-year-old gamer and horror fan Danny Dawson is psyched to be spending the week with his eccentric uncle, who owns a retro arcade. Unlimited snacks, “endless video games, pinball, Skee-Ball, and light guns”: heaven for the self-professed nerd. Danny’s thrilled when he’s invited to help unbox Grin, an incredibly rare game that’s rumored by Danny’s favorite YouTuber, Mr. Griller, to be “so cursed that most people think it’s not even real.” Strange things start happening immediately. Danny hears menacing voices, and, making real the parental refrain that excessive screen time begets bad behavior, the players become violent and aggressive. When Grin begins to control Uncle Bill, Danny and his friend Jodi take action. With the help of Mr. Griller, they deduce that the game’s haunted by the spirit of a serial killer who uses players to escape into the living world. The three devise a dangerous plan to destroy the game, ending the reign of terror once and for all. This high-octane narrative is an excellent choice for readers who are ready for something with real bite. Gillespie references some actual vintage games, including Polybius, which people say “the government built to test out mind control”—a nice touch for avid gamers who know their urban legends. Danny and Jodi are cued white.

High-stakes action and imminent danger will satisfy young horror fans.