Nightbooks

by J. A. White

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Alex loves all things spooky and scary, but what happens when he gets trapped in a real-life nightmare? After being lured into a neighboring apartment by a young witch, he teams up with fellow prisoner Yasmin to find a way out of the enchanted home while also writing scary stories to keep the witch (and apartment) entertained. Peppered with Alex’s chilling short stories, this fun tale is the perfect read for "spooky season" (or any season for that matter).

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. 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!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062560100
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	07/24/2018
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	398,184
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

J. A. White is the author of the Thickety series and Nightbooks. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, three sons, and the ghost of their hamster, Ophelia. When he’s not making up stories, he teaches a bunch of kids how to make up stories. He wishes dragons were real because it would be a much cooler way to get to work. You can visit him online at www.jawhitebooks.com.

Editorial Reviews

★ 05/14/2018
In this clever synthesis of One Thousand and One Nights and “Hansel and Gretel,” a boy captured by a witch must tell a different spooky story every night if he wishes to stay alive long enough to escape her clutches. But even though he has notebooks full of nightmare-inspired tales, Alex needs to come up with new material to appease his captor, whose impossibly large apartment is filled with lurking terrors. He finds a reluctant ally in Yasmin, a fellow captive, but even she may not be able to help him outwit the witch and return to the real world. Too bad he’s suffering from writer’s block. White (the Thickety series) skillfully interweaves Alex’s peril with the stories he tells, which possess a juvenile gotcha horror in their own right. (Possessed teddy bears, ghost-filled playgrounds, and vampires who steal reflections all make appearances.) The blend of folk and fairy tale elements works extremely well under the circumstances, and the protagonists share an enjoyable camaraderie as they attempt to thwart their common enemy. Despite the dark premise, the narrative never quite crosses the line into horror, making it a safe bet for younger readers. Agent: Alexandra Machinist, ICM Partners. Ages: 8–12. (July)

Publishers Weekly

A story that is as spine-tingling as it is well written. In these Grimm-infused pages, Mr. White combines folklore, freakiness and fortitude to celebrate the art and enthrallment of storytelling.” — Wall Street Journal

“A spine-tingling dark fantasy about the power of facing down fears and choosing your own fate. White has crafted a chilling fractured fairy tale. Fans of gloomy fare such as Lemony Snicket, Adam Gidwitz, or Neil Gaiman will find an equally twisting and terrifying tale here.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

“In this clever synthesis of One Thousand and One Nights and ‘Hansel and Gretel,’ a boy captured by a witch must tell a different spooky story every night.  The blend of folk and fairy tale elements works extremely well. Despite the dark premise, the narrative never crosses the line into horror, making it a safe bet for younger readers.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“White presents an engrossing and creepy tale that explores the storytelling craft, and addresses perceptions of normalcy. Interwoven tales will thrill middle-grade horror fans. A thrilling tale of magic that is just scary enough.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Nightbooks is another winner from J.A. White. A creepy, thrilling reinvention of Hansel and Gretel that leaves us both frightened for our hero and also impressed by his resourcefulness. J.A. White is a fantastic writer and spins a dark fairy tale that will keep kids up all night.” — Soman Chainani, author of The School for Good and Evil

“Fast-paced, deliciously creepy, and a loving tribute to the power of storytelling, NIGHTBOOKS is sure to delight fans of fairy tales, nail-biting adventures, and things that go bump in the night.” — Claire Legrand, author of The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls  

“The rewards are huge: a thrilling plot, with strong messages of self-acceptance, being who you are, being a good friend, and problem-solving—as well as quite a few short, creepy stories and much discussion of the writer’s craft and how to make storytelling work for you.” — Common Sense Media

“Alex must tell a scary story each night, and these stories provide an extra layer of fun and thrills, while never [becoming] too intense. Nightbooks is sure to please almost any reader, and it might even give them tips on how to craft their own stories along the way.” — BookPage

Praise for THE THICKETY #4: The Last Spell  “White’s fanciful world building is as rich as ever...series fans will surely be satisfied by this empowering final installment.” — Booklist

“This long-anticipated finale to the Thickety fantasy series will provide readers with as much excitement, monsters, evil characters, and constant change as they need to stay glued to the page. Magic, suspense, and close calls-what could be better?” — Kirkus Reviews

Praise for THE THICKETY #3: WELL OF WITCHES: “For fans, this is a sharp, moving, intense dive into a lushly described world that seems to be headed for a good versus evil showdown in a future volume.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Praise for THE THICKETY #2: THE WHISPERING TREES: “With a plot that coils like a tangle of brambles and an ending no less twisty than that of its predecessor, this sequel will keep readers invested in Kara and Taff’s adventures in this dangerous and imaginative world.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“The twisted plot is perfectly matched by the twisted atmosphere. . . . Spine-tingling.” — Booklist (starred review)

“An exceptionally well-written and compelling sequel.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

“This title has all the ingredients—a doughty heroine and her admirable younger brother, an unreliable guide who can’t stay the same age for long, and a heavy “ick” factor-to keep readers glued to it. The unexpected climax and ending guarantee another book to enjoy.” — Kirkus Reviews

“This title will appeal to fans of the first volume in the series, as well as to those who enjoy their fantasy a little on the scary side. This is a good series to suggest to fans of Joseph Delaney’s Last Apprentice series.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

“The nail-biting suspense will keep readers turning the pages late into the night, and in Kara, readers will find a protagonist to root for. Readers who enjoyed the spine-chilling first installment will be eager to get their hands on this sequel.” — School Library Journal

Praise for THE THICKETY: A PATH BEGINS: “The spellbinding story, lashings of suspense and stalwart heroine will draw in fantasy fans and keep them reading until the bitter ending.” — Kirkus Reviews

“White’s debut novel is darkly bewitching. The well-crafted characters operate beautifully within the fantastical world he has created. Readers will devour each twist and turn of the plot, right up to the startling conclusion.” — School Library Journal

“A startling plot twist at the end will have readers urgently waiting for a sequel, and it may lead them right back into the book to see if they missed earlier clues.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

From the Publisher

Praise for THE THICKETY #4: The Last Spell  “White’s fanciful world building is as rich as ever...series fans will surely be satisfied by this empowering final installment.

Booklist

The rewards are huge: a thrilling plot, with strong messages of self-acceptance, being who you are, being a good friend, and problem-solving—as well as quite a few short, creepy stories and much discussion of the writer’s craft and how to make storytelling work for you.

Common Sense Media

A story that is as spine-tingling as it is well written. In these Grimm-infused pages, Mr. White combines folklore, freakiness and fortitude to celebrate the art and enthrallment of storytelling.

Wall Street Journal

Alex must tell a scary story each night, and these stories provide an extra layer of fun and thrills, while never [becoming] too intense. Nightbooks is sure to please almost any reader, and it might even give them tips on how to craft their own stories along the way.

BookPage

Nightbooks is another winner from J.A. White. A creepy, thrilling reinvention of Hansel and Gretel that leaves us both frightened for our hero and also impressed by his resourcefulness. J.A. White is a fantastic writer and spins a dark fairy tale that will keep kids up all night.

Soman Chainani

Fast-paced, deliciously creepy, and a loving tribute to the power of storytelling, NIGHTBOOKS is sure to delight fans of fairy tales, nail-biting adventures, and things that go bump in the night.

Claire Legrand

A story that is as spine-tingling as it is well written. In these Grimm-infused pages, Mr. White combines folklore, freakiness and fortitude to celebrate the art and enthrallment of storytelling.

Wall Street Journal

Praise for THE THICKETY #4: The Last Spell  “White’s fanciful world building is as rich as ever...series fans will surely be satisfied by this empowering final installment.

Booklist

This title will appeal to fans of the first volume in the series, as well as to those who enjoy their fantasy a little on the scary side. This is a good series to suggest to fans of Joseph Delaney’s Last Apprentice series.

Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

The twisted plot is perfectly matched by the twisted atmosphere. . . . Spine-tingling.

Booklist (starred review)

An exceptionally well-written and compelling sequel.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

Praise for THE THICKETY #3: WELL OF WITCHES: “For fans, this is a sharp, moving, intense dive into a lushly described world that seems to be headed for a good versus evil showdown in a future volume.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Praise for THE THICKETY #3: WELL OF WITCHES: “For fans, this is a sharp, moving, intense dive into a lushly described world that seems to be headed for a good versus evil showdown in a future volume.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Praise for THE THICKETY #3: WELL OF WITCHES: “For fans, this is a sharp, moving, intense dive into a lushly described world that seems to be headed for a good versus evil showdown in a future volume.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

An exceptionally well-written and compelling sequel.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)

★ 03/01/2018
Gr 4–6—A spine-tingling dark fantasy about the power of facing down fears and choosing your own fate. Alex loves horror stories, but the night he sets out to destroy his beloved "nightbooks"—notebooks full of his original tales—he finds himself trapped by a witch in an enchanted apartment. Natacha, the capricious witch, requires Alex to tell her one of his horror stories each night, or else. As Alex runs out of stories, he enlists the help of the apartment's other trapped occupants, a cautious girl named Yasmin and the witch's begrudging cat, Lenore, to find a way to escape. White has crafted a chilling fractured fairy tale mash-up of "Hansel and Gretel" and "One Thousand and One Nights." The book is full of horror tropes such as bone keys, disappearing rooms, an unhinged but sympathetic villain, and a child-eating witch. But it's more than just a grisly fairy tale. Alex and Yasmin are never reduced to caricatures, and they react to their imprisonment in believable and nuanced ways. At its heart, it is a coming-of-age story about kindness and friendship and the importance of choosing to use one's own power for the good of others. VERDICT Fans of gloomy fare such as Lemony Snicket's "A Series of Unfortunate Events," Adam Gidwitz's "Grimm" books, or Neil Gaiman's Coraline will find an equally twisting and terrifying tale here. An excellent addition to any middle grade collection.—Bridgid Gallagher-Sauter, The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County

School Library Journal

2018-05-28
Imprisoned by a real-life witch, horror addict Alex's only hope for survival lies in his ability to spin his own nightly tales of terror.Alex Mosher knows that there is something wrong with him. Normal kids don't obsess over creepy things, and they certainly don't keep "nightbooks" full of their own scary stories. In an attempt to lose the label "weirdo," Alex sneaks out of his own apartment in the middle of the night, down the elevator to the basement boiler in order to destroy his work. But when the elevator stops on the fourth floor, Alex is beckoned into a bespelled apartment and trapped by the witch Natacha. Aided by fellow prisoner Yasmin, Alex is given the task of storyteller, reading nightly from his nightbooks for the witch's pleasure. He spends his days exploring the apartment and planning an escape even as he begrudgingly finds that he enjoys having an appreciative audience. When Alex discovers that his stories serve to appease an ancient evil that even Natacha fears, escape becomes even more urgent. White (the Thickety series) presents an engrossing and creepy tale that blends elements of "Hansel and Gretel" and The 1,001 Arabian Nights, explores the storytelling craft, and addresses perceptions of normalcy. Interwoven tales will thrill middle-grade horror fans. Alex is white, and clues indicate that Yasmin is Arab-American, while Natacha is depicted as having dark skin and spiky hair.A thrilling tale of magic that is just scary enough. (Horror. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews