Bram Stoker Award Breakdown: Middle Grade Horror Guide

For the last decade or so I have reviewed all the books on the YA category for the Bram Stoker Award and you can find my thoughts on the current Preliminary and Final Ballots here:

Ginger Nuts of Horror breaks down the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Middle Grade Novel

A couple of years ago the Horror Writer’s Association (HWA) introduced a new Middle Grade category (for ages roughly 8-12), and for the first time I am providing this category the same critical treatment I give the YA nominations. I have reviewed all ten books and note which five have already moved forward to the Final Ballot, with the winner being announced in June.

Whilst the current YA list was rather lack-lustred the same cannot be said for this eye-catching Middle Grade category, which is top loaded with bangers. The HWA selection committee behind selecting the books have made a fine job of bringing together an impressive range of titles, nine of which I am very happy to have added to my school library collection and recommend to young readers. The only downside was the fact that many of them were very tricky to track down in the UK and the usual lack of non-American nominations which is common in most to most HWA lists.

Sadly, my personal favourite was eliminated at the Preliminary Ballot stage, Anne Ursu’s Not Quite a Ghost (scored 9.5/10) is one of the very best Middle Grade horror novels I have read in quite a while. If the HWA aims for their award to have any kind of preference in wider educational and library circles then this superb read is exactly the sort of book they should be promoting. 

I was also both concerned and disappointed to see Robert P Ottone’s There’s Something Sinister in Center Field appear on the Final Ballot as it is the weakest by some distance. There can be no justification for having such an uninspiring and mediocre novel in the mix for a Bram Stoker Award. I hope those members who intend to vote in this category are aware of this book’s limitations, particularly in comparison to the other excellent titles on the Final Ballot.

Ginger Nuts of Horror breaks down the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Middle Grade Novel

The ten books are reviewed in the order I rated them. 

Anne Ursu – Not Quite a Ghost (9.5/10)

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Walden Pond Press

Not Quite a Ghost is a sublime blend of family drama and ghost story, with the supernatural element lurking uneasily in the background for much of the story. Violet and her family move into a new house and she ends up in the isolated bedroom at the top of the building with the creepy wallpaper and heavy unsettling atmosphere. For much of the story the family and the school drama pre-empts the subtle spooky goings on, as Violet is having friendship problems, has become distant from her elder sister and begins to feel more and more isolated.

This is not a story where the main character is a victim of bullying, it is significantly more subtle than that, and the struggles Violet faces adapting to life in Middle School will be familiar to many readers. The fear of change lurks in the background of the narrative  and after Violet’s health begins to fail, she feels tired all the time, starts missing school and has to spend more time in her suffocating bedroom, where she is certain there is something living in the walls, watching her. 

Even is the supernatural story might lurk too far in the background for some readers, this is a believable tale of a girl with problems, but they are not unsurmountable. It would have been easy to saddle Violet with unpleasant failing to understand parents, instead she has a loving mother and deeply caring stepfather, but it is her distant sister she misses the most.

The bedroom scenes were superbly structured and the descriptions of the yellow fading flower wallpaper mirroring Violet’s struggle with both her physical and mental health. As the story progresses the supernatural narrative ramps up but I was totally engaged with Violet’s friendship struggles at school and with the possibility her best friend might leave her behind. Not Quite a Ghost is blessed with a terrific ending, where a haunted house is not quite a haunted house and adult readers will pick up on the major nods to the classic, The Yellow Wallpaper. A quite simply outstanding piece of Middle Grade fiction which hits every note with perfection.

AGE RANGE 10-13. 

Mary Averling – The Curse of Eelgrass Bog (9/10)

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Razorbill

At first glance The Curse of Eelgrass Bog narrative might seem familiar, two kids trying to survive without their parents, with spooky but very normalised supernatural events throbbing in the background. However, I would suggest reading this Middle Grade novel particularly closely, as it has a fair bit of depth and a really great plot twist connected to the curse which lurks at the centre of the plot.

Genuine Middle Grade readers will undoubtedly be knocked out by the very clever curve ball which is dropped in the final third of the story. Clues are provided here and there; adult readers will definitely figure out something is wrong but will still be surprised by the reveals. This twist takes The Curse of Eelgrass Bog to the next level and also packs a very realistic emotional punch regarding beautifully drawn characters and a subtle LFBTQIA+ storylines which permeates in the background and is relatively rare in Middle Grade stories. 

The story revolves around twelve-year-old Kess Pedrock and her elder brother Ollie who manage her family’s decrepit Unnatural History Museum. Kess is desperate for her parents to return from a scientific trip in Antarctica, is home schooled (but by whom?) and spends her time trying to gather new specimens, megafauna fossils and skeletons, from the local Eelgrass Bog (which really is haunted).

Her best friend is a haunted head called Jim, which lives in a jar, and when she meets new girl in town Lilou Starling things begin to look up. Lilou is looking to have a curse broken which harks back to the time of her grandfather and turns to Kess for help, without realising that Kess has no other friends.

What follows is a terrific supernatural mystery about family secrets (seriously big ones), friendship and an investigation into what lives in and under the bog. As they investigate the mystery and uncover long-buried secrets, Kess begins to realize that the curse might hit closer to home than she’d ever expected, leading to her having to make some very big decisions. This was a beautifully pitched story, brimming with believable characters and a terrific setting in the Drowned World and the beings which live there. Dreamy, whimsical and with a socially awkward character to truly root for. I loved it.

AGE RANGE 9-12

Ginger Nuts of Horror breaks down the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Middle Grade Novel

Rochelle Hassan – Nox Winters and the Midnight Wolf (8/10)

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Collins

Nox Winters and the Midnight Wolf was a first rate fantasy novel, with compelling horror and supernatural elements, which should appeal to fans of Rick Riordan’s huge selling Percy Jackson franchise. The main character is a very believable twelve-year-old boy with anger management issues, who gets into a fight during his first day at his new school. The novel kicks off with Nox Winters arriving at the small town of Evergreen to stay with his twin brother Noah, who has serious health problems.

Evergreen is a popular tourist destination for amateur cryptozoologists hoping to spot its infamous legend, a batlike creature known as the Evergreen Devil. Deeply concerned about his brother, Noah, has been wasting away from an illness that has left medical professionals stumped. The book concerns what truly ails Noah and the lengths his brother will go to protect and save him, against the odds, in what quickly develops into a fast paced page-turning fantasy adventure novel where the brothers discover what truly lives in the encroaching forest.  

Early in the story, when Noah falls into a deep sleep that Nox can’t wake him from, and after seeing a wolf stalking his brother, realises that the answers lie in the surrounding forest and the hidden world which lurks within. Even if the fantasy world Nox visits holds little new, there were a range of very cool creatures, fascinating magical systems and I felt the world of the Keepers of the Forest was very well realised, as the battle lines of ‘Good Versus Evil’ were drawn and the role of the twins becomes more defined. 

The first half of the story shrouds the various family secrets dropped in the second with events spiralling nicely for book two, Nox Winters and the Stygian Serpent, which is out later in 2025. I’ll be back for the ride.

AGE RANGE 10-13

M.R. Fournet – Darkness and Demon Song (Marius Grey book 2) (8/10)

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Feiwel & Friends

Darkness and Demon Song  is a direct sequel to Brick Dust and Bones, which I have already ordered for my school library, combined the books are known as Marius Grey series and I hope the ‘Monster Hunter’ reappears for a third romp. Not many Middle Grade novels are brave enough to tackle the subject of exorcisms, but this outstanding story, seamlessly blending in action and fantasy, completely nails it with its clever interpretation of hell.

Set in the atmospheric areas around Louisiana (including many graveyards) the story has many clever quirks, including the ‘Monster Hunter’ having the ability to jump into graves which can take him to graveyards in other parts of the country. It is also a very powerful family drama with the Monster Hunter realising there is something seriously wrong with his mother, which is pivotal to the story. 

Even if you have not read Brick Dust and Bones book two was easy enough to pick up, with Darkness and Demon Song  continuing the ripple effect of Marius Grey (AKA the Monster Hunter) having to rescue his mother from hell and resurrect her back from the dead. This story is totally brimming with supernatural action, with Marius using a powerful book to trap supernatural beings, acting as a type of Ghostbuster. However, he quickly realises that his mother is not herself and that something is living within her.

With help from a host of cool characters, including a crazy flesh eating mermaid and best friend with powerful magic abilities, the Monster Hunter once again enters into a dangerous battle with what lurks in hell. I loved the magical system in which the Monster Hunter was able to exchange captured creatures for supernatural coins with a part demon. This was a great example of a little kid with a huge amount of spirit going against the odds for someone he loves and it totally worked. Darkness and Demon Song  also had a great sense of humour and Rhiannon the mermaid really made me smile.

AGE RANGE 10+

Ginger Nuts of Horror breaks down the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Middle Grade Novel

Mark Oshiro – Jasmine is Haunted (8/10)

Publisher ‏ : ‎ St Martin’s Press 

The trope of having queer kids banding together to save the day, defend themselves or fight for their beliefs is relatively common in YA fiction but rarely seen in Middle Grade fiction, horror or otherwise. Jasmine is Haunted makes a warm hearted stab at it, without getting drawn into heavier stuff about gender, relationships or having to defend their identities.

When Jasmine Garza arrives at her new middle school she stumbles upon the ‘Gay Straight Alliance’, which has two members (and a teacher), who quickly become her new best friends. Having friends is a new thing for Jasmine, and she is very guarded, as it is difficult to explain to her new friends that she is haunted, without them thinking she is mad. These two new friends are non-binary and gay, with it being great to see this type of representation in Middle Grade fiction.

Mark Oshiro, who has recently co-written fiction with Rick Riordan in the Percy Jackson universe, always has diverse characterisation in his work. This is a gentle introduction to queer characters and it does not dominate a terrific story about a brave girl, who believes she is being haunted by her dead father. 

After ending up in East Hollywood, Jasmine dreams of living a normal life with new friends before the ghost reappears, with another problem being the fact that her mother does not want to talk about the strange presence in the house. The close relationship between the mother and daughter is one of the strengths of the book, followed by the insecurities she has with new friends Bea and Jorge, as she believes they will soon see through her façade. However, when she takes the huge step of confiding in them about the ghost she is amazed to find out they are very enthusiastic amateur ghosthunters.

Both Bea and Jorge were outstanding support characters, who were well drawn in their own right, with their own problems. This is a charming novel which tackles tough subjects such as grief with a warm heart, good humour and a believable group of young characters where being queer is 100% normalised. Hang in there for a terrific ending with the door being left open for Jasmine and friends coming back for a second instalment.

AGE RANGE 10-13   

Eden Royce – The Creepening of Dogwood House 8/10

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Collins 

For anybody who ever thought Middle Grade novels might lack emotional whack then they really need to read The Creepening of Dogwood House to put them on the straight and narrow. This terrific little novel hits home like a steam train, using hoodoo magic to drive a supernatural story rife with family secrets and tragedy. The cover looks particularly juvenile, with the main character Roddie being much more mature than he looks in the picture. The opening is particularly memorable with the broken hearted boy languishing in an orphanage after his mother is killed in a car crash, believing nobody wants him.

His only surviving relative is his Aunt Angie, who he barely knows, and after the death she initially cannot be located, until she appears with her husband Erik to take him to her childhood home of Dogwood House, a dilapidated mansion in South Carolina. I loved the fact that both Angie and Erik were completely warm-hearted and keen to make things as comfortable and normal for Roddie as possible. The mysteries and horrors lie elsewhere in the different dimensions of the beautifully described Dogwood House. 

Many readers, certainly in the UK, will know nothing about hoodoo magic and its place in African American culture and its even older African roots. Upon arrival at Dogwood Aunt Angie is surprised that Roddie knows nothing of the hoodoo custom of hair burning, as it was an important ritual when she and his mother were growing up. This develops into an important part of the story, involving a boogieman style creature connected to the house, family and their hair.

Moving at a slowish pace, we are gently introduced to Roddie, who is struggling to get over the death of his mother and the everyday things she did for him, such as braiding his hair. The supernatural element picks up in the second half when Roddie begins to explore the house and its secrets. In the background the novel indicates that cultural practices, such as hoodoo, were once frowned upon or those who practiced were made to feel ashamed, when instead they were once a part of the Black identity which should instead be embraced.  The Creepening of Dogwood House is a well-balanced story of parent loss, courage, hope, and horror creeping from the pages.

AGE RANGE 9-12

Michaelbrent Collings – The Witch in the Woods (7/10)

The Witch in the Woods is an enjoyable and entertaining story, but it leans much more towards fantasy than horror. In regard to awards I am very much a traditionalist, a horror award needs to feature horror, not books are fantasy or thriller which have passing elements of horror. The story follows the adventures of the almost eleven-year-old twins, Willow and Jake Grimm, in the Grimmworld, where they find out they have magical powers as they are descendants of legendary authors, the Brothers Grimm.

When the twins’ parents (both quirky geniuses) are offered a job at the Think Tank Company based in New Marburg, Idaho, they relocate there, but the kids aren’t happy with the move as they are leaving sunny California behind. Even before their arrival odd things happen and their new town is even stranger, featuring flying cars, and other wacky inventions they haven’t seen before such as robots directing traffic, and the elderly duking it out with lightning-swords. This is no ordinary small town. 

As the story moves on the parallels, nods and tongue in cheek similarities to famous fairy tales becomes increasingly obvious, creating a lot of fun, but not much in the way of fear. A freak lightning storm turns the local school into a medieval castle, with characters from school morphing into ancient equivalents (a giant reminds the twins of the scary hall monitor) and they realise they have been transported to another dimension where fairy tales are born and are deadly real. 

Much of the story parallels Hansel and Gretel  (two new friends from school are kidnapped) whom they have to rescue from a witch hiding the encroaching cursed forest. This was a very creative novel, loaded with puzzles, sly humour and two great central characters in Willow and Jake, who complimented each other perfectly with their uniquely different geeky charms. Although the horror was limited The Witch in the Woods was a solid mashup of fantasy and science fiction and well worthy of a sequel the cliffhanging ending indicates is a genuine possibility.

AGE RANGE 9/10+ 

Adrianna Cuevas – The No-Brainer’s Guide to Decomposition (6/10)

Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins

The No-Brainer’s Guide to Decomposition is both amusing and frustrating as a kid with ADHD  and a very unique home situation befriends a zombie.  Frani Gonzalez lives at the Central Texas Forensic Anthropology Research Facility, where her scientist father works, studying dead bodies and how they react with other materials. As the little girl runs wild she is totally comfortable with guts, bugs, and bodies being buried behind their home. That is until one of them reanimates and makes a grab for her leg. I found the opening of this book rather choppy and disjointed, although it does slow down once the plot settles.

The presentation of ADHD (although not named apart from a brief mention) was one of the highlights, Frani imagines she has a spider in her brain called Arañita which distracts and interrupts her thoughts. This neat personification of her distracted thoughts adds layers to Frani’s character, making her both relatable and endearing as young kids are bound to pick up on her problems.

it relishes in gore and pushes the yuck factor, this is more comedy horror than all-out scary and has a nice balance.

The book concerns Frani’s journey of self-discovery, the development of a new friendship with Benji and the zombie boy Mateo, are smoothly woven into the supernatural elements of the plot, adding richness to the story. The unexpected emergence of zombies and the ensuing mystery are the main driving force of the story, although I felt it needed something more. Frani’s bravery, determination, and quirky charm make her a memorable and inspiring character.

The number of stories featuring zombies at Middle Grade level has been slowly increasing and this tale of friendship and self-discovery should hold the attention of younger readers looking for the gross factor but also featuring serious elements involving discovering the true identity of the BIPOC zombie boy and the personal struggles of Frani who has to cope both with ADHD and low self-esteem issues. Ultimately though the book has a positive message, showing that a disability does not need to hold you back.

AGE RANGE 9-12

Ginger Nuts of Horror breaks down the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Middle Grade Novel

Hanna Alkaf – Tales from Cabin 23: Night of the Living Head (6/10)

Night of the Living Head is the second book in the Tales from Cabin 23 series, with The Boo Hag Flex (Justine Ireland) being the first and the third, The Visitors (Yamile Saied Méndez) dropping later in 2025. These are standalone stories set around Camp Apple Hill Farm, where unlucky summer campers discover a mysterious cabin (23) in the encroaching forest where an old woman lives in and then tells a story which takes up most of the book and has little else to do with the camp.

The witch who lives in the cabin survives on the fear she creates in the stories she spins, and although this format has been used many times previously, almost like a camping story being told around the fire, it will be fresher to younger readers. Most of the story told by the witch is set in Malaysia, and is steeped in that country’s supernatural culture, and also features a being I had never previously come across, a Penanggalan.

The narrative (and the main story within a story) feature two girls of Malaysian heritage. Malur, who has been sent to Camp Apple Hill for the summer, is struggling with homesickness and feeling like an outcast because she’s both Muslim and foreign. The story the witch tells is about Alia, a girl whose family move her to a small village from Kuala Lumpur and is repeatedly unlucky.

After many years away her older sister returns home, but Alia suspects her sister isn’t what she seems, especially when there is a monster flying around their village, terrifying the locals. Alia quickly finds herself in the role of investigating the monster and her sister as things spiral out of control in what develops nicely into a creepy standalone story which would have worked perfectly well independent from the Camp 23 franchise. Even though Night of the Living Head might be rather slow for some readers, there are plenty of chills and great representation from Malaysia.

AGE RANGE 9-12

Robert P Ottone – There’s Something Sinister in Center Field (2/10)

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cemetery Gates Media

At less than 100-pages, novellas rarely make any impact in the book world for children, and there is little in There’s Something Sinister in Center Field to indicate this lack lustred story will be any different. That is unless you like baseball, the majority of the story is built around a baseball match between a group of kids and a team of ghosts.

There is little else going on, beyond developing friendships or the budding of early romances, except the baseball match, which is just not enough to carry this flimsy story. Non-baseball fans will get bored quickly and I doubt the bland conversational style of writing has enough whack to get any genuine baseball fans excited, who would rather be playing the sport than reading about this ghostly and incredibly predictable encounter.    

Set in the end of the nineties, Casey hangs around with the Owera Valley Kingfishers, a Little League team coached by her single parent dad, the death of her mum is mentioned in the part before the ghost match begins. Casey cannot play in the league, even if she is very good, as at this point in history girls were expected to play softball (this was similar in the UK, girls played rounders whilst boys played cricket). After arriving at their training ground the team realise the space has been double booked and go looking elsewhere, eventually ending up at a disused field which backs onto a cemetery.

Shortly after getting their bats out the ghosts appear and snatch one of the Kingfisher players, refusing to return him back unless they defeat the ghosts in a challenge match. Under the leadership of Casey, who is called to play as they are a player short after the snatch, battle commences and it was pretty obvious how things were going to play out. One paced from start to finish, cheesy without being subtle, zero in the way of depth or character development, I struggled to find anything worthwhile in this bland story.

Ottone previously won the YA Stoker Award for the mediocre The Triangle and I hope lightning does not strike twice as There’s Something Sinister in Center Field winning would take the shine from an otherwise excellent Preliminary Ballot.

AGE RANGE 9-13

Tony Jones

Praise for the YA Horror 400 almanac, written by Tony Jones, and published in 2024:

“The YA Horror 400 is such a good and constructive push for YA horror.” JEREMY DE QUIDT (YA author of The Wrong Train & The Toymaker)

“A must have for anyone looking to help connect younger readers to the best genre in the world. Expertly compiled by Tony Jones” PHIL HICKES (Middle Grade author of the Aveline Jones and Shadowhall Academy series)

“So excited that my books have been featured here. Teachers and librarians – this is the PERFECT resource for you!” LORIEN LAWRENCE (Middle Grade author of The Stitchers series)

“If you’ve ever wished there were an easily accessible almanac of YA horror, I’ve got great news, Tony Jones, who has been reviewing and supporting my work since I first started and is one of my biggest professional cheerleaders has released his YA Horror 400 almanac! I was lucky enough to have had the opportunity to contribute to it, too. What a cool project! Go Tony!” AMY LUKAVICS (YA author of Daughters Unto Devils & The Ravenous)

“I want to alert English teachers and librarians to the most definitive resource I’ve ever seen highlighting the best YA horror novels since 2008. 400 of the best dark fiction for readers 9-15+ . Where do you go for advice yourself to know what to purchase? It’s all here. What do you give a middle-grade reader or teen with a taste for the darker side? This … and let them pick and choose their own! CLIFF McNISH (YA author of Breathe & The Hunting Ground)

“Librarians! Bloggers! Readers! Educators! I am wildly pleased to see The Call on, and between, the covers of THE YA HORROR 400 by Tony Jones. Reviews of brilliant books, author interviews. Scares aplenty.” PEADAR Ó GUILÍN (YA horror/fantasy author of The Call duology)”

“Great news for teen horror fans! The YA Horror 400 is out! A massive horror almanac w/ fab features including fear factor ratings, articles, notes from authors and much more. Absolutely perfect for librarians, teachers and anyone who reads YA horror.” BRYONY PEARCE (YA author of Savage Island & Raising Hell)

“The YA Horror 400 is a fabulous resource for librarians, parents, and fans of horror kidlit.” Lora Senf (Bram Stoker Award winning author of The Blight Harbor series)

“I highly recommend the YA Horror 400: an almanac of 400 teen horror novel reviews published between 2008-2024 by Tony Jones, featuring reviews of the best YA and middle grade horror (including my own novel Channel Fear”. LISA RICHARDSON (YA author of Channel Fear)

“Teachers, librarians, readers… This brand new almanac from horror guru Tony Jones is all you need to navigate your way through YA spookiness, gore and thrills. SJ Wills (YA author of the Bite Risk series)

Ginger Nuts of Horror breaks down the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Middle Grade Novel

Further Reading

For fans of Young Adult (YA) Horror and Middle Grade (MG) Horror, the Young Blood section of book reviews on the Ginger Nuts of Horror website is a treasure trove worth exploring. This curated segment delves into the darker side of youthful literature, offering insights into the chilling narratives that have captivated young readers.

The beauty of YA and MG horror lies in its ability to tackle complex themes such as fear, identity, and resilience, all while maintaining an accessibility that appeals to younger audiences. Readers can expect reviews that highlight not only the spine-tingling plots but also the emotional depth and character development that are essential to these genres.

The Ginger Nuts of Horror Review Website showcases a diverse array of titles, from debut authors to established names, making it easy for fans to discover hidden gems and upcoming releases. The reviews are penned by passionate contributors who share a deep love for horror, ensuring that each piece is both informative and engaging.

By checking out this section, readers can stay ahead of the curve on the latest trends in YA and MG horror, enriching their reading experience and connecting with a community that shares their enthusiasm for all things eerie and unsettling. Whether you seek thrills or thoughtful narratives, Young Blood has something for everyone.

Ginger Nuts of Horror breaks down the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Middle Grade Novel