Review by Hooria Bilal
Orca Book Publishers, 2023
167 pages. Paperback. CAN $14.95. 9781459834095.
Middle Grade, Ages 9-12
Horror/Thriller
“Alcock,” Mr. O’Connor said. “He went to this school, you know. Years ago. When I was a kid.”
“Oh,” said Anton.
“He didn’t make any friends. The other kids teased him. I teased him too,” Mr. O’Connor admitted. He stepped farther into the room, letting the door slam behind him and forcing Anton back a few steps. “We didn’t know how hard he would take it,” he continued after a moment of reflection. His eyes got misty.
“Something happened to him?”
“Story goes, he ran away from some of the kids who taunted him. Got locked in the boiler room overnight. Tried to stay warm.”
Mr. O’Connor gave a nod to the metal bulk of the furnace. They were much closer to it now.
“There was a fire. They found what was left of him the next day.”
“He … died?”
When her favourite horror author Joel Southland visits her school, Tanya finds herself at the centre of a nightmarish mystery.
Dive into the twisted corridors of Book of Screams, a novel of chilling, middle-grade short stories written by Jeff Szpirglas with illustrations by Steven Hughes. These tales will certainly leave you questioning the shadows lurking in corners. The main story centres around Tanya, an avid fan of the horror author Joel Southland, who finds herself thrust into a series of eerie events after Southland gifts her an autographed bookmark during a school visit. Following this encounter with her literary idol, the ink from the signed bookmark seems to spring to life, slithering toward her in the dead of night. Despite this, Tanya wakes the next morning with her memory fuzzy, passing it off as nothing but a mere dream. However, stranger occurrences continue to unfold surrounding Southland, and Tanya’s suspicions intensify, leading her to embark on a spooky investigation to unravel his nefarious schemes.
Interwoven with Tanya’s story are nine other short, unsettling tales of middle school students. From ghostly writings on the walls, vampires lurking in sheds, sentient tar devouring students whole, and the presence of suspicious janitors and teachers, the school becomes a chilling backdrop for a series of awakening nightmares.
Szpirglas crafts stories that range from squirmy to downright terrifying, leaving readers in anticipation for what’s to come. The writing excels in building suspense, delivering nerve-wracking scenarios that leave a lasting impact and have you craving more. “The Words on the Wall” is my favourite short story from this book, showcasing the author’s prowess in creating a creepy atmosphere. Along with the adept writing, the haunting artwork by Steven Hughes creates an atmospheric experience that lingers. The disturbing scenarios, from sentient tar to eye-catching horrors, are enhanced by bone-chilling illustrations that add an extra layer of terror.
I appreciate how Book of Screams stands unafraid to explore the darker realms of middle-grade books, reminiscent of series like Haunted Canada. The underlying story surrounding Tanya weaves seamlessly through the standalone short stories, contributing to a creepily satisfying conclusion. Overall, this collection of stories weaves together horrifying experiences, suspense, and clever storytelling that push at the boundaries of traditional middle-grade horror.
Hooria Bilal is an undergraduate at UBC majoring in Biology and minoring in Creative Writing. She enjoys reading middle grade and YA books in her spare time and her favourite genre is fantasy-adventure.
YOUNG ADULTING 