nightbooks


MASL Book Trailer Winner

Nightbooks: Sydney B. from Heritage Middle School

About the Author

J.A. White grew up on Staten Island, New York. And he has wanted to become a writer since he was a young boy. In fact, he would lie awake at night staring at the panda wallpaper on his bedroom walls and make up stories for each of them. In his elementary yearbook it actually says that his goal is to become a novelist! He likes to write creepy stories for his readers and his first series, The Thickety, have won many awards. When J.A. White is not writing, he's teaching at a public school in New Jersey. He enjoys reading and playing video games with his family. 

For more information about J.A. White, including what the J.A. stands for, please visit his website!

About the Book

J.A. White introduces Nightbooks here: https://youtu.be/yRl4qMeL3cY

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.

Reviews:

“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


“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

Awards/Nominations:


Lexile: 660L 

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