What's in the Walls?

  • Illustrated By: Geneviève Bigué
    Translated by: David Warriner
  • Pages:96
  • Publisher:Orca Book Publishers
  • Themes:Middle grade horror, horror books for kids, middle school horror, scary reads, scary stories
  •  
  • Available:02/11/2025
  • Reading Level:2.9
  • Lexile:540L
Ebook
9781459839885 LICENSE OPTIONS
$10.99
Paperback
9781459839861
$12.95

Scritch, scratch…

One day after floor hockey practice, ten-year-old Zack hears some strange sounds in the school gym. But he's the only one in there. It sounds like scratching...and it's coming from inside the walls. As he investigates, he wonders what could be making the sound. Giant spiders? The ghost of a construction worker buried alive when the school was built? Zack soon discovers that the school custodian has not been doing a good job of keeping the school clean.

The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

“This Goosebumps-like horror story presents the importance of friendships, asking questions, and being curious while also showing the consequences of recklessly ignoring the rules. Bigué’s illustrations perfectly complement the eerie mood and carry over into the reading experience—for instance, when the main characters are trapped in the dark, the pages are black with white text. Middle-grade readers who have read through every Goosebumps they can get their hands on will appreciate this.”

– Booklist

“The slightly silly and dramatic tone pairs well with the abundant and action-packed art for a squirm-inducing, very quick story that will delight readers. By turns creepy and humorous; horror fans will devour this one.”

– Kirkus Reviews
“Offers a variety of stories that would appeal to a range of horror readers…Would make excellent-read aloud in group settings. A nice supplement to libraries with an active 'Goosebumps' collection.”
– School Library Journal (SLJ)
CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens   | 2025  |  Commended