STAGE FRIGHT
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​​A new locked room scary story about thirteen-year-old Avery, who plans a séance at a deserted theater to bond with her friends, only to realize they’re locked inside with someone—or something—else. This spine tingling read is perfect for fans of Katherine Arden and Lindsay Currie!
When Avery returns to her hometown after moving away a year earlier, she is hoping to jump back into her friend group as if nothing has changed, but new interests, secret crushes, and changing dynamics get in her way. In an effort to reunite her BFFs—Paige, Tyler, and Jaylen—she suggests they host a séance at an abandoned theater that was the site of a tragedy; what starts as a fun outing soon becomes a fight for survival.​​
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Publisher: Delacorte Press/Random House Children's Books (September 14, 2024)
ISBN: 9780593807996 Middle Grade (8-12)
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Praise for stage fright​​​​​
**A 2025 "Illinois Reads" book for grades 6-8
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A fast-paced, spooky tale exploring adolescent tumult and the uncertainty that comes with change.”
- Kirkus Reviews​
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"Stage Fright is spine-chilling fun!"
- Lindsay Currie, New York Times bestselling author of The Mystery of Locked Rooms​
"Parris breezes through a brief setup and hastens to the creepy goods in this middle grade horror that surely earns its shelf space near the Goosebumps series and the like. Beyond its well-executed tropes, however, this selection also brings some sophistication, dabbling in more mature literary nods to Shakespeare, as Parris cleverly links an ominous skull and a ghost to Avery’s internal tug-of-war, as she questions whether taking chances in life is worth the uncertainty when ultimately everyone’s destiny is . . . grave. Ultimately, our heroine comes to terms with her flaws and discovers that there’s more to her than an “Anxious Avery” rep. Going toe-to-toe with a vengeful spirit may not be the quickest path to personal growth, but it certainly works in this case."
- The Bulletin
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""Fans of truly-freaky ghost stories and darkened theaters, like me, will be drawn into the delicious mysteries of Stage Fright. This one left me breathless and turning pages frantically into the night. Wendy Parris’s latest is a scary treat and deserves a standing ovation!” - Dan Poblocki, #1 New York Times bestselling author of More Tales to Keep You Up at Night“
“A spooky read full of authentic friendships—the good parts and the hard parts.”
— Lora Senf, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Clackity
"Stage Fright is the book for your MG reader who loves a good scary locked room story!”
— Fleur Bradley, award-winning author of Daybreak on Raven Island and Midnight at the Barclay Hotel
“I couldn’t put it down. Friendship drama that pulls you in, makes you laugh and breaks your heart? Check! Creepy ghost girl in a haunted theatre with odes to Hamlet? Yes please! Just make sure you read this one with the lights on.”
— Lorien Lawrence, author of the Fright Watch series
“Parris creates a haunting tale of ghosts, fractured friends, and malevolent evil that lingers long after the the final page.”
— Matt McMann, author of the Monsterious series
“It’s a long night in a haunted theater, and the spotlight is on terror!”
— D.W. Gillespie, author of Give Me Something Good to Eat