Dread Wood (Dread Wood, #1)

I am back with a new book review! Dread Wood was one of my favorites of the year. If you are ready for a fun read, then you are going to want to read this book! I am looking forward to sharing this one with my boys.

When four students of Dread Wood are given detention, they are not sure they want to tell anyone why they are really there. It is not long before weird things begin to happen, starting with the disappearance of their gym teacher. It is as if the ground swallows him whole - but Angelo is sure that he saw an arm pulling the teacher underground. Naira, Gustov, and Hallie are pretty sure he is telling a tall tale - until they see the groundskeepers acting funny - and feeding chickens to holes in the ground that are opening.

These four misfits are determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, figure out what is going on at their school, and save their gym teacher if possible.

WOW! This was one book that I had a hard time putting down. I had started it and then walked away for a couple of days. When I finally sat down to read some more, I finished the book before I could stop. There was non-stop enjoyment, and it was one of those books that young adults will love. Give the gift of a book that young ones will enjoy, and discover a new adventure!

I don't read a whole lot of middle grade but the synopsis of this one had me intrigued. When I started the book I had planned on taking my time with it and reading it over a few days but once I started it I couldn't stop reading it. I ended up reading this in one sitting and I don't do that very often these days. 

This book starts off with 4 kids going to school for a Saturday detention. Once the gates close behind them weird things start happening immediately. I don't get scared or creeped out when reading books but I have to say what was revealed as the culprit kind of had me creeped out. I don't like these things in real life and they are smaller than I am so I was imagining this happening in real life and ugh it just gives me the chills thinking about it. I don't want to say what it is because I think you should go in not knowing about it like I did because it adds to the creep factor but you can read other reviews for trigger warnings. 

I loved how the kids start off not being friends and each one of them are dealing with realistic problems outside of school and over the course of the book they all open up about their struggles and become friends because of it. I like how this book dealt with poverty, disability (one of which I have never read about in a book before), bullying (whether you mean it or not) and the pressures parents put on you. While it deals with all of these serious issues on top of them fighting for their lives there is also some pretty funny banter between the kids that lightens the mood a little bit.  

Overall, this is a fast-paced book that I loved so much and can't wait for the next book in this series. I will also be checking out other books by this author as well.