Book Review: Stage Fright by Wendy Parris

Stage Fright by Wendy Parris is a locked room mystery for middle grade readers. It opens with twelve year old Avery returning to her old neighborhood for two weeks to visit her friends only to realize they've changed and grown up. To prove that she's grown up too, Avery suggests holding a séance at their deserted theater that has a reputation of being haunted. It starts out as all fun and games ... until they get trapped in the building and realize they're not alone.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of Stage Fright by Wendy Parris. The eye-catching cover and compelling synopsis immediately grabbed my attention, and I was thrilled to be approved to read this book ahead of its release. After diving into the story, I’m grateful for the opportunity to experience it early. I received this ARC at no cost in exchange for my honest review, and all opinions shared are entirely my own.

This book brought back a lot of memories from my childhood about how my friends and I would ride our bikes, play kickball and tag, and explore the woods.  It also made me think about all the Point Horror books I read in middle school and how much I loved them.  I can definitely say that this story ranks high with me, and kids who like suspense and horror should enjoy reading it. And, if you know of a reluctant reader who likes to be "scared", this is a book that should be recommended.

Wendy Parris is spot on with her descriptions of how kids act between the ages of 11 and 14. Her portrayal of their thoughts, emotions, and interactions feels authentic and relatable, which honestly surprised me in the best way possible. This realistic depiction adds an extra layer of credibility to the story and makes it even more engaging for readers. And, honestly, the parents reactions at the end were pretty spot on as well. The writing was exceptional, pulling the reader in from the start and not letting up until the very end. The characters, setting, and suspense feel incredibly real. It made me want to keep reading throughout the night without stopping. The only thing that could have made it better, and it was nothing that the author could've done and that was if there was a thunderstorm outside while I was reading Stage Fright. This author is such a fantastic storyteller.

Even though I am an adult and not the intended target audience, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and would happily read more books by Wendy Parris. The engaging plot and suspense kept me turning the pages, proving that this book can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. I will definitely be recommending Stage Fright to teachers and parents so they can decide if it’s a good fit for the kids in their lives. I truly have only positive things to say about Stage Fright by Wendy Parris and gladly give it five out of five stars.

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