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Creatures & Teachers
Dread Detention
The Breakfast Club meets Stranger Things in this middle grade horror novel for fans of Goosebumps! Detention turns even scarier when a group of classmates discover dangers lurking in their school.
When classmates Hallie, Angelo, Gustav and Naira are forced to come to school on a Saturday, they think things can’t get much worse. But they’re wrong. Things are about to get seriously scary.
What has dragged their teacher underground? Why do the creepy caretakers keep humming the tune to Itsy Bitsy Spider? And what horrors lurk in the shadows, getting stronger and meaner every minute . . .? Cut off from help and in danger each time they touch the ground, the gang’s only hope is to work together. But it’s no coincidence that they're all there on detention. Someone has been watching and plotting and is out for revenge . . .
When classmates Hallie, Angelo, Gustav and Naira are forced to come to school on a Saturday, they think things can’t get much worse. But they’re wrong. Things are about to get seriously scary.
What has dragged their teacher underground? Why do the creepy caretakers keep humming the tune to Itsy Bitsy Spider? And what horrors lurk in the shadows, getting stronger and meaner every minute . . .? Cut off from help and in danger each time they touch the ground, the gang’s only hope is to work together. But it’s no coincidence that they're all there on detention. Someone has been watching and plotting and is out for revenge . . .
208 pages, Hardcover
First published February 13, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
January 17, 2024
Excellent scary book choice for those in grades 4-8. The publisher indicates grade 3 as well, but it is likely that a) the 208 pages is too much, b) violence is too high, and c) vocabulary would be daunting for anyone younger than grade 4. Four 7th grades are assigned to Saturday detention and forced to work and supposedly bond and feel remorse for their misdeeds. Don’t worry, this is NOT a Breakfast Club do-over. Yes, Angelo and fellow students Hallie, Naira, and Gus do begin their punishment period feeling like they are nothing alike and do begin to discover some common ground, but it is after being chased by man-eating spiders the size of large dogs and attempting to root out the ill intents of creepy caretakers employed by an interesting mansion in England with all sorts of interesting spaces to explore. Fast-paced and full of action, this one is sure to be enjoyed a great deal by lovers of Stine (Goosebumps), Stroud (Screaming Staircase) and K.R. Alexander (The Collector, Bury Me, The Darkroom and more). Text is free of profanity and sexual content but is full of all sorts of jump scenes, sinister actions against staff and students, and gruesome crunching by the arachnids. Race is not indicated for any of the main characters and as romance is not a part of the plot, who knows if any of the characters are non-binary?
Thanks for the eARC, NetGalley.
Thanks for the eARC, NetGalley.
September 25, 2024
Quick children's horror book that feels like "Tremors" and "Jurassic Park" (which the kids name check, but it really is 80% "Tremors").
October 24, 2024
It was okay but not very good story line and was hard to get through the whole book. unrealistic and not very interesting.
October 17, 2023
Okay, okay. I know I don't give a lot of five star reviews, but this was so innovative, and will do so well with my students. Is it really perfect? Will it win awards? Probably not, but after reading so many heartfelt, literary books that would just sit on my library shelves, this was a delight!
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Angelo, Naira, Gus, and Hallie are all given a Saturday detention for their part in a food fight. They are met at the gate of their school, which backs up to the Dread Wood in an undetermined part of England, by the groundskeeper, Mr. Larrick, who tells them to go to student services. There, they meet Mr. Canton, who gleefully confiscates there phones, puts them in his fanny pack, and marches the students off for a fun day of exercising, bonding, and feeling remorse for their misbehavior. Right off the bat, there is a horrible, inhuman scream, and the group goes to the animal enclosure to investigate. Unfortunately, Mr. Canton is soon swalloed up by a gaping hole in the ground... and a huge, skulking, creepy creature! Angelo is narrating, and we see how the students, who all have secrets they are trying desperately to hide, investigate in the school to see what is going on. When Mr. Larrick smashes up the insect lab, narrowly missing finding the children hiding there, the group climbs out onto the roof to try to escape Larrick and his wife, whom they have previously seen gleefully throwing a chicken down a well! The pair have also thrown chickens out onto the school's yard, where they are quickly consumed by massive trapdoor spiders. The kids don't have any luck, and the Larricks see them. Feeling that there might be clues to be had in the Larricks house, they take off to investigate. There's a brief interlude while we get some valuable information about the Larricks, and also learn a bit about why the four have been assigned detention. They realize that they all had bad interactions with one student, who is related to the Larricks, who are hiding massive secrets. After they leave the house, Hallie gets sucked up into the well. Will the three remaining kids be able to figure out what is going on with the infestation of giant spiders before people come to pick them up from detention?
Strengths: Wow. Just wow. Think Durst's The Lake House or Stroud's The Screaming Staircase, but with SPIDERS. Giant, violent spiders that shoot hairs covered with an irritant and can spring out of the ground and swallow riding lawn mowers! Evil villains with a fun back story! Kids with secrets who are sorry for their misbehavior! The kids' problems were included just enough to give a bit of breathing room when the spider action got too intense. The coolest school. I wondered a bit at first about a school that was part old mansion and part layers of additions, but this is set in England, so why not? (In the US, we usually turn old mansions into senior living facilities or office buildings.) I was so enthralled with the building, which backs up to the Dread Woods, that I wanted to know more about it. It was a relief at the end to know the building survived.
Weaknesses: I'm not scared of spiders, but it turns out there is only so much stomping and squelching I can take. Might have skimmed over some of the spider fighting in the middle, but my students will relish every crunching carapace.
What I really think: Buying THREE copies. This was spectacularly creepy, and like nothing I've read before. I've read a few books, so that in itself is remarkable. Why aren't there more creepy horror stories with spiders? (Sadly, The Alarming Career of Sir Richard Blackstone hasn't circulated well, and I can't for the life of me remember the name of the book about a giant spider I read during the 48 Hour Books Challenge... ten years ago?) There really are not many, unless I have missed some. And I'm still sad that Dean Carter's 2005 The Hand of the Devil was read to bits. Giant, killer mosquito.)
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Angelo, Naira, Gus, and Hallie are all given a Saturday detention for their part in a food fight. They are met at the gate of their school, which backs up to the Dread Wood in an undetermined part of England, by the groundskeeper, Mr. Larrick, who tells them to go to student services. There, they meet Mr. Canton, who gleefully confiscates there phones, puts them in his fanny pack, and marches the students off for a fun day of exercising, bonding, and feeling remorse for their misbehavior. Right off the bat, there is a horrible, inhuman scream, and the group goes to the animal enclosure to investigate. Unfortunately, Mr. Canton is soon swalloed up by a gaping hole in the ground... and a huge, skulking, creepy creature! Angelo is narrating, and we see how the students, who all have secrets they are trying desperately to hide, investigate in the school to see what is going on. When Mr. Larrick smashes up the insect lab, narrowly missing finding the children hiding there, the group climbs out onto the roof to try to escape Larrick and his wife, whom they have previously seen gleefully throwing a chicken down a well! The pair have also thrown chickens out onto the school's yard, where they are quickly consumed by massive trapdoor spiders. The kids don't have any luck, and the Larricks see them. Feeling that there might be clues to be had in the Larricks house, they take off to investigate. There's a brief interlude while we get some valuable information about the Larricks, and also learn a bit about why the four have been assigned detention. They realize that they all had bad interactions with one student, who is related to the Larricks, who are hiding massive secrets. After they leave the house, Hallie gets sucked up into the well. Will the three remaining kids be able to figure out what is going on with the infestation of giant spiders before people come to pick them up from detention?
Strengths: Wow. Just wow. Think Durst's The Lake House or Stroud's The Screaming Staircase, but with SPIDERS. Giant, violent spiders that shoot hairs covered with an irritant and can spring out of the ground and swallow riding lawn mowers! Evil villains with a fun back story! Kids with secrets who are sorry for their misbehavior! The kids' problems were included just enough to give a bit of breathing room when the spider action got too intense. The coolest school. I wondered a bit at first about a school that was part old mansion and part layers of additions, but this is set in England, so why not? (In the US, we usually turn old mansions into senior living facilities or office buildings.) I was so enthralled with the building, which backs up to the Dread Woods, that I wanted to know more about it. It was a relief at the end to know the building survived.
Weaknesses: I'm not scared of spiders, but it turns out there is only so much stomping and squelching I can take. Might have skimmed over some of the spider fighting in the middle, but my students will relish every crunching carapace.
What I really think: Buying THREE copies. This was spectacularly creepy, and like nothing I've read before. I've read a few books, so that in itself is remarkable. Why aren't there more creepy horror stories with spiders? (Sadly, The Alarming Career of Sir Richard Blackstone hasn't circulated well, and I can't for the life of me remember the name of the book about a giant spider I read during the 48 Hour Books Challenge... ten years ago?) There really are not many, unless I have missed some. And I'm still sad that Dean Carter's 2005 The Hand of the Devil was read to bits. Giant, killer mosquito.)
February 21, 2024
I'm not sure if this is the start of a middle-grade series based on the heading of Creatures & Teachers, but if not, it should be. I'm sure that I won't be the only one who would happily read books featuring those elements. Blending snarky adolescent humor and relationships with downright scary passages featuring spiders--I'm not giving this away since this should be obvious from the book cover--the story opens with four students arriving at Dread Wood Academy for detention. They aren't friends; in fact, they barely know each other. But over the course of a very intense Saturday, they come to know each other very well, learning why they are serving detention, but also, some of their secrets. When Mr. Canton, the teacher in charge of detention, disappears right in front of their eyes, they realize that this is no ordinary detention, and their lives--and the fate of the rest of the community--depend on trusting each other. There's hardly a slow page in this book as something new happens all the time, and the four detainees are in a race for their lives almost constantly. Even though readers don't learn as much as they might have wished about the four students, they learn enough to find them interesting, complex, and worthy. Plus, there's a hopeful message worth taking in about forgiveness and the importance of owning up to one's mistakes.
June 14, 2024
Okay, although I am TERRIFIED of spiders.....I had a blast with this tale of the creepy crawlies!
I had never heard of this author or this book until a couple weeks ago when it came across my Everand audiobooks shelf. I decided that it sounded really fun.....and it was so much fun and such a surprise at the end that I ended up loving it! Now it only took me 4 hours to listen to it, it was so much fun that it actually creeped me out! THEN when I found out that there really are Trapdoor Spiders.....then it creeped me out!
A group of school kids get sent to Saturday detention for doing some mild but mean things to a classmate, and they all have to spend an entire Saturday in detention. Now this is not your regular detention...this is in a school that is rumored to have monsters in it! And, oh, did I tell you that these 'monsters' are SPIDERS!!? This was such a blast....that I can highly recommend this short read/listen to anyone who likes tales of big creepy crawlies and Saturday old sci fi styled movies...this has it all. Can't wait to read another in this Creatures and Teachers series by Killick.
4 (would have been 5 if the language was not so silly when they wanted to say cuss words) Spider Bites!
I had never heard of this author or this book until a couple weeks ago when it came across my Everand audiobooks shelf. I decided that it sounded really fun.....and it was so much fun and such a surprise at the end that I ended up loving it! Now it only took me 4 hours to listen to it, it was so much fun that it actually creeped me out! THEN when I found out that there really are Trapdoor Spiders.....then it creeped me out!
A group of school kids get sent to Saturday detention for doing some mild but mean things to a classmate, and they all have to spend an entire Saturday in detention. Now this is not your regular detention...this is in a school that is rumored to have monsters in it! And, oh, did I tell you that these 'monsters' are SPIDERS!!? This was such a blast....that I can highly recommend this short read/listen to anyone who likes tales of big creepy crawlies and Saturday old sci fi styled movies...this has it all. Can't wait to read another in this Creatures and Teachers series by Killick.
4 (would have been 5 if the language was not so silly when they wanted to say cuss words) Spider Bites!
March 13, 2024
Saturday morning detention at Dread Wood Academy already sucks for Angela, Gus, Hallie, and Naira. They understand why they're there and what they did, but it still isn't going to be a fun time. Things get even worse when Mr. Canton takes their cell phones, leaves them to take care of the pigs and find a missing piglet, and then disappears himself. The mystery slowly unfolds with grisly secrets being hidden on the school grounds as the four tweens try to find Mr. Canton. Things get worse when something and someone is hunting them through the school grounds and the school mansion itself. As the horror-adventure progresses, the four students start to rely on each other, friendships beginning to form, and they start sharing secrets of how they come to be in detention and some of the other bad things they have done. The characters are vivid and the ways they handle the horror moviesque adventure they find themselves in speaks to the characters and grows with them. A page-turning scary novel for those that enjoy spooks, monsters, and strangers in the dark stories.
May 9, 2024
Saturday detention at school. What could be worse?
How about Saturday detention WITH GIANT SPIDERS??
Questions:
1. Is it a spoiler if it's on the cover? If so, sorry.
2. Does anyone actually do Saturday detentions? Have they ever? Or is this just a narrative gimmick we can blame on John Hughes?
3. Will my son ever not be afraid of insects (maybe not relevant but on my mind while reading)?
It's the Breakfast Club, but with less character development (and larger spiders (since Judd Nelson isn't that big)).
This book reads quick and wields a compact narrative - both of which are in its favor. Personally, I did not see the connection between the four detained characters before the reveal, which might be the most interesting thing this book had going for it.
Not bad. Probably couldn't be a better version of this book than it currently is. Weirdly, that's like the highest compliment I think I can give a book in a way - they followed through on what they set out to do and didn't eff it up along the way.
How about Saturday detention WITH GIANT SPIDERS??
Questions:
1. Is it a spoiler if it's on the cover? If so, sorry.
2. Does anyone actually do Saturday detentions? Have they ever? Or is this just a narrative gimmick we can blame on John Hughes?
3. Will my son ever not be afraid of insects (maybe not relevant but on my mind while reading)?
It's the Breakfast Club, but with less character development (and larger spiders (since Judd Nelson isn't that big)).
This book reads quick and wields a compact narrative - both of which are in its favor. Personally, I did not see the connection between the four detained characters before the reveal, which might be the most interesting thing this book had going for it.
Not bad. Probably couldn't be a better version of this book than it currently is. Weirdly, that's like the highest compliment I think I can give a book in a way - they followed through on what they set out to do and didn't eff it up along the way.
February 7, 2024
Thank you @randomhousekids for this gifted copy to read and review this book.
👧🏻 review: This is such a quick and easy read. The story flows smoothly and I couldn’t put it down. This book is cringy, hair-raising, mysterious and really good. The “itzy-bitzy spider” song was definitely cringy and the shadow gave me goosebumps. Oh my gosh, it is really good! The ending is so good and also there are some funny parts in the book that I was simply laughing so hard. This is a very entertaining book for middle-graders like me who love horror, mysterious and funny book! Very entertaining book!!!
👧🏻 review: This is such a quick and easy read. The story flows smoothly and I couldn’t put it down. This book is cringy, hair-raising, mysterious and really good. The “itzy-bitzy spider” song was definitely cringy and the shadow gave me goosebumps. Oh my gosh, it is really good! The ending is so good and also there are some funny parts in the book that I was simply laughing so hard. This is a very entertaining book for middle-graders like me who love horror, mysterious and funny book! Very entertaining book!!!
October 26, 2024
Four fellow students arrive at their school to stand detention. None of the kids want to be there. And the totally lame Mr. Canton only adds to their personal pain. When Mr. Canton is swallowed up by the ground, things take a much more serious bent. Just what monster is in that hole? And, what does the weird caretaker, always humming Itsy Bitsy Spider, have to do with it all? It will take each of them working together to figure it all out -- hopefully before they become victims themselves.
The action never stops in this horror novel with heart -- 4 virtual strangers learn to rely on each other and find their inner own strength. Fun, scary, and suspenseful.
The action never stops in this horror novel with heart -- 4 virtual strangers learn to rely on each other and find their inner own strength. Fun, scary, and suspenseful.
March 7, 2024
This is the worst book I have ever read, and I mean that in the very best way. I read enough middle grade horror that very little fazes me.
Small Spaces? A cozy fall read. Coraline? Charming. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark? Cursed, but nostalgic. I was completely unprepared for the VISCERAL reaction I would have to this book. It was tightly plotted, intense, and so creepy. So, so creepy. Despite repeated obligatory warnings that spiders are friends and not foes, this book has done nothing for my arachnophobia. Hand this creature feature to scary book fans with a warning.
Small Spaces? A cozy fall read. Coraline? Charming. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark? Cursed, but nostalgic. I was completely unprepared for the VISCERAL reaction I would have to this book. It was tightly plotted, intense, and so creepy. So, so creepy. Despite repeated obligatory warnings that spiders are friends and not foes, this book has done nothing for my arachnophobia. Hand this creature feature to scary book fans with a warning.
March 1, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up to 5. The Breakfast Club, horror-style. This was a fun ride! The creep factor was intense, had suspense and jump scares, a lot of action-adventure and a little mystery. And the ending was solid. Our middle school students are going to love this one! (I would not recommend it for the younger crowd). I was excited to see book #1 printed on the spine. Can't wait to see where the rest of this series goes.
June 12, 2024
It’s creepy, it’s got plucky 8th graders who learn from their mistakes and learn to work together to overcome a terrible horror. It took me a while to get into it, because I kept trying to figure out where this school was supposed to be located, but it sort of could be anywhere with a cold rainy fall or winter. Once the adventure and investigation get going, the book just rolls along and brings you on the ride.
September 22, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It felt a little older than MG - probably because of animals being hurt, which wasn't done in any kind of graphic way, just them being snagged or grabbed. Hallie, an animal-loving part of the foursome here, helps offset these occurrences. I enjoyed the characters and the fast pace along with the plot. If you have someone who is fearful of spiders, it may not be the book for them. Otherwise a fun read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2024
DREAD DETENTION reviewed at potential book to bring into school library:
Come cuss words (nothing huge, Hell, Jesus).
Creepy, more than scary
Diverse cast, with real issues beyond the threat facing them (Isolation, poverty, bullying, the need to be perfect for the sake of parents, making bad choices and owning up to them)
Animal abuse and death (chickens)
Fav quote: "You don't know the Rock is stronger than me. Until I've fought him no one knows for sure."
Come cuss words (nothing huge, Hell, Jesus).
Creepy, more than scary
Diverse cast, with real issues beyond the threat facing them (Isolation, poverty, bullying, the need to be perfect for the sake of parents, making bad choices and owning up to them)
Animal abuse and death (chickens)
Fav quote: "You don't know the Rock is stronger than me. Until I've fought him no one knows for sure."
January 8, 2025
so.. are Angelo and Gus in love with each other or what's going on? Is this doomed yaoi hidden in a horror book? If it is, I completely believe it. Besides that, it's a shorter book, but a very well written story. It flows perfect (to my standards, at least), and the characters are enjoyable. Would recommend! Also those spiders are my kids and I understand that old couple. the spiders are my children and Red Skull is my favorite.
February 22, 2024
I enjoyed this one; it was unique, funny with the snarky humor, evenly paced plot, perfect length for a middle school book, and great character development throughout the book. I would love for this one to be on our Trail Challenge list, but with the cussing and talk of cannibalism (loved it!), the librarians in my district would find this quite offensive, unfortunately.
August 31, 2024
This is a pretty short book so it was easy to get through. The pacing is well done and its definitely got a creepy vibe to it but not at the Goosebumps or Fear Street level stories. I think for the intended audience it will do the job well of being a scary story but without making anyone too scared to sleep after reading a chapter or two a night.
Read
November 11, 2024It is a really good book and there was many things that happened that I enjoyed. Such as the plot and over all setting description of the location. There was plenty of suspenseful moments within the story that were really fun to watch go on a build up. There was a lot of drama and chaos within the story that made it super fun to read.
November 25, 2024
An honest-to-goodness, age-appropriate, ACTUAL scary story for middle-grade students! This is not a Scooby-Doo story where it all ends up being a misunderstanding. 4 middle schoolers serving a Saturday detention are fighting for survival after their principal is dragged away by a giant spider. Superb dialog. Must read!
February 16, 2024
I went into this book expecting an easy read and an improbably adventure, and while I did get that, I also got depth of character and clever banter. It wasn't what I expected going in, making for a great surprise! A quick, fun, surprisingly deep read.
Read
March 25, 20243.25.24. 6+. Lotta 'hell.' Minimal characterization but delayed as narrative progresses. Narrator (Angelo), Gus, Hallie, Naira. Upstate New York private school. 4 kids unknowingly threaded together intentionally brought to Sat detention.
August 22, 2024
It was a good book, but I really disliked the characters, except Angelo. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, at least. I also don't feel like cussing should be in middle-grade books. It just feels awkward
November 17, 2024
A fun and entertaining comedy horror with the vibes of "Breakfast Club" meets "Stranger Things". I think fans of R.L. Stine's Goosebump series and rising readers would enjoy this book. The chapters are short, the story's pace is fast, and the characters are likable.
Read
November 25, 2024The description says Stranger Things meets Breakfast Club; I feel like it's better to say it's Tremors and Lake Placid via Goosebumps. I had a hard time getting really into it but that's probably just me. I'm glad it doesn't take long for the action to start and for things to go sideways.
March 16, 2024
It’s fine. But high school students wouldn’t talk like this and most wouldn’t make these pop culture references. It all feels dated and strange. Also don’t read if you don’t like spiders.
March 25, 2024
DNF at 34%. I cannot stress how insufferable all the characters are--except for Angelo, who has absolutely no personality. I'm not spending any more time with these kids.
April 15, 2024
The characters felt older than 12 to me. Still, it's a good "beginner" thriller for middle grade readers.
May 14, 2024
DNF
Just couldn’t get into it and didn’t care enough for the cast of characters.
Just couldn’t get into it and didn’t care enough for the cast of characters.
June 3, 2024
I genuinely enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. It's snarky, creative, and fun. If the Breakfast Club and Eight-legged Freaks had a strange child.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews