really enjoyed this middle grade the vibes were amazing especially during the autumn season. Loved the main character and the overall plot of the books. loved that drawing was incorporated into the book because it made it more fun and ‘interactive’. also very easy to read but that could just be because I’m older than the intended audience, but I would definitely recommend to my younger cousins.

This book was the perfect middle grade spooky story. It has just the right amount go ghosts and spirits, jump scares and spooky atmosphere. I loved the emphasis on fear, scary stories and imagination. I also loved the illustration, they worked very well with the story.

This was such a fast-paced pageturner. I had to catch my breath after each chapter. Way creepier than expected - the illustrations added to that - I had to stop reading at nighttime. But I’m a total scaredy-cat, so it’s easy to freak me out. That said, I enjoyed this book a lot. The character development plays substantially into that, as every one of them was deeply rounded and realistic. Bailee was a fantastic protagonist. She had so much going on in her life but had to put that aside to outsmart the competitors and the spectre.
I’m still not quite sure what it is that lingers in the Bellwoods, but I’m certain that I wouldn’t go in there to find out. Yet again, I learned there is always a little bit of truth in legends and that we shouldn’t dismiss them as complete nonsense.

I highly recommend this book to be read with friends at a sleepover and get excited and thrilled together.

I read this with my 11 year old and wanted to offer her review.
"I really liked this book. It was a bit of a slow start but then I was hooked. The story was spooky and kept me guessing. It had a similar vibe to Mary Downing Hahn's books. I kind of guessed the ending but I usually do. It was really well written and I'd definitely read other books by this author."

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC copy of the book.

If you are looking for a middle-school story perfect for spooky season or for readers who love a good ghost story, The Bellwoods Game by Celia Krampien is the book for you. This story blends a local ghost story with themes of family and friendship to tell the story of a group of sixth graders who are trying to navigate the major changes in their community and personal lives. The legend of Abigail Snook is well-known in Fall Hollow. Years ago, she went into the woods on Halloween night and never returned. Now the sixth graders from Beckett Elementary head out into the woods each year to play a game. Three students are chosen to go into the woods and the first one to ring the mysterious bell in the woods is the winner. Legend has it, if you ring the bell, the town will be safe from peril for one year, if the students don’t make it to the bell in time, a year of bad luck follows. Oddly, no one remembers many details from their night in the woods.

Our main character, Bailee has been experiencing some major life changes. Her Grandmother hasn’t been well, and her Father has had to look for work out-of-town. On the day that she finds out about her Grandmother, other students make assumptions that she has told the teachers about their upcoming night in the woods. As a result, her friends have stopped talking to her. On Halloween, the veil between the living and the dead lifts and the student in the woods are met by both benevolent spirits and darker forces that reminded me of the Boggarts from Harry Potter, feeding off of fears. Can the students work together to save the town or will their issues with each other get in their way?

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 Stars

Bailee and her peers have grown up in a town where a young Abigail Snook went into the woods, and never returned in 1982 during Halloween Night. Years later, three sixth graders of Fall Hollow partake in The Bellwoods Game, an elaborate game to ring a bell before the spirit of Abbie snatches them up. Social outcast Bailee has researched the game, and is determined to win.

The cover of this really drew me in! I read this in one sitting, and thought it was a really cute, spooky book perfect for middle graders. I loved the pictures in this, they were so cute and really enhanced the story for me. I thought the story of Abigail and her spirit was intriguing, and I wanted to know more about her legend and backstory. I loved the messages of fear, friendship and forgiveness in this.

Overall, a great spooky read, perfect for around Halloween!

Instagram post ill be posted and linked shortly

3.5 stars rounded up

I really enjoyed this! It was a very cozy and spooky read that I would have been obsessed with when I was younger. It has the perfect vibe for a cozy Halloween/Autumn book and I would definitely recommend this to my fellow spooky gals.

I did find some parts of it dragged on and I started skimming parts, especially in the last third but overall it was an enjoyable one!

This was so lovely. Petition to have illustrations in adult horror novels because that made it 100% eerier. I loved the lore of the woods and the game, combined with the very human sixth grade emotions that all the kids were going through. Also loved the emphasis on fears, stories, and imagination. I would definitely recommend this to spooky middle graders (and adults alike).

3.5 stars

This is my first time reading a book by Celia Krampien. While preparing this review, I discovered that she is a Canadian author, who resides not far from me, which just further enhances the fact that Canada has a lot of talent in the literary field.

It was the cover that drew me to this story and my love for middle grade fiction, I love the longer stories with depth of character and adventure.

In The Bellwoods Game, Bailee is a sixth grader who is set on completing a task that will rid the town of bad luck for a year. It follows the legend of Abigail Snook, who went into the woods and was never seen from again.

The Bellwoods Game is a story with supernatural elements, adventure in the outdoors, friendships and misunderstandings. There are 3 that go into the woods, they are taking on a journey that brings about revealed secrets, trust and healing of old wounds. But there is also strange obstacles in the way.

I enjoyed my reading time, though geared for young readers part of me wonders if it might be a bit overwhelming, scary for some younger ones or those a little bit sensitive. Coming in over 300 pages it is a nice size with some wonderful illustrations along the way.

My thanks to Simon & Schuster CA, via NetGalley, for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

This book was so fun! I loved the story and the little lessons sprinkled in for the kids. Also loved the creepy forest vibes!

Note for parents:
I do think this book was a little spooky for kids on the younger side of the middle grade age range, If you know your child is easily scared, I would avoid this book for them. There were some creepy drawings that might be too much for the faint hearted

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The Bellwoods Game has been happening every Halloween for years, and now that Bailee is in Grade 6, she can finally volunteer to play. The lore says that someone has to ring the bell in the forest every year to protect the town from the ghost of Abigail Snook, a young girl who disappeared in the woods years ago. Once the game begins, the secrets will begin to come out.

This book is perfect for kids who want to read something scary. It's a solid amount of fear-inducing while still going age appropriate (recommended for ages 8-12). As a kid, I may have been too much of a wimp to read this, but that's because I was very afraid of the dark and ghosts - both of which this book has. However, I know some children who would absolutely love it, and I enjoyed it as an adult, so I think it's worth a read!

This was my son's first spooky read and he really enjoyed it, especially with the addition of the beautiful artwork to help him imagine the scenes. (If you're wondering who to buy for, he is 13)

Suspenseful, interesting and "kind of scary" he says! He would "definitely read it again".

This was the perfect combination of spooky and adorable. Beautifully written *and* illustrated by the enviably talented Celia Krampien, THE BELLWOODS GAME is the ultimate autumn read, full of thrills, chills, and genuine heart.

Following a group of sixth-graders as they play an annual game to save their town from a mysterious spirit, BELLWOODS interrogates the power of storytelling (and fear). It had me wishing for fall and turning pages at a breathless pace. More, please!!