OOH, Lindsay Currie scared ME with this one! My middle schoolers love their "scary stories" and this one fits the bill! Perfect for Halloween season.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of It Found Us. I've read other books by Lindsay Currie, so I went into this one with fairly high expectations. While the spookiness was there, it wasn't quite as spine-tingling as Scritch Scratch for me. However, I have no doubt that it'll hit the sweet spot for students who want something for spooky season, but who also want to be able to sleep at night. A definite purchase for middle school horror collections.

I was thoroughly impressed with this book. It was creepy, loving, sad, inspiring, all wrapped into one. I loved the characters and how much they grew throughout the story. I loved the historical part. I definitely need to go look into that train wreck and graveyard. I had no idea that was a real thing/place, so that was a big shock finding that out.

Hazel is loving and reminds me of being a young teen and everything that goes into sibling relationships. It was a lot of fun going back into that mindset.

**4.5-stars**

It Found Us is the latest release from my personal Queen of Spooky Middle Grade, Lindsay Currie.
Upon seeing this cover, I knew I would need to get my hands on this ASAP. I mean, look how creepy it is. It's stunning!

In this story we meet 12-year old, Hazel Woods, an aspiring detective, who puts her skills to the test while trying to solve the case of a missing teenager. Hazel has always wanted to be a detective, but her biggest dream currently is to start her own podcast focusing on cases she'll solve. So far, her cases have been small. That's really all her neighborhood has to offer. That is until the night her brother's best friend, Everett, mysteriously disappears.

On the night Everett disappeared, he'd been at the local cemetery, playing an epic game of hide-and-seek with Hazel's older brother, Den, and some other kids. Hazel, who had overheard the boys plans, had sneaked after her brother, unbeknownst to him to observe what would happen in the purportedly-haunted cemetery. She saw it as the perfect opportunity to do some sleuthing on whether or not it is actually haunted.

At the conclusion of the game, all the other hiders were found by the seeker, but Everett seemed to have just vanished. As scared as they were, the kids knew they had to let some adults know and an investigation begins.
Hazel and Den believe the police aren't looking in the right places though, so they decide to undergo their own investigation, along with Hazel's best friend, Maggie.

The kids dive into the history of the cemetery and the lives of some the souls that may be buried there. Will their chilling search for evidence reveal what happened to Everett? And will they be able to get him back before it's too late?

This was so cute and fun. It reminded me a lot of Scritch Scratch as far as the mystery elements went, so if you enjoyed that one, you should definitely check this one out.

Hazel was a fabulous MC. She's so determined to start her podcast and even though she hasn't been able to convince her parents to allow her to do it yet, she's not giving up. I love watching characters work hard toward a goal and Hazel was overflowing with grit and optimism. I also loved her sleuthing skills. The way she tackled the mystery and her clue journal were impressive.

Her clue journal was also a great device for helping to track the progression of the story. Hazel would go through the list of clues they had discovered so far in relation to the mystery. I thought this was a really fun aspect, particularly for the younger readers.

I also appreciated how Currie connected the history of this town and cemetery into the story. She always brings some interesting historical aspects to her stories that are so fun and compelling. There's also great atmosphere and healthy relationships amongst the characters. I loved the kids working together, particularly Hazel and Den. It's always refreshing to see siblings get along and support one another.

Overall, I found this to be well-written, engaging and lot of fun. I would definitely recommend this to all readers of Spooky Middle Grade, regardless of age.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Sourcebooks Young Readers, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I will pick up anything Lindsay Currie writes and this book is a perfect example of why.

i really enjoyed this book! this is my third book from this author and i am hoping to get to her other two middle grade horror books this spooky season. i didn’t love it *as* much as Scritch Scratch, but still really enjoyed it.

i enjoyed Hazel as a main character trying to solve the disappearance of her brother’s friend with her brother, Den, and her best friend, Maggie. i loved the dynamic in the group and how the brother/sister relationship got stronger as they continued investigating the case together.

as usual, Lindsay Currie includes just the right amount of mystery and horror in her books. i especially love the “unknown history” from real life that she includes, and this book is no exception. i read this book in just a few hours and it definitely creeped me out! the Halloween vibes were perfection, so definitely pick it up this fall!

thank you to Sourcebooks Young Readers, Netgalley, and Lindsay Currie for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. It Found Us is out now!

When her older brother and his friends head to the local cemetery for a game of nighttime hide and seek, amateur sleuth Hazel follows. What she doesn't expect is for her brother's best friend to disappear into thin air. She also starts to smell fire, hear voices, and knows that something is wrong - something the adults aren't picking up on. She teams up with her brother and her best friend Maddie to uncover the truth. Spooky for sure, and good for upper elementary and younger middle school.

I have read every book this author has written minus one and I plan to read it this fall! I definitely had my eyes set on this one after finding out she was writing another spooky middle grade book.

The book is told from one point-of-view and it comes from Hazel Woods. She finds herself sleuthing more times than not and to her parents it’s not a good habit. Her snooping leads to an unexpected investigation with the paranormal side of things.

Hazel is a very curious character and I think a lot of kids will relate to her. She also has a good relationship with her brother which is always nice to see. Sometimes you only see sisterly bonds and I liked that it was different. I grew up with two brothers. She also had a great friendship with Maggie who also helped with the investigation of Everett who was missing.

This one wasn’t as spooky as her others for me though. I know I am an adult but my spook level is that of a child haha. All of the requirements for being spooked were there but I just wasn’t and felt that it was due to not actually seeing the ghost that often like in many of her other works. It also kind of wrapped up rather quickly too.

I did like the historical aspect of it and learned something new because of it!

Overall, this was good even if it wasn’t a favorite by her. I do think that a lot of younger kids will be very spooked.

This was a wonderful story that incorporated an actual tragedy into the story beautifully. The characters are well written and the story moves at a perfect pace. I also want to take a moment and talk about my appreciation of the book cover. It's awesome and a perfect fit for the content in the story! Special Thank You to Lindsay Currie, SOURCEBOOKS Kids, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy prior to publication in exchange for an honest review.

Lindsay Currie is a mastermind of middle grade paranormal and horror. Every story is eerie, suspenseful, and will keep you turning the page. Reading this on a dreary rainy day added to the suspense and ambience to elevate the reading experience. One thing I loved about this story was how much Hazel, our main character, reminds me of one of my daughters and her love for mysteries. The author based this book on true events and she gives you more details and resources at the end. Lindsay Currie will always be an autobuy author for me and this latest work is no different. Thanks again to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Kids for a chance to read an advanced readers copy.

When a teenager goes missing in a graveyard, budding detective Hazel is on the case along with her best friend and older brother. Liked the progression of the story where Hazel gradually gathers clues and puts the pieces of the puzzle together to realize the culprit is the ghost of a boy who died in the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus train wreck in 1918. Some scary moments along the way that will raise goosebumps but nothing overly frightening. Good ghost story that nicely incorporates a real-life tragedy.

Hazel is 12 years old and loves to solve any mysteries she can find. Some people might call it spying but she would rather consider it a talent for investigation and solving mysterious cases.

One night she follows her brother to the cemetery where he is going to play a classic game of Hide and Seek. It all seems to be an innocent children's game until one of the kids that was hiding, mysteriously disappears.

As the police start an investigation but are unable to find any solid clues, Hazel knows it is her responsibility to use her skills to find the missing kid.

But she always needs to do this in secret and with the help of some good friends.

This was such a solid middle grade. It was creepy,it was intriguing, it had great pacing and it will keep you guessing. A true mystery that needs to be solved and will take us to a creepy cemetery with a very dark past.

“I know. I know. Sleuthing is okay, meddling is not.”

Move over Shirley Holmes and Harriet the Spy, there’s a new gumshoe on the case.

Meet twelve year old Hazel Woods. She’s the neighbourhood amateur sleuth with dreams of starting her own podcast. No mystery is too big or small. Hazel’s skills are put to the test when one stormy night her brother’s best friend vanishes while playing a game of hide-and-seek. With the help of her friend Maggie and her brother Den, secrets and clues around the old graveyard slowly begin to unravel to shed light on a dark history for the town.

Lindsay Currie has such talent for writing middle grade horror novels with just enough scare to give your spine a good tingle and tying in beautiful life lessons appropriate for the kiddos. Whether you’re a veteran horror reader, or a young reader dabbling into the eerie genre, Lindsay’s story telling ability will pull you and keep you guessing until the very end.

A big thank you to NetGalley, and SourceBooksKids for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date is September 5, 2023.

It Found Us is the newest Middle Grade Horror novel by Lindsay Currie and it does not disappoint! Hazel wants nothing more than to be an investigator and she has gotten called a “snoop” on more than one occasion. When she follows her brother, Den, to the local cemetery for a nighttime game of hide-and-seek, it ends when his friend, Everett, goes missing. Hazel considers herself “on the case” based on some spooky things that happened while they were there and some creepy recordings she caught. But her parents make things difficult by making them stay at home and stay together. Den wants nothing more than to help find Everett, so he agrees to help Hazel in her investigation. From creepy, fake fires, mysterious smiley faces, and a child ghost who just wants to play, Hazel and her team stop at nothing to solve the mystery of what happened to Everett and bring him home safely. I loved watching Hazel gain confidence as an investigator and her brother see her process and begin to trust her as well. Figuring out how all the pieces come together was such a great way to tie in local history to Everett’s disappearance. Another great book by Lindsay Currie! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

Hazel's determination to be an investigator has gotten her into trouble before, but nothing like the trouble she finds this time. After following her brother, Den, and his friends into a cemetery for a creepy nighttime game of Hide-and-Seek, Den's best friend disappears. The entire community is shaken by his disappearance and as the parents search, Hazel, Den, and Hazel's best friend Maggie realize they are dealing with a ghost.

Even though I found Hazel overly mature for her age, this was a stellar middle grade ghost story that seamlessly included themes of determination, grit, perseverance and loyalty. Currie has swept the middle grade ghost story field and as I said in my last review of her books, each just gets better. I stand by that statement as this is my new favorite. Currie's ghost stories are spooky and creepy enough to be a *real* ghost story for middle graders, not a silly poltergeist story or a too safe to be scary one, Her books are creepy enough to feel safe handing them to a middle grader, but not too intense to worry it will be too much. Perfect for upper elementary and middle grade library collections.

In Lindsay Currie's latest middle grade novel, It Found Us, aspiring detective/podcaster Hazel follows her brother Den and his friends to a cemetery for a late night game of hide and seek. Something goes horribly wrong during the game and one of Den's friends disappears. While the town's adults search for him, Hazel, Den, and Hazel's best friend Maggie collaborate to try to find the missing boy. They follow a series of creepy clues to uncover what--or who--is behind the disappearance.

Hazel and Den's sibling relationship is realistic and adds to the story. Their banter and interactions along with lots of suspense and paranormal activity will keep readers engaged and guessing until the end. The author once again does a fabulous job of intertwining her modern day story with a historical event from Chicago's past. I'm looking forward to sharing this one with my middle grade readers who are looking for a good spooky read.a

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of the book to read and review.

This is a book that I'd have absolutely loved if I'd found it hiding on a library shelf as a young teen. It's creepy, clever and never predictable.

We start simply enough. Hazel is a young girl with aspirations of being a detective and podcaster. She sneaks after her older brother to the local cemetery one night... and witnesses one of his friends vanish.

Returning in daylight with her friends, strange things then start to happen. It looks like Hazel is getting far more of a mystery than she was ever ready for.

While I can't help but read as an adult, I found this book quickly threw me back in time to when I had Hazel's tenacity and curiosity. The world seems illogical, your age prevents you from doing anything fun, you're on the edge of life's adventures. But that also means fear of the unknown is more real.

Hazel is a great heroine. Even though I smile now at her obvious mistakes-about-to-happen, I was definitely along for the ride. She has good friends who add a sense of fun and perspective, and I was so thankful that her parents and brother felt 'real' too. Nobody in this book is a parody. Adults genuinely worry and care, even admit their feelings and be willing to help. Feeling seen and heard is a wonderful thing, and that old children's story tactic of 'all adults automatically dismiss kids' is ridiculously out of date. This is a YA tale, but everyone acts as they would in the everyday world, which helps the reader to engage while making the spooky atmosphere even more effective.

Because this book ramps up quickly. The scares ARE scary and the kids run for a reason! The fact that they bravely head back to an apparently-haunted cemetery had me cheering - I like to think I'd have done the same, but who knows?

'It Found Us' has heart. The author clearly loves a good campfire tale while realizing how important it is to ground that in reality. The humour offsets the horror beautifully, and I rather wished I was an adult in the town so that I could help!

A definite recommend for the young (and young-at-heart) person in your life who likes a good story with bite. And who isn’t freaked out b y the cover.

It’s no surprise that I’m a huge Lindsay Currie fan. It Found Us might be a new favorite of mine.

Lindsay writes the most chilling ghost stories and I love that many of them are rooted in history.

This one was so special because of the elements of friendship and working together. Hazel, Den, and Maggie were such a good team.

And this cover?! Perfection.

Lindsay Currie is so good at writing middle grade horror/mysteries. The characters are believably their age and the spooky level is higher than other MG horror books I've read. I also really appreciated the tie to a true historical event.

Lindsay Currie does it again with a suitably scary, but not too scary horror story about ghosts, a missing boy, and a historic cemetery that holds its own secrets. I love how she incorporates Chicago history, and lesser known history into her novels, and balances a scary story with the resilience of her characters and their bravery.

I always recommend her books to anyone who likes a scary story!

thank you to netgalley for the e-arc! this was an okay read for me. i appreciate the author's tendency to incorporate meaningful friendships at the end of her stories, the way it was with scritch scratch. i also admire her research on history that inspire her works. despite being an okay read, it was cosy and heartwarming nonetheless.