I always enjoy reading books from Jeff Strand, it had everything that I wanted from this type of book. I was hooked from the cover and how everything worked with the genre. It was a strong story and had that tense can't escape feel that I wanted from a camping trip story. I always enjoy the way Jeff Strand writes as it has great characters and works with the horror genre.

Another young adult great read from Jeff Strand. Easily misses horror and humor. Great story, characters, and pacing. Can't wait for the next Juff Strand book.

Avery Chloe, and Madison have planned a sleepover in the backyard and are quite excited; Chloe's dad a disappeared some time ago and the family has been struggling, so a fun campout is just what the doctor ordered. Our night is just beginning when the girls feel something moving under the tent, and all of a sudden giant tentacles burst from all over the yard, attacking the girls. They try to call for help, but their phones are dead, so they escape to Chloe's old treehouse, where they are joined by Elijah, the next door neighbor.
When the mother's come out of the house to see what all the commotion is, they are taken underground by huge tentacles, and Elijah is taken next. Will the girls not only survive the monster in the backyard, but also rescue the mothers and Elijah?

What I liked: The cover is very appealing and will attract readers. In addition, this book is nonstop action condensed in just a little over 100 pages, and will please reluctant readers.
It did end rather abruptly though.
I will purchase for my middle school collection.

From my early Goosebumps days to now sharing spooky tales with my children, especially my daughter, finding the perfect mix of thrills and giggles has been a cherished tradition for us. "Nightmare in the Backyard" was a delightful surprise that had us laughing and shivering with excitement! Picture this: a backyard campout with friends, marshmallows roasting over the fire, and spooky stories filling the air. But when strange scratching noises and tentacles appear, the fun takes a spine-tingling turn! Jeff Strand's storytelling magic kept us glued to the pages, eagerly anticipating what would happen next. Chloe, Avery, and Madison had us cheering them on as they faced down a cryptid creature straight from our wildest dreams. With its perfect blend of humor and heart-pounding suspense, Nightmare in the Backyard delivered an unforgettable adventure that left us screaming for more. It's a must-read for any young thrill-seeker looking for a spooky good time!

Thank you Jeff Strand and Netgalley for sending us this amazing ARC

I love Jeff Strand! I started reading his fun adult horror stories and this is his second book I've read for him that's for kids. The night starts innocently enough before children camping in the backyard encounter a scary monster.
What's fun about these books id that they start with normal situations, and anyone could relate to these friendly, smart kids. It's also really great that, instead of just accepting the bad situation, the kids work together to try to figure out how to save themselves -- and save the grownups they love. I highly recommend this for kids who enjoy being a little scared. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

This is the second book in a new middle grade series. I think young readers will find this book both scary and silly. Chloe, Avery, and Madison planned a backyard sleepover, complete with marshmallows and scary stories. But what they didn’t plan for was an ancient monster with lots of tentacles. The story made me nostalgic for backyard sleepovers from when I was a kid.

I enjoyed all of the different ways the kids tried to defeat the tentacles. They did several clever things, like writing notes and using boards with nails. I loved that the kids came together to save everyone in the end. It did become a bit repetitive, but didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the story.

If you are a reader who enjoys fun middle grade scares or knows someone who does, I recommend you read this book.

"'He was born with two arms, two legs, and one head, but the luxury of having a head wouldn't last forever.'"

Chloe and her best friend Avery are camping out in the backyard. And Chloe's annoying cousin is tagging along. The night starts out as fun (nostalgic for me) until things take a sudden turn to weird and scary.

This was a fun read. Would recommend for fans of Goosebumps.

Fun book especially for a younger audience looking to get into the horror genre! Thought this was super endearing and exciting!

Second in Jeff Strand's new EEK! middle grade Series, NIGHTMARE IN THE BACK YARD turns a simple backyard sleepover camp-out into a night of inexplicable unending Cryptid Creature Horror for 3 girls when the back yard erupts with....tentacles! All their resilience and ingenuity is tested as they discover their fully charged cell phones are dead, their voices can't be heard by anyone, and the tentacles won't allow them to reach their house! This is well-written Implacable Horror, with a set of endearing, determined, intrepid characters, stranded in a bizarre unaccountable situation, and only they can save themselves. Or can they? Read and find out!