Middle school is hard on everyone. Add in grief and completely creepy neighbors – and well- you are for sure headed into trouble. Quinn is sure that there is something amiss with her more than creepy neighbors whom she has dubbed “The Oldies”. And – well creepy might be putting it mildly. The problem is no one will believe her. Is her life in danger or is this all just the result of an overactive imagination of a grieving teen? Hang on tight – you will be left guessing at every turn as Quinn and her friend, Mike, set out to solve a mystery that no one has ever been brave – or smart – enough to solve. You will not be sorry that you pick up this book. The only downfall is that it is Book 1 and we have to wait for Book 2 and 3. Will they solve the mystery?? I promise you want to find out!!!

I think this is a really nice introduction to spooky stories for kids! I thought the crush between the main characters was very middle school realistic and cute, as well as the tension about the MC spending less time with her friends. The story had enough creep-factor to be interesting and entertaining without being something that would be too much for a reader first exploring this genre.

honestly, i had no clue what to expect going in to this book. i mean, it was pretty good and it was pretty cool to see this little friendship grow. and also how everything worked out in the end. but, i feel like it was pretty basic plot, and at how it ended was pretty obvious. but, this plot was still interesting and i’d definitely read more books in this series. thanks for the arc!

Thanks, Lorien and Abrams Kids for letting #BookAllies read and review this spooktacular read! I first off want to say... I hope there is a second one! I loved getting to know Quinn and Mike, as they tracked down the Oldies on Goodie Lane. This one will keep you reading until the last page!

Thank you Netgalley for the arc! 4 stars! This was such a fun and action packed spooky middle grade. We follow Quinn and Mike who are suspicious of their neighbors who are old but never seem to age any older. It is creepy and edge of your seat fun!

There is a legitimate creep factor here (in the best possible way). It's hard to find good middle grade horror - a story that walks the line of what is too scary for the target audience. Stitchers walks that line, occasionally crossing a toe onto the line that makes young readers shake.

I was a big fan of RL Stine and Goosebumps as a kid, and this took me right back to loving such spooky reads. Quinn was a good main character, and I loved her family and friends. The Oldies were super creepy, which was exactly how they were supposed to be! This was a fast read and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I couldn't put it down! I cannot wait for the sequel!

Plot: This was fantastically spooky! I'm a bit (more than a bit) of a scaredy cat, but I like to read a spooky MG book occasionally, and this book was perfect for that! Super creepy in parts, but never so much that I had to stop reading (that's a compliment!), and it was really good! I don't want to say much about the plot, since the main part of this book is Quinn and Mike trying to find out what's the deal with the Oldies. I will say that I loved how the author tied it all together, while still leaving things open/keeping you interested for the next book in the series!

Characters: I liked all of them! Quinn was a good main character, and I liked her family and friends. The Oldies were super creepy, which was exactly how they were supposed to be!

The Cover: I like it!

Overall: This was a really good spooky MG book! I'm definitely interested in reading the next book in the series, especially with that ending! Highly recommend if you're looking for a good book to read for Halloween!

Thank you Abrams Kids and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. This is a book for fans of RL Stine, Lindsay Currie, and Katherine Arden. It’s spooky, it deals with life, and you cannot put it down. Loved it!

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book!

Children's fiction or not, this book was very good and I think anyone will love this. The plot and storyline in the book gave me what I was looking for. Sit back and enjoy this read! It is very entertaining. Fast paced and kept me on the edge of my sear. I highly recommend this author. I loved the writing. I will be looking for other works in the future from this author.

When visiting Goodie Lane, be sure to pack your running shoes...you’re gonna need them! In Lorien Lawrence’s spine-tingling debut THE STITCHERS (8/18/20), the first of her spooky FRIGHT WATCH series, readers are transported to South Haven, a small town with big curiosities about the Oldies—the peculiar neighbors of Goodie Lane who will give you permanent goosebumps the moment you meet them. Quinn and Mike live across the street and won’t be fooled like most of the town with their neighbors seemingly normal and quiet behavior. I think Quinn and Mike make such a great team! I loved their playful (maybe even a bit flirty) interactions and their sleuthing and problem-solving skills. This eerie story kept me guessing and creeped me out...in the best possible way! I exclaimed a few choice words while reading with all of the lights on, of course. I could relate to Quinn missing her father which brought so much depth to her character and provided tender moments of reflection. THE STITCHERS is an enthralling novel that will chill your bones and encourage you to always make sure your shoelaces are tied tight!

I absolutely loved this! I didn’t think I would at first, given the age group it’s aimed at and the ages of the characters, but I gave it a shot given the plot and wow! It was so absolutely good. I thought it was a great mystery, a fun spooky read, and I loved the characters. Especially Grandma Jane! I think she might have been my favorite, and Mike.

I think my only complaint would be feeling the ending was wrapped up really quickly in comparison to the rest of the book, but it didn’t ruin it for me. I cannot wait for the second book, especially with that ending!

This will be a spooktacular new series for middle grade readers! Thirteen-year-old Quinn and her classmate and neighbor Mike, know something is up with the "Oldies" on their street Goodie Lane. They are nicknamed the "Oldies" because they seriously do not age. Not only do they always look youthful, but they have the exact same routine every morning when Quinn and Mike go on their runs. Ever since Quinn's dad passed away, she hasn't stopped secretly investigating. Her father (who was a police officer) believed something was wrong with them too, he had many theories about them. Her mom on the other hand, thought they were delirious. Things only get weirder when Quinn and Mike notice that one day an Oldie will have on a bandage, then the next day they are good as new? It only is a matter of time before Quinn and Mike really learn who these Oldies are and what they are doing on Goodie Lane...

Lawrence sure knows how to make you think twice about your strange neighbors across the street... I think this series will be a huge hit with fans of Mary Downing Hahn, Dan Poblocki, and K.R. Alexander. It has just the amount of creepiness that is a bit unsettling but is perfect for middle grade readers.

Lawrence's book is a fantastic addition to middle grade horror. Evoking memories of Goosebumps and the shows The Burbs and Eerie, Indiana, this story paints an enticing picture of neighborhood life for Quinn and her friend Mike. Engaging from page one and a wonderful cliff hanger ending, there is little to not enjoy.

Thank you NetGalley and ABRAMS Kids for the opportunity to read an advance reading copy.

One of my goals this year is to start reading more middle grade novels again, and there's nothing I love more than the darker side of MG fiction. This was truly an engaging, age appropriate horror novel for the younger crowd, yet the author didn't skimp on details or dumb down the narrative. The individual mystery here is wrapped up nicely, but the characters are left open for a new adventure to come. Highly recommended to fans of the Hello Neighbor book series.

Thank you to Abrams Kids and Netgalley for an early copy of this book (out August 18, 2020) in exchange for my honest review.

Thirteen-year-old Quinn knows something is wrong with her neighbors she's dubbed the "Oldies". The Oldies never seem to grow older but they do seem to grow younger after bandages come off their body. An Oldie who couldn't walk one day is running miles faster than Quinn's track and field legs can take her. Quinn use to track the Oldies' day-to-day actions with her father, but since his death Quinn has become obsessed with finding out the answer and keeping her father's memory alive. Along with help from her friend and neighbor, Mike, they're going to see what's really going on with the Oldies but the Oldies soon catch on to someone watching their every move. Will Mike and Quinn find out what's going on with the Oldies before it's too late?

The Stitchers is a great middle grade read and a great gateway into horror for young readers. It is reminiscent of the Small Spaces series (which is still ongoing) from Katherine Arden and the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine. As someone who got hooked on reading from Goosebumps, I'm so glad young readers will be able to do the same with The Stitchers. The Stitchers is the first book in the Fright Watch series and the debut novel from Lorien Lawrence. I can't wait to see what adventures Mike and Quinn will get into in the future when this series continues.

WOAH. I loved this book so much! I was so excited when I received an arc and I read it within 24 hours!! This book is fast paced, creepy, funny, and filled with great friendships! I not only adored the relationship between Quinn and Mike, but also Quinn and her grandma. Also the creepy neighbors?! This book was so sweet, but also so spooky! It really felt like these characters were in middle school and I loved that. I was hooked instantly!

Lorien Lawrence’s writing is amazing and I am so excited to read whatever this author writes next!! I definitely recommend this book to any middle schoolers looking for something fun and creepy!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review. This review will be posted immediately on GoodReads and a shortened review can be found on my Instagram on 08 July 2020.

This book was so much fun! Its creepy start drew me in immediately, and the fantastic pairing of middle school investigators, Quinn and Mike, kept me hooked! Great for a young reader who likes spooky mysteries! I know my 11-year-old is going to fly through this one!

I love spooky stories and this book is the perfect spooky middle-grade novel., The atmosphere is amazing and it had just the right amount of thrills. The main character is my favorite, she is dealing with the loss of her dad and all the crazy bizarre things that are happening around her. Also, I love that it ended on a cliff hanger. I can't wait to dig into the second book. I will definitely recommend this book.

Lawrence's The Stitchers centers around Quinn Parker, a girl who's recently lost her father, and her neighbor, Mike. Quinn's dad, a police officer, had been investigating some elderly residents on their street before his death, and Quinn and Mike are trying to carry on his work. The Oldies, as they are called, are really weird. They keep to themselves, travel in a pack, and are constantly covered in bandages. Mike, the more levelheaded, scientifically minded of the pair wants to help Quinn, but are there REALLY supernatural things at work?

There's a lot to love about this book. Lawrence ,you can tell, spends a lot of time around kids Quinn and Mike's age because their voices are authentic. Grandma Jane is a sassy addition to the cast of characters. The story is engaging, the perfect scare for my students who love to be creeped out. My only complaint was that their was hardly any resolution after the climax of the story. (I get that it's a cliffhanger and there's more to come)

This book will be a fantastic addition to my classroom library for lovers of this genre.