FIELD OF SCREAMS is an excellent ghost story with compelling characters and a dash of spookiness to make for an engaging and entertaining read.

A delightfully spooky read with heartfelt characters. Middle graders will devour this book about family, love, loss, grief and navigating change. The prose features rich sensory details, good pacing and ticks all the boxes of a good horror read. Field of Screams is a 'stay awake all night' read and young readers will root for Rebecca as she solves the mystery and builds a connection with her Uncle and the rest of the family. A highly recommended solid ghost story for young horror fans. Thank you to Delacorte Press and Net Galley for the arc.

A mildly creepy book for fans of ghost stories who don't want to be so scared that they have trouble finishing the book. There is an element of a ghost, some spooky parts, and some tension of a parent who had died as well as a new relationship for the parent.

I really liked the title and cover, and was hoping for a very scary read. This was mildly scary and the mystery wasn't as surprising as I would have thought. Overall it would be good for young readers, but older horror fans will find it just ok.

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Rebecca and her mother decide to spend the summer in Iowa while her mother works on her PhD so she can earn more money teaching high school. Rebecca's father died when she was in kindergarten, and she still misses him. While she had wanted to connect with his family in Iowa years ago, she's not happy that her mother has picked this summer to do so, since she is missing summer camp with her best friend. Her Uncle Jon lives on the family farm, where he and her dad had spent summers with their grandparents. It was in the care of an uncle, and needs some work, so he and her Aunt Sylvie are glad to have Rebecca to help with her young cousin Justin, especially since Sylvie is heavily pregnant. Rebecca thinks the summer will be dull, but is very interested in ghosts and paranormal activity, and hopes that the old farmhouse will be haunted. She meets neighbor kids Nick and Kelsie; Nick is sweet and nice, but Kelsie is whiny and unpleasant, especially when her father starts chatting up Rebecca's mother. Kelsie's parents are divorced, and she would like to go spend time with her mother in California, hoping to get them back together. She also is jealous of the time that Nick spends with Rebecca. There is something odd in the house; there's a one eyed barn cat named Jade who seems to spook at everything, odd cold areas around the house, and swings that go back and forth for no clear reason. Of course, since everyone knows Rebecca's interest in ghosts, no one believes her. She has an even more intense experience at an abandoned house nearby, Meadow Winds Farm. This is owned by Kelsie's grandfather, and Rebecca is warned away, but she investigates the house. Between what she finds and sees there, and some family documents in the attic, she realizes that her father also had some paranormal experiences, and manages to track down the background of the most likely candidate for haunting. Will she be able to figure out what the ghost wants before another tragedy occurs?
Strengths: It's clear that Parris has spent some quality time in Iowa, and the descriptions are fantastic. I also know that the rundown house at Meadow Winds farm is completely realistic; my uncle owned a similar house, and my cousin and I got to go into it before it was torn down! Rebecca's interest in ghosts is shared by many of my readers, and her family's refusal to believe her will be familiar to them. The family dynamics add a lot to the story, and Rebecca's dislike of her mother dating is quite normal for a rising 7th grader, at least if you believe middle grade literature! The history is interesting as Rebecca uncovers it, and the ghost has solid reasons for hanging around.
Weaknesses: This has a great cover, and I loved all the family history, but it wasn't all that scary. It would be perfect for elementary readers.There are other books with the title Field of Screams, and the fields really don't figure that largely, so I wish the title had been different.
What I really think: This is a great choice for readers who like spooky stories like Shawl's Speculation or Urban's Almost There and Almost Not.

This was an exciting middle grade spooky story.
I have students asking for scary but not too scary stories all the time this one had ghosts, mystery and a bit of the tween drama. I will be recommending this book for my 4th and 5th graders how like to be just a bit scared.

I really enjoyed the relationship development between Rebecca and her Uncle and also with the rest of her family.

Since this is a middle grad story, it was not scary per say, but it definitely kept me on my seat and was a fun ghost story. You learn a lot about grief as well as how it can feel for a teenager who's parents are splitting up. I think this would be really relatable for teenagers and something they would enjoy as well.

This is a spooky, heart-pounding story that is also full of heart. Along with being a fast-paced page turner, it's a meaningful story about grief. I rooted for the compelling main character, Rebecca, from the very beginning, when she is forced to spend the summer on a farm with relatives she barely knows. I loved her bravery and determination, as well as her true concern for making things right for the ghostly presence she encouters. This was wonderfully written, and I look forward to seeing more from Wendy Parris.

I’m so torn writing this review.

I absolutely sped through this one and it was an absolute delight to read. I love the setting and the ghostly feel. Rebecca is a relatable character, and the mystery is fun, with good pacing of reveals. For most of the read, I expected to give this a solid five stars.

I have one big beef with the story though: I really can’t stand that Rebecca never seems to interrogate, confront or change as a result of constantly going behind the backs of the adults. The fact that there are no consequences for her constant disobedience makes her choices less narratively meaningful as well, making the overall effect of the story less compelling to me as a reader. Like, what was it that Rebecca learned in this journey? It seemed weird to me that she never even questioned if she should tell her mom or family what she was up to, or that she never apologizes for constantly disobeying and lying. In fact, the book seems to argue that her disobedience is a kind of bravery? While there are certainly times to disobey, for the situation at hand, that really seems like a bizarre argument to make, and not exactly a lesson that’s given appropriate nuance for young readers. I think there’s one line where she wonders, “oh maybe I should’ve told Mom” but especially since this is for middle grade readers, it really feels like she should act on this and grow and her at least try to collaborate with the adults first, or in act three learn how to open up with her mom about the mystery. It seems particularly strange that the mom apologizes but she doesn’t. I’d really love to see a more balanced, explicit apology here.

All in all, I think I personally wanted a little more out of this ghost story, but it’s a fun spooky read. Particularly recommended for middle grade writers, but not sure I recommend for young readers themselves.

Rebecca must forego summer camp with her best friend and spend the summer in rural Iowa with her mother, aunt and uncle. Rebecca uses her abundance of free time to study ghosts as she doesn't get along very well with the daughter of her mother's friend. After a series of spooky happenings and an exploration of an old abandoned house, Rebecca discovers that she might finally get her wish: to see a ghost. I was definitely entertained by this book and found myself trying to figure out the mystery of who the ghost was and their significance to the plot. I will be recommending this to patrons looking for a classic ghost story.

What a delight. This charming story is equal parts spooky and heartfelt. Like all of my favorite ghost stories, there’s a poignant exploration of grief and loss drifting around the edges of this story from the start—but it never gets too on-the-nose with that layer of meaning. Field of Screams is a thrilling and certifiably creepy story, impossibly alluring from start to finish. That combination of a ghost story and a summer setting created a mood that I can’t readily compare to any book or movie I’ve ever seen before. I loved it. If you’ve got young readers looking for an emotionally intelligent and legit creepy read, I highly recommend Field of Screams.

A girl who has always wanted to hunt ghost finds herself face to face with one when she is forced to spend her summer with her distant family. Rebecca Graf is a twelve-year old girl who is a huge paranormal enthusiast. After her father’s death, she is determined to continue to share their shared love of ghosts. When her mother drags her to spend a summer in Iowa with a family she barely knows, Rebecca is not excited... until she learns that there is a ghost presence in an abandoned farmhouse and her summer might not be so boring. Rebecca is determined to prove to everyone that there is a ghost but no one seems to believe her, yet she soon discovers that her father had also had a similar experience and now she is going to dig into her family’s past while trying to figure out what this ghost wants... but when her nightmares start happening and the ghost becomes scarier.... how far will she spiral before it’s too late? This was such a fun and spooky read and I had a great time with it. Rebecca is dealing with the death of her dad while also dealing with the fact that she has to spend a summer away from her best friend and her mom might be moving on. She wants to pursue the passion that she shared with her dad and hopefully reconnect with him through this. She also discovers a new friend /potential crush, and a family she never really knew. I think it would make a great read for anyone looking for a summer spooky read!

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Children's, Delacorte Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I read this through the "best books" lens for my library committee. This book is a great deal of fun but does not meet the criteria for one of our "best books." The cast of characters is demographically homogeneous (white, Midwestern, heterosexual) and largely underdeveloped (especially Kelsie and the protagonist's uncle and aunt). That being said, I would recommend it for the collections, because the pacing is terrific. On a personal level, I enjoyed reading it.

This was a creepy and quick YA ghost story, centered on 12 year old Rebecca, who is spending the summer with her uncle’s family in Iowa to help out with her nephew. Rebecca has a fascination with ghosts and is hoping the old farmhouse will be haunted, but things get a little too real.

Rebecca is an authentic character who experiences a lot of very real feelings related to her father’s death, her mother’s new romance, and some potential new friends. She demonstrates curiosity and some pretty decent detective skills as she tries to piece together an explanation for the creepy things happening around her. The author does a great job of creating an atmospheric environment with enough detail to make it feel like you are there but without slowing down the story.

Overall, this is a fast read that is appropriate for teens and tweens but also fun for adults who like a good ghost story. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rebecca goes with her mom to the family farm where her dad (who passed away) grew up. The place is now owned by her uncle and his family. It includes a one-eyed cat, a massive cornfield, and very possibly, a ghost. Rebecca is a fan of ghosts and all things paranormal, so the prospect is nothing short of exciting.

This book was so good on so many levels. It was well written with excellent characters, a great and intriguing plot, and some pretty good spooky scenes. This was nostalgic for me as I grew up reading Goosebumps and the like and this story held the same vibe. Even as an adult I greatly enjoyed this book. It's perfect for middle grade and YA readers. And adults like me too.

Field of Screams by Wendy Parris is a fun thrill ride. I highly recommend this book to any tween/teen who loves scary books.

Rebecca is a 12 year old girl, who lost her father and is spending her summer with her mom, uncle, aunt and cousin in the old family farmhouse. As she navigates a summer unlike any other, she finds herself tested in many ways. She also finds a connection to her deceased father which strengthens their bond.

This book is great for the story but also the messages inferred by the reader. Anyone who lost a parent can relate to Rebecca. There are periods of growth for Rebecca and her family. Dealing with loss, friendship, bulling, and change are common themes that pop up regularly in the story.

Rebecca is kind, empathetic, compassionate, moody, misunderstood, lonely and through the summer grows closer to her mom, family and friends. She commonly masks her pain throughout the story as well.

The descriptions are realistic with lots of detail. Parris paints vivid pictures with her colorful, descriptive sentences.

I enjoyed this book very much.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for this advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you, Netgalley for the ARC. This debut novel by Wendy Parris has total "Wait Til Helen Comes" (Mary Downing Hahn) vibes. I started this book only a day or so ago amd couldn't put it down because I wanted to know the ghost's story. This is a great read for any middle grade book lover that wants to feel chills down their spine.

A solidly entertaining ghostly mystery with engaging characters and enough heart and kindness to counteract the spooks for more sensitive children. Perfect read for middle graders wanting scary fare but not ready for more intense "kids in peril" books!

Wonderfully creepy without being too scary. The writing is paced perfectly to pull in readers and keep them reading - early hooks will grab reluctant readers.

3.5 Stars

This is a fun mid-grade horror, but I would say it's best for younger mid-grade, 5th to 6th graders would probably be the best audience. Ghosts, mystery and summer fun. I would have loved this book as a kid.

When ghost enthusiast Rebecca is dragged to Iowa (away from her bestie!) with her mom to family she's never met, the only upside is the possibility of seeing a real live ghost. As Rebecca tries to fit in with the local kids, connect with her dad's family, adjust to the possibility of her mom dating and crushes of her own, she starts to uncover a family connection to a very real ghost. Field of Screams is a lovely ghostly mystery, and while I would have loved to see Rebecca and her friends be more proactive in resolving the haunting, this is a fun read that will appeal to kids who like their mysteries a bit on the spooky side!