Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Children's Publishing, for allowing me to read Grin by D.W. Gillespie in exchange for my honest review.

Grin is a fast-paced, thrilling novel that I believe all students who love horror and are interested in arcade games will enjoy. The main character, Danny, is relatable and has an authentic voice that middle school students will appreciate. I enjoyed seeing Danny and his friends work together to figure out how to save his Uncle. The cover of this novel is also eye-catching and will attract readers! #Grin #NetGalley.

Ah yes, nothing screams “wholesome childhood summer” like discovering the arcade game you’re obsessed with is actually possessed by a dead serial killer. Grin takes the retro neon glow of an 80s-style arcade and says, “What if Pac-Man wanted your soul?”

Danny makes a solid lead, resourceful, funny, and just naïve enough to crawl deeper into trouble when any sane kid would have sprinted home. The atmosphere is great, full of buzzing machines, sticky soda cups, and an escalating sense of dread that sneaks up until you are in full-blown horror territory. The pacing is quick and compulsively readable, even if a few of the “haunted game” beats feel like well-worn cartridges you have seen played before.

Nostalgic, creepy, and fun. If you ever fed quarters into a machine and swore it was staring back at you, this book is basically your worst nightmare and you will love every second of it.

D.W. Gillespie is becoming the next big thing in middle grade horror and I am here for it! I loved "Give Me Something Good to Eat" and I was really excited for "Grin" -- and it didn't disappoint. My 11 year old and I read this together and she stayed engaged the whole way through, but I enjoyed it as an adult as well. "Grin" feels nostalgic for this '80s girl, but somehow manages to still feel fresh enough for its target audience, which I thought was impressive. This book didn't quite have the magic, Halloween-night-coziness of "Give Me Something Good to Eat," but it was scary and fun and twisted like a Goosebumps book or an episode of "Are You Afraid of the Dark?"

Also, whoever is doing the covers for this author -- you get all the gold stars!

Honestly related to the main character more than I expected too. As a big gamer now and as a child, I to just want to stay inside in the air conditioning and play games instead of going outside to interact with people. The nostalgic feeling of this book was also so fun and made me want to find the closest arcade to me. The horror elements were done so well and I know this will be a big hit with young horror fans.

Grin completely blew me away—dark, thrilling, and brilliantly twisted. I loved how unpredictable the story was, keeping me on edge the entire time, and the characters were sharp, complex, and unforgettable. The tension and pacing had me hooked from start to finish, and the way the plot unfolded felt both clever and satisfying. This is the kind of book that lingers in your mind long after you turn the last page—absolutely five stars in my opinion.

ARC Review! This book was a fun but scary ride to go down! Middle-grade horror/thriller that also serves as a coming of age tale for our protagonist!

Danny learns of a ghoulish arcade game through an online urban legend, only to have something that matches the vague description of the game show up at his Uncle’s arcade. What follows is a ride on the supernatural side that our hero must get to the bottom of, and find help where he can get it.

I loved the old gaming nostalgia trip that came along with this book, and I loved how it was balanced along with modern technology. I thought the tension and conflict was set up well, and I enjoyed reading about the trip our hero had to go through! I thought the book was well written and sufficiently creepy! Will be looking for more of this Author!

Grin is a compelling middle grade read, one that your middle grade boys will particularly like. When Danny goes to stay with his Uncle Bill who owns an arcade and procures a supposedly haunted game, Danny has to figure out the game before it's too late.

This book was super compelling and reminded me of the Pinball Wizard episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark? Danny was an incredibly likeable protagonist and one that I was rooting for the entire time. If you have middle grade level children, they will absolutely enjoy this book!

Grin by D. W. Gillespie is an engaging, nostalgia-filled adventure that cleverly combines arcade culture with supernatural thrills. At its core, this novel offers readers a unique blend of chilling suspense, eerie twists, and fast-paced excitement, perfect for fans of creepy yet playful storytelling.

Twelve-year-old Danny’s plans for an epic week at his uncle’s retro arcade quickly unravel as he stumbles upon Grin, a mysterious and sinister arcade game harboring the soul of a dangerous serial killer. Gillespie’s strength lies in vividly capturing the arcade setting, immersing readers in the thrilling glow of pixelated screens and the nostalgia of vintage games.

Danny is an appealing protagonist—brave, resourceful, and relatable—as he faces increasingly dark and disturbing challenges. His dynamic with friends and allies, particularly the resourceful Jodi and a helpful videogame streamer, injects warmth and humor into the story. The transformation of Uncle Bill into a menacing antagonist provides genuine chills and emotional stakes that heighten the tension.

While the novel's pace occasionally fluctuates, Grin remains a captivating read, combining a cleverly constructed plot with genuinely creepy moments. It's ideal for young readers looking for a spooky adventure, peppered with retro gaming nostalgia and just enough scares to keep pages turning.

This might just be my favorite horror read of the year.

I am a huge fan of video game based horror stories and this one was phenomenal. I loved the retro feeling of the arcade setting and was left craving snacker style nachos and pizza. The characters were loveable, Danny was easy to root for. The Game, Grin, was horrifically haunting in the best way. The imagery from the game was disturbingly creepy and hasn't left my thoughts since I finished it. This book gave me the newbie jeebies and I loved every page of it.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC to me for this book! As a hardcore gamer, twelve-year-old Danny is thrilled to be spending a week during the summer with his Uncle Bill at his old-school arcade, PixelWorks. It's going to be a week of nonstop gaming, snack bar food and fun with Bill, who, unlike Danny's parents, gets his love of games. But when Bill acquires a new vintage game called Grin with a sinister history, strange things start happening at the arcade and it's up to Danny to ban together with his friend Jodi, who he reconnects with, and his favorite video game streamer, to save everyone, and the arcade, from Grin! I really enjoyed the fast-paced but slow-building creep factor in this book and I really loved Danny's character. It reminded me of a longer episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark, and in my book, that is everything!

Creepy! I enjoyed the plot and characters immensely, and as others have mentioned it very much reads like an RL Stine or “Are you afraid of the dark” and yes, I AM! This would be fun to read with a middle age kid who likes horror and gaming, There are enough retro references (old school arcade games) and contemporary details (live streaming YouTubers) to keep everyone happy. While I would consider it scary with some elements of violence, it didn’t feel egregious for its intended audience. Other themes include anxiety and fitting in.

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for early access in exchange for an honest review.

While the book is meant for younger readers than myself, this book particularly resonated with me because it covered anxiety. I always love horror and the books are even better if they manage to make the reader feel the same dread that the protagonist is feeling, Gillespie succeeds in this! It was interesting from start to finish and I had a good time reading it! I highly recommend for mid to late teenagers.

Great thrill ride of a middle grade horror/techno-adventure. Feels fresh and familiar at the same time. Younger readers will love this step into horror fiction.

If you hung out in a lot of arcades like me as a kid, you will love this middle-grade video game horror story. As a hardcore gamer, twelve-year-old Danny is thrilled to be spending a week during the summer with his Uncle Bill at his old-school arcade, PixelWorks. It's going to be a week of nonstop gaming, snack bar food and fun with Bill, who, unlike Danny's parents, gets his love of games. But when Bill acquires a new vintage game called Grin with a sinister history, strange things start happening at the arcade and it's up to Danny to ban together with his friend Jodi, who he reconnects with, and his favorite video game streamer, to save everyone, and the arcade, from Grin! Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC to me for this book, I really enjoyed the fast-paced but slow-building creep factor in this book and I really loved Danny's character. It reminded me of a longer episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark, and in my book, that is everything!

Danny is thrilled to be spending a week with his Uncle Bill, mainly because he owns that biggest arcade in Tennesse, PixelWorks. In addition to having access to all of the cool games as well as the snack bar, Danny gets to geek out about the history of arcade games, and doesn't have to worry that he's disappointing his parents by not going outside and playing "sportsball". On the ride to his uncle's he sees his favorite YouTuber, Mr. Griller, talking about an arcade game that has quite an urban legend around it. The game Grin is apparently privately manufactured, since only one machine seems to have existed, and this one is quite mysterious and seems to have led to the death of anyone who ever played it. Danny is enthralled, and, of course, when he is touring the back rooms of PixelWorks, he finds the very game in the "graveyard" of old machines that his Uncle restores. It was a pricey piece of equipment, $8,000, and when Danny mentions it to Bill, his uncle decides to drag it out onto the floor and plug it in. He cuts his hand doing so, but is so enthralled by playing the game that he barely notices. The next day, the vibe in the arcade is odd, and the workers, including Emma, Trey, and Sam, who runs the kitchen, notice it. Danny wants to investigate more thoroughly, and when he meets up with an old friend, Jodi, who has moved back to town, the two decide to approach the matter scientifically. In addition to reaching out to Mr. Griller, Danny watches Jodi as she plays Grin, and logs her reactions. She seems to get sucked into the game, and when Danny tries to break her trance, she gets rather violent. Danny has seen the same behavior in other arcade patrons, and even in his uncle. He himself has played the game, and seems to hear a voice in his head afterwards. Bill tells Danny that he purchased the game from the daughter of Griffin Patterson in Chicago, and after he tells Mr. Griller this, the YouTuber uncovers a lot of disturbing information about the history of the game, including the fact that the body of Gregory Heller, the Peach State Peeler (who killed his victims with scissors) was found on top of the arcade game after he was shot by police. When Danny finds Bill in the arcade sharpening a large pair of ceremonial ribbon cutting shears, as well as acting rather altered, he begins to worry. With the help of Trey (who doesn't play games), he manages to get the game back into storage, and Mr. Griller lets him know that his only chance to free his uncle from the game's grip is to smash it. Even if Danny and his friends manage to do this, will the spirit of Heller really leave the arcade?
Strengths: If there is a book that better describes the average tween of 2025, I don't know what it is. Watching YouTube on a car ride instead of talking to one's mother? Wanting to spend all day inside playing arcade games, drinking pop, and eating chicken nuggets? I'm surprised that Gillespie didn't dress Danny in plaid pajama pants, a black hoodie, and Crocs. Uncle Bill is aspirational to Danny; he owns an arcade full of weird, vintage games, never went to college, and best of all, lives in a trailer packed with video games in the parking lot of PixelWorks even though it's technically illegal. And would be glad to have Danny work for him. Also, Danny has suffered from anxiety and has had panic attacks, although these have been better since he turned to horror and started scaring himself so he could learn to cope. That explanation alone is why teachers and librarians should read this book. In addition to all of that, this has some excellent scary moments. An unhinged uncle in a trance sharpening giant scissors? A warehouse full of arcade games? The ghost of a serial killer not only haunting an arcade game but using the game to take over people's bodies so that the serial killer can wander around wearing someone else's meat suit? Oh, my! Gillespie, who did the clever Give Me Something Good to Eat, has definitely hit all of the things tweens want in a creepy tale!
Weaknesses: I'm not a fan of creepy books, and this was a bit too much for me at times, with the game having a flesh like screen, and lots of blood and murders. However, this is EXACTLY what my students want. So that they can, you know, learn to deal with any life situation that involves gory dismemberment?
What I really think: This is the perfect book for readers who loved Alexander's Darkroom. Just look at that cheesy, 1990s style cover! I'll definitely have to buy two copies of this one, and might later purchase a third if it is as popular as I think it will be.

This book was an absolutely incredible spooky middle grade story. Young readers will love all the gaming vibes and the build-up of the tension and horror was perfect. Kids who want a truly creepy story will devour this one.

I really liked this book. It was more along the lines of a Goosebumps series. I believe that is what it really reminded me of and I really that series. The game coming to life seemed like the newer Disney series of Goosebumps where he was trapped inside the head of the minion and would come back to when certain things were said. But this was completely different which made it better in way. The way the uncle was playing the game and got possessed by the very thing he loved was kinda of scary because it makes you think of not just games but other things that we find possessive like video games for kids these days, too much screen time is not good. I feel like this is a great book for a middle schooler to start reading on something if they like the Goosebumps series. It is scary, makes you think a good problem solving thought and it really grabs the reader with the amount of detail that it possesses. I loved it and I look forward to the release, I need to add this to my bookshelves .

This week, I was lucky enough to get my hands on an advance copy of Grin by D.W. Gillespie. It’s an absolute game-changer.

The story centers on Danny, who’s crashing with his Uncle Bill for the week. Bill owns PixelWorks, a retro arcade that feels like stepping straight into a time capsule. Everything’s neon and nostalgia. Uncle Bill scores a new addition to the arcade, Grin, a legendary game that’s more urban legend than reality.

Once Grin is added onto the main floor of PixelWorks, all sorts of strange things start happening. Good thing Danny has access to video game streamer Mr. Griller, who gives most of the lore dumps and does a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to the story behind Grin. Uncle Bill starts acting a little strange and that's when Danny and his friend Jodi discover that Grin is the home of a serial killer's soul, and this soul has taken over Uncle Bill.

The story is an awesome read for anyone who loves retro video game arcades, middle grade horror and live streaming show downs with serial killers this book is for you. I loved all the arcade game references sprinkled throughout the book. They add a layer of realism to the story. Gillespie captures the main character’s anxiety with a deft touch and strong relatability, adding depth to Danny’s character arc. The ending feels a touch quick compared to the rest of the story but still sticks the landing for me. The only thing I am left questioning is what was the song that made Heller dance like that? Overall, Grin was an absolute blast to read; spooky, nostalgic, and just the right amount of thrilling!

I read this one with my 10-year-old daughter and we both really enjoyed it. Grin is fast, fun, and filled with heart-pounding moments that kept me and my daughter turning the pages. The book was fun and gave me some RL STINE vibes which is a good thing. I think the ending did finish fast but I think it was for the sake of pages especially for its intended audience. Definitely give this one a go and read it with your kiddo.

Thank you, D. W. Gillespie NetGalley for the ARC. I leave this review voluntarily and happily. Also, thank you publishers for your hard work!

My god, i absolutely loved this book. If you have read Polybius by Collin Armstrong or even heard about the urban legend, this definitely fits in with that. I absolutely love the covers title, as it's a big part of what drew me to it at first. I'm just gushing about this book. It certainly has retro gaming vibes and nostalgia all over it. Not only that, it definitely gives you stranger things vibes. It's very quick paced and the characters I love. The lore, as you know, I'm all about that. Even if there wasn't much to go into it, I think this was just right for the book. This is the first book I've read from this author, and I'll definitely be keeping my eye on them in the future. The writing is just easy and smooth. I just loved the book.

Away from parents, arcade fun, staying with the uncle sounds like fun, right? It's a new game that looks sinister, and it has an evil grin no matter where you look at it from. Something isn't right with it, and when anyone plays it, they get aggressive and not themselves. What if it possessed the soul of a serial killer and it was soon taking over your uncles body? What will have yo be done? What can be done? And will there be death before the man can be saved?

This book was great from start to finish i just didn't want it to stop. Games are everything to some people, and this book definitely puts them in a wicked way. This book is definitely in my top favorites of this year, and who knows, maybe more from this author will join the list.