Book Review: Wednesday Wilson Looks on the Fright Side by Bree Galbraith, Morgan Goble

Rating: 3 Stars

I picked up Wednesday Wilson Looks on the Fright Side expecting a light Halloween read for the younger set, and I walked away with a fun little story that’s clever more than it’s flawless. I’m giving it three stars — it entertained me, especially in short bursts, but a few things kept it from being a full-on favorite.

At the center of the book is Wednesday Wilson, a resourceful kid who’s determined not to lose Halloween just because her house landed on the dreaded Do-Not-Knock list. Her moms don’t hand out candy, and that’s a problem she’s not willing to accept. Wednesday’s solution? Slime. She dreams up a plan to lure trick-or-treaters with gooey, homemade slime and even aims to turn it into a little business venture. Along the way she faces classic kid-scale obstacles: a spooky haunted-house vibe, a comically large robot spider, and that terrifying group of peers the Emmas. It’s a short, fast-paced tale with lots of little illustrations that keep the momentum moving and the tone playful.

What I liked most: the writing moves quickly and keeps things snappy, which is perfect for emerging readers. The Halloween setting gives the story immediate charm, and the frequent drawings add a lot of personality to the pages — they really help carry the humor and make the action accessible. I also appreciated the diversity of the cast and the way the book casually normalizes different family structures and characters, which feels both modern and welcome. Little touches like a slime recipe and brief definitions of business terms nod toward creativity and problem-solving, which are nice extras for curious kids.

As for what held me back from loving it: the plot is simple by design, and sometimes the obstacles feel a bit too conveniently resolved for my taste. A couple of episodes lean on predictable kid-book hijinks, and I wanted a touch more depth in Wednesday’s motivations beyond the immediate goal of getting trick-or-treaters to her porch. But those are minor gripes in the context of a book aimed at early readers.

If you have a child who’s just starting to read on their own and loves Halloween, slime, or clever, can-do protagonists, this is a solid pick. It’s lively, visually engaging, and upbeat — great for a quick read-aloud or an independent chapter-book win. Just don’t expect anything too weighty; it’s all about fun and imagination, and it does that job well enough to earn its place on a young reader’s shelf.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

This was a cute story. I appreciate the lessons of entrepreneurship woven into a relatable story for kids. It felt very age-appropriate.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to get acquainted with Wednesday. This is an inclusive book full of wonderful characters, adults and children. Wednesday is on the no knock list. A list of homes excluded from Trick or Treating on Halloween. Her and her business team, her brother and friends, come up with a plan to win over Halloween.

I love the definitions provided of words the children may not be aware of. I look forward to reading the entire series and sharing with my classes and family.

My 7 year old gives this 5 big stars! He said he definitely wants to reread it. He liked that it was a Halloween book, and Wednesday and her friends were very smart and creative. Mom liked that Wednesday was kind at the end to the Emma’s.

Wednesday Wilson is back, and this time, she and her friends are preparing for Halloween. Unfortunately, Wednesday's house is number one on the "Do-Not-Knock List" of neighborhood homes to avoid when trick-or-treating--but it's not her fault her moms refuse to give out candy! Luckily, it's Wednesday's turn to pick this year's treat... all she needs now is a brilliant idea that will knock her off the list AND kickstart her newest business venture. Could slime and a Halloween party at a real haunted house be the answer to all her problems?

This latest installment in the Wednesday Wilson series does not disappoint. Wednesday and her friends are as lively, creative, and supportive of one another as ever, even in the face of their archrivals, the Emmas. Wednesday's desire to succeed as an entrepreneur continues to drive her (as well as the plot), and as in previous books in the series, business terms are sprinkled throughout the story and explained in footnotes. Readers will enjoy rooting for Wednesday once again, and can also test out her slime recipe for themselves. A great addition to a winning, inclusive series.

This book wasn't for me. On the plus side: the writing was fun and fast paced, the characters were interesting and I enjoyed the queer rep and the Halloween theme, but the main character's obsession with creating a business was kind of off-putting. Maybe I need to try a different book in the series and see if a different plot will make me enjoy this character more.

Wednesday and the Emma’s are back!! Will the Emma’s get the best of Wednesday and her pals? Or will they overcome the bullying and end up on top. This is the fourth installment in the Wednesday series and they keep getting better and better with this being my favorite installment..

What’s so endearing about this series is it is chock full of information for young readers to learn both knowingly and beneath the surface. From basic business acumen to learning how to deal with bully behavior it touches on a lot.

I love the representation in the book as well. We have characters from various ethnic backgrounds, nonconforming relationships and physical differences and I love that it’s just the way it is rather than the book being about those differences. It sends such a positive message.

These books can be read as standalone adventures but you definitely get a bit more context if you read them all, especially with how the Emma’s impact Wednesday and her friend’s lives.

This book comes out September 2nd 2025 just in time for the new school year and Halloween reading.

I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary eARC from Kids Can Press through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.


My rating system for Middle Grade and children’s books

⭐️ Significant problems and would never recommend to the audience.
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea but may have some appeal.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ an ok book which I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend but it has some value for young readers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! I would recommend for the age or reading level appropriate for the book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Would recommend highly, especially to school programs as a wide spread reading opportunity.