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The Bellwoods Game
Perfect for fans of Small Spaces and Doll Bones , this spooky, highly illustrated middle grade novel follows a girl who hopes to fix her outcast status through a game in the haunted woods, only to discover that some legends shouldn’t be played with.
Everyone knows Fall Hollow is haunted. It has been ever since Abigail Snook went into the woods many years ago, never to be seen again. Since then, it’s tradition for the sixth graders at Beckett Elementary to play the Bellwoods Game on Halloween night. Three kids are chosen to go into the woods. Whoever rings the bell there wins the game and saves the town for another year, but if Abigail’s ghost captures the players first, the spirit is let loose to wreak havoc on Fall Hollow—or so the story goes.
Now that it’s Bailee’s year to play, she can finally find out what really happens. And legend has it the game’s winner gets a wish. Maybe, just maybe, if Bailee wins, she can go back to the way things used to be before her grandma got sick and everyone at school started hating her. But when the night begins, everything the kids thought they knew about the game—and each other—is challenged. One thing’s for something sinister is at play…waiting for them all in the woods.
Everyone knows Fall Hollow is haunted. It has been ever since Abigail Snook went into the woods many years ago, never to be seen again. Since then, it’s tradition for the sixth graders at Beckett Elementary to play the Bellwoods Game on Halloween night. Three kids are chosen to go into the woods. Whoever rings the bell there wins the game and saves the town for another year, but if Abigail’s ghost captures the players first, the spirit is let loose to wreak havoc on Fall Hollow—or so the story goes.
Now that it’s Bailee’s year to play, she can finally find out what really happens. And legend has it the game’s winner gets a wish. Maybe, just maybe, if Bailee wins, she can go back to the way things used to be before her grandma got sick and everyone at school started hating her. But when the night begins, everything the kids thought they knew about the game—and each other—is challenged. One thing’s for something sinister is at play…waiting for them all in the woods.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published July 18, 2023
79 people are currently reading
4964 people want to read
About the author
Celia Krampien
12 books42 followersCelia Krampien grew up in a house in the woods on the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario, Canada, and spent her childhood reading, observing the local wildlife, and climbing trees. She currently lives in Oakville , Ontario, with her partner, and enjoys working alongside her silly cat and going for long walks with her nosy beagle. Celia's illustrations have appeared in children's books, newspapers, and magazines.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 329 reviews
July 5, 2023
This was so lovely. Petition to have illustrations in adult horror novels because that made it 100% eerier. I loved the lore of the woods and the game, combined with the very human sixth grade emotions that all the kids were going through. Also loved the emphasis on fears, stories, and imagination. I would definitely recommend this to spooky middle graders (and adults alike).
Thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.
April 8, 2025
“there’s a little truth hidden away in every story, i think. but what that is, well, that’s a question we all have to ask ourselves.” 🍁🍂✨
this was such a fun, imaginative, and spooky story! i really enjoyed the audiobook. i also followed along on my kindle because the illustrations really added to the reading experience. i highly recommend if you’re looking for a middle grade book with autumnal vibes.
this was such a fun, imaginative, and spooky story! i really enjoyed the audiobook. i also followed along on my kindle because the illustrations really added to the reading experience. i highly recommend if you’re looking for a middle grade book with autumnal vibes.
November 12, 2023
7.00 on CAWPILE
December 3, 2023
This was an actually a really fun little spooky read! It defo gives some season one stranger things vibes just because of the kids. But it’s honestly so autumnal and perfect for that season!
July 13, 2023
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an advance copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I loved this book! It definitely wasn't life changing in any way for me, as an adult, but this book was still so good. It takes place on Halloween night in a creepy, haunted forest, and the atmosphere was just top notch. I even baked some pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and lit a fall candle to get the full autumn experience while reading this.
Then I ended up reading it in one sitting. I mean, it is targeted for fifth/sixth graders and less than 300 pages (for my paperback ARC), but I really ended up blowing through this.
I just know this book is perfect for kids that love scary stories. There is a lot going on in this book, and a lot of smaller "scary story" elements that I know kids will love. Plus, there is a whole theme of friendship and apologizing for your mistakes, and that the world isn't really as scary as you think. The plot never really dragged, and the illustrations in the story added an extra element while reading.
I am definitely keeping this book - it would be a good, quick read to bust a reading slump. Plus, it might be fun to reread during the Autumn season! I think it is a great recommendation to any younger kids, or a quick read if you want something easy and fun. The ending is wholesome, and the story itself was just entertaining to read. Like I said, nothing life changing here, but you can still enjoy it anyway.
Content warnings: child death, violence, bullying, grief
I loved this book! It definitely wasn't life changing in any way for me, as an adult, but this book was still so good. It takes place on Halloween night in a creepy, haunted forest, and the atmosphere was just top notch. I even baked some pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and lit a fall candle to get the full autumn experience while reading this.
Then I ended up reading it in one sitting. I mean, it is targeted for fifth/sixth graders and less than 300 pages (for my paperback ARC), but I really ended up blowing through this.
I just know this book is perfect for kids that love scary stories. There is a lot going on in this book, and a lot of smaller "scary story" elements that I know kids will love. Plus, there is a whole theme of friendship and apologizing for your mistakes, and that the world isn't really as scary as you think. The plot never really dragged, and the illustrations in the story added an extra element while reading.
I am definitely keeping this book - it would be a good, quick read to bust a reading slump. Plus, it might be fun to reread during the Autumn season! I think it is a great recommendation to any younger kids, or a quick read if you want something easy and fun. The ending is wholesome, and the story itself was just entertaining to read. Like I said, nothing life changing here, but you can still enjoy it anyway.
Content warnings: child death, violence, bullying, grief
October 12, 2023
A fantastic middle grade horror mystery perfect for #SpookySeason and fans of authors like Katherine Arden, Kenneth Opel or Laura Senf.
Set in a small town where something evil lurks and every Halloween kids play a game to enter the forest, ring the bell and drive away the scary thing lurking there for another year. Full of important messages about team work, facing your fears and dealing with tough family issues.
Good on audio with great narration by Caitlin Kelly, this new to me Canadian author definitely delivered a standout read!
Set in a small town where something evil lurks and every Halloween kids play a game to enter the forest, ring the bell and drive away the scary thing lurking there for another year. Full of important messages about team work, facing your fears and dealing with tough family issues.
Good on audio with great narration by Caitlin Kelly, this new to me Canadian author definitely delivered a standout read!
October 19, 2023
The perfect quick cute yet scary middle grade read for spoopy season :) I couldn’t stop thinking about the story and how everything connected. I even revisited a few parts in the book.
June 24, 2023
Absolutely thrilled to be able to read this ARC that was given to the library I work at -
This is a SPECTACULAR read!! The way it came full circle of a family member righting a wrong that happened YEARS AGO by an older family member, was truly remarkable. The spook factor and ghost story appeal was incredible as well.
This is a SPECTACULAR read!! The way it came full circle of a family member righting a wrong that happened YEARS AGO by an older family member, was truly remarkable. The spook factor and ghost story appeal was incredible as well.
September 6, 2025
3.5 for the book but 5 for the art. Fun, spooky, and heartfelt MG horror in which the kids all learn a bit of empathy for each other while being pursued by a deeply bored and quite unpleasant specter through the woods. Solidly written, fun, nice. Not (as MG horror) as devastating as, say, Katherine Arden’s first mg horror with the CORN and the SCARECROWS Jesus CHRIST, or Wait Til Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn, or that story about the moon from Bruce Coville’s Book of Nightmares Tales to Make You Scream. Krampien’s illustration style is the best part of the book: pleasing to the eye and expressive to the extent that in a fully illustrated novel every illustration still felt like a fresh and wonderful treat. She has a serious knack for character design and I loved this element a lot - reminds me how charmed i was by her picture book SUNNY. Go check out sunny! I enjoyed this and would recommend.
November 2, 2025
I've been saving this one for the perfect Halloween night, and I'm so glad I finally got to read it. ;)
Between the middle-grade appropriate spookiness, the small town with a lot of legend, and the delightful illustrations, I was caught up in the fall vibes. I enjoyed it and found the characters cute and the message really cool, but there wasn't much more to it than that.
I'm not sure why I didn't connect with it, maybe because horror/spookiness is not my usual genre or it was on the lower age end of middle-grade. I'm left a little disappointed, but it did serve its purpose of a good, clean, spooky read.
CW: bullying, death, spooky elements such as ghosts, zombies, bats, etc.
Between the middle-grade appropriate spookiness, the small town with a lot of legend, and the delightful illustrations, I was caught up in the fall vibes. I enjoyed it and found the characters cute and the message really cool, but there wasn't much more to it than that.
I'm not sure why I didn't connect with it, maybe because horror/spookiness is not my usual genre or it was on the lower age end of middle-grade. I'm left a little disappointed, but it did serve its purpose of a good, clean, spooky read.
CW: bullying, death, spooky elements such as ghosts, zombies, bats, etc.
November 3, 2024
4.5⭐️ rounded up. Y’all! This is so good! It gives the Hocus Pocus-y whimsical Halloween feel but much more creepy! The supernatural element and what was happening was def spooky for a juvenile book. I thought the story of the woods and the game were incredibly well written. A few cheesy parts, but I was okay with that! Great fall/spooky szn read!
October 17, 2025
4.5!!!!
bookclub comes first 😌
bookclub comes first 😌
September 15, 2023
A bit repetitive in some parts (stuff that should have been caught in editing), but I really enjoyed this!
October 13, 2024
I believe firmly that you CAN judge a book by its cover in the publishing world, so not much would have dissuaded my almost impulsive purchase in this very nicely designed book.
Not wrong at all. I greatly appreciated and respected Celia Krampien for her deft skill at writing on the level of a young reader, not feeling forged in any regard.
She writes in such a charmingly descriptive way, your mind can connect the dots effortlessly from one moment to another like you're there. You hear the crunching of leaves, the creaks in steps... you smell the rain, an old room... you feel the emotions of the characters. A great cast, you might also feel closer to them like you know them personally.
It's got a strong lead, and acknowledges that success often happens through teamwork.
As an aside, there's a snippet maybe 1/3 of the way in which suddenly pulls me from my reverie that strikes me as too similar to a Mighty Boosh reference for me to think it couldn't be an accident. Could she really have named two of the characters Bailee and Greg to squeeze in a tiny little nod to a show? Is that possible? You'll see when you get to it. Or you should, but it's subtle. Maybe she just met the discovery of the moment with humor for an inside joke.
So yeah, very early on, while finding the comfortable genius of having nice little illustrations throughout and being so happy with the writing, I thought, this book is perfect! And who is her illustrator?
Her illustrator is herself. She amazingly writes AND does her own artwork. I detracted briefly to look at her Instagram page, and I was overwhelmed by the unbelievable talent contained in one person, discovering that she is the illustrator of many familiar kids books in the kids department!
I am a very enthusiastic fan now. She did a picture book before this, but I believe this is her debut. It will be fun to see what other stories she comes up with after this.
Not wrong at all. I greatly appreciated and respected Celia Krampien for her deft skill at writing on the level of a young reader, not feeling forged in any regard.
She writes in such a charmingly descriptive way, your mind can connect the dots effortlessly from one moment to another like you're there. You hear the crunching of leaves, the creaks in steps... you smell the rain, an old room... you feel the emotions of the characters. A great cast, you might also feel closer to them like you know them personally.
It's got a strong lead, and acknowledges that success often happens through teamwork.
As an aside, there's a snippet maybe 1/3 of the way in which suddenly pulls me from my reverie that strikes me as too similar to a Mighty Boosh reference for me to think it couldn't be an accident. Could she really have named two of the characters Bailee and Greg to squeeze in a tiny little nod to a show? Is that possible? You'll see when you get to it. Or you should, but it's subtle. Maybe she just met the discovery of the moment with humor for an inside joke.
So yeah, very early on, while finding the comfortable genius of having nice little illustrations throughout and being so happy with the writing, I thought, this book is perfect! And who is her illustrator?
Her illustrator is herself. She amazingly writes AND does her own artwork. I detracted briefly to look at her Instagram page, and I was overwhelmed by the unbelievable talent contained in one person, discovering that she is the illustrator of many familiar kids books in the kids department!
I am a very enthusiastic fan now. She did a picture book before this, but I believe this is her debut. It will be fun to see what other stories she comes up with after this.
October 18, 2024
When I was younger, tag was one of my favorite games to play with my friends. Often, the tagger would pretend to be a monster or villain, making the chase even more exciting as we ran around outside, laughing and dodging each other without a care in the world. That’s part of why I enjoyed reading
The Bellwoods Game
by Celia Krampien. The story brought back those memories of tag and reminded me how those simple moments were some of the best times growing up.
But The Bellwoods Game isn’t just about the excitement of a game like tag. It goes deeper, exploring what it feels like to want to belong, fit in, and, most importantly, be noticed by the people who matter most when you’re young: your peers. That part really hit me, making me think about how friendships can change over time and how tough it can feel when you’re on the outside looking in. The book is not just a spooky adventure but also a story about finding your place, even when things feel uncertain or unfair.
The story follows Bailee, an outcast who hopes to change her fate through the legendary Bellwoods Game, where sixth graders must brave the haunted Bellwoods on Halloween night. Legend has it that the winner of the game not only lifts a year-long curse from their town but also earns a wish. Bailee hopes that victory will resolve all her troubles: her social struggles at school, her hardworking but absent parents, and her grandmother’s illness. But as the game unfolds, Bailee and the other players discover that the real challenges aren’t just the rumors of ghosts and braving the wooded terrain at night, but the truths they must face about themselves and each other.
Celia Krampien is also a wonderful illustrator, and the illustrations in this book are nothing short of amazing. They bring the eerie woods and the haunting atmosphere to life, adding a depth to the story that made me feel like I was right there, running through the trees with Bailee and the others. The art enhances the tension and beauty of each moment, making the book even more engaging and spooky.
But what I loved most about the book is that it’s more than just a ghost story; it’s a journey about courage and connection. Bailee’s, and Abigail’s, stories resonated with me, especially since their experiences reminded me of my own after moving to the United States. Back then, fitting in felt like the hardest thing in the world. I didn’t know anyone; I could barely speak English, and because of that, I was teased relentlessly. Every small victory, like making just one friend, meant everything.
If you’re in the mood for a spooky read this Halloween that also imparts valuable lessons in courage and friendship, I highly recommend The Bellwoods Game .
But The Bellwoods Game isn’t just about the excitement of a game like tag. It goes deeper, exploring what it feels like to want to belong, fit in, and, most importantly, be noticed by the people who matter most when you’re young: your peers. That part really hit me, making me think about how friendships can change over time and how tough it can feel when you’re on the outside looking in. The book is not just a spooky adventure but also a story about finding your place, even when things feel uncertain or unfair.
The story follows Bailee, an outcast who hopes to change her fate through the legendary Bellwoods Game, where sixth graders must brave the haunted Bellwoods on Halloween night. Legend has it that the winner of the game not only lifts a year-long curse from their town but also earns a wish. Bailee hopes that victory will resolve all her troubles: her social struggles at school, her hardworking but absent parents, and her grandmother’s illness. But as the game unfolds, Bailee and the other players discover that the real challenges aren’t just the rumors of ghosts and braving the wooded terrain at night, but the truths they must face about themselves and each other.
Celia Krampien is also a wonderful illustrator, and the illustrations in this book are nothing short of amazing. They bring the eerie woods and the haunting atmosphere to life, adding a depth to the story that made me feel like I was right there, running through the trees with Bailee and the others. The art enhances the tension and beauty of each moment, making the book even more engaging and spooky.
But what I loved most about the book is that it’s more than just a ghost story; it’s a journey about courage and connection. Bailee’s, and Abigail’s, stories resonated with me, especially since their experiences reminded me of my own after moving to the United States. Back then, fitting in felt like the hardest thing in the world. I didn’t know anyone; I could barely speak English, and because of that, I was teased relentlessly. Every small victory, like making just one friend, meant everything.
If you’re in the mood for a spooky read this Halloween that also imparts valuable lessons in courage and friendship, I highly recommend The Bellwoods Game .
October 11, 2024
I loved pretty much everything about this. The vibes, the story, the characters. This is perfect for fans of Hocus Pocus (which I am) and even The Goonies. Ragtag team of kids running around the woods on Halloween Night and the winner of the game gets a gift? Also, the illustrations were AMAZING! Need that be more of thing, especially in adult novels 😭 I just wish the ending with The Specter wasn't so...easy? I needed a little more friction instead of them giving in so easily. Other than that this was the perfect spooky time middle grade read!
August 5, 2025
A Halloween story that's lavishly illustrated. The print edition is gorgeous.
The Game is a longstanding tradition in the small town on the edge of the Bellwoods. Every year, sixth graders go into the woods, and three people are selected to participate in a race that's so much more than a ghost story. It's finally Bailee's turn to try and race the ghost of Abigail Snook to the bell in the center of the woods, but friend drama is complicating everything. And so is the fact that there might really be a ghost in the woods.
Nice tension. This is a perfect Halloween season read!
The Game is a longstanding tradition in the small town on the edge of the Bellwoods. Every year, sixth graders go into the woods, and three people are selected to participate in a race that's so much more than a ghost story. It's finally Bailee's turn to try and race the ghost of Abigail Snook to the bell in the center of the woods, but friend drama is complicating everything. And so is the fact that there might really be a ghost in the woods.
Nice tension. This is a perfect Halloween season read!
October 23, 2025
I just loved this story! I connected with two of the big characters so much that I felt sad and happy during their journey of the game.
I really enjoyed Celia Krampiens writing style, and the art illustrations she did were amazing and very well done. They added that extra creepiness and connection to the characters.
If you want a cute, easy, cozy scary story for fall/halloween, this book fits to a T. I am going to recommend this book to others as well for sure!
I really enjoyed Celia Krampiens writing style, and the art illustrations she did were amazing and very well done. They added that extra creepiness and connection to the characters.
If you want a cute, easy, cozy scary story for fall/halloween, this book fits to a T. I am going to recommend this book to others as well for sure!
May 7, 2024
This is a spooky middle grade story set in the woods on Halloween night. It features friendships, bullying, and dealing with tough issues at home like money worries and medical issues. I thought the book was well written, with a lot of action, some scary parts, and a nice lesson about compassion for others, even if you aren't sure what they're going through.
February 16, 2024
really reminds me of The Hiddenseek
July 21, 2025
3.5 I'm not a fan of spooky books, but this is good for middle schoolers who like their scares with a side of middle school drama.
October 31, 2025
i love middle grade
October 27, 2024
I enjoyed the dynamics between friends & classmates as they worked through personal & friendship issues. A level of supernatural & scary unexplained things makes this a perfect Oct. read.
October 27, 2025
this was so cute! i loved the illustration UGH
October 21, 2025
A very wholesome, easy, fall read. I loved sitting on my couch with my halloween ambience on and reading this book!
October 21, 2023
I really enjoyed the illustrations of this and the Fall vibes for me were definitely strong. The story could have been a bit better but I still enjoyed it overall. I'm very curious to see if this is going to become a series. I also love that the author/illustrator is Canadian ❤🍁
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July 31, 2023I'm very glad I read this gripping #MGLit horror book by Canadian author Celia Krampien during the daytime! Set in the woods of Fall Hollow, Bailee and her classmates are (sort of) ready for the traditional Bellwoods Game that takes place each Halloween for three randomly chosen kids from the sixth grade. It's well known that Abigail Snook, a girl who went missing several years ago, haunts the woods that night, but if one of the kids can race to the bell and ring it, they'll protect the town from Abigail's wrath for another year. Bailee is selected to play, but she's more interested in the wish that the winner supposedly gets to make, and with her recent status as a social outcast, she would like to make things go back to how they used to be. No one can remember what evil has happened in the woods in years past, but none of the kids will leave them the same as they went in…if they leave at all!
I most enjoyed the numerous illustrations in this book by the author, a highly accomplished illustrator who also created the book's cover, as well as others such as The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeihart, The Gray by Chris Baron, and Those Kid From Fawn Creek by Erin Entrada Kelly. Not only did the visuals add to the story, but they helped to break up the text and make the book feel shorter than its 305 pages. I also enjoyed Bailee and her classmates becoming unexpected allies and confronting their issues while facing the sinister force working against them.
I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy spooky stories set in haunted woods with sinister twists around every corner.
I most enjoyed the numerous illustrations in this book by the author, a highly accomplished illustrator who also created the book's cover, as well as others such as The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeihart, The Gray by Chris Baron, and Those Kid From Fawn Creek by Erin Entrada Kelly. Not only did the visuals add to the story, but they helped to break up the text and make the book feel shorter than its 305 pages. I also enjoyed Bailee and her classmates becoming unexpected allies and confronting their issues while facing the sinister force working against them.
I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy spooky stories set in haunted woods with sinister twists around every corner.
June 24, 2024
It started strong. And then it Scooby Doo’d.
October 27, 2024
Ehh 3.5. I’ll forever be chasing the high of “Small Spaces” when it comes to spooky kids books - but the illustrations were so charming.
April 27, 2025
it's hard to find actually spooky horror for kids. this was a lot of fun.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 329 reviews