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Exit Nowhere
Haunted Mansion meets the ultimate escape room in this tense and twisty middle grade horror following four kids who must beat a series of games to make it out of a haunted house.
The creepiest place in Barret Eloise’s small town is the abandoned Raithfield Manor, a decrepit house surrounded by rumors of ghosts and kids going missing. So she certainly never planned on stepping foot inside. But when her history teacher gives her a group project to research a local landmark, the manor is the location her group chooses. Determined to ace the project and fix her awkward first impression on her assigned partners—which include her former friend Helena, smart and confident Wayne, and school basketball star Ridge—Barret Eloise isn’t about to let some tall tales scare her off.
When the kids first enter the house, it seems to be nothing more than an empty building. But when the sun goes down, the doors and windows lock, sealing them inside. Even worse, the room they’re in transforms into an all-too-real game of The Floor is Lava. It doesn’t take long for the group to realize the mansion is a maze of childhood games. Win the game and you keep moving forward, lose and you disappear. And complicating it all is a worrying revelation—they are not alone in the house.
If Barret Eloise wants to make it home, she and her dysfunctional group are going to have to learn to work together quickly.
Publish Date: 9/3/2024 by Aladdin / Simon & Schuster
Cover design by Tiara Iandiorio and illustration by Rosie Fowinkle
The creepiest place in Barret Eloise’s small town is the abandoned Raithfield Manor, a decrepit house surrounded by rumors of ghosts and kids going missing. So she certainly never planned on stepping foot inside. But when her history teacher gives her a group project to research a local landmark, the manor is the location her group chooses. Determined to ace the project and fix her awkward first impression on her assigned partners—which include her former friend Helena, smart and confident Wayne, and school basketball star Ridge—Barret Eloise isn’t about to let some tall tales scare her off.
When the kids first enter the house, it seems to be nothing more than an empty building. But when the sun goes down, the doors and windows lock, sealing them inside. Even worse, the room they’re in transforms into an all-too-real game of The Floor is Lava. It doesn’t take long for the group to realize the mansion is a maze of childhood games. Win the game and you keep moving forward, lose and you disappear. And complicating it all is a worrying revelation—they are not alone in the house.
If Barret Eloise wants to make it home, she and her dysfunctional group are going to have to learn to work together quickly.
Publish Date: 9/3/2024 by Aladdin / Simon & Schuster
Cover design by Tiara Iandiorio and illustration by Rosie Fowinkle
Hardcover
First published September 17, 2024
9 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 1, 2024
✰ 3 stars ✰
“Hollow emptiness opened inside her—how was she supposed to feel anything but lonely when no one ever seemed to notice her?”
It was not bad, I'll admit. After a bit of a shaky start where I was not quite keen on Barret Eloise's troubled personality, but once all the players were gathered and they had selected the abandoned and presumably haunted Raithfield Manor as their chosen target for the combined class project, and the threat of how much danger they were actually in for even stepping foot into its premise became quite apparent - I was all in. 👌🏻 It helped that there is actually a tragic horror story to Exit Nowhere - one that when it eventually reveals its hand in playing a crucial part in how the haunted mansion challenges the four tweens attempts to escape from all the booby traps of twisted puzzles lain out in a chilling high-stakes game that does have dire consequences - one that do last and hurt those forever caught - if they lose the game. 😨
“She didn’t know how to solve being awkward, but she could solve the problem of Raithfield.”
There were two key consistent points, which I appreciated. One was that by working with these three tweens, Barret Eloise improved parts of her social skills that she felt had been lacking; working together with them in order to survive gave her a chance to see where her talents truly excelled and what she needed to work on, so she could finally have the friendships she so desperately yearned for.
The history behind the mysterious ghostly happenings of a 'mansion ravaged by time and abandonment' - was heartbreaking and rather disturbing, too, to think that such a tragedy has lain root in waiting for someone to free them forever. It gave me chills and it saddened me to see how Barret Eloise felt herself relate to the loss of those who were trapped - the lonely sorrow that evades that of one who has been alone. ❤️🩹❤️🩹 It was a chilling, yet frightening moment when she figured out why they had been trapped and what was the only way for their chance for survival. The intense tension of it was haunted and the desperate risk of a chance she and her friends had to take in order to escape. The action and humor balanced each other out really well, and as the plot creeped towards the end, I was fearful that a terrible fate would befall those, but considering it is a middle grade read, I figured that it was highly unlikely. 🥺
“I’m sick of saving you.” Ridge squatted behind her, his weight balancing the chair so that it wouldn’t flip over.
“You’re not more sick of it than me.”
I liked how the author portrayed the friendship's dynamics, as well. They behaved like kids who were forced to work together, arguing to prove a point, not really seeing eye-to-eye, while also doing their level best to provide as much help in their own way - almost challenging the other to one-up themselves, so they can participate to the most exent. 😟 But, it felt natural to see them slowly trust each other and try to escape the haunting fears - in one piece. Barret Eloise lacked a lot of self-confidence and suffered from her own bouts of being alone, to the point that loneliness was second nature to her.
How the author translated her own fears into that of which became her strength in recognizing what needed to be done to escape the rigged maze or frightening tests was skillfully handled. And I'm glad that it did end on a lighter note, despite how tragic the story behind the house was. 😢 The evil that lurked had its sad reasons for being a threat and when it finally breathed its last, it not only eased their pain, but gave Barret Eloise a chance to be a better person. It was a fun and engaging read that showed healthy character development, as well as portrayed a gripping chilling tale, too. It would make a good choice for libraries during the spooky season, as it does have a paranormal element to it, as well as a solid build-up of forging friendships and learning to trust in one's own capabilities. 👍🏻
Oh, and special shout-out to her older brother, Cody. 😆 While he did not enter the haunted house alongside the misfits of friends, he was such a fun-loving and free-spirited and quite zany energy to him that made it impossible to dislike and not have a smile on your face in his presence. His outgoing personality did not seem forced, rather his teasing comments at his younger sister's expense were a welcome levity to the overall slightly creepy if not bittersweet vibe of the story. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
“Hollow emptiness opened inside her—how was she supposed to feel anything but lonely when no one ever seemed to notice her?”
It was not bad, I'll admit. After a bit of a shaky start where I was not quite keen on Barret Eloise's troubled personality, but once all the players were gathered and they had selected the abandoned and presumably haunted Raithfield Manor as their chosen target for the combined class project, and the threat of how much danger they were actually in for even stepping foot into its premise became quite apparent - I was all in. 👌🏻 It helped that there is actually a tragic horror story to Exit Nowhere - one that when it eventually reveals its hand in playing a crucial part in how the haunted mansion challenges the four tweens attempts to escape from all the booby traps of twisted puzzles lain out in a chilling high-stakes game that does have dire consequences - one that do last and hurt those forever caught - if they lose the game. 😨
“She didn’t know how to solve being awkward, but she could solve the problem of Raithfield.”
There were two key consistent points, which I appreciated. One was that by working with these three tweens, Barret Eloise improved parts of her social skills that she felt had been lacking; working together with them in order to survive gave her a chance to see where her talents truly excelled and what she needed to work on, so she could finally have the friendships she so desperately yearned for.
The history behind the mysterious ghostly happenings of a 'mansion ravaged by time and abandonment' - was heartbreaking and rather disturbing, too, to think that such a tragedy has lain root in waiting for someone to free them forever. It gave me chills and it saddened me to see how Barret Eloise felt herself relate to the loss of those who were trapped - the lonely sorrow that evades that of one who has been alone. ❤️🩹❤️🩹 It was a chilling, yet frightening moment when she figured out why they had been trapped and what was the only way for their chance for survival. The intense tension of it was haunted and the desperate risk of a chance she and her friends had to take in order to escape. The action and humor balanced each other out really well, and as the plot creeped towards the end, I was fearful that a terrible fate would befall those, but considering it is a middle grade read, I figured that it was highly unlikely. 🥺
“I’m sick of saving you.” Ridge squatted behind her, his weight balancing the chair so that it wouldn’t flip over.
“You’re not more sick of it than me.”
I liked how the author portrayed the friendship's dynamics, as well. They behaved like kids who were forced to work together, arguing to prove a point, not really seeing eye-to-eye, while also doing their level best to provide as much help in their own way - almost challenging the other to one-up themselves, so they can participate to the most exent. 😟 But, it felt natural to see them slowly trust each other and try to escape the haunting fears - in one piece. Barret Eloise lacked a lot of self-confidence and suffered from her own bouts of being alone, to the point that loneliness was second nature to her.
How the author translated her own fears into that of which became her strength in recognizing what needed to be done to escape the rigged maze or frightening tests was skillfully handled. And I'm glad that it did end on a lighter note, despite how tragic the story behind the house was. 😢 The evil that lurked had its sad reasons for being a threat and when it finally breathed its last, it not only eased their pain, but gave Barret Eloise a chance to be a better person. It was a fun and engaging read that showed healthy character development, as well as portrayed a gripping chilling tale, too. It would make a good choice for libraries during the spooky season, as it does have a paranormal element to it, as well as a solid build-up of forging friendships and learning to trust in one's own capabilities. 👍🏻
Oh, and special shout-out to her older brother, Cody. 😆 While he did not enter the haunted house alongside the misfits of friends, he was such a fun-loving and free-spirited and quite zany energy to him that made it impossible to dislike and not have a smile on your face in his presence. His outgoing personality did not seem forced, rather his teasing comments at his younger sister's expense were a welcome levity to the overall slightly creepy if not bittersweet vibe of the story. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
failed-attempts
August 12, 2025DNF 8/4-8/11
I stopped at page 57 out of 309 because I was just not interested or drawn in at all. Also, this is probably just a me thing, but the main character's name Barret Eloise really annoyed me.
I stopped at page 57 out of 309 because I was just not interested or drawn in at all. Also, this is probably just a me thing, but the main character's name Barret Eloise really annoyed me.
September 25, 2024
Juliana Brandt does it again. She's one of the best middle grade authors in the game right now. This one is fast-paced and well written. It has a charming cast, a spooky setting, and a really great overarching plot. The last 100 pages really solidified it for me. It had a twist I enjoyed, as well as a resolution that left me very satisfied. I'm really excited about this book and I hope a lot of younger readers pick it up this fall.
July 27, 2024
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
I loved this book, not only for the adventurous ghost storyline, but even more for the deeper relationships and lessons that Barret Eloise learned throughout the story. The characters and their relationships in the beginning of the book will appeal to those young adult/middle school readers. This book was spooky without being scary. The plot moved quickly to keep my interest engaged, but built enough suspense that I wasn't sure what was going to happen next.
I loved this book, not only for the adventurous ghost storyline, but even more for the deeper relationships and lessons that Barret Eloise learned throughout the story. The characters and their relationships in the beginning of the book will appeal to those young adult/middle school readers. This book was spooky without being scary. The plot moved quickly to keep my interest engaged, but built enough suspense that I wasn't sure what was going to happen next.
February 12, 2025
Every day middle schooler Barrett (EL-OH-EZE) passes the 100-year-old creepy and decrepit Raithfield Manor on her way home. It scares her a bit every time she sees it.
Everyone in town has heard mysteries, rumors, and scary stories about Raithfield, including ones that involve ghost sightings and people who disappeared after they dared to enter that abandoned house.
Since elementary school, Barrett has struggled with loneliness and feeling left out. Her feelings don’t improve when she’s assigned a group project in history class and has to work with her former BFF Helena and the big jock Ridge. However, she’s pleased her secret crush and computer whiz Wayne is there–even if he doesn’t even know her name.
Barrett surprisingly suggests Raithfield Manor and the adventure begins when the group visits. Trouble starts when the door slams and locks them in. Then true horror begins in the library when the fireplace spews out lava requiring the kids to play The Floor is Lava game–and that’s just the start of this “terrorific”adrenalin ride.
Trapped in this eerie, ancient house this eclectic group of not-friends will have to work together as a sinister ghost forces them to play a series of dangerous childhood games to find a way out, including a menacing maze and snakes and ladders.
Students will love this fast-paced and scary tale that also has positive messages about experiencing loneliness and making friends. The students are unique in their personalities and issues; Helena is black and the others cue as white.
Give this book to fans of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library who long for more horror.
Everyone in town has heard mysteries, rumors, and scary stories about Raithfield, including ones that involve ghost sightings and people who disappeared after they dared to enter that abandoned house.
Since elementary school, Barrett has struggled with loneliness and feeling left out. Her feelings don’t improve when she’s assigned a group project in history class and has to work with her former BFF Helena and the big jock Ridge. However, she’s pleased her secret crush and computer whiz Wayne is there–even if he doesn’t even know her name.
Barrett surprisingly suggests Raithfield Manor and the adventure begins when the group visits. Trouble starts when the door slams and locks them in. Then true horror begins in the library when the fireplace spews out lava requiring the kids to play The Floor is Lava game–and that’s just the start of this “terrorific”adrenalin ride.
Trapped in this eerie, ancient house this eclectic group of not-friends will have to work together as a sinister ghost forces them to play a series of dangerous childhood games to find a way out, including a menacing maze and snakes and ladders.
Students will love this fast-paced and scary tale that also has positive messages about experiencing loneliness and making friends. The students are unique in their personalities and issues; Helena is black and the others cue as white.
Give this book to fans of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library who long for more horror.
June 6, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Barret Eloise lives on a mountain in Appalachia, not far from Rathfield Manor, a house with a reputation for being haunted after horrible things happened to its residents. She has trouble connecting with her classmates, so hopes that she'll be able to find some friends when Mr. Pinnard assigns a local history group project. She is assigned to work with a former friend, Helena, who ghosted her in fourth grade, a somewhat jerky jock, Ridge, and Wayne, a geeky tech guy on whom she has a crush. Wanting to make a good first impression on the group, she suggests that they choose Rathfield Manor as their location. They agree, and Wayne, Helena, and Barret Eloise all surprise each other by meeting at the library where they are all trying to get a jump on the project! They decide to interview a local real estate agent about the property, and find that the woman involved in the most notorious disappearance at the house, Norma, is now in a senior apartment complex. When they travel there to try to get in to meet her, they run into Ridge, who is there visiting his aunt. This ends up to be... Norma! He agrees to let them meet her, since he is not very interested in other aspects of the work that needs to be done, but warns that she does like to have games mentioned at all. Of course, Barret Eloise mentions that she could be Norma's partner for the senior facility cribbage tournament. On the way out, Norma whispers to Barrett Eloise that she "can't win". Barrett Eloise needs a win, so agrees to meet the group at Rathfield Manor to check out the building. Her brother Cody drops her off. It's a spooky place, but the kids approach it sensibly, except for Helena, who really doesn't want to go in. She's smart, because once they are in, the door locks behind them! Barret Eloise sees a shadowy figure in the house, and the fireplace is lit, so the children are all worried. As they should be! Soon, Ridge realizes that the bottom of his tennis shoe has melted and the floor of the room is actual lava. The four must escape across furniture, and when they make it to safely, words appear on the wall: "You weren't supposed to win." Knowing the history of the home's original owners, they quickly deduce that the ghost who is tormenting them is five year old Finnius, who didn't die with three other children of flu, but perished in a particularly horrible way. He sends them through a variety of treasure hunts and games, and when Ridge loses one, he disappears. Not long after that, Wayne does too, but the girls meet Eugene, Norma's boyfriend who was trapped in the house all those years ago. Unable to leave, he is kept alive by the ghost's magic and doesn't need to eat. He tries to help Helena and Barret Eloise figure out how to "win" the game, and both know they need to help Finnius find peace in order to escape. Will they be able to do this, or will they spend the next sixty years trapped in the house like Eugene?
Strengths: There is something appealing about an old, abandoned house that is rumored to be haunted, and there are plenty of books about these edifices in middle grade literature. This gets bonus points for several reasons: Barret Eloise doesn't move into the haunted house from a different town, there is a school group project that involves different personalities, the group does solid research before they go into the house, and the ghost is both sad and pretty frightening. I also enjoyed Cody way more than I should have; he's older, and drives Barret Eloise places, but acts like an embarassing dad! The slight crush on Wayne, and his kind treatment of her, are a nice touch as well. Escape rooms are having a bit of a trend, so this is another draw.
Weaknesses: Houses can't really be abandoned for sixty years and remain standing, but the idea does make for a great story. I would have liked to know more about how the ghost was able to set up all of the puzzles, but since he's a ghost, we don't really need any other reason.
What I really think: This had a lot of similarities to Currie's Mystery of Locked Rooms , but had more paranormal elements, like Ockler's The Smashed Man of Dread End. This definitely feels similar to Mary Downing Hahn's evil ghost books, like All the Lovely Bad Ones, or Poblocki's The Book of Bad Things.
Barret Eloise lives on a mountain in Appalachia, not far from Rathfield Manor, a house with a reputation for being haunted after horrible things happened to its residents. She has trouble connecting with her classmates, so hopes that she'll be able to find some friends when Mr. Pinnard assigns a local history group project. She is assigned to work with a former friend, Helena, who ghosted her in fourth grade, a somewhat jerky jock, Ridge, and Wayne, a geeky tech guy on whom she has a crush. Wanting to make a good first impression on the group, she suggests that they choose Rathfield Manor as their location. They agree, and Wayne, Helena, and Barret Eloise all surprise each other by meeting at the library where they are all trying to get a jump on the project! They decide to interview a local real estate agent about the property, and find that the woman involved in the most notorious disappearance at the house, Norma, is now in a senior apartment complex. When they travel there to try to get in to meet her, they run into Ridge, who is there visiting his aunt. This ends up to be... Norma! He agrees to let them meet her, since he is not very interested in other aspects of the work that needs to be done, but warns that she does like to have games mentioned at all. Of course, Barret Eloise mentions that she could be Norma's partner for the senior facility cribbage tournament. On the way out, Norma whispers to Barrett Eloise that she "can't win". Barrett Eloise needs a win, so agrees to meet the group at Rathfield Manor to check out the building. Her brother Cody drops her off. It's a spooky place, but the kids approach it sensibly, except for Helena, who really doesn't want to go in. She's smart, because once they are in, the door locks behind them! Barret Eloise sees a shadowy figure in the house, and the fireplace is lit, so the children are all worried. As they should be! Soon, Ridge realizes that the bottom of his tennis shoe has melted and the floor of the room is actual lava. The four must escape across furniture, and when they make it to safely, words appear on the wall: "You weren't supposed to win." Knowing the history of the home's original owners, they quickly deduce that the ghost who is tormenting them is five year old Finnius, who didn't die with three other children of flu, but perished in a particularly horrible way. He sends them through a variety of treasure hunts and games, and when Ridge loses one, he disappears. Not long after that, Wayne does too, but the girls meet Eugene, Norma's boyfriend who was trapped in the house all those years ago. Unable to leave, he is kept alive by the ghost's magic and doesn't need to eat. He tries to help Helena and Barret Eloise figure out how to "win" the game, and both know they need to help Finnius find peace in order to escape. Will they be able to do this, or will they spend the next sixty years trapped in the house like Eugene?
Strengths: There is something appealing about an old, abandoned house that is rumored to be haunted, and there are plenty of books about these edifices in middle grade literature. This gets bonus points for several reasons: Barret Eloise doesn't move into the haunted house from a different town, there is a school group project that involves different personalities, the group does solid research before they go into the house, and the ghost is both sad and pretty frightening. I also enjoyed Cody way more than I should have; he's older, and drives Barret Eloise places, but acts like an embarassing dad! The slight crush on Wayne, and his kind treatment of her, are a nice touch as well. Escape rooms are having a bit of a trend, so this is another draw.
Weaknesses: Houses can't really be abandoned for sixty years and remain standing, but the idea does make for a great story. I would have liked to know more about how the ghost was able to set up all of the puzzles, but since he's a ghost, we don't really need any other reason.
What I really think: This had a lot of similarities to Currie's Mystery of Locked Rooms , but had more paranormal elements, like Ockler's The Smashed Man of Dread End. This definitely feels similar to Mary Downing Hahn's evil ghost books, like All the Lovely Bad Ones, or Poblocki's The Book of Bad Things.
August 10, 2024
What worked:
Barret Eloise has a low self-image despite being the smartest girl in the seventh grade. She has difficulty knowing what to say to others which explains why she doesn’t have any friends. She used to be friends with Helena until something happened in the fourth grade but Barret Eloise doesn’t remember what she did. The pair are assigned a group project with Wayne, another smart student, and Ridge, an outstanding basketball player. Ridge isn’t shy about sharing his thoughts which creates tension with Barret Eloise. On the other hand, introverted Barret Eloise slowly realizes she has a crush on Wayne which causes its own form of anxiety.
The author masterfully crafts her words to create a creepy, eerie atmosphere. The book opens by saying Raithfield Manor looks exactly like a rotting skull, plants hanging from the roof are like moss covering bones, and there’s a blackened hole in the center of the mansion’s face. The haunted house is surrounded by bushes with “little scratchy fingers that clawed skin and snagged hair.” The inside of the abandoned house has the expected dark, dusty rooms with creepy, creaky floors although it holds unexpected surprises. The kids know a boy named Eugene disappeared in the house decades earlier, he was the boyfriend of Ridge’s grandmother, so they hope to uncover the mystery of what happened to him. They quickly realize they’re in trouble when they see words scratched into the “feathery ice that slicked the walls.” YOU. WEREN’T. SUPPOSED. TO WIN.
The most entertaining part of the story is the spirit haunting the house and the challenges it presents. The identity of it isn’t what the characters expect but some readers might anticipate the truth. I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I won’t say more about that. The first obstacle is a floor of lava that most young readers will have played. They won’t have experienced the flames and intense heat that make this a life-threatening problem for the kids. Additional encounters are equally dangerous but they’re unpredictable due to the ghost’s past. The ghost doesn’t like to lose. The characters will need to learn the ghost’s motivation and uncover its mysteries to stay alive and escape Raithfield Manor.
What didn’t work as well:
It’s unclear what happens to other people who’ve lost the ghost’s games in the past. The public should have known more about the house based on what readers learn about their demises. This next thing is petty on my part but I agree with Ridge that Barret Eloise’s name has too many syllables. It would work better if she hadn’t been the main character and her name didn’t appear as often.
The final verdict:
Barret Eloise’s journey to self-discovery is the main thread throughout the plot. She doesn’t truly understand how to be a friend until Helena helps her reflect on her past. The overall story is spooky without being over the top and I recommend you give it a shot.
Barret Eloise has a low self-image despite being the smartest girl in the seventh grade. She has difficulty knowing what to say to others which explains why she doesn’t have any friends. She used to be friends with Helena until something happened in the fourth grade but Barret Eloise doesn’t remember what she did. The pair are assigned a group project with Wayne, another smart student, and Ridge, an outstanding basketball player. Ridge isn’t shy about sharing his thoughts which creates tension with Barret Eloise. On the other hand, introverted Barret Eloise slowly realizes she has a crush on Wayne which causes its own form of anxiety.
The author masterfully crafts her words to create a creepy, eerie atmosphere. The book opens by saying Raithfield Manor looks exactly like a rotting skull, plants hanging from the roof are like moss covering bones, and there’s a blackened hole in the center of the mansion’s face. The haunted house is surrounded by bushes with “little scratchy fingers that clawed skin and snagged hair.” The inside of the abandoned house has the expected dark, dusty rooms with creepy, creaky floors although it holds unexpected surprises. The kids know a boy named Eugene disappeared in the house decades earlier, he was the boyfriend of Ridge’s grandmother, so they hope to uncover the mystery of what happened to him. They quickly realize they’re in trouble when they see words scratched into the “feathery ice that slicked the walls.” YOU. WEREN’T. SUPPOSED. TO WIN.
The most entertaining part of the story is the spirit haunting the house and the challenges it presents. The identity of it isn’t what the characters expect but some readers might anticipate the truth. I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I won’t say more about that. The first obstacle is a floor of lava that most young readers will have played. They won’t have experienced the flames and intense heat that make this a life-threatening problem for the kids. Additional encounters are equally dangerous but they’re unpredictable due to the ghost’s past. The ghost doesn’t like to lose. The characters will need to learn the ghost’s motivation and uncover its mysteries to stay alive and escape Raithfield Manor.
What didn’t work as well:
It’s unclear what happens to other people who’ve lost the ghost’s games in the past. The public should have known more about the house based on what readers learn about their demises. This next thing is petty on my part but I agree with Ridge that Barret Eloise’s name has too many syllables. It would work better if she hadn’t been the main character and her name didn’t appear as often.
The final verdict:
Barret Eloise’s journey to self-discovery is the main thread throughout the plot. She doesn’t truly understand how to be a friend until Helena helps her reflect on her past. The overall story is spooky without being over the top and I recommend you give it a shot.
January 4, 2025
Smart kid Barret Eloise is stuck doing a group project on local history with sporty Ridge, nerdy Wayne, and her former best friend Helena. All of them got stuck together because none of them had partners yet. Agreeing on a project topic was hard with so many different personalities and interests, but they finally all agreed on Raithfield Manor, the abandoned and purportedly haunted mansion in town. There are numerous rumors of people going in there and never coming out again. Ridge decides that instead of just driving by to look at the place, they should go inside and see if they can find clues as to what happened to his great-aunt's boyfriend Eugene who was one of the people who disappeared inside supposedly. Barret Eloise just told her brother yesterday she wouldn't go inside if he paid her a huge sum of money, but under peer pressure, and since she doesn't believe in ghosts, she agrees. Only Helena puts up a fuss, but also reluctantly caves to peer pressure. Once they are inside, though, strange things start to happen. The library turns into a room with real lava for the floor and they have to play the most serious game of the floor is lava of their lives to get out. And that's just the start. Someone or something in Raithfield Manor doesn't want any of them to leave. And they'll have to play games of life or death to survive.
Ghost stories aren't my favorite, but this one wasn't bad. Puzzling out how they were going to successfully escape keeps the pages turning, and they are also working out the motivation behind the person who has them trapped in the mansion to try to figure out how to stop this forever, and they are working out interpersonal issues (which also means Barret Eloise has to address why she's been so lonely and why she thinks no one likes her along the way...the book is narrated from her perspective). Barret Eloise learns some really important lessons by the end of the book, and I like the unlikely but positive friendships that form between the 4 kids by the end. The reason behind the haunting is quite tragic, but there is a satisfactory ending to the story.
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: Past deaths from suffocation and flu are mentioned. People disappear and it is unclear for quite a while what happens to them.
Ethnic diversity: The cover depicts one of the kids as Black and the rest as white (one possibly Latino?) but I don't remember any actual descriptions of looks in the book.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: There are snake pits in a live snakes and ladders game. There is a ghost. Someone is imprisoned against their will for a long time. 12 year olds sneaking out at night to go in a derelict house.
Ghost stories aren't my favorite, but this one wasn't bad. Puzzling out how they were going to successfully escape keeps the pages turning, and they are also working out the motivation behind the person who has them trapped in the mansion to try to figure out how to stop this forever, and they are working out interpersonal issues (which also means Barret Eloise has to address why she's been so lonely and why she thinks no one likes her along the way...the book is narrated from her perspective). Barret Eloise learns some really important lessons by the end of the book, and I like the unlikely but positive friendships that form between the 4 kids by the end. The reason behind the haunting is quite tragic, but there is a satisfactory ending to the story.
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: Past deaths from suffocation and flu are mentioned. People disappear and it is unclear for quite a while what happens to them.
Ethnic diversity: The cover depicts one of the kids as Black and the rest as white (one possibly Latino?) but I don't remember any actual descriptions of looks in the book.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: There are snake pits in a live snakes and ladders game. There is a ghost. Someone is imprisoned against their will for a long time. 12 year olds sneaking out at night to go in a derelict house.
September 4, 2024
A haunted house set on winning any game it plays leaves more than just a few chills running down the spine.
Barret Eloise is lonely. Ever since the 4th grade, she hasn't had any friends, and she's not sure why. No one bullies her, and no one speaks unkindly of her. Worse yet, everyone calls her Smart and never even uses her name. At least, she is smart. So, when a class project forces the kids into groups to research an historic place in town, everyone is counting on her to come up with the perfect idea, and she does...but it's one that she doesn't really like. Raithfield Manor is the haunted house of the town. Kids are said to have gone missing there and rumors abound when it comes to a ghost. Still, the project must go on, and ghosts don't exist. But when she and the group visit the house as the teacher instructs, she comes face-to-face with the impossible.
Creepy moments, high-stakes, and tons of tension make this a read to satisfy horror fans. The ghost is powerful and the games it wants to play create dangerous twists on long-loved favorites. Add the rotting house and tons of secrets, and it's a great setting for a scary tale. Every step through the house promises something wicked. Still, the author manages to slide it all into a very age appropriate read with clever twists, which slide right into the game setting. It's exciting the entire way through, and while wraps up at the end rather quickly, is a satisfying read.
While the ghost and the mystery behind the house take up most of the plot, there's still more than enough character goodness to make each one in the group sympathetic. Not only does Barret Eloise struggle with her loneliness and steering the friend drama of middle school, but the others have their own, smaller problems to settle. There's just enough there to make each one likeable and easy to root for without smothering the main, scary plot.
It's a lovely read for spook fans and one to take a peek at as the Halloween season approaches, too.
I received an ARC and was caught up in the tale from beginning to end.
Barret Eloise is lonely. Ever since the 4th grade, she hasn't had any friends, and she's not sure why. No one bullies her, and no one speaks unkindly of her. Worse yet, everyone calls her Smart and never even uses her name. At least, she is smart. So, when a class project forces the kids into groups to research an historic place in town, everyone is counting on her to come up with the perfect idea, and she does...but it's one that she doesn't really like. Raithfield Manor is the haunted house of the town. Kids are said to have gone missing there and rumors abound when it comes to a ghost. Still, the project must go on, and ghosts don't exist. But when she and the group visit the house as the teacher instructs, she comes face-to-face with the impossible.
Creepy moments, high-stakes, and tons of tension make this a read to satisfy horror fans. The ghost is powerful and the games it wants to play create dangerous twists on long-loved favorites. Add the rotting house and tons of secrets, and it's a great setting for a scary tale. Every step through the house promises something wicked. Still, the author manages to slide it all into a very age appropriate read with clever twists, which slide right into the game setting. It's exciting the entire way through, and while wraps up at the end rather quickly, is a satisfying read.
While the ghost and the mystery behind the house take up most of the plot, there's still more than enough character goodness to make each one in the group sympathetic. Not only does Barret Eloise struggle with her loneliness and steering the friend drama of middle school, but the others have their own, smaller problems to settle. There's just enough there to make each one likeable and easy to root for without smothering the main, scary plot.
It's a lovely read for spook fans and one to take a peek at as the Halloween season approaches, too.
I received an ARC and was caught up in the tale from beginning to end.
October 12, 2024
Oh my gosh. !#*#!
I just finished reading Brandt's latest book, "Exit Nowhere ". 😮🤩😮 What a FABULOUS GHOST STORY!
The author takes time introducing the main characters in the opening chapters, dropping hints of what is to come and planting a captivating plot and mystery to be solved. Once this group of friends enter the dilapidated mansion the action commences nonstop with an intriguing set of haunted childhood games to be completed in order to survive.
Dang, it was like watching a movie, with such vivid descriptions. Amazing, authentic transformations in realistic middle grade characters. Delightful surprise twists and turns in plot and a pacing that kept ratcheting up until the end resulting in a heck of a satisfying read: The story wraps up so nicely!
I'm thrilled and recommend this book to all ages but both elementary and middle schoolers will find themselves connecting easily with the main characters and engrossed In an intriguing haunted adventure!
Wow. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I just finished reading Brandt's latest book, "Exit Nowhere ". 😮🤩😮 What a FABULOUS GHOST STORY!
The author takes time introducing the main characters in the opening chapters, dropping hints of what is to come and planting a captivating plot and mystery to be solved. Once this group of friends enter the dilapidated mansion the action commences nonstop with an intriguing set of haunted childhood games to be completed in order to survive.
Dang, it was like watching a movie, with such vivid descriptions. Amazing, authentic transformations in realistic middle grade characters. Delightful surprise twists and turns in plot and a pacing that kept ratcheting up until the end resulting in a heck of a satisfying read: The story wraps up so nicely!
I'm thrilled and recommend this book to all ages but both elementary and middle schoolers will find themselves connecting easily with the main characters and engrossed In an intriguing haunted adventure!
Wow. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
March 13, 2025
Having now read several MG horror books where you had to play games with a ghost/monster, I had come to believe that storyline just wasn't going to be my favorite. But this one proved me wrong! This one was intense and spooky while also building the significance of the game playing as a major component to the ghost's story. Loved the twists and turns as the group worked through the haunted house challenges and their interactions with the ghost. The secondary storyline of Barret Eloise and the lessons she learned about friendship through the adventures with her 3 classmates were topping on the cake. This book was a delight and I will definitely recommend it to our middle school readers.
May 18, 2025
After four mild hits in a row just prior to reading this book, I got a dud in this one. The characters end up stuck in an old abandoned house with a child ghost demanding that they play games to get out of the house or at least that's what the kids think. I struggled with this story for a couple reasons. First, the author created a difficult-to-like main character who also struggles with her relationships with the other characters. Second, the way that the house twists and warps to fit the various games had no coherence in its worldbuilding and ultimately resolved in a rather anti-climactic resolution. I do not recommend this one.
October 15, 2024
This book was a thrilling, fast-paced adventure that kept me hooked from start to finish. The protagonist's journey was refreshingly nuanced, with a lesson (that she didn't always have to win) that felt more nuanced than what you typically find in middle-grade books. I especially loved the mansion's Clue-like floor plan at the start—it set the stage for the eerie, unpredictable adventures that followed. It'll keep you on the edge of your seat!
July 21, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up. This was a fun middle grade haunted house novel. I thought it was just the right amount of creepy for the target age group. I liked the characters and the way their friendships grew. It's the kind of mysterious story I would've really enjoyed when I was younger.
I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.
I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.
October 17, 2024
Such a great story!! Perfect for kids in late elementary school and middle school. Though, I'm almost 50 and loved it, too. The characters are lovable, and I love all the games that we can all relate to. The floor is lava (which I've played), musical chairs, mazes, you name it.
Read it in one sitting!
Read it in one sitting!
December 20, 2024
Spooky in the best, non-super haunted/scary way. The pacing of the book clips along so well that it’s a literal page-turner that you don’t want to put down until it’s done. There’s laugh-out-loud moments and tender character development and themes of friendship and loneliness that just about anyone young, or old will relate to. Very enjoyable read to escape into.
Read
January 2, 2025A kids version of Cube or Saw but instead of killer puzzles and games it's solving puzzles and games in a haunted house.
Was a cute read and genuinely terrifying at times. Little Finneas didn't mess around
Was a cute read and genuinely terrifying at times. Little Finneas didn't mess around
July 21, 2025
2.5 stars. I didn’t love this. Too many plot holes that took this from being an eerie, scary mystery to being a rather pointed reflection on the mc’s growth arc. I think it could have accomplished both goals but in the end I found it too heavy handed and not spooky enough.
October 11, 2024
DNF- a few chapters in and we have two dads for one of the characters
Read
November 24, 2024Solid booktalk title in the just-creepy-enough-realm for third graders. My only real gripe is that the name Barrett Eloise is such a mouthful.
December 16, 2024
Simultaneously cute, sweet, creepy, and sad. Not a bad haunted house adventure
December 20, 2024
A haunted house, a group of kids, and a game of survival. This was pretty creepy! The empathy and growing friendships were great.
January 30, 2025
Not a big fan of the story, but I’m a huge fan of the writing.
August 18, 2025
The narrator really annoyed me, and the writing was overhanded at times, but it was still a fun not-so-spooky ghost story!
October 4, 2024
I really enjoyed Juliana Brandt's book Monsters in the Mist, so when Exit Nowhere showed up I was excited to read another spooky story. This started off a bit slow for me, but quickly the action picked up. I think the nuances of the friendships were a nice side story and I appreciated how the characters grew and evolved. There were definitely enough scary parts that would keep kids reading, and I loved the description of the haunted mansion that acted as a giant escape room. Thanks to NetGalley for the e-arc. It's the perfect time of year for spooky books!
February 20, 2025
I’m generally not a big fan of horror/ghost stories, but I actually really enjoyed this one! It was so clever and suspenseful and continuously kept me guessing! I would definitely read another book by this author!
(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)
(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)
September 20, 2024
if you are looking for a middle grade spooky read for the Halloween season, this creepy house of horrors escape room-esque story is perfect!
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