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Once They See You: 13 Stories to Shiver and Shock
There’s no escaping these deliciously creepy tales of everyday horror, perfect for fans of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.
Once you open this book, you’re doomed . . . Cursed to stay up late, savoring every line of these terrifying stories. Go ahead and try to resist. The Night Things won’t let you get far.
Master storyteller Josh Allen, hailed as the “heir-apparent to Alvin Schwartz,” brings thirteen nightmare scenarios to life in this page-turning collection. From a shiny abandoned bike, to an innocent classroom icebreaker, to a piano recital that requires unusual sacrifices, there’s no end to the shocking twists on everyday reality.
In Allen’s wondrous world, which looks an awful like our own, danger waits behind every doorway . . . even in the most ordinary places. Eerie illustrations by award-winning artist Sarah Coleman accompany the stories, packaged in a stunning hardcover edition complete with glow-in-the-dark jacket. Readers will sleep with one eye open!
Once you open this book, you’re doomed . . . Cursed to stay up late, savoring every line of these terrifying stories. Go ahead and try to resist. The Night Things won’t let you get far.
Master storyteller Josh Allen, hailed as the “heir-apparent to Alvin Schwartz,” brings thirteen nightmare scenarios to life in this page-turning collection. From a shiny abandoned bike, to an innocent classroom icebreaker, to a piano recital that requires unusual sacrifices, there’s no end to the shocking twists on everyday reality.
In Allen’s wondrous world, which looks an awful like our own, danger waits behind every doorway . . . even in the most ordinary places. Eerie illustrations by award-winning artist Sarah Coleman accompany the stories, packaged in a stunning hardcover edition complete with glow-in-the-dark jacket. Readers will sleep with one eye open!
192 pages, Hardcover
Published August 20, 2024
8 people are currently reading
3270 people want to read
About the author
Josh Allen
3 books102 followersJosh Allen checks under his bed before switching off the light each night. During the day, he teaches creative writing and literature at Brigham Young University-Idaho. His writing has received praise from The Wall Street Journal, Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, the Junior Library Guild, School Library Journal, the Children's Book Council, and more. He lives in Idaho with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 15, 2024
honestly, this collection is a bit of a hit-and-miss.
November 15, 2024
Night Things - 4
Fortune - 5
Two Truths and a Lie - 5
El Diablo - 5
Sweat, Tears, Blood - 5
The Only One Who Hasn’t Changed - 5
You Are What You Eat - 5
Don’t Be Scared of Ghosts - 5
Everything in Arizona Wants to Eat You - 5
The Opposite of Cute - 3
The Emperor of Thumbtacks - 4
Perfect - 4
Hiding - 5
Fortune - 5
Two Truths and a Lie - 5
El Diablo - 5
Sweat, Tears, Blood - 5
The Only One Who Hasn’t Changed - 5
You Are What You Eat - 5
Don’t Be Scared of Ghosts - 5
Everything in Arizona Wants to Eat You - 5
The Opposite of Cute - 3
The Emperor of Thumbtacks - 4
Perfect - 4
Hiding - 5
February 4, 2026
Night Things- ⭐️⭐️⭐️- Fun spooky story about the things that go bump in the night. Reminds me of times when we would run out of a creepy dark basement. Though I am confused on how he was safe in bed and not outside of it….
Quotes-“True, the distance between his light switch and his bed was only about eight feet, but the Night Things, Ethan knew, were fast. And they were waiting. They were always waiting.”
“This was the moment the Night Things had been waiting for. This precise moment. In their hiding places, they had been patient. So patient. Night after night, they’d waited for Ethan to grow up, just a little, and to stop running. And now, finally, he had.”
Fortune-⭐️⭐️- almost wish fulfillment in a way since a fortune cookie makes what he feels is happening actually happen. He goes from feeling invisible to his family as the middle child to being actually invisible.
Quotes-“I’m Austin. The Middle Child. Austin the Unheard. Austin the Unseen. Everything I do feels like no big deal because either 1) Michael has already done it, or 2) Harper’s going to do it in just a few years. So it’s like I said. Invisible.”
Two Truths and a Lie- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Great little haunted house story. Loved the twist at the end.
Quotes-“The next five minutes, Kara knew, were going to matter. During them, her classmates were going to make snap judgments about her. They were going to decide whether she was cool or smart or nerdy or fun. Just like that. It wouldn’t be fair.”
El Diablo-⭐️⭐️- A sentient killer bike that likes to lure kids by sitting out and being available and looking very cool. It gives them the ride of their life, but then kills them.
Sweat, Tears Blood- ⭐️⭐️⭐️- Every kid’s nightmare- something that hurts you every time you make a mistake. In this case a piano that feeds on blood sweat and tears and pricks/cuts every time the girl made a mistake in her recital. Not only was she scarred by the instrument but also by the embarrassment of messing up in front of a crowd because of the pain.
The Only One That Hasn’t Changed-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- One word- ZOMBIES!
You Are What You Eat- ⭐️- This is a story that gets under my skin as someone who is neurodivergent. This girl has a safe food and this scary story is shaming her for it, as well as having something she truly enjoys. It definitely just read as a bit off and slightly tone deaf- especially since her brother was equally obsessed with protein shakes but just became muscular, he didn’t turn into whey powder, so it’s only ‘unhealthy’ treats that this occurs to.
Don’t Be Scared Of Ghosts- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Never trust when the popular kid just randomly starts to buddy up to you…
Quotes- ““It’s like I told you, Tyson,” Madeline said. “There are plenty of scary things in the world. But you shouldn’t be scared of ghosts.””
Everything in Arizona Wants To Eat You- ⭐️- Honestly not sure what actually happened in this, was the sleeping bag deadly? Obviously it wasn’t the friends, as they were planning another sleepover.
Quotes-“…shuffling above his eighth-floor bedroom at night, he always knew what it was. It was the person who lived on the ninth floor. And above that, Milton knew, there was a person on the tenth floor. And on and on. It was comforting, in a way, knowing that whatever”
“Arizona was chock-full of things that wanted to bite you, sting you, and poison you. Everything in Arizona, Milton thought, wants to eat you.”
The Opposite of Cute-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️— A possessed costume that turns you into a vampire and a girl who is smaller than the rest of her class and tired of being ‘cute’, it is a match made in heaven- or hell.
Quotes-“Lately, that seemed to be the only word anyone ever used to describe her. Cute. But she knew what that one word really meant. It meant she was tiny.”
The Emperor of Thumbtacks- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- TBH the kid is a little harsh, but having someone blatantly forget your name every day for months on end is the kind of disrespect that can make adults go mad, let alone a preteen who is still learning social cues and has raging hormones. That teacher was a dick.
Perfect-⭐️⭐️- This is just a sad commentary on comparison and how it steals your ability to be better. It also shows how the cycle just continues on and on and never stops.
Note- love that this was co-written by his daughter and was her idea. With this in mind I am adding 1.5 stars.
Hiding- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- perfection in a tiny package. The right level of YA creepy and it leaves you with a feeling of dread that is great. Monsters under the bed definitely can be the scariest thing if you do it right.
Quotes-“True, the distance between his light switch and his bed was only about eight feet, but the Night Things, Ethan knew, were fast. And they were waiting. They were always waiting.”
“This was the moment the Night Things had been waiting for. This precise moment. In their hiding places, they had been patient. So patient. Night after night, they’d waited for Ethan to grow up, just a little, and to stop running. And now, finally, he had.”
Fortune-⭐️⭐️- almost wish fulfillment in a way since a fortune cookie makes what he feels is happening actually happen. He goes from feeling invisible to his family as the middle child to being actually invisible.
Quotes-“I’m Austin. The Middle Child. Austin the Unheard. Austin the Unseen. Everything I do feels like no big deal because either 1) Michael has already done it, or 2) Harper’s going to do it in just a few years. So it’s like I said. Invisible.”
Two Truths and a Lie- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Great little haunted house story. Loved the twist at the end.
Quotes-“The next five minutes, Kara knew, were going to matter. During them, her classmates were going to make snap judgments about her. They were going to decide whether she was cool or smart or nerdy or fun. Just like that. It wouldn’t be fair.”
El Diablo-⭐️⭐️- A sentient killer bike that likes to lure kids by sitting out and being available and looking very cool. It gives them the ride of their life, but then kills them.
Sweat, Tears Blood- ⭐️⭐️⭐️- Every kid’s nightmare- something that hurts you every time you make a mistake. In this case a piano that feeds on blood sweat and tears and pricks/cuts every time the girl made a mistake in her recital. Not only was she scarred by the instrument but also by the embarrassment of messing up in front of a crowd because of the pain.
The Only One That Hasn’t Changed-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- One word- ZOMBIES!
You Are What You Eat- ⭐️- This is a story that gets under my skin as someone who is neurodivergent. This girl has a safe food and this scary story is shaming her for it, as well as having something she truly enjoys. It definitely just read as a bit off and slightly tone deaf- especially since her brother was equally obsessed with protein shakes but just became muscular, he didn’t turn into whey powder, so it’s only ‘unhealthy’ treats that this occurs to.
Don’t Be Scared Of Ghosts- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Never trust when the popular kid just randomly starts to buddy up to you…
Quotes- ““It’s like I told you, Tyson,” Madeline said. “There are plenty of scary things in the world. But you shouldn’t be scared of ghosts.””
Everything in Arizona Wants To Eat You- ⭐️- Honestly not sure what actually happened in this, was the sleeping bag deadly? Obviously it wasn’t the friends, as they were planning another sleepover.
Quotes-“…shuffling above his eighth-floor bedroom at night, he always knew what it was. It was the person who lived on the ninth floor. And above that, Milton knew, there was a person on the tenth floor. And on and on. It was comforting, in a way, knowing that whatever”
“Arizona was chock-full of things that wanted to bite you, sting you, and poison you. Everything in Arizona, Milton thought, wants to eat you.”
The Opposite of Cute-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️— A possessed costume that turns you into a vampire and a girl who is smaller than the rest of her class and tired of being ‘cute’, it is a match made in heaven- or hell.
Quotes-“Lately, that seemed to be the only word anyone ever used to describe her. Cute. But she knew what that one word really meant. It meant she was tiny.”
The Emperor of Thumbtacks- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- TBH the kid is a little harsh, but having someone blatantly forget your name every day for months on end is the kind of disrespect that can make adults go mad, let alone a preteen who is still learning social cues and has raging hormones. That teacher was a dick.
Perfect-⭐️⭐️- This is just a sad commentary on comparison and how it steals your ability to be better. It also shows how the cycle just continues on and on and never stops.
Note- love that this was co-written by his daughter and was her idea. With this in mind I am adding 1.5 stars.
Hiding- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- perfection in a tiny package. The right level of YA creepy and it leaves you with a feeling of dread that is great. Monsters under the bed definitely can be the scariest thing if you do it right.
May 6, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Reviewing short stories is very difficult; I always feel like I should review each story individually to really do the book justice, but that is just... hard. SO! You need to buy this book for the story about Toasty Tarts. Just do it. Allen's Only if You Dare and Out to Get You! circulate constantly in my library, especially with their spooky, glow in the dark covers.
The illustrations give these a feel of the Schwartz Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, which was first published in 1981 and still is in constant use. The stories are much better, though, is a weird, creepy, David Lubar Lawn Weenies kind of way.
I can't really explain why this is so good, but if you have a middle school library where scary stories are in high demand, just go ahead and buy two copies. I can't wait to see if the giant eyeball on the cover glows in the dark as well!
Reviewing short stories is very difficult; I always feel like I should review each story individually to really do the book justice, but that is just... hard. SO! You need to buy this book for the story about Toasty Tarts. Just do it. Allen's Only if You Dare and Out to Get You! circulate constantly in my library, especially with their spooky, glow in the dark covers.
The illustrations give these a feel of the Schwartz Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, which was first published in 1981 and still is in constant use. The stories are much better, though, is a weird, creepy, David Lubar Lawn Weenies kind of way.
I can't really explain why this is so good, but if you have a middle school library where scary stories are in high demand, just go ahead and buy two copies. I can't wait to see if the giant eyeball on the cover glows in the dark as well!
August 30, 2024
In this haunting book, you will find an array of spine-chilling stories that will relentlessly haunt your every thought, rendering sleep impossible. Only the bravest souls dare to immerse themselves in the harrowing tales within these pages. Proceed with caution...
I couldn't help but immerse myself in the eerie world depicted in this collection of horror stories. Despite not inducing overwhelming fear, the tales were incredibly imaginative and enthralling. Among them, "Perfect" and "The Emperor of Thumbtacks" stand out as my top picks, not for their scare factor but for their unparalleled creativity and originality—the author's exceptional storytelling skill allowed for the seamless enjoyment of multiple spine-chilling narratives. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking a hauntingly creative and thrilling read.
Happy Spooky Reading, Laly 📚 👻 🎃
Thank you, @holidayhousebks, for sharing this great book with me. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I couldn't help but immerse myself in the eerie world depicted in this collection of horror stories. Despite not inducing overwhelming fear, the tales were incredibly imaginative and enthralling. Among them, "Perfect" and "The Emperor of Thumbtacks" stand out as my top picks, not for their scare factor but for their unparalleled creativity and originality—the author's exceptional storytelling skill allowed for the seamless enjoyment of multiple spine-chilling narratives. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking a hauntingly creative and thrilling read.
Happy Spooky Reading, Laly 📚 👻 🎃
Thank you, @holidayhousebks, for sharing this great book with me. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 3, 2024
Having read the other two short story collection by this talented author, who seems to pack more tension and fright in a paragraph than many of us can manage in 20+pages, I figured it would be a good choice for a Halloween read. And it was! The stories are short, scary, and stay with readers long after they finish them. There isn't a weak one among the 13. My particular favorites were "Two Truths and a Lie," "Sweat, Tears, Blood," "The Emperor of Thumbtacks," and "Perfect." Several take place in school classrooms and feature ordinary youngsters just like this book's readers are likely to be. This one is a 3.5 for me, and the decidedly creepy artwork, created with ink, pen, pencil, bleach, and collage, captures perfectly the chilling nature of the stories.
March 29, 2025
I am a big time horror fan, and spend a decent part of my year travelling to conferences to talk about why kids deserve horror books written for them, so whenever I come across a new (to me) title that fits the bill I get really excited to dive in. As a former librarian I LOVE short story collections beacuse they seem less daunting to some kids, and it allows for REALLY easy read alouds for those upper elementary/middle school classes. If you grew up reading Scary Stories to Read in the Dark then this book, and Allen's other collections, are a great addition to your shelf. This book will leave you questioning what’s lurking in the dark. From spine-chilling twists to unforgettable characters, plus amazingly creepy illustrations, these stories are perfect for anyone who loves to be scared.
September 24, 2024
I'm a big fan of Josh Allen's other short story collections (Out to Get You, Only If You Dare), so I was perhaps too excited to check out his newest book.
Unfortunately, this might be the weakest of his works. Most of the stories are often far too short, and end before the plot can really ramp up. Everything feels like a tease of something great, rather than being effective in its own right.
One story I did enjoy was "You Are What You Eat," about a girl who starts to see her face appear on her favorite snack. It maintained a great pace, and culminated in a chilling ending. I am failing to remember some of the stories, and this is only after a few days of reading the collection. I miss the feeling that I got when reading Only If You Dare specifically, and hope that a future addition to this series will continue to feel fresh, scary, and riveting.
Unfortunately, this might be the weakest of his works. Most of the stories are often far too short, and end before the plot can really ramp up. Everything feels like a tease of something great, rather than being effective in its own right.
One story I did enjoy was "You Are What You Eat," about a girl who starts to see her face appear on her favorite snack. It maintained a great pace, and culminated in a chilling ending. I am failing to remember some of the stories, and this is only after a few days of reading the collection. I miss the feeling that I got when reading Only If You Dare specifically, and hope that a future addition to this series will continue to feel fresh, scary, and riveting.
May 3, 2025
This newest collection was really good! I also really enjoyed Coleman’s artwork still, especially for “The Only One Who Hasn’t Changed.”
I think my favorite story was ”Two Truths and a Lie.” Made a joke with my brother about one of the stories because he shares a name with the protagonist! Liked the ending note of “Don’t Be Scared of Ghosts.” And I had a feeling about what might happen in “Everything in Arizona Wants to Eat You.” But “You Are What You Eat” ended up a little differently than I thought it would!
All in all, great variety!
I think my favorite story was ”Two Truths and a Lie.” Made a joke with my brother about one of the stories because he shares a name with the protagonist! Liked the ending note of “Don’t Be Scared of Ghosts.” And I had a feeling about what might happen in “Everything in Arizona Wants to Eat You.” But “You Are What You Eat” ended up a little differently than I thought it would!
All in all, great variety!
October 11, 2025
A bit childish in story-telling, but still enjoyable. It's written for the middle grades age range and I can see it being well-received by that age. I went into reading it thinking it's the new "Scary Stories" series - but those were definitely creepier, maybe it was the pictures though. I want to read his other two collections, and I could see myself adding them to my own personal collection to share with my kids. "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" will always hold the number 1 place though.
August 25, 2024
As a kid these stories would have terrified me. As an adult, they're well written, disturbing, and scary. I can especially relate to the story called "Fortune" about being the middle child. So much fun! I almost decided not to rate this book because I'm not the target audience but I wanted to rate it so people would know to pick it up.
October 11, 2024
this is a collection of chilling short stories that deliver spine-tingling suspense and eerie twists. each tale taps into childhood fears and the supernatural, exploring themes of mystery and the unknown. the writing effectively builds tension, leaving readers on the edge of their seats. the atmosphere and creativity make this book a fun and scary read. perfect for those who love a good thrill.
February 9, 2025
Well the series of short stories are cute and well written but definitely not scary. It some you would be read in an elementary school setting. Not super impressed by anything about this but I did like the illustrations.
November 6, 2025
Our oldest read this and said I should read it too. My wife had the author as a professor at BYU-Idaho. So fun, pretty spooky at times, perfect for ~ 9 to _____ whatever age. My favorite stories were Two Truths and a Lie and Don’t be Scared of Ghosts.
November 13, 2024
Thank you for the opportunity to read these stories. I won this book through a giveaway. I would recommend it to anyone who likes scary stories but not too scary!
December 21, 2024
A good collection of spooky but not-too-spooky stories for young people! I’d recommend it to younger teens who are interested in horror.
January 6, 2025
Scary stories perfect for middle grade readers with creepy illustrations.
January 15, 2025
Loved every story in this book. Especially each piece of artwork included within each story. Can't wait to read the other books by Josh Allen.
May 16, 2025
4.5 stars
Maine Student Book Award Nominee 2025-2026
Maine Student Book Award Nominee 2025-2026
June 18, 2025
Great collection of short stories! I love how the endings of so many of the stories are ambiguous. Will definitely be reading it out loud to classes.
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December 20, 2024Entertaining read!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews