Once They See You: 13 Stories to Shiver and Shock

by Josh Allen, Sarah J. Coleman (illustrator)

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!

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Middle Grade, Fiction, Childrens, Thriller, Juvenile

192 pages, Hardcover

Published August 20, 2024

About the author

Josh 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.

Reviews

[nico · Rating 3 out of 5]

honestly, this collection is a bit of a hit-and-miss.

[Luey · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Paige V · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[RETR Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Jonah · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Megan Olds · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Colleen Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Wanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[yujin ꩜ · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Shaunessy Sinnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scary stories perfect for middle grade readers with creepy illustrations.

[Alli Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3

[Marla · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Maine Student Book Award Nominee 2025-2026

[Abigail Luchies · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Savannah "S.N." Anderson]

Entertaining read!