Read At Your Own Risk

by Remy Lai

Read at Your Own Risk is the illustrated sketch diary of a girl who is being haunted after a game goes terribly wrong and an evil spirit starts conversing with her on the page—perfect for fans of R.L. Stine and Steven Seagle's Camp Midnight.

Hannah and her friends were just having a bit of fun when they decided to play a game to communicate with spirits of the dead. Little did they know something would answer their call and crawl its way into the pages of Hannah’s journal. What started out as a game has turned into something much more evil. With dire, horrifying consequences.

Is there any way to escape the curse?

Genres: Horror, Middle Grade, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Childrens, Juvenile, Comics

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 13, 2024

Reviews

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like I could bring 20 copies of this to booktalks and the 21st kid would still fight to read it.

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking for a fun but scary middle grade book with an interesting format? Look no further. Imagine reading a girl's handwritten/hand-drawn journal that details the escalating curse put on her by an evil spirit while playing a kid's game. Yeah, your heard me right. Younger readers (and I think older readers too) will enjoy the creepy-crawly, completely relatable type of horror with some humor thrown in. Remy Lai makes some interesting choices that keeps this story from being predictable, and it only adds to the fun. Though short, the pacing is good, leading to an ending that is surprising, but satisfying.

[Zac · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightfully creepy semi-graphic novel with a superb twisty ending. I feel like this will be a book that kids will read and tell their friends about.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well that was terrifying!!

This is such a good idea for a book -- a classic illustrated diary format a la Wimpy Kid, but made super spooky as it follows a "cursed" girl as horrible things keep happening to her. It gets really gruesome and genuinely scary!! Lots of body horror, and specifically bug body horror, and no matter how old you are that's scary, isn't it?? God, I love middle grade horror.

[kit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not recommend reading this late at night in the dark.. or do if you're into that.
was very eery and kinda freaked me out. kind of gives off middle school or diary of a wimpy kid but not at the same time. so odd, we love!!

[✿relapsedbibliophile✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book!!

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really fun spooky story! The illustrations are fun and it has a fun writing style. I would recommend this to young horror fans! Thank you to Remy Lai, MacMillian Children's Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

oooh, I think my students are going to love this. It's pretty creepy, especially the blood drips, but it's not over the top and totally just right for kids who love to be a little scared. I think the cover will draw them in, too.

[stefiereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

EEeekkkk.. You know what? I really enjoy the book. Spooky and unpredictable.
If you want a fun, quick reading that will keep you curious til the end, pick this one up.

[Tabitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan for the advanced copy.

Once upon a time... What a fun children's horror story! Read at Your Own Risk is something between a book and a graphic novel, with art like Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It actually reminded me of something like a children's version of House of Leaves, as you're reading the main character's "journal" (with a bit of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secret's: Ginny's Story, lol). It CAN be a little gross at times, but it still remains kid appropriate.

The design of the book is a lot of fun, and I was pleased that it was also easy to consume digitally - though I'll be buying the physical copy for my niece and nephew who will love this. The story itself is actually pretty simple, and would fit in perfectly in a Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark collection, but Lai hides the reveals, drip-feeding to the reader all the little bits of truth. This leads into the lesson learning, which is not in your face or patronizing (something to look at for in children's books because kids DO pick up when they're being talked "at" rather than "to").

Lessons for readers include 'don't lie to your friends' and 'your teacher is trying to help you'. Very basic but perfect for kids lol I also liked the children's version of a Twilight Zone twist at the end haha

Read at Your Own Risk is fun, quick horror read for kids who enjoy spooky, gross-out scary stories and fun comic art.

The End!

[Stephanie ((Strazzybooks)) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genuinely creepy and well-done. Recommended for younger horror fans. 🪳

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read At Your Own Risk is one of those creepy books that I would have loved when I was a kid (and my parents would have hated it). Unfortunately, it is more about the creepy elements and less about the overall story.

Thank you, Henry Holt/Macmillan's Childrens and Netgalley, for an advance ebook in exchange for a fair review.

[Nikki Rank · Rating 2 out of 5]

I adore Remy Lai and Pie in the Sky is one of my all- time favorite books. Read at Your Own Risk just felt like it missed the mark for me. I'm all for evil spirits and creepy ghosts, but the paranormal development felt like it was rushed to make room for disturbing body horror (bugs in your FACE? No, Thank you). I really wanted more back story on the ghost! I'm sure there are plenty of middle school horror- lovers who will eat this up, but it's just not for me.

*Thank you to Net Galley and Macmillan for the ARC in exchange for an honest review*

[Hal Schrieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a heavily illustrated book at a fourth-grade reading level or so that's also genuinely scary! Dork Diaries-audience-oriented, but Scary Stories For Young Foxes level frightfest. It's well-paced, unsettling, actually eerie and visually disturbing while keeping the illustrations to fairly clearly cartoonish pen and ink with defined outlines. What if your teeth turned into bugs and you could only break the curse by doing it to someone else? Will give kids nightmares, which is something kids love. The characterization is great--main character slips into monster by the end. Just yum yum.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Henry Holt and Co. through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When Hannah and her friends decide to communicate with spirits with a coin, they never expected things to go wrong. For some reason, Hannah is the only one who has been cursed, and now she’s communicating with the evil spirit through her notebook. Now she’s determined to figure out how to break the curse before she finds herself dead all thanks to a game she wishes she never played!

This is such a perfect middle school read for any kid who loves scary stories. I was a huge fan of Goosbumps when I was growing up, so this is the type of book that I would’ve loved even more during that time of my life. We follow Hannah through a notebook that’s become her illustrated diary that she also uses to communicate with the evil spirit that’s cursed her. While I wish we got to know more about the evil spirit, I think it’s a perfect read for middle schoolers. I found myself sucked into the story after a few pages and a little grossed out by all the bugs! I’m excited to check out the author’s other work because this was such a great read.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Instead of going to an assembly with an author, Hannah and her 3 friends sneak into the attic of the library to try and communicate with a spirit. Something goes wrong, and Hannah is now cursed. She gets tripped when no one is around and then an accident happens in science class. Can she break the curse before her time is up? At ~150 pages of heavily illustrated text, it's a fast read. This is the kind of horror I can stand. Still spooky, but the illustrations prevent my imagination from running wild. For fans of Camp Midnight and those interested in ouija boards.

[Klee · Rating 5 out of 5]

"What I’d give to simply be vexed by teen feels. Instead, I’m hexed by ancient evil."

Hello middle grade horror!

Read at Your Own Risk is the illustrated sketch diary (think Diary of a Wimpy Kid) of a girl who is being haunted after a game goes terribly wrong and an evil spirit starts conversing with her on the page—perfect for fans of R.L. Stine and Steven Seagle's Camp Midnight.

This is a fantastic graphic novel that will surely entice our youth into the horror genre. Hannah will learn the hard way what happens when you lie to your friends and when you don't listen to your teacher! This book leads with some scary paranormal activity, and is topped off with some serious body horror. The gory red blood splatter throughout was an excellent bonus. It is a well-paced, eerie read that is sure to be enjoyed. Will Hannah break the curse or become a hero?

"Without the villain, there would be no obstacles, no opportunities for the hero to become the hero. You should be grateful."

[Alex | | findingmontauk1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a really unique and fun experience reading this. I like how it is told from the perspective of a journal. It kinda had some Pallbearer's Club (Paul Tremblay) vibes, too, particularly where it pertains to red ink on the pages. IYKYK. I loved the body horror elements in this with the blood and bugs and all the icky. It's a great middle grade intro to figuring out if body horror will end up being an interest or something that is a complete turn off. Just a pretty fun story with a good message in the end.

[Ashley Dang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playing a dangerous game that leads to you becoming haunted? Read the diary of Hannah as she recounts what happened to her and see if she survives or not. Hannah only meant to play a game with her friends and communicate with the spirits of the dead. Yet things spiral out of control as the spirit that answers them has many dangerous things in store for them... and the game is only just beginning. This is a great little horror read and it's so fun. Itd make the perfect spooky read for October for any younger readers!

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[Gina Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

The style of this book is really cool, it’s like a journal with some added effects - swirling text, blood drops, conversations with a demon etc lol. But if I was a kid I would have thrown this bitch away when I got to the “ending”

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! It's surprisingly dark and the body horror still has my skin crawling as an adult. Loved the format with the creepy illustrations and the occasional blood splatters throughout. I would recommend for kids who want to be scared or at least creeped out.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun. I love the graphic presentation in the form of a journal. This would be great for kids who prefer graphic novels or even who are weary of reading.

[Richelle Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @mackidsbooks for my book.
⠀
My 💭:
⠀
Growing up I loved reading Fear Street and Goosebumps book so the inner child in me was excited to check this story out. This graphic novel was absolutely creepy and if I was a kid
I most likely would have had trouble sleeping at night after I finished this story!
⠀

[Julia]

I read this at work and it’s kinda terrifying.
I definitely would’ve been obsessed as a kid

[Vicko Sicko · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the kind of book I would have read as a kid then cried to my mum about...then I'd read it again.
We need more scary kids books!

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh so creepy!

[Andrea Beatriz Arango]

This graphic novel was both terrifying AND hilarious 🤣

I cannot imagine a single horror-loving elementary school kid not loving READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Shout out to @librarychrissie for being so enthusiastic about it. You lured me in and now I'm cursed 😅.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weirdly creepy in an awesome way. I think this will hit the sweet spot with grades 4 & 5.

[books-on-a-wire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would have freaked me out as a kid, I loved it!

[Shalee Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so cutely creepy!