Hidden Strings

by K J Mist

Fourteen-year-old Tessa has always loved her grandmother’s family fun park. Once a dazzling display of roadside attractions, highlighted by her grandmother’s puppet show, the park is now struggling after her parents inherited it. This might be the park’s last summer. Tessa, missing her grandmother, can’t bring herself to take over the puppet show, no matter how many times her parents ask. Luckily, a strange traveling puppeteer offers to do the show for free, which might save the park from ruin. Liza captivates her nightly audiences with tales of ghosts, monsters, and witches. She is magnetic and mesmerizing—a master storyteller—but her sharp gaze often sends chills crawling over Tessa’s skin. When children begin disappearing from the park and adults seem to fall under some kind of spell, Tessa goes undercover as the puppeteer’s apprentice to investigate. But when a friend goes missing, she must untangle a web of lies and magic in time to save them all. That’s not so easy when someone else is pulling your strings. Characterized by exciting, fast-paced plots and age-appropriate themes, Harbor’s Hi-Lo books are both engaging and easy to read. Short chapters, simple sentence structures, and an accessible format make these books perfect for tween reluctant readers. Harbor books are written at a 2nd- to 3rd-grade reading level with an interest level of ages 10 and up.

Genres: Horror

160 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2025

Reviews

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

~ thank you to NetGalley & Jolly Fish Press for giving me a chance to read & review this book . ~

Very fast paced. Short little creepy story about witches and puppets. Reminded me of when I was younger and would read goosebumps. Similar feeling. Enjoyable.

[Steph's_Creepy _Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/2.5 at a push. This shouldn't be marketed as an adults horror. It's only slightly spooky. More like YA horror. I'd let my daughter read this and she's 12.
I love the concept of it but it could have been taken to a much darker place than it was.

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for the target audience, which is young readers ages 10-14 who struggle with reading, as stated in the blurb and on NetGalley (and tagged as both MG and horror). The shorter length, increased white space and fast-pace is intended to keep these readers engaged. I enjoyed it, too, especially the little stories-within-the-story and I like that readers who find even this length book intimidating could read those short stories as stand-alones. Creepy and atmospheric, with a deeper theme of dealing with grief and loss that is clear for those ready for it but it's possible to read and enjoy it by just following along with the action and mystery/horror part. The whole Harbor series is great for school libraries, but 5th-8th graders love horror in particular.

[Phoebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, KJ Mist and North Star Editions for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book has an excellent concept that Mist executes really well. The characters were endearing, especially the main character Tessa. I really felt for her and her backstory.

I think this is perfect for the target demographic (10-14) but I had a really good time with it too! I’d recommend it to young fans of books like goosebumps.

[Silas · Rating 4 out of 5]

୧‿̩͙ ˖︵ ꕀ⠀ 🎭⠀ ꕀ ︵˖ ‿̩͙୨
4.3 / 5
Hidden Strings by K.J Mist was an excellent, short read! It was not overly scary, but more of a comfortable spooky tale. It felt a bit nostalgic, similar to a Goosebumps. Nothing to keep you up at night, but just enough to get that creepy-story fix! My only criticism is that at times, the sentences felt too short and lacked enough detail to visualize the story (even for the intended audience's age). I felt as though this improved as the book went on.

This book is perfect if you are:
🎭 Looking for a short, simple read for the night
🎭 Introducing yourself to scary stories
🎭 Pre-teen aged (YA might be pushing it)

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC for an honest review!
Read more of my review at Hidden String Review- by Silas Reed
୧‿̩͙ ˖︵ ꕀ⠀ 🎭⠀ ꕀ ︵˖ ‿̩͙୨

[Tori North · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, thank you to Netgalley and North Star Editions | Jolly Fish Press for providing this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review

·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙＊

⚝ Rating ⚝: 3.75✩ / 5✩’s, rounded up

⚝ Review ⚝: Definitely a good book for the targeted age range for kids wanting to read something scary, I'd say around the same age, maybe a bit younger than Goosebumps and Eerie, Indiana.

Tessa's family has run the small roadside attraction and campground in Texas for decades. Founded by Tessa's grandmother years ago, the attraction used to be a crown jewel for campers and vacationers passing through, most of them staying to watch the famed Puppet Show put on by Tessa's grandmother--always family friendly, never scary. But when a new highway is built and traffic is diverted away from the once busy little carnival like attraction, people simply stop coming. Now, a year after Tessa's grandmother passed away, her parent's have inherited the park and the finances of keeping it open aren't looking too good. Tessa, still dealing with the grief of losing her grandmother, refuses to take over the puppet show despite her parent's begging. So, in a last ditch effort to keep the park alive, Tessa's parents hire a new Puppeteer: a strange woman who doesn't like children, only tells scary stories, and never lies. It isn't long after the old woman's arrival though, that children start going missing and the parents and police don't seem to care as much as they should. But Tessa is certain that the old woman who is living in an RV on the furthest side of the park has something to do with it.

A quick read with a pretty descent story to it. I will say, for much of the book, I wasn't overly fond of Tessa. She wants nothing more than for the park to survive to honor her grandmother's memory, but won't actually do anything her parents ask her to do in an effort to keep the park going. She did experience some descent growth towards the end, though.

⚝ Representation ⚝: N/A

⚝ TWs ⚝: Kidnapped Children, Death of a family member

My monthly reading breakdown for January will be posted to TikTok, IG, Bluesky, and Threads the first week of February.

[Valinora Troy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love horror and I love stories with puppets, so Hidden Strings was a must read for me.
Missing children, forgetful adults, a sinister puppeteer - these are all perfect elements for a horror story. Tessa very bravely goes into the lions den, but it's not as easy as she thought it would be, as Liza encourages Tessa's abilities, giving Tessa a sense of accomplishment and self-worth. Tessa doesn't make friends easily, but luckily meets and befriends twins Gabe and Reya who are staying in the fun park for a few days. The twins are not only good friends to Tessa, but when Reya disappears, Gabe is willing to do anything to get her back.

Tessa is a very relatable heroine, riddled by guilt for having a natural desire for spending time with kids her own age, and torn by grief over the loss of her beloved grandmother. Her skill with carving and willingness to teach others, as well as her love for the animals in the petting zoo are engaging traits. She is also determined to save all the missing children.

I loved the device of Liza's frightening stories being included in Hidden Strings. When Mason, Liza's assistant, tells Tessa that Liza never lies, it makes the scary tales sound chillingly like events from Liza's past. Another wonderful touch is when children go missing in the park, the adults quickly forget about the missing. How terrifying for a child that the adults who should defend them from evil are oblivious to it! It is really up to Tessa and her friends to do something to stop Liza.

Hidden Strings isn't so much frightening as creepy and atmospheric, with wonderful characters and a great setting. I loved the theme of manipulation and control, and of course evil preying on children is a staple of horror and fairy tales (maybe of life too!). Having said that, this delightfully creepy horror story will be enjoyed best by those drawn to horror or fans of Goosebumps. I certainly really enjoyed it.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What worked:
Liza tells short, eerie stories throughout the book, even though Tessa’s grandmother never would have allowed them at the campground. The tales are typically two or three pages in length and end with a missing or frightened child. They provide hints about events that have already happened and others that may happen later. The stories allow readers to wonder how and why kids are disappearing and how Liza might be stopped. Young readers can quickly finish the short chapters, and motivated readers can complete the whole book in one or two sittings.
Readers immediately know Liza is an evil character, as she tells Tessa that she doesn’t like children. Liza says she never lies, so readers should consider her words carefully. Tessa gets an uneasy feeling when the woman looks at her, and adults get a glazed look in their eyes. A couple of kids go missing, but police and parents quickly forget about pursuing suspects. This situation creates a dramatic problem and gives a taste of the malevolent magic going on. The children listening to Liza’s nightly tales should be frightened, but it’s clear all of the characters’ minds have been addled.
What didn’t work as well:
The plot isn’t overly descriptive, and it’s predictable. The author is still able to skillfully evoke strong emotions of fear. More mature middle-grade readers might want a more intense problem, but it’s fine for its target audience.
The final verdict:
This book will appeal to young readers who enjoy spooky stories. The listing on Amazon indicates it’s appropriate for ages seven and up, but it may be too much for seven-year-olds. Overall, I recommend you give this book a shot.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating portmanteau horror story. Tessa is the child of two camping ground owners, but the place is falling down with little to attract customers; Tessa also lost her gran last summer when away at science camp. But the gran has been replaced, in her role at least of fireside storyteller – there is Liza now, a new puppeteer. And her stories, much in contrast to Gran's old tales, are definitely on the spooky side.

Technically, however, they are not really what I'd expect of a marionette show. They're fine for us to read, but the first story has a girl stuck in the grip of an old woman telling her horror stories, and that wouldn't really make for a good puppetry session. The second story is built around someone sitting waiting, having teased some local kids into staying the night in the graveyard. One has children playing toss with a ball – yeah, and the Thunderbirds could always get through doorways.

But that's not to say that's a huge problem, more a small technicality in the finish. When, as inevitably happens, darkness reaches the park, Liza is a most persuasive character, and the story finds a higher gear – and it was already moving along perfectly nicely before then. What it ends up as is a fable of some renown – it proved to be a really strong, and very clever, look at loss and memory, storytelling and connection. The standard old puppet show may be something quite uncommon these days, but when young readers have this under their belt, there is a healthy chance they will long connect this to the wooden puppets they see. And I'm sure they'll remember these pages with fondness. A strong four stars.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spending the summer at her family-owned “Best Family Fun Park in Texas” used to be a fun experience for fourteen-year-old Tessa, especially when she was learning to craft wooden marionettes with her grandmother. But now that her grandmother has passed away and the park is struggling financially, Tessa's parents are doing what they can to keep Tessa's grandmother's dream alive. A mysterious woman—Liza—has been hired to host the nightly story sessions at the park: a woman who appeared at just the right time for the right price. But as strange things begin occurring with greater frequency in Liza’s vicinity, Tessa and her friends must discover the truth before time runs out. This spooky middle grade novel blends the excitement of summertime campfire stories with a Goosebumps-style delivery. The overall narrative itself is spooky, and every story told by both Liza and Tessa is included in its entirety within the narrative, as well. Together, these elements amplify the intensity of the frightening moments of the book, inviting young readers into a safe yet deliciously spooky experience. Brief chapters, double spacing, and fast-paced storytelling make the book well suited to middle grade readers, especially those who appreciate scary stories. And whether readers experience this novel in one sitting or in several shorter sessions, the story will strike a spooky nerve that readers will be anxious to experience again. Perfect for summer, this book is an excellent addition to library collections for middle grade readers with a love of lightly frightening tales.

[Joey Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Jolly Fish Press and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Tessa is now living at her Nana’s fun family park after she died. As the new storytelling puppeteer arrives telling stories her Nana would never have liked, strange things start to happen and Tessa is determined to figure out what the woman is up to.

This was a really intriguing book the whole story makes you want to know exactly what Liza was up too. You are given glimpses and your ideas run, making you so suspicious and then we get our answers to the mysterious woman. It certainly entertains and grips you in, wanting to get to the bottom of the mystery.

The storytelling within was great, I wouldn’t have said they were particularly scary stories considering our protagonist Tessa constantly says they are. But the stories were still very creative and added an extra layer to the story of what was really going on.

This is a really great read for those that like horror mysteries but don’t like anything too scary or that will stick in their minds. The horror and scare and creepiness is very mild and not overly graphic either. So it’d be a wonderful read for those either starting with horror or prefer a simpler less scary horror.

[RaeLynn Butters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished this book and thought it was such a fun, eerie read. It’s definitely aimed at a YA audience, and the writing is super accessible—perfect for a quick weekend read. The story centers around Tessa, who’s struggling with the loss of her grandmother and the slow decline of her family’s amusement park. Things get weird (in a good way) when a mysterious puppeteer named Liza shows up and offers to revive the park’s puppet show… but her performances start to feel a little too real.

There’s this great mix of nostalgia, magic, and mystery throughout. It doesn’t get overly dark, but it has just enough creepiness to keep you turning the pages—especially when kids start disappearing and Tessa has to go undercover to figure out what’s really going on. The puppeteer is the perfect kind of unsettling, and the tension builds in a way that’s subtle but effective.

If you like slightly spooky stories with a magical twist and a brave, likable protagonist, this one’s definitely worth checking out. It’s an easy read, but it sticks with you.

Thank you to North Star Editions, K.J. Mist, and NetGalley for this arc!

[Mary Polzella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourteen-year-old Tessa has always loved her grandmother’s family fun park. Once a wonderful show including her grandmother’s puppet show, the park is now struggling after her grandma's death. When a strange traveling puppeteer offers her puppet show for free, her parents believe it might save their business. Liza is a master storyteller, captivating her audiences with stories of ghosts, monsters, and witches, however her sharp gaze chills Tessa.

When children begin disappearing from the park, Tessa agrees to act as the puppeteer’s apprentice and when her friend goes missing, she must investigate the puppeteer's web of lies and magic in time to save them all.

This is a fast-paced, easy read aimed at the 10+ age group, with short chapters and simple sentence structures to grab and retain the attention of readers. While the plot is a little dark and eerie it's written in a way that's appropriate with a unique story that will keep young people interested and engaged. I enjoyed the read and would have loved to read this when I was a pre-ten. ⭐⭐⭐.5 rounded up to 4

Thank you @netgalley and @northstareditions for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 2 out of 5]

For more bookish opinions, visit my blog: Craft-Cycle

After the death of her grandmother, Tessa's family takes over the Fairy Tale Family Fun Park & RV Campground. They hire a new puppeteer to run the puppet show, but instead of cute stories like her grandmother told, Liza tells spinechilling ones. As strange things start happening on the campground, Tessa wonders if there's more to Liza's stories than spooky entertainment.

Nice little creepy story. No gore. Not too scary.

An interesting way to incorporate short horror stories together. I don't know how interesting the puppet show aspect would be in reality since the characters in the stories don't do a whole lot. But it was a cool technique for exploring different stories.

The book goes about the way you would think a horror story featuring puppets and missing children would. The writing was fine. I didn't really connect with Tessa so parts of the book dragged.

Okay overall. I did appreciate the short chapters, plentiful white space, and formatting of the book, which made for an easy read.

[Rose 🥀 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and North Star Editions for providing me with an e-arc copy of Hidden Strings by K. J. Mist, publishing on August 1st.
This is a spooky novella following our main girl Tessa when her recently deceased grandmother’s Family Fun Park finds a replacement puppeteer int he form of a woman named Liza. But the stories this puppeteer tells to the local children are NOTHING like Tessa’s grandmother used to tell - these are spooky, fear inducing tales of ghosts, witches and monsters. When the local children start to disappear and the adults around her seem unfazed, Tessa knows Liza must have something to do with it. And she is determined to figure out this mystery for herself…
Overall this was an interesting, quick read. I would recommend this to younger readers who are looking for a spooky thrill!
I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I had either read this when I was younger or if I had read things like this when I was younger; then this book would have felt nostalgic instead of immature.

[°•౨Gracieৎ•° · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though this was a fast read, it was fun and different and I enjoyed it.
This is the telling of a young girl whose family goes to keep on her dead Nana's legacy and puppet show, but the place had gone downhill after her passing.
Tessa's parents hire a random lady to take after the puppet show and more children begin to come.
Tessa makes friends her age but some kids go missing, and the parents seem to be under-spell and think of it all as a silly joke.
Even the ones who lost children seemed to not notice or even care.
Tessa is determined to save her friends and all the other innocent lives taken hostage, but she feels drawn to the witch as if she's being manipulated and wants to be the same.
(The rest I'll leave out🌚)
Though I very much enjoyed this I wished for more as the ending felt a bit rushed to me.

Thanks netgalley and the publisher for this free copy in exchange for an honest review 🫶🏻

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tessa’s grandmother had owned a family fun park. When she died, she gave Tessa’s family the park. Her family wanted her to do the puppet shows that her grandmother had done. Her grandmother had told stories with the puppets .They hired a new puppeteer to take over grandmother’s puppet shows. Her name is Liza. Liza tells eerie stories at each show. The stories end with a frightened or missing child. Kids are disappearing. Liza continues her shows that provide hints about events that have happened or that may occur in the future. Tessa knows that Liza must be stopped but how? Will Tessa be able to stop kids from disappearing?

The novel is creepy and atmospheric, with wonderful characters and a great setting. I loved the theme of manipulation and control. It is a fast pace and exciting to read. This is a spellbinding read that leaves a lasting impression.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

[Emma Cifaldi]

Ok y’all, I’m new to NetGalley and didn’t know to check the tags. I was just intrigued by the description, and then surprised by the length of the book. Now I know this is a book for Middle Grades. But you know what, so was the Hunger Games and I adore that story to this day.

I’m not sure how valuable my review will be, since I am not in middle grades nor do I know anyone who is, but I will just say that I loved this story.

It felt more like a fleshed out fable than a novel, and was wholly original. The fact that I polished it off so fast is a testament to how good the story is, and the fact that it’s for someone a several decades my junior but it still kept my interest says a lot.

If you have a child who is a little spooky and isn’t afraid of old ladies in RVs, get this book in their hands!

[Brooke DeBoest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tessa and her parents are back at the family fun park they inherited after her grandmother’s passing. Riddled with guilt over missing out on seeing her grandmother for the last time before her death, Tessa tries to put the art of storytelling and puppeteering, hobbies her grandmother had begun to teach her, out of her mind. That becomes increasingly impossible with the arrival of Liza who her parents hire on as the new storyteller. Nightly, her stories entertain and thrill the children and seemingly put the adults in a trance. Soon, children go missing, and Tessa can’t help believe that Liza is responsible.

This novel is short, but is packed with action and mystery. Horror is a popular genre with my middle grade students, and this easy-to-read novel with Goosebumps vibes will surely be popular.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!

[Adri_reads_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tessa loved stories, most of all the ones her grandmother used to tell. After her Nana passed, her family needed to hire a new puppeteer. Liza , was not what she expected, with her fascination of scary stories and hate of children, what would become of the “Fairy Tale Family Fun Park & RV Campground”?
After all, “what you believe doesn’t matter. Stories are meant to entertain”.
When children start to go missing , everything begins to unfold….

1st person
Novella
YA- 10+ yrs
Horror/ psychological thriller.

This novella was so good. I devoured it so quickly. It was an easy fun read and perfect for the age group intended. It had just enough horror to make it creepy for a YA reader but not enough to truly scare them.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to North Star Editions and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC. This was a super quick read. I read it all in one setting. It’s a nice little spooky tale that is obviously made for a much younger audience than me. I’m into YA novels, but I think this a bit more younger than that. Reminds me of Goosebumps and if I’m going to read YA, I would want more Fear Street. That being said, I think the author did a good job with this. It obviously kept me hooked enough to not put it down. I think some of it could have been touched upon a bit more. It’s kind of simplistic in its storytelling. The plot points could have had more put into them at some points. Solid 3.5 though.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating, propulsive and fun middle grade with the right amount of suspense and supernatural additions that lifted the story and added depth to the plot.
The story vivdlidly portrayed the character of young Tessa and the inner strength she had to draw on along with her persuasive abilities in order to save her friends and beat the evil witch at her own game.
I enjoyed the element of puppetry and story weaving throughout the story as part of a carnival and it reminded me of the character gammel from charmed- the evil wizard- a well written short story.
Thankyou to Net galley and North Star Press for an early arc of this book..

[Erin Aleci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid 3.5 stars! A short, quick novel that I gobbled up in a few sittings. This reminded me of Goosebumps or Are you Afraid of the Dark. An interesting, slightly ominous story with a small cast of characters I liked from the get go. The story picked up from the start, and even caused some anxiety and tension. It wrapped up in a neat bow, and that left me really happy. Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy. This was my first approval, and boy did it leave me with a good taste in my mouth. Excited for future books to review.

[Meghann Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley and Jolly Fish Press for the opportunity to receive an ARC of "Hidden Strings" in exchange for an honest review.

Hidden Strings weaves stories amongst stories as the reader goes on a journey of puppets, magic, and a witch along side the main character.

Although this book is aimed at the YA demographic (ages 8-12), I did enjoy the story and overall it was a quick entertaining read!

[Clarissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, I would like to say how enthralling this book is! It had my attention from the very beginning and I finished it so quick. It was such an easy read. The characters were well developed and I really appreciated Zac lol! If you want a palate cleanser, please choose this one! Simple but detailed and intriguing! It was a delightful read!

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great setting and great characters. Thank you, author, for an ending that closes on a higher note. The puppets are terrifying, and the descriptions/stories make them great creepy elements. It's a great horror short book; I will keep this one on my list for recs in amusement parks with a puppet show and lots of short, creepy tales.

[Madelyn Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Netgalley ARC: It was a fun little middle-grade summerween story! I know i would have loved this as a kid. Kind of Coraline-esque during summer vacation.
Sometimes the kids’ dialogue was just not accurate. I wish something with the main character’s Nana happened like she needed a ghostly visit from her or something…

[Lianna Kendig · Rating 4 out of 5]

80/100 or 4.0 stars

This is a great middle-grade ghost story. The stories within this novella were also well written and engaging. I had fun with this, and middle-grade readers who like to be scared should check this out! It will work well for the target audience, so I would recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Anna Marone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over all loved this YA thriller. The stories were enticing, short sweet and to the point and I liked that Tessas character grew so much, woulda liked more on mason. But Thought the ending was decent. Gave Hansel and Gretel vibes. Thank you net galley for the arc. Over all enjoyed.

[Haley Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! Such a great Young Adult horror read. It was easy to read and the story was very interesting. It showed the value of true friendship and family grief. I would definitely recommend this book!