The Black Market

by Jed Alexander

When Martin’s great-aunt brings him an unusual pair of shoes, Martin is determined to find the strange marketplace where she bought them—the Black Market, a constantly relocating swap meet where the world’s strangest and most dangerous items are exchanged by some very suspicious (and disguised) characters. Though his aunt has sworn him to secrecy, he enlists the help of his best friend Jess to find the Black Market on Halloween. Soon, Martin trades his shoes for the legendary Dirty Bag of Tricks and discovers that not all fun is good and harmless.

Author-artist Jed Alexander's debut novel is filled with scares, determined, relatable kids, and uncanny pranks; accompanied by Alexander's classic-style, atmospheric illustrations. 

Genres: Middle Grade

272 pages, Hardcover

Published September 9, 2025

About the author

Jed Alexander is an author and illustrator who has done work for a variety of publications, including Cricket Magazine and SpongeBob Comics. He's the author of three critically acclaimed wordless picture books, Red, and Gold and Olive. His recent release is the Middle Grade Novel, The Black Market. He lives in Davis California with his wife and best friend in the world, Regina.

Reviews

[Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

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Thank you NewSouth Publishing for this book in exchange for an honest review


In The Black Market we meet Martin, who has a rad great aunt that brings him back souvenirs from her travels around the world, including a rare pair of shows that she got from the Black Market. On Halloween night, this market can appear anywhere in the world and after learning about the market, Martin decides to inform his friend Jess and together they go on the hunt for the Black Market. With the ‘bag of dirty tricks’ that Martin purchased from the market, he and Jess unknowingly unleash chaos.
The Black Market is an entertaining story that honestly gave my Goosebump vibes, specially when magical items have dire consequences when used. It’s a subtle learning curve for the younger generation but its something that’s rare to see in books nowadays. The friendship between Jess and Martin was very sweet to read, and I loved how self-aware they are for such a young age, even though some of their actions and reasoning is flawed, but it makes sense for kids that young. Overall, this was such a cute little read, I wish I was able to read it during Halloween to make the vibes match, but otherwise it would be a great and funny read for a young reader that you might know.

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Martin's aunt gives him a special pair of shoes made from the leather of an extinct animal. She tells him that she got them from the Black Market, a secret place where people come to trade in magical items. It constantly changes location, and is only open on Halloween. Martin and his friend, Jess, go searching for the Black Market, and Martin exchanges the shoes for a Bag of Dirty Tricks. He loves playing innocent pranks, but some of the tricks included in the bag are downright mean and dangerous. Martin and Jess get involved in more and more deceitful lies as they start to use the dirty tricks, and they are dismayed to see that their victims are genuinely suffering because of the pranks.

The writing is excellent! The plot is fun and adventurous and a little spooky. I liked that the characters are complex and well-rounded. The world-building surrounding the Black Market and all the magical tricks is superb! It's really imaginative and original.

I did not like that Martin and Jess are constantly lying to their parents, sneaking out of the house, and playing mean tricks on people that they think "deserve it". They are unapologetically out to "get revenge" on people that they think have somehow wronged them. They are selfish and spoiled and dishonest and vile.
But in the end, they realize that they are being mean, and they stop doing any more tricks. They sort of try to make up for what they did by being nice to people later on, but they don't apologize, they don't admit the truth, and there are no consequences for all the evil things they have done. They halfway learned a moral lesson, but not really. They are the villains of the story, and they know it.

To see all the instances of lying and dishonesty in this book as well as other sensitive content, check it out on the Screen It First website! https://screenitfirst.com/book/the-bl...

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review.

[Yarelis Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book! The story is about a boy that discovers a black market that only appears on Halloween. Once he goes there, he takes a bag of tricks . I loved the idea of the book, the friendship of the characters and obviously the tricks! Also, I have to say that I looooooved the illustrations, specially the foovaloo 🖤 I’ll definitely buy in once it comes out!

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC provided by Media Masters Publicity

Martin loves horror films, and he and his best friend, Jess, are determined to have the best Halloween. Martin is also fond of his Great Aunt Gabby, who has shown up unexpectedly. She travels the world, often bringing Martin amazing gifts. This year, it is a pair of unusual foovaloos shoes, made from the skin of an extinct animal. She's cagey about where she has gotten them, but finally tells Martin about the magical Black Market. It shows up in unexpected places on Halloween night, and the things purchased there have a steep price that can't be calculated in monetary terms. Forgetting that he has promised to meet Jess at the library, Martin rushes off after getting Gabby settled, and ends up at the library wearing his shoes. The creepy Substitute Librarian, who is there in place of Martin's favorite staffer, seems overly interested in the friends as Martin tells Jess about his aunt's tale. Gabby continues on her travels, and Martin decides to try to find the market on Halloween. After telling their parents that they might be out longer than usual, the friends manage to find the market. Jess isn't allowed in, but Martin, in his Headless Horseman costume (shown on the cover) is assumed to be an adult and let in. He doesn't spend too much time browsing, but comes across a Bag of Dirty Tricks that he wants. The vendor offers to trade for the shoes, but when Martin finds out he needs a book of instructions to do with the tricks, he only gets half the bag. Back home with Jess, he is alarmed at how mean some of the tricks are, but still wants to try some of them. He settles on a soap that turns the users skin red for a week, and plans to trick his father into washing his hands with it before dinner. Unfortunately, a marinara explosion results in his father taking a shower... and he ends up red all over after grabbing the soap from the sink. Martin could easily have told his mother, who is very worried, what has happened, but stays silent, not wanting to admit to having been to the Black Market. It's hard to find tricks that aren't too nasty, but after a mean neighbor, Mr. Murphy, kidnaps Martin's dog Gorgo, Martin and Jess perform a complicated trick that ends with Mr. Murphy growing tree branches from his body. While recovering Gorgo, they find that Mr. Murphy isn't all that mean. They help him clip his branches and decide to bury the bag so that it won't cause any more harm. When events the sound suspiciously like Dirty Tricks hit the news, Martin and Jess, must track down the surprising person who has stolen the bag, and find a way to lessen the impact.
Strengths: This creepy story is accompanied by the author's occasional line drawings, which is a nice touch. Martin and Jesse are great fans, and they manage to sneak out at night to get things done, and work around parents who are alive, present, and concerned about their well being, I enjoyed Great Aunt Gabby, and the ending (which I don't want to ruin), brings her influence back in an interesting way. The idea of a magical market that only appears occasionally is intriguing, and the Bag of Dirty Tricks has a magical appeal much like that of Whitesides' The Wishmakers. Martin and Jesse are fairly thoughtful and deliberate in their use of the bag, and don't want to cause any real harm. Their attempt to get rid of the back is realistic, and I liked the twist at the end.
Weaknesses: The foovaloos shoes were a bit goofy, and make the book seem a bit younger. It also lacks the jump scares and killer ghosts that my students look for in scary books.
What I really think: This is a good Halloween choice for fans of Allen's The Nightmare House, Uhrig's The Polter-ghost Problem, or Lloyd's The Witching Wind who aren't quite bold enough for scarier stories with killer spirits like Gillespie's Grin or Alexander's Dead Girl's Diary.

[LitPick Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martin has a cool, mysterious great aunt who always brings back souvenirs for him from her world travels. This time, she brought him back a rare pair of shoes and lets him in on a secret - the existence of a place called the Black Market. The Black Market is a market that only pops up on Halloween night, and can be anywhere in the world. Martin tells his friend Jess the secret, and they decide to look for the Black Market. By the end of Halloween night, Martin has obtained a "bag of dirty tricks," even though he's not sure what that means. He and Jess work together to figure out how to use the contents of the bag, causing a lot of chaos in the process. As they see how powerful these tricks can be, they have to decide what kind of people they want to be and what to do with the contents of the bag.

Opinion:
The Black Market reminded me a bit of when I read Goosebumps books as a child. There are magical items that could have dire consequences, but some of those consequences are downplayed a bit since we're viewing them from the perspective of children. But also, the consequences that the people have to endure all end up being temporary, so luckily, no permanent physical harm is done to anyone.

I found the story to be entertaining and engaging overall. I enjoyed the idea of having a magical bag full of tricks. Not all of them were named, but I enjoyed the creativity in the different tricks that were described. Each trick has its own set of very specific instructions that must be followed for the trick to work as planned. There was a bit of a missed opportunity in seeing how a misfired trick would play out, but I thought it was a good idea to have such variation in how they must be implemented.

The friendship between Martin and Jess was very sweet. They are really close and are pretty self-aware for children. They prioritize their friendship, and through their actions, are shown to ultimately good people. They purposefully choose to not use the tricks that they deem as too harsh, and they also try to figure out who they think is the most evil person they know to try a trick on. Their reasoning is flawed, but makes sense from their perspective. When they do use a trick on the person they chose, Martin and Jess end up learning a lesson about judging others too harshly, and try to show some compassion for someone who they had unfairly considered an evil person.

I enjoyed the character of Jess. Although she is the one who initially pushes Martin to try to find the Black Market and is enthusiastic about seeing the effects of the tricks, she is also shown to be the forward thinker of the two and also ultimately makes a big sacrifice at the end to save the day. Both she and Martin are shown to have different sides to their characters and compliment each other well. In the end, they're both proven to be very wholesome and prioritize doing the right thing over their own selfish interests.

This was a nice Halloween read; there was a general sense of mystery surrounding the Black Market and the bag of tricks. The mischievous nature of the magic and fast pace was definitely reminiscent of Goosebumps. The lessons that the kids learn were also a nice inclusion.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What worked:
It’s challenging to find the Black Market, since it deals in the trading of illegal goods. Patrons must know a secret password, and it’s full of shady characters. The vagueness of the market will pique readers’ curiosity, as the possibilities of evil and wrongness are endless. Martin’s aunt is a strange character, since she travels the world to remote places and rarely makes live appearances at Martin’s home. She gives him the idea of the Black Market, and her description only makes him want to go. She’ll be available to answer his questions until she suddenly leaves town for an unknown destination. Martin and his best friend, Jess, are left to figure things out on their own, and readers will want to know what otherworldly events are yet to come.
The Black Market and the Bag of Dirty Tricks are mysterious, but the author adds other elements of uncertainty. Martin recognizes the voice of a costumed character at the market, but he can’t remember the person’s identity. Readers know this person will reemerge later, and they’re left to wonder about the significance. Is it a coincidence that a stern librarian has taken over for the kind one the kids are used to? Sure, he’s scary, but a connection seems too obvious. Perhaps the voice’s owner is the new kid that Martin has run into a couple of times. Then, there’s the Bag of Dirty Tricks. Martin and Jess think the tricks are devious, and some of them are downright dangerous. How dangerous are they, and who deserves to become the victim of mean tricks?
Jess is an intelligent, loyal friend, and readers may think she’ll be a positive influence on Martin. She does that at times, but she also encourages him to make some ill-fated decisions. Jess is anxious to use one of the dirty tricks, but admits that it’s hard to think of someone they dislike strongly. She also recognizes that some of the tricks may be evil, so how do they choose one that’s bad, but not too bad? Jess is the one who reads the rules and recipes about the tricks, and that knowledge will be important later in the plot. Martin and Jess decide to play a trick on Martin’s father first, but it doesn’t go as planned. They don’t know for sure if the effects will ever go away, but Jess is ready to pull another prank right away. Her influence on Martin is supportive, but perhaps she’s too enthusiastic.
What didn’t work as well:
It’s unclear why the author includes Malcolm in the story. He always has a frown on his face and lurks on the periphery of the action. He helps Jess and Martin find a missing dog and makes an appearance at the very end, but he doesn’t contribute much toward the plot. The story wouldn’t be any different if he were removed from it.
The final verdict:
Like the Bag of Dirty Tricks, the book is spooky, but not too spooky. Once again, young characters make ill-conceived choices and decide they can’t ask anyone for help. It’s an appropriate book for Halloween or for readers who enjoy creepy stories, like the Goosebumps books. I recommend you try this book for yourself.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martin's great-aunt Gabby is a seasoned world traveler who never arrives without bringing him a unique gift. This year, she surprises him with a pair of rare foovaloos shoes, an item thought to be extinct. Martin's great-aunt explains that she acquired them at the mysterious Black Market, immediately sparking Martin's curiosity. She tells Martin that the market never appears in the same place twice and surfaces only on Halloween. It's said to sell countless illegal treasures, but unlike ordinary markets, "you don't seek it out, it finds you." Entry even requires a secret password. Martin's great-aunt makes him promise to keep the market a secret, but naturally he shares it with his best friend, Jess.

Later at the library, Martin and Jess meet up to work on their Civil War project, but Jess is far more interested in his new shoes. She convinces Martin that they should search for the Black Market together, hoping to uncover an unusual treasure. Sneaking out at night, the two manage to find the hidden entrance. Jess, however, is denied entry, while Martin slips inside in his Headless Horseman costume, which allows him to pass as an adult. Once inside the market, Martin discovers a Bag of Dirty Tricks and trades his shoes for half a bag and a book of instructions.

Back at home, Martin and Jess eagerly explore the dirty tricks housed in the bag. Some can make everything taste like pickles, others cause your hair to fall out or leave you perpetually puzzled. Deciding to start small, Martin tests a bar of trick soap on his dad, intending to turn his hands red for a week. But when his dad showers with it, his entire body turns red. Martin's next target is his neighbor, Mr. Murphy whom Martin suspects of stealing his dog. Mr. Murphy falls victim to the Creeping Arborialis trick, sprouting sapling branches from his fingertips and ears.

As the pranks escalate, Martin and Jess begin to realize the tricks are changing them, twisting their personalities and making them cruel. Alarmed, they bury the bag and book under the cover of night. But the following day, chaos erupts across town. Random people suffer suspicious, bizarre aliments and fall prey to dirty tricks. Horrified, Martin and Jess set out to track down the thief who unearthed The Bag of Dirty Tricks and stop them from unleashing any more.

I've never been a huge fan of pulling pranks on people. That's why I really appreciate how Martin and Jess question whether their tricks are turning them into bad people. At heart, they're good kids who recognize that their pranks can seriously harm someone if taken too far. I especially enjoyed the concept of the Black Market, with its shadowy stalls and suspicious wares. It adds a wonderfully mysterious atmosphere. The true highlight of the book is Jess and Martin's friendship. Included are these lovely illustrations that heighten kid appeal. Altogether, this would be a delightful story to read aloud.

**A huge thank you to Bookmark Communications for the review copy in exchange for an honest review**

[Theediscerning · Rating 2 out of 5]

Martin's wacky aunt character has returned from one of her travels, and has gifted him a new pair of fancy shoes – half clog, half winklepicker, and made from a rare material coming from an extinct animal. She's also told him about finding the once-a-year, never-in-the-same-place, mysterious Black Market where she bartered for them. Despite her being called Gabby it's Martin who's blabbed all about this to his best friend, though – and even though this miraculous Market is impossible to find, they've found it. What he comes back from the stalls with, though, is not for me to tell. But trust that something with such power demands someone with much responsibility...

It's not really for the author to tell, either, as the discussion of it takes far too many pages. This could have been an intriguing little fantasy, or a junior horror (the Market only turns up every Halloween), but is instead a dark mystery in need of some cropping. And you soon see the purpose of the product from the market to be one that teaches them that owning something that lets them do ill unto others and get away with it is not perhaps the ideal situation.

And I think the issue here is that – that you can summarise the message way before you get to the end, and you can borrow Spider-Man's moral, remembering countless comics that taught you the same as the several hours and 200+ pages of this. It really could have been snappier. That's not to say this is a drudge, where you plod through quicksand to get any enjoyment. There is enjoyment, but it's not as fresh and light on the page as it needed to be.

This could have shown how people can be evil, how things can be evil things that make humans do evil – and it does that, but too lightly. There was certainly scope for the nastiness to be more serious, and the intrigue of the titular market wasn't here enough either. Heck, even the aunt is underused. Instead there are too many pages devoted to prank-level naughtiness, when horror – even for this age bracket – can cover so much more depth. Learning of a silly fake country so late on is daft, too – meaning there are too many reasons this was disappointing. Two and a half stars.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is rare for something exciting to ever happen in the sleepy town of Cranberry, but one fateful Halloween changes everything. Tipped off by his mysterious and jet-setting great aunt, ten and a half year old Martin decides to search for the mysterious and illicit Black Market, which only appears once a year. What he discovers is unlike anything he expected, and when Martin finds himself in the possession of half a Bag of Dirty Tricks, he and his best friend Jess must decide what to do with it. Every decision points to a new revelation, and as the two companions begin to live inside something akin to their favorite horror movies, they are left to determine where the line between good and evil truly lies. This fast-paced middle grade novel toys with the idea of a mysterious locale where nearly any kind of treasure can be found. Good pacing and frequent illustrations propel the narrative forward, and middle grade readers will appreciate the visual connections to the written narrative as the story progresses. Though dark magic is a central component of the book, a deeper message of friendship and choosing the right path is embedded inside each scene. Jess and Martin frequently grapple with the questions of what is the correct course of action, and when mistakes are made, they support one another in doing the right thing. Spooky moments in this book are relatively rare, helping to make the story accessible to a wide range of readers. Constructed utilizing a blend of humor, danger, and kindness, this book is at once a cautionary tale and an entertaining novel to usher in the Halloween season. It is a good addition to library collections for middle grade readers.

[Kim Childress · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debut middle grade novel written and illustrated by Jed Alexander, this not-too-scary story has high kid appeal—for its humorous antics, dash of mischief, and touch of Halloween magic.

When Martin’s great-aunt gifts him a mysterious pair of shoes, his curiosity leads him and his best friend Jess straight into the legendary “Black Market,” a hidden, ever-shifting swap meet where the world’s strangest (and most suspiciously disguised) characters trade dangerous and enchanted objects. What begins as a fun adventure quickly turns tricky—especially when Martin trades his shoes for the infamous *Bag of Dirty Tricks.*

Through their hilarious and at times hair-raising escapades, Martin and Jess learn that not all fun is harmless—and that being a good friend sometimes means knowing when to stop. With a little guidance from the ever-wise Aunt Gabby, they find their way through the chaos, a bit wiser, with a deeper understanding of loyalty and friendship.

Alexander’s classic-style illustrations add just the right amount of atmosphere—spooky but cozy, mischievous but heartwarming. The blend of humor, suspense, and heartfelt lessons makes this an excellent pick for reluctant readers with a sweet spot at age 10 with crossover in both directions, depending on the reader. A mix of fantasy and contemporary realism, a cozy scary story that’s just right for readers who like a little thrill with their laughter.

I found this book to contain a delightful mix of magic, mayhem, and life-lessons using humor and nonsensical situations without preaching to young readers. Also recommend for fans of Coraline and The Graveyard Book—and for any reader who loves a good trick.

[Wild · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Bag of Dirty Tricks, sir....?"

Enter The Black Market. Where one can find all manner of strange, magical, dangerous, and forbidden goods for trade.

Swap wisely, my friend.....

Or else you may get far more than you've bargained for!

Perfect for fans of
✨️ Magical Artifacts, Odd Objects & Gross Ingredients
🎃 Spooky Marketplaces
✨️Shopping Mishaps
🎃 Practical Jokes Gone Wild
✨️ Childhood Friends Duo

This was a spooky, fun middle-grade read with a lot of crazy, out of control dirty tricks. The best friends duo definitely got more than they bargained for, and were taught a few lessons along the way. The writing is solid , age appropriate, and the illustrations added a visual layer which tied everything together. I'd recommend this book to 8-12 year olds ,especially those who liked Goosebumps and similar tales.

Thank you to Media Masters Publicity and Union Square and Co. for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[Michael Lent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to imagine a more promising premise for a story with a very interesting cast of characters including worldly and eccentric great aunt Gabby, main character Martin (who reminded me of Bobby from King of the Hill) and best friend Jess (who reminded me of Connie from KOTH). For my son and me, the story structure felt a bit off with characters vanishing for many chapters, characters don't really rise after nifty descriptions (for example, Martin's dad is a s scientist; however, when he is afflicted by a dirty trick, he doesn't investigate and instead takes a week-long siesta and seems to slip on one clueless dad banana trope after another). Also, the resolution didn't quite live up to its promise. Still, mostly a fun read.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just in time for Halloween! A spooky-fun read for adults and kids, written by my bro-in-law. Check out his picture books too.

[Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very fun book! Perfect if your kid likes spooky stuff. The story is entertaining, teaches good lessons, and has plenty of funny moments. The illustrations are also a highlight!