The Curse of Heartwood Academy

by Marty Chan

Fifteen-year-old Allie Lau is not excited to attend Heartwood Academy, a posh boarding school deep in a remote forest.


Subject to the whims of senior students, Allie faces an initiation ritual called the test, which requires her and other new students to spend the entire night in the forest. The senior students warn that a ghost lurks in the woods, preying on those who trespass. Allie braves the test, but when she accidentally kicks over a gravestone in an overgrown burial site, she finds herself pursued by some kind of zombie.


This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading-level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Genres: Horror

126 pages, Paperback

Published February 17, 2026

About the author

Raised in Morinville--a small town north of Edmonton, Alberta--Marty Chan is a playwright, radio writer, television story editor, and young adult author.

Reviews

[Allyson Koehler · Rating 4 out of 5]

i'm going through it so all i can read are graphic novels or middle grade but this was fun!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC through Edelweiss, and from the very first page, I was hooked. What I thought would be a quick peek turned into an hour-and-fifteen-minute sprint—I couldn’t put it down.

What I Loved:
The atmosphere was everything I wanted: murky woods, strange sounds, whispered rumors of the past, and eerie lore layered together to create an unforgettable spooky read. The pacing kept me on edge—I thought I’d hit the climax halfway through, only to be fooled when the story pushed even further. The characters were well-rounded, and the main character especially felt like a reliable guide you could trust as the story unfolded. This is the kind of book I would have devoured in middle school, sneaking a flashlight under the covers to keep reading long past bedtime.

What I Didn’t Love:
Honestly, nothing. This was a satisfying, atmospheric read.

Rating:
I’m giving The Curse of Heartwood Academy a full 5 out of 5 stars. A middle-grade/YA horror story that absolutely nailed its atmosphere and pacing.

Recommendation:
Perfect for readers looking for spooky middle-grade horror, especially those who loved books like Goosebumps or Small Spaces. This would be a fantastic recommendation for both kids and adults who want a creepy, engrossing read that doesn’t let up.

One Compelling Sentence:
A spine-tingling mix of spooky woods, dark lore, and unrelenting suspense—The Curse of Heartwood Academy is middle-grade horror at its best.

Thank you to Orca Book Publishers and Edelweiss for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Jacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

Thank you to Edelweiss, Orca, and Marty Chan for the free review copy.

This book is younger than I realized at first, but that’s not to say it wasn’t good. I really enjoyed the atmosphere Chan created. It was spooky, and I honestly wasn’t sure how it would end. And the ending, to me, was brilliant. It’s a quick read (about an hour and twenty minutes to finish) and easy to follow. Despite not being the intended audience, I still found the story enjoyable.

[Lillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty creepy - full story in a short amount of time

[William Schellhaas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy Drew attends the boarding school from Wild Child.