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The Ginghams
Not yet published
Expected 21 Jul 26An eerie middle grade mystery debut that follows a young girl who returns home to find the people of her little town, including her best friend, chillingly changed after the arrival of the prim and proper Gingham family.
"A rip-roaring adventure, but more importantly, a kids’ power ballad to the importance of being yourself.” —New York Times-bestselling author Gordon Korman
When 12-year-old Joni Bird returns home from summer camp, it’s clear something strange is afoot in Olive Springs. May, her usually head-banging best friend, now wears her hair in a tight bun and calls playing the drums “unladylike.” The ice cream shop only serves vanilla ice cream. The women and girls of the neighborhood all sport big pearl earrings and crisp cotton dresses.
At the heart of it all? The creepy new family in the neighborhood with their soulless, carnival smiles and retro fashion sense: the Ginghams. Everyone they invite to their Thursday night book club re-emerges as dead-eyed, smiling, Gingham-approved "model citizens," all thanks to Mr. Gingham’s lifestyle guide, The Pillars of Perfection—and something even more sinister hidden behind his basement door.
Through quick thinking and cunning, Joni and her friend Tyler set out to fight not only to get their friend May back, but to save their whole town from forever falling under the Ginghams' control.
"A rip-roaring adventure, but more importantly, a kids’ power ballad to the importance of being yourself.” —New York Times-bestselling author Gordon Korman
When 12-year-old Joni Bird returns home from summer camp, it’s clear something strange is afoot in Olive Springs. May, her usually head-banging best friend, now wears her hair in a tight bun and calls playing the drums “unladylike.” The ice cream shop only serves vanilla ice cream. The women and girls of the neighborhood all sport big pearl earrings and crisp cotton dresses.
At the heart of it all? The creepy new family in the neighborhood with their soulless, carnival smiles and retro fashion sense: the Ginghams. Everyone they invite to their Thursday night book club re-emerges as dead-eyed, smiling, Gingham-approved "model citizens," all thanks to Mr. Gingham’s lifestyle guide, The Pillars of Perfection—and something even more sinister hidden behind his basement door.
Through quick thinking and cunning, Joni and her friend Tyler set out to fight not only to get their friend May back, but to save their whole town from forever falling under the Ginghams' control.
- GenresMiddle GradeMystery
240 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 21, 2026
59 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 15, 2025
I haven't read a middle grade novel in a while, but this book was honestly one of the best books I've read this year. This middle-grade retelling of The Stepford Wives is so thrilling and also highlights such important aspects of community, friendship, and conformity. While our country is so individualistic, this book still celebrates being a unique individual while also being part of a wonderful community. I really loved the friendship that the characters had, and the overall plot was suspenseful and enjoyable. I loved this book as an adult, but if I read this as a middle schooler, it may have encouraged me to lean into my hobbies and passions even more.
HOWEVER... I will say, I wish Joni apologized at the end of the book for the action that occurs. I think it would make Joni more well-rounded and a more compassionate person!
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for this eARC!
HOWEVER... I will say, I wish Joni apologized at the end of the book for the action that occurs. I think it would make Joni more well-rounded and a more compassionate person!
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for this eARC!
October 2, 2025
The Ginghams is a deliciously eerie middle grade debut that perfectly blends suburban strangeness, small-town mystery, and the kind of creeping dread kids love to read with a flashlight under the covers. T. C. Kemper has crafted a story that’s as thrilling as it is empowering, with 12-year-old Joni Bird at its heart—a sharp, brave heroine who refuses to let conformity swallow her town.
From the moment Joni notices her best friend transformed into a pearl-wearing, polite stranger, the story builds with uncanny detail: vanilla-only ice cream, cookie-cutter smiles, and the too-perfect Ginghams pulling all the strings. The atmosphere is unsettling in the best way, like Coraline crossed with Goosebumps, but layered with the warmth of friendship and the importance of staying true to yourself.
What makes this shine is its balance—creepy and suspenseful without being too dark, while delivering an empowering message about individuality and courage. Kemper’s pacing is tight, the imagery is vivid, and the ending is both satisfying and just the right amount of unsettling.
This is a must-read for fans of spooky middle grade adventures—one that kids will devour and parents/teachers will love for its heart and message. An instant favorite.
From the moment Joni notices her best friend transformed into a pearl-wearing, polite stranger, the story builds with uncanny detail: vanilla-only ice cream, cookie-cutter smiles, and the too-perfect Ginghams pulling all the strings. The atmosphere is unsettling in the best way, like Coraline crossed with Goosebumps, but layered with the warmth of friendship and the importance of staying true to yourself.
What makes this shine is its balance—creepy and suspenseful without being too dark, while delivering an empowering message about individuality and courage. Kemper’s pacing is tight, the imagery is vivid, and the ending is both satisfying and just the right amount of unsettling.
This is a must-read for fans of spooky middle grade adventures—one that kids will devour and parents/teachers will love for its heart and message. An instant favorite.
November 5, 2025
You’re telling me this is a debut novel? I read it not knowing that and was in love with the characters immediately, but also the writing style. When I came on to submit a review I saw in the description that this is a debut novel and was blown away. If this is what this author can do with their debut novel, they are going to be a big name in the future. This book is easily read and perfect for the middle grade audience it was intended for and I have already recommended it to the patrons of my Little Free Library for them to read when it comes out next year! Fantastic job!
* Thank you, Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. *
* Thank you, Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. *
November 3, 2025
From the beginning of this story, it seemed like there was going to be a good mystery involved. I wasn’t disappointed. The tone started fun but turned creepy and mysterious, which kept me reading! The friendship between the three main characters kept me interested the most. Their friendship was heartwarming and I was silently rooting for everything to work out for them.
I think kids ages 9–12 would really enjoy this book, especially since the main characters are in middle school. It has a great message, which I won’t reveal :)
The story wrapped up in a satisfying way, leaving me glad I stuck with it. I recommend this one!
I think kids ages 9–12 would really enjoy this book, especially since the main characters are in middle school. It has a great message, which I won’t reveal :)
The story wrapped up in a satisfying way, leaving me glad I stuck with it. I recommend this one!
October 8, 2025
Eerie without being scary or too dark. This is a very interesting sci-fi mystery story for middle-grades readers that is sure to keep them engaged! This book gave me vague vibes of The Giver (though it's a very different type of story and setting) -- a type of world that makes you stop and think about how "utopian" societies like the one that the villain here was ostensibly trying to build actually really do just feel quite dystopian after all. There's probably a good lesson here about the importance of diversity and being your true self, but honestly I loved the whole story in itself, taking it at face value. The main characters had personality and were easy to care about.
The one thing I found annoying was how the author overused various ways of stating "My stomach dropped/clenched" and "A chill ran up my spine." At some point I started noting each new instance, and I ended up with a pretty long list. It was so repetitive it was distracting and comical. Perhaps more of a me problem though.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC!
The one thing I found annoying was how the author overused various ways of stating "My stomach dropped/clenched" and "A chill ran up my spine." At some point I started noting each new instance, and I ended up with a pretty long list. It was so repetitive it was distracting and comical. Perhaps more of a me problem though.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC!
September 27, 2025
Tackling the importance of individuality, not caving to peer pressure, and embracing "otherness," Kemper's debut offers fast-paced excitement that will enthrall middle graders. A must-add to everyone's reading list, The Ginghams is 100% rock n roll!
December 7, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
T.C. Kemper’s “The Ginghams” is a bold, eerie, and emotionally resonant middle-grade debut that perfectly captures suburban creepiness while also giving an empowering message about individuality. It’s the kind of story kids read with wide eyes and adults finish thinking, Wow—this is going to stick with someone.
The book follows 12-year-old Joni Bird, who returns to her small hometown only to realize something is very wrong. Her best friend is suddenly polished, polite, and obsessed with perfection. The ice cream shop sells only vanilla now. Everyone, kids and adults, is becoming eerily identical, like shiny replicas of themselves. At the center of it all sits the mysterious, too-perfect Ginghams family, pulling quiet strings and reshaping the town into a smiling, obedient copy of their own ideals.
The tone is delightfully unsettling, making it ideal for those who love a good chill but don’t want nightmares. There’s even a subtle sci-fi thread that adds depth to the strange mind control spreading through town, raising questions about how conformity can creep in without anyone noticing.
Beneath the suspense and eerie perfection, Kemper delivers a meaningful exploration of identity, creativity, and the courage it takes to resist social pressure. The book champions being “weird, artsy, loud, quiet, different—whatever makes you you.” As the town becomes more controlled and uniform, the horror doesn’t come from monsters or ghosts; it comes from watching choice, expression, and individuality disappear.
Joni makes a compelling heroine. She is authentic, flawed, and determined, and her friendships become the emotional backbone of the story. You watch bonds fracture under pressure, then rebuild stronger as the kids reclaim their agency and fight back against enforced perfection. The climax is fast-paced, thrilling, and deeply satisfying, offering both triumph and reflection.
The emotional honesty of Joni’s character arc and the hopeful ending land beautifully. The book leaves just enough lingering questions to spark conversation about conformity, autonomy, gender expectations, creativity, and what it really means to belong, which would work perfectly in a middle grade classroom or book club.
Short, punchy, and paced for burning through in a single evening, “The Ginghams” manages to be both a compelling sci-fi mystery and a powerful invitation to celebrate individuality. It feels like a future classroom staple; one that could fuel book-club discussions and, more importantly, remind kids (and adults) that “perfect” is often the scariest word of all.
Overall, the story is strange, sharp, heartfelt, and unforgettable. “The Ginghams” is an instant standout in contemporary middle-grade fiction and an astonishingly strong debut.
T.C. Kemper’s “The Ginghams” is a bold, eerie, and emotionally resonant middle-grade debut that perfectly captures suburban creepiness while also giving an empowering message about individuality. It’s the kind of story kids read with wide eyes and adults finish thinking, Wow—this is going to stick with someone.
The book follows 12-year-old Joni Bird, who returns to her small hometown only to realize something is very wrong. Her best friend is suddenly polished, polite, and obsessed with perfection. The ice cream shop sells only vanilla now. Everyone, kids and adults, is becoming eerily identical, like shiny replicas of themselves. At the center of it all sits the mysterious, too-perfect Ginghams family, pulling quiet strings and reshaping the town into a smiling, obedient copy of their own ideals.
The tone is delightfully unsettling, making it ideal for those who love a good chill but don’t want nightmares. There’s even a subtle sci-fi thread that adds depth to the strange mind control spreading through town, raising questions about how conformity can creep in without anyone noticing.
Beneath the suspense and eerie perfection, Kemper delivers a meaningful exploration of identity, creativity, and the courage it takes to resist social pressure. The book champions being “weird, artsy, loud, quiet, different—whatever makes you you.” As the town becomes more controlled and uniform, the horror doesn’t come from monsters or ghosts; it comes from watching choice, expression, and individuality disappear.
Joni makes a compelling heroine. She is authentic, flawed, and determined, and her friendships become the emotional backbone of the story. You watch bonds fracture under pressure, then rebuild stronger as the kids reclaim their agency and fight back against enforced perfection. The climax is fast-paced, thrilling, and deeply satisfying, offering both triumph and reflection.
The emotional honesty of Joni’s character arc and the hopeful ending land beautifully. The book leaves just enough lingering questions to spark conversation about conformity, autonomy, gender expectations, creativity, and what it really means to belong, which would work perfectly in a middle grade classroom or book club.
Short, punchy, and paced for burning through in a single evening, “The Ginghams” manages to be both a compelling sci-fi mystery and a powerful invitation to celebrate individuality. It feels like a future classroom staple; one that could fuel book-club discussions and, more importantly, remind kids (and adults) that “perfect” is often the scariest word of all.
Overall, the story is strange, sharp, heartfelt, and unforgettable. “The Ginghams” is an instant standout in contemporary middle-grade fiction and an astonishingly strong debut.
November 16, 2025
I fell head over heels for this book. It has everything I love in middle grade—strange, funny, heartfelt, and just the right amount of eerie. From the moment Joni steps back into her too-perfect town, the story pulls you in with this creeping sense of “something’s not right,” and every little reveal is so perfectly placed. I found myself reading faster and faster because I needed to know what was behind all those bright smiles and polished routines.
Joni is an absolute standout. Her voice is so genuine and full of heart that you can’t help but root for her. The whole cast feels intentional and alive, and the town itself becomes this wonderfully unsettling character you’re dying to unravel. The mystery is clever, surprising, and deeply satisfying.
But what really makes this book shine is its emotional core. Beneath all the uncanny details is a beautifully honest look at identity and the pressure to fit into a version of "perfect" that doesn’t feel true. It never preaches; instead, it trusts the reader to feel the message right alongside the story’s chills and twists.
THE GINGHAM's is spooky, it’s thoughtful, and it’s gorgeously crafted. I loved every single page and can't wait to read what TC Kemper writes next!
Joni is an absolute standout. Her voice is so genuine and full of heart that you can’t help but root for her. The whole cast feels intentional and alive, and the town itself becomes this wonderfully unsettling character you’re dying to unravel. The mystery is clever, surprising, and deeply satisfying.
But what really makes this book shine is its emotional core. Beneath all the uncanny details is a beautifully honest look at identity and the pressure to fit into a version of "perfect" that doesn’t feel true. It never preaches; instead, it trusts the reader to feel the message right alongside the story’s chills and twists.
THE GINGHAM's is spooky, it’s thoughtful, and it’s gorgeously crafted. I loved every single page and can't wait to read what TC Kemper writes next!
October 20, 2025
This was a quick, suspenseful mystery with an intriguing hook and really strong pacing. I thought this story was very similar to the plot of the movie Don't Worry, Darlings, just repackaged for MG readers. The thing about The Stepford Wives was that it was subversive for the time period in which it was published, so I was expecting something a little more subversive here, given The Stepford Wives was mentioned in the description.
The writing felt a little repetitive, with a lot of instances of similar sentences (i.e. "She walks in, all smiles and cherry lipstick"). This kind of phrasing was repeated at least 6-7 times throughout the book that it took me out of the story. I also thought Joni lacked an arc and would've benefited from deeper character development.
Overall, the story delivers a fun, creepy adventure, leaning more commercial than literary.
Thank you Macmillan and NetGalley for this ARC!
The writing felt a little repetitive, with a lot of instances of similar sentences (i.e. "She walks in, all smiles and cherry lipstick"). This kind of phrasing was repeated at least 6-7 times throughout the book that it took me out of the story. I also thought Joni lacked an arc and would've benefited from deeper character development.
Overall, the story delivers a fun, creepy adventure, leaning more commercial than literary.
Thank you Macmillan and NetGalley for this ARC!
December 27, 2025
Read a free ARC on NetGalley.
Joni and her friend Tyler return from camp to find their bestie May has changed. The change is due to the new neighbors, the Ginghams and their daughter Charlotte Ann. Slowly other girls at school start changing and many moms in the neighborhood too- now they are conforming to more traditional gender roles and leaving their individuality behind. Mr. Gingham wins the mayoral race and their town starts changing rapidly- a dress code is enforced, books are banned and students who do not conform are threatened. Joni and Tyler must figure out what is going on and how to stop it. They find an unlikely ally in Charlotte Ann, who is actually brilliant and not under the control of her father like she pretends to be. Can they stop Mr. Gingham from taking over their town and their state?
Joni and her friend Tyler return from camp to find their bestie May has changed. The change is due to the new neighbors, the Ginghams and their daughter Charlotte Ann. Slowly other girls at school start changing and many moms in the neighborhood too- now they are conforming to more traditional gender roles and leaving their individuality behind. Mr. Gingham wins the mayoral race and their town starts changing rapidly- a dress code is enforced, books are banned and students who do not conform are threatened. Joni and Tyler must figure out what is going on and how to stop it. They find an unlikely ally in Charlotte Ann, who is actually brilliant and not under the control of her father like she pretends to be. Can they stop Mr. Gingham from taking over their town and their state?
December 2, 2025
This book was perfectly spooky for middle graders. Instead of ghosts and gore, this delightful cast of kids had to contend with creepy smiles, blank eyes, and the threat of another person's idea of perfection at the cost of what makes them unique.
Each character was unique, and had a part of them that they held dear that the villian wanted to wipe away in the name of making his own version of utopia. I loved that this book was a truly fun and exciting read, but also reminds kids that while their differences might not be everyone's cup of tea, they are the things that make them THEM. And those differences are often the things that help them create the deepest bonds with others.
I read an early e-copy on netgalley, but I will 100% be buying this for my kids when it comes out!
Each character was unique, and had a part of them that they held dear that the villian wanted to wipe away in the name of making his own version of utopia. I loved that this book was a truly fun and exciting read, but also reminds kids that while their differences might not be everyone's cup of tea, they are the things that make them THEM. And those differences are often the things that help them create the deepest bonds with others.
I read an early e-copy on netgalley, but I will 100% be buying this for my kids when it comes out!
December 8, 2025
The Ginghams is a fast paced middle grade novel filled with suspense. A new family, the Ginghams, has moved to town and suddenly girls are wearing dresses, women are quitting their jobs and staying home to bake pies and Joni, who has been away at summer camp, wants to know why. As more and more people are assimilated into a "Stepford Wives" type mentality, time is running out for her. An accident and a nighttime foray into enemy territory brings a solution to light. Good prevails, the bad guy is taken to jail and friendships are restored. The book has a few tense scenes, but is squeaky clean and perfect for middle grades on up.
I received a free advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
I received a free advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
December 5, 2025
This book surprised me with how engaging it was, even though it’s marketed as children’s fiction. I got pulled in right away and stayed hooked as Joni and her friends chased clues and tried to fix a problem the adults around them kept overlooking. The mix of spooky moments and a surprisingly warm mystery gave me real chills in the best way. As a reader who enjoys stories where kids trust their instincts and push back when grown-ups don’t listen, I ended up having a genuinely fun reading experience.
October 29, 2025
WOW! I got to read an early version of this story and it’s an immediate favorite. It’s “The Stepford Wives” for kids, but totally modern. It feels super relevant in today’s current social-political climate, too…educators and librarians everywhere need a copy of this book. Kemper nailed it for a debut.
December 21, 2025
This book sucked me in from the beginning and wouldn’t let me go! But in a good way, not a mind controlling sort of way! One part made me laugh so hard, I had to read it to my daughter! I can’t wait to add The Ginghams to my classroom library!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Daisy Girl Reviews
The Ginghams by T.C. Kemper was a good book. The mystery was intriguing, and the events of the story kept me on the edge of my seat. Definitely a middle-grade thriller that anyone can enjoy without being scary.
Thanks to Netgalley for an Online ARC!
Five Stars!
The Ginghams by T.C. Kemper was a good book. The mystery was intriguing, and the events of the story kept me on the edge of my seat. Definitely a middle-grade thriller that anyone can enjoy without being scary.
Thanks to Netgalley for an Online ARC!
Five Stars!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews