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Stranger Things, Season Three: The Junior Novelization
This expanded junior novelization retells the third season of Netflix’s iconic series Stranger Things—and includes 8 pages of full-color images from the show!
It's 1984 in Hawkins, Indiana, and Dustin, Mike, Eleven and their friends are investigating supernatural forces and uncovering government plots. As they search for answers, the children unravel a series of extraordinary mysteries that lead to the local Starcourt Mall and reveal a terrifying Soviet experiment. This 320-page junior novelization, which includes eight pages of full-color images from the show, retells the thrilling third season of Stranger Things and is sure to thrill kids ages 7 to 10 as well as fans of all ages.
Welcome to the thrilling world of Netflix's hit series Stranger Things. Follow Eleven, Dustin, Max, Lucas, and their friends for mystery, suspense, and supernatural adventures in 1980s Hawkins.
It's 1984 in Hawkins, Indiana, and Dustin, Mike, Eleven and their friends are investigating supernatural forces and uncovering government plots. As they search for answers, the children unravel a series of extraordinary mysteries that lead to the local Starcourt Mall and reveal a terrifying Soviet experiment. This 320-page junior novelization, which includes eight pages of full-color images from the show, retells the thrilling third season of Stranger Things and is sure to thrill kids ages 7 to 10 as well as fans of all ages.
Welcome to the thrilling world of Netflix's hit series Stranger Things. Follow Eleven, Dustin, Max, Lucas, and their friends for mystery, suspense, and supernatural adventures in 1980s Hawkins.
320 pages, Paperback
Published January 6, 2026
About the author
Matthew J. Gilbert
71 books28 followersRecently named a New York Times Bestselling Author, Matthew J. Gilbert has written several licensed books for some of the world’s biggest franchises, including Stranger Things, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Some of his most notable titles are: the best-selling Little Golden Book, “I Am Jack Skellington,” “Hawkins Horrors: A Collection of Terrifying Tales,” and the official junior novelizations for Netflix's Stranger Things. He is also the co-author of the popular “Classroom 13” chapter book series. In addition to his author life, he’s a former Nickelodeon staff writer, an amateur screenwriter, and a poet when the mood strikes him. He currently lives in far-too-sunny California with his wife, and his loyal cat sidekick, Pepe.
You can follow him on Instagram at @mattgilbertwrites and find him on YouTube as well.
Some of his most notable titles are: the best-selling Little Golden Book, “I Am Jack Skellington,” “Hawkins Horrors: A Collection of Terrifying Tales,” and the official junior novelizations for Netflix's Stranger Things. He is also the co-author of the popular “Classroom 13” chapter book series. In addition to his author life, he’s a former Nickelodeon staff writer, an amateur screenwriter, and a poet when the mood strikes him. He currently lives in far-too-sunny California with his wife, and his loyal cat sidekick, Pepe.
You can follow him on Instagram at @mattgilbertwrites and find him on YouTube as well.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 25, 2026
SUPER AMAZE 😝
July 4, 2026
I have never had a more complicated relationship than I do with Stranger Things 3. If you love this season—great, as long as it’s a guilty pleasure or because of its high enjoyment value and not for the unanimously agreed issues it has, which is in no shortage. If you hate this season—I agree and feel bad, as it’s just such a mixed bag. One thing that I 100% think is the sole reason people glaze ST3 is because of the blockbuster approach. It is mindlessly more impressive with the vibrant colors and awesome monsters, crazy action and summer vibes, and so on, compared to the more drama/horror stuff that came before (which I prefer). And I get that: it’s a fun fucking watch, and I used to absolutely LOVE this season…until rewatching it. And re-rewatching. And re-re-rewatching it…because the negatives are stronger the more you sit there and marinate in them.
Since this is such an integral and important review for me personally, I’m gonna split this one up more professionally. Let’s start with the positives, and work into my negatives.
POSITIVES:
• Atmosphere
It’s summer, 1985, Fourth Of July, summer storms, hot weather, pool days, giant vibrant malls… it’s a profound time to exist, and as someone who grew up in the 2010s, even I get some sense of nostalgia. Not in an emo “I was born in the wrong time period, GOSH!” sense but a kind of anemoia. Whilst it’s not as profound as in the show, it’s still a nice backdrop.
• Hopper/Joyce romance condensed and muzzled
This is a great thing. I will scream about it later but Hopper and Joyce are the dumbest couple pairing in the show. So Matthew Gilbert taking one for the team and cutting out EVERY FIGHT SCENE between them and even their renewal in the finale is a goddamn blessing even if it does mean that it’s an incomplete plot as the exposition is still there in Melvald’s.
• Alexei characterization
The author tries to make you feel a little more for Alexei hence some of his scenes being cut that were too mature for the book, with better characterization with him that works well in book form. Simple positive.
• Mind Flayer
Yes, the plan from the MF (banger abbreviation holy shit) is flawed, but it’s never bothered me as it’s only weakened in retrospect of the entire show, with this season being pretty much filler besides the a few points in the last chapter. He brings grisly imagery, a stellar new threat, and intriguing new mechanics to the table.. basically all the dope shit from the show.
• Robin’s coming out scene
I’m queer myself so this kinda thing is important for me. It’s one of the best scenes in the whole show and shines well enough here. I wish Matthew wouldn’t use the word “accepted” in it but besides that, it’s pretty well adapted and hits almost the same. Such as—
• The ending (overall)
The close to this season is emotional in an admirable manner. It hits the same important beats and does them fine enough, and I did tear up a bit.. even if it’s not perfect, as we’ll get into.
To spitball some more positives: there’s some decent humor and a few familar plot points that I like, the characters are solid as usual (Steve, Robin, El, Max, and Billy being the highlights), Billy’s redemption is fitting and works + something I’ve always found complex as he is an asshole and does get discussed in 4 (so props just for making me feel mixed), and Will’s development is good here—most issues involving him are about Mike going forward.
And for issues… I have some things I’m indifferent on first.
INDIFFERENT:
• Grigori (don’t care, whatever)
• Back of the book says the wrong year the story takes place (I want to factor that into the score out of spite but can’t, so I will say it here. How did that even happen?!)
• Karen Wheeler’s deleted arc in eps 1-2 (I loved that in the show, but understand the removal since this is a kids’ novelization)
Now to bash.
NEGATIVES:
• Nancy’s and Jonathan’s NEUTERED Plotline
Kids can handle some drama. It’s all gone though. Not only are they barely in the book overall, maybe thirty pages max, but some integral scenes with them are expelled. Why that is, I don’t know, as they felt important to their characters, so it’s frustrating.
• JOPPER.
OH. MY. FUCKING. GOD…. I hate shipping terms but I’m using it for time’s sake: Jopper is an insult to the series. Taking an extremely platonic and heartfelt adult friendship between to people of the opposite sex and having the GALL to plant romance seeds for no other reason but conformity and pleasing Hollywood (which should be ST very last priority) is infuriating. I hate how it rewrites their characters, and it comes out of nowhere. And then having the GALL to not even follow up in planting those seeds in this adaption… look, I’m glad, but that’s just bad writing. Should’ve just had a self-inserted scene of them saying “this shit ain’t gonna work out” because it’s SO forced. Fuck the Duffers for doing it in the first place.
• Hopper’s lobotomization
I’m serious, by the way. Hopper has a character reset for ST3 where he not only randomly summons romantic interests from the depths of Tartarus for Joyce Byers, but also forgets that Joyce is not only great at picking up on thing when insulting her about the magnets—her having been right about the lights in one and other stuff before—but also just being a raging moron. The heart-to-heart speech at the end is great and reduces some of my hate for his character this season (alongside the missing drama between him and Joyce), but he is still a different character and for the worse.
• Pacing
Story exclusive issue: Matthew Gilbert’s writing is a bit clunky in pacing, and it feels like he’s rushing from beginning to end for a paycheck… which fair enough with this season, y’know? But it’s rough, not to mention his style scream mediocrity. Sorry.
• Russians
The Cold War stuff isn’t new, but RUSSIANS?! WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?!!?! The Duffers are at fault for the most out-of-place plot in television history, that being the impossibly built Russian base (which is an issue in itself) and how foolish a decision this was for this series. It feels wrong, is hard to believe on too many levels, and leans into the incorrect genres for a Stranger Things story. I’m convinced this was the first sign of the show’s eventual collapse.
• Rushed deaths/close
The final chapter closes so rapidly that some important scenes and interactions are missing or brushed over. It’s annoying, and very noticeable at that. And the deaths of Alexei, Hopper, and Billy (no one cares for Grigori) are all brief and don’t carry the correct emotional weight they should’ve, and the Enzo’s scenes being there for Hopper and Joyce (as much as I would’ve hated it; maybe Matthew could’ve changed it to be a platonic planning to get together… in my dreams) would’ve fixed Hopper’s close a bit. Whatever. I have my Moby Dick to catch with….
• BYLER.
Mike Wheeler is heavily implied to be a closest homosexual in the first four seasons of Stranger Things (and I would say the first half of five if it wasn’t part of the season we got queerbaited officially). Skip the rundown here if you know the gist, but his relationship with Will is far closer than his with El’s in seasons 1-2 and he cares for him like hell, and in 3 he is blatantly using El as an anchor to say to the world (and himself), “Hey! I’m straight!” He is clearly not. The rain fight in 3 has a moment where he projects his self-targeted homophobic thoughts onto Will, who is also gay. The fallout clearly paints Mike clinging to his true identity with him reaching out to Will whilst his heteronormative side still tries to amend with El in a way that would land him back in her romantic interests. A scene in the epilogue has El kiss Mike (not the other way around), with him reacting shocked, uncertain, and then ultimately in realization of his undeterred homosexuality, which would lead into his behavior in 4. There is just no other way to read that kiss scene; I had tried and can’t see it other than him clocking that he doesn’t like girls.
At least, that’s how the show paints it.
In the novelization: Mike has not only known Will is gay (monologuing from the rain fight reveals that clearly), but it rewrites him in ways that are homophobic, in a non-offensive and more so just deflating method. We never get that abundantly homosexual reaction to El kissing him, and the rain fight is reinterpreted to paint Mike as straight. It’s irritating—not because of Matthew—but because this is how the season now works in retrospect. The Duffers, if they care about continuity, should’ve cut the rain fight since it’s so clearly queer-coded, and cut some parts of the El and Mike scene at the end of the season to paint Mike as Mike No-Homo. It’s fucking mind boggling and isn’t as much an issue with this novelization as it is with the series itself. And yet Robin’s coming out scene is the same… how fair.
——————
Before I give my score for this, I wanna say that I don’t absolutely despise ST3. I have fond memories with it; I think the finale (in episode form more so) is pretty damn good for what it is; the still canon-to-show queer coding between Mike and Will is well-placed and rewarding; the vibes, and spectacle… it’s fun, even if it sacrifices what Stranger Things is, or I guess WAS.
Overall, 3.5/10. I’ve never felt more mixed in my life, as I loved this show dearly before it shat the bed in 5 with its homophobic recode, useless spectacle > continuity and heartfelt arcs, and bombarded cast. But 3 will hold a weird place in my heart as, yes, FUN AS FUCK, but ultimately the first stage of this series’ journey into oblivion. R.I.P. Byler — fuck the Duffer Brothers for making me violently ill on New Year’s Day.
Since this is such an integral and important review for me personally, I’m gonna split this one up more professionally. Let’s start with the positives, and work into my negatives.
POSITIVES:
• Atmosphere
It’s summer, 1985, Fourth Of July, summer storms, hot weather, pool days, giant vibrant malls… it’s a profound time to exist, and as someone who grew up in the 2010s, even I get some sense of nostalgia. Not in an emo “I was born in the wrong time period, GOSH!” sense but a kind of anemoia. Whilst it’s not as profound as in the show, it’s still a nice backdrop.
• Hopper/Joyce romance condensed and muzzled
This is a great thing. I will scream about it later but Hopper and Joyce are the dumbest couple pairing in the show. So Matthew Gilbert taking one for the team and cutting out EVERY FIGHT SCENE between them and even their renewal in the finale is a goddamn blessing even if it does mean that it’s an incomplete plot as the exposition is still there in Melvald’s.
• Alexei characterization
The author tries to make you feel a little more for Alexei hence some of his scenes being cut that were too mature for the book, with better characterization with him that works well in book form. Simple positive.
• Mind Flayer
Yes, the plan from the MF (banger abbreviation holy shit) is flawed, but it’s never bothered me as it’s only weakened in retrospect of the entire show, with this season being pretty much filler besides the a few points in the last chapter. He brings grisly imagery, a stellar new threat, and intriguing new mechanics to the table.. basically all the dope shit from the show.
• Robin’s coming out scene
I’m queer myself so this kinda thing is important for me. It’s one of the best scenes in the whole show and shines well enough here. I wish Matthew wouldn’t use the word “accepted” in it but besides that, it’s pretty well adapted and hits almost the same. Such as—
• The ending (overall)
The close to this season is emotional in an admirable manner. It hits the same important beats and does them fine enough, and I did tear up a bit.. even if it’s not perfect, as we’ll get into.
To spitball some more positives: there’s some decent humor and a few familar plot points that I like, the characters are solid as usual (Steve, Robin, El, Max, and Billy being the highlights), Billy’s redemption is fitting and works + something I’ve always found complex as he is an asshole and does get discussed in 4 (so props just for making me feel mixed), and Will’s development is good here—most issues involving him are about Mike going forward.
And for issues… I have some things I’m indifferent on first.
INDIFFERENT:
• Grigori (don’t care, whatever)
• Back of the book says the wrong year the story takes place (I want to factor that into the score out of spite but can’t, so I will say it here. How did that even happen?!)
• Karen Wheeler’s deleted arc in eps 1-2 (I loved that in the show, but understand the removal since this is a kids’ novelization)
Now to bash.
NEGATIVES:
• Nancy’s and Jonathan’s NEUTERED Plotline
Kids can handle some drama. It’s all gone though. Not only are they barely in the book overall, maybe thirty pages max, but some integral scenes with them are expelled. Why that is, I don’t know, as they felt important to their characters, so it’s frustrating.
• JOPPER.
OH. MY. FUCKING. GOD…. I hate shipping terms but I’m using it for time’s sake: Jopper is an insult to the series. Taking an extremely platonic and heartfelt adult friendship between to people of the opposite sex and having the GALL to plant romance seeds for no other reason but conformity and pleasing Hollywood (which should be ST very last priority) is infuriating. I hate how it rewrites their characters, and it comes out of nowhere. And then having the GALL to not even follow up in planting those seeds in this adaption… look, I’m glad, but that’s just bad writing. Should’ve just had a self-inserted scene of them saying “this shit ain’t gonna work out” because it’s SO forced. Fuck the Duffers for doing it in the first place.
• Hopper’s lobotomization
I’m serious, by the way. Hopper has a character reset for ST3 where he not only randomly summons romantic interests from the depths of Tartarus for Joyce Byers, but also forgets that Joyce is not only great at picking up on thing when insulting her about the magnets—her having been right about the lights in one and other stuff before—but also just being a raging moron. The heart-to-heart speech at the end is great and reduces some of my hate for his character this season (alongside the missing drama between him and Joyce), but he is still a different character and for the worse.
• Pacing
Story exclusive issue: Matthew Gilbert’s writing is a bit clunky in pacing, and it feels like he’s rushing from beginning to end for a paycheck… which fair enough with this season, y’know? But it’s rough, not to mention his style scream mediocrity. Sorry.
• Russians
The Cold War stuff isn’t new, but RUSSIANS?! WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?!!?! The Duffers are at fault for the most out-of-place plot in television history, that being the impossibly built Russian base (which is an issue in itself) and how foolish a decision this was for this series. It feels wrong, is hard to believe on too many levels, and leans into the incorrect genres for a Stranger Things story. I’m convinced this was the first sign of the show’s eventual collapse.
• Rushed deaths/close
The final chapter closes so rapidly that some important scenes and interactions are missing or brushed over. It’s annoying, and very noticeable at that. And the deaths of Alexei, Hopper, and Billy (no one cares for Grigori) are all brief and don’t carry the correct emotional weight they should’ve, and the Enzo’s scenes being there for Hopper and Joyce (as much as I would’ve hated it; maybe Matthew could’ve changed it to be a platonic planning to get together… in my dreams) would’ve fixed Hopper’s close a bit. Whatever. I have my Moby Dick to catch with….
• BYLER.
Mike Wheeler is heavily implied to be a closest homosexual in the first four seasons of Stranger Things (and I would say the first half of five if it wasn’t part of the season we got queerbaited officially). Skip the rundown here if you know the gist, but his relationship with Will is far closer than his with El’s in seasons 1-2 and he cares for him like hell, and in 3 he is blatantly using El as an anchor to say to the world (and himself), “Hey! I’m straight!” He is clearly not. The rain fight in 3 has a moment where he projects his self-targeted homophobic thoughts onto Will, who is also gay. The fallout clearly paints Mike clinging to his true identity with him reaching out to Will whilst his heteronormative side still tries to amend with El in a way that would land him back in her romantic interests. A scene in the epilogue has El kiss Mike (not the other way around), with him reacting shocked, uncertain, and then ultimately in realization of his undeterred homosexuality, which would lead into his behavior in 4. There is just no other way to read that kiss scene; I had tried and can’t see it other than him clocking that he doesn’t like girls.
At least, that’s how the show paints it.
In the novelization: Mike has not only known Will is gay (monologuing from the rain fight reveals that clearly), but it rewrites him in ways that are homophobic, in a non-offensive and more so just deflating method. We never get that abundantly homosexual reaction to El kissing him, and the rain fight is reinterpreted to paint Mike as straight. It’s irritating—not because of Matthew—but because this is how the season now works in retrospect. The Duffers, if they care about continuity, should’ve cut the rain fight since it’s so clearly queer-coded, and cut some parts of the El and Mike scene at the end of the season to paint Mike as Mike No-Homo. It’s fucking mind boggling and isn’t as much an issue with this novelization as it is with the series itself. And yet Robin’s coming out scene is the same… how fair.
——————
Before I give my score for this, I wanna say that I don’t absolutely despise ST3. I have fond memories with it; I think the finale (in episode form more so) is pretty damn good for what it is; the still canon-to-show queer coding between Mike and Will is well-placed and rewarding; the vibes, and spectacle… it’s fun, even if it sacrifices what Stranger Things is, or I guess WAS.
Overall, 3.5/10. I’ve never felt more mixed in my life, as I loved this show dearly before it shat the bed in 5 with its homophobic recode, useless spectacle > continuity and heartfelt arcs, and bombarded cast. But 3 will hold a weird place in my heart as, yes, FUN AS FUCK, but ultimately the first stage of this series’ journey into oblivion. R.I.P. Byler — fuck the Duffer Brothers for making me violently ill on New Year’s Day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2026
I’m such a sucker I love this damn show
February 2, 2026
Season 3 is what got me hooked to the show so of course I would give it five stars.
Had to order Season 2 novelization online but I found the other two books in-store and as of 2026, Season 4 has yet to have a junior novelization. I heard around July so kind of going out of order so there might be spoilers.
The vibe is very drenched in the 1980s with the invention of the mall for teens to secure jobs and just hang out. Where Season 1 was dark and drenched in the sci-fi palette, this season had just a little more comedy and bright as neon. To be fair, this is also where horror is front and center with body horror, alien invasion/pod people allusions and a dash of Red Dawn.
The Season 3 novelization also gives us insight into the minds of Will, Hopper, Steve and El going through their emotions. We also got introduced to Robin who is one of my favorite characters and wish the chemistry between her and Steve was expanded on more like in the show.
Since this is for tween readers, we get that little side plot involving Mrs. Wheeler chucked out the window. We are focused more on the teens so most of the Joyce, Hopper and Murray plot is dropped to only the most important parts. Nancy and Jonathan's relationship is kept very PG-13 so even their fight of judging each other is toned down.
The ending would be perfect if you didn't know the show was meant to go on at least two more seasons. If it had ended here on the third season, it would show how the characters have all learned to grow and carry on with the right sacrifices made for the greater good. That said, I am glad there was season 4 and I hope to read to see if its epic scope translates well to the written word.
Had to order Season 2 novelization online but I found the other two books in-store and as of 2026, Season 4 has yet to have a junior novelization. I heard around July so kind of going out of order so there might be spoilers.
The vibe is very drenched in the 1980s with the invention of the mall for teens to secure jobs and just hang out. Where Season 1 was dark and drenched in the sci-fi palette, this season had just a little more comedy and bright as neon. To be fair, this is also where horror is front and center with body horror, alien invasion/pod people allusions and a dash of Red Dawn.
The Season 3 novelization also gives us insight into the minds of Will, Hopper, Steve and El going through their emotions. We also got introduced to Robin who is one of my favorite characters and wish the chemistry between her and Steve was expanded on more like in the show.
Since this is for tween readers, we get that little side plot involving Mrs. Wheeler chucked out the window. We are focused more on the teens so most of the Joyce, Hopper and Murray plot is dropped to only the most important parts. Nancy and Jonathan's relationship is kept very PG-13 so even their fight of judging each other is toned down.
The ending would be perfect if you didn't know the show was meant to go on at least two more seasons. If it had ended here on the third season, it would show how the characters have all learned to grow and carry on with the right sacrifices made for the greater good. That said, I am glad there was season 4 and I hope to read to see if its epic scope translates well to the written word.
January 12, 2026
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January 16, 2026
Really enjoyed it! I LOVE the series, and I had so much fun reading this one 💗✨🎆
May 4, 2026
I love these novelizations; I just wish there weren't scenes that got cut.
May 14, 2026
Wow. Pretty good adaptation of the show. Exciting and fast paced, reads like you're literally watching it. I enjoyed it. It was a nice, easy, emotional, exciting quick read. I recommend.
Read
May 29, 2026Perfect for my summerween mood! I miss this shit. I loved reading about the best summer ever
Read
May 9, 2026Exactly like the show. Just in book form
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews