Beware the Jacks

by Laura Lavoie

A lot of things have changed in twelve-year-old Dahlia Reid’s life. Her best friend moved away, her mom got remarried, and now Dahlia has a stepbrother, Levi, who isn’t very nice. The one thing she can count on staying the same is Harvest Festival—the big scary event held every Autumn Equinox in the town of Wilcott Head. But when a new family arrives and grows a massive pumpkin patch, some people in town think it’s bad news, even saying the pumpkin farm is cursed. Dahlia, on the other hand, thinks it’s great. She even befriends the new girl, Penelope. After all, they’re both being bullied by the same boy, Julian, at school.

But on the evening of the equinox, the famous jack-o’-lanterns that line the path to the bonfire begin to disappear, and then people begin to disappear too. Dahlia thinks the pumpkins might be cursed after all . . . especially when they come to life. Dahlia, Penelope, and Levi band together to fight the jacks, undo the curse, and save the town before it’s too late.

Laura Lavoie, author of The Thirteen Doors of Black House, tells an action-packed story full of adventure, thrills, and chills in Beware the Jacks, perfect for fans of Katherine Arden and Lora Senf.

“This novel is lots of shivery fun, comparable to R.L. Stine’s books. . . . A rollicking, spooky tale perfect for young Halloween fans.” —School Library Journal

Genres: Middle Grade

256 pages, Paperback

Published July 21, 2026

About the author

Laura Lavoie writes picture books and middle grade novels. Some of her books are silly, some are spooky, and some are a little bit of both. In addition to writing stories, Laura can also tap dance, tell terribly cheesy jokes, and bake a mean chocolate chip cookie.

When Laura isn't writing or reading books, you can usually find her playing outside: hiking, kayaking, or hanging around in trees. She lives in upstate New York with her husband, daughters, two irritable cats, one hyper dog, and several sagging bookshelves.

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I say that I love spooky kids books more than almost any other genre if they’re done right, books like this are exactly what I mean.

First, this is just a good story. Fun for kids and adults, adventurous, and delightfully creepy, this one was tough to put down. It’s age appropriate for the target audience, but plenty enjoyable for adult readers as well.

What really stands out about this is how well rendered the atmosphere is, and how wonderfully it realizes the town and its sense of place. There’s something about a seemingly alive jack o’lantern that is both hauntingly beautiful and also just plain old creepy, and Lavoie manages to convey both of those things flawlessly.

Everything about the story has a gorgeously eerie quality to it. The story itself is slightly reminiscent of Katherine Arden’s original Small Spaces novel, though this is undoubtedly its own unique story.

I loved this one and so did my kids. We’re all eager for more from author Laura Lavoie.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the publisher on Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

-LOVED Millie. Sorry, gotta praise the good girl first.
-Loved the MC, Dahlia, who was such a fun and sweet girl, though her being uncoordinated made me laugh as that is just not the thing to be in a scary situation.
-Penelope was such a sweetheart.
-The lore surrounding the town was great, the author really weaved a great tale of terror and scariness. I loved seeing more and more spooky things appear.
-The Jacks were just NOPE NOPE NOPE
-The Shepherdess, well, I am glad she turned out THAT, but I was still NOPING the whole way through.
-Loved that it takes place during ONE evening.
-Levi turned out to be OK.
-Epilogue!

Some not so fun:
-I didn't like the addition of Julian.
-At times the story just felt a bit long. Some points feel like they could be a bit shorter.

But all in all, a terrifying read that I had a lot of fun with. Review to come during Spooktober.

[Farah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dahlia is having a hard time after her parents' divorce, her mother's remarriage, and the departure of her best friend Lucy who has moved away from their hometown. So, she is happy to find a friend in Penelope, who along with her family, are newcomers to the area.

But not everyone is as happy to have the Mullins family and their pumpkin farm in the town because many considered their pumpkin patch to be on cursed land. And very soon, events prove that old stories may be more than myths...

This is an enjoyable and spooky story that will appeal to readers in the target group - and well beyond. Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Angela Sandoval · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightfully suspenseful scary adventure...an eerie atmosphere, a cursed town, killer jack-o-lantern monsters, a ghost, a giant arachnid. Perfect for the 4th to 7th grade crowd or anyone who loves books like Katherine Arden's Small Spaces. I would definitely recommend this one to our students.

[Smith Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
Great spooky read with a lot of heart.

[A.M. (ᴍʏ.sᴘᴏᴏᴋʏ.ᴡᴀʏs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had so much fun reading 𝐁𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬! The eerie small-town setting and the concept of killer jack-o’-lanterns twist a beloved autumn tradition into something genuinely spooky. Dahlia and Penelope's friendship adds a lot of heart as they navigate the weird events at the pumpkin farm. It hits that sweet spot of middle-grade horror: creepy and suspenseful, yet totally age-appropriate. Reading it gave me huge nostalgia for the spooky stories I couldn't put down growing up, making it a great seasonal treat for adults and young readers alike.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, easy, "scary" fun, with a decent backstory for the horrors.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Review to come closer to publication.