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The Wump
From the co-creator of the #1 New York Times bestselling Spiderwick Chronicles series comes a deliciously dark supernatural middle-grade coming-of-age story, with two-color illustrations throughout.
Timothy’s grandpa has a the best way to deal with bullies is to wump ‘em. But Timothy would never hurt a fly—and not just because he genuinely loves bugs. He’s always been a good kid…until a shadowy monster appears and begins feeding on his darkest thoughts. Facing bullies both at home and at school, Timothy cocoons himself in the monster’s shadows, where he is consumed by a desire for revenge. But how much of himself can Timothy give up before he is completely transformed?
Award-winning author-illustrator Tony DiTerlizzi stuns in this creepy, brilliantly illustrated, and poignant reflection of the darkness—and light—inside of all of us.
Timothy’s grandpa has a the best way to deal with bullies is to wump ‘em. But Timothy would never hurt a fly—and not just because he genuinely loves bugs. He’s always been a good kid…until a shadowy monster appears and begins feeding on his darkest thoughts. Facing bullies both at home and at school, Timothy cocoons himself in the monster’s shadows, where he is consumed by a desire for revenge. But how much of himself can Timothy give up before he is completely transformed?
Award-winning author-illustrator Tony DiTerlizzi stuns in this creepy, brilliantly illustrated, and poignant reflection of the darkness—and light—inside of all of us.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published September 29, 2026
About the author
Tony DiTerlizzi
91 books2,276 followers#1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator, Tony DiTerlizzi, has been creating children’s books for twenty years. From fanciful picture books like The Broken Ornament and The Spider & The Fly (a Caldecott Honor book), to chapter books like Kenny and The Dragon and The Search for WondLa, DiTerlizzi imbues his stories with rich imagination. With Holly Black, he created the middle-grade series, The Spiderwick Chronicles, which has sold over 20 million copies, been adapted into a feature film, and translated in over thirty countries. He teamed up with Lucasfilm to retell the original Star Wars trilogy as a picture book and his collaboration with celebrated author Mo Willems created the bestseller The Story of Diva & Flea. The Norman Rockwell museum’s retrospective, “Never Abandon Imagination”, featured artwork from the beginning of DiTerlizzi’s career as a contributing artist for Dungeons & Dragons and broke attendance records. He has been featured in Time magazine, USA Today, CNN, PBS, NPR the BBC and The Today Show.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
👁️ What if the scariest monster wasn't hiding under your bed... but inside your own anger?
The Wump by Tony DiTerlizzi completely surprised me. I expected a creepy middle grade graphic novel, but what I found was a dark, atmospheric story about bullying, loneliness, and the dangerous temptation of revenge.
Timothy is the kind of kid you can't help but root for. He's gentle, loves insects, and wants to believe kindness is enough. But when he's pushed too far by the bullies in his life, a mysterious shadowy creature begins whispering to the darkest parts of his mind. Watching that slow transformation felt unsettling in the best possible way, like standing at the edge of a dark forest where every shadow seemed to be alive.
The artwork is absolutely stunning. Every page is drenched in eerie shadows and haunting imagery that perfectly captures the growing weight of Timothy's emotions. The monster itself is both fascinating and terrifying, not because of what it looks like, but because of what it represents. It becomes a chilling reminder that holding onto anger can slowly change who we are.
What I appreciated most was that this story never offered easy answers. Instead, it explores how pain, fear, and resentment can quietly grow if they're left unchecked. It's spooky enough for young horror fans while also carrying an emotional message that adults will appreciate just as much.
If you're looking for a beautifully illustrated graphic novel with gothic vibes, emotional depth, and a monster that lingers long after you've turned the final page, The Wump is absolutely worth picking up.
✨️ Thank you, StoryGram Tours, Dial Books, and Tony Diterlizzi, for sharing The Wump with me!
The Wump by Tony DiTerlizzi completely surprised me. I expected a creepy middle grade graphic novel, but what I found was a dark, atmospheric story about bullying, loneliness, and the dangerous temptation of revenge.
Timothy is the kind of kid you can't help but root for. He's gentle, loves insects, and wants to believe kindness is enough. But when he's pushed too far by the bullies in his life, a mysterious shadowy creature begins whispering to the darkest parts of his mind. Watching that slow transformation felt unsettling in the best possible way, like standing at the edge of a dark forest where every shadow seemed to be alive.
The artwork is absolutely stunning. Every page is drenched in eerie shadows and haunting imagery that perfectly captures the growing weight of Timothy's emotions. The monster itself is both fascinating and terrifying, not because of what it looks like, but because of what it represents. It becomes a chilling reminder that holding onto anger can slowly change who we are.
What I appreciated most was that this story never offered easy answers. Instead, it explores how pain, fear, and resentment can quietly grow if they're left unchecked. It's spooky enough for young horror fans while also carrying an emotional message that adults will appreciate just as much.
If you're looking for a beautifully illustrated graphic novel with gothic vibes, emotional depth, and a monster that lingers long after you've turned the final page, The Wump is absolutely worth picking up.
✨️ Thank you, StoryGram Tours, Dial Books, and Tony Diterlizzi, for sharing The Wump with me!
October 3, 2026
Timothy B. Quibble is not the most popular of sixth graders, particularly because of his overwhelming affinity for bugs. His eccentric interests have made him a target of the school bullies, which makes every day more challenging for him. Add to this the fact that Timothy has been noticing weird circumstances surrounding both his reflection and his shadow, and it seems that life could not get much worse. But when the mysterious creature in his midst becomes more than just a two-dimensional entity, Timothy’s present and potential future may be in jeopardy.
This approachable novel holds a high interest for older readers who need more illustration-forward storytelling. Relatable instances of middle school abound in this book, which paints both Timothy and his best friend Alberto as dynamic, unique youth while the bullies all fit a stereotypical mold. Illustrations appear throughout the book, and rarely do pages include only text. As a result, the plot moves quickly with the images amplifying the details provided by the story. Descriptive writing and occasional light profanity help readers feel as though they exist contemporaneously with Timothy, their concern rising alongside Timothy with each new revelation. And because of the frightening nature of Timothy’s unexplained extension, the book will appeal to readers who enjoy chilling storytelling. Filled with uncomfortable moments and genuine relationships, this book is a good addition to library collections for early middle school readers who value the strength of an underdog in a slightly spooky tale.
This approachable novel holds a high interest for older readers who need more illustration-forward storytelling. Relatable instances of middle school abound in this book, which paints both Timothy and his best friend Alberto as dynamic, unique youth while the bullies all fit a stereotypical mold. Illustrations appear throughout the book, and rarely do pages include only text. As a result, the plot moves quickly with the images amplifying the details provided by the story. Descriptive writing and occasional light profanity help readers feel as though they exist contemporaneously with Timothy, their concern rising alongside Timothy with each new revelation. And because of the frightening nature of Timothy’s unexplained extension, the book will appeal to readers who enjoy chilling storytelling. Filled with uncomfortable moments and genuine relationships, this book is a good addition to library collections for early middle school readers who value the strength of an underdog in a slightly spooky tale.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Tony DiTerlizzi writes and illustrates a meaningful story about a good kid who has to confront the darkness within him. Tim is a 6th-grade nerd who loves bugs and hanging out with his best friend, Alberto. But as his life enters a tailspin and becomes significantly more challenging, the shadow monster appears and threatens to take over.
There are so many thing about "The Wump" that I love: the illustrations (B+W with green), the overall message, the realness of middle school with some absurdity thrown in.
There are also definite drawbacks; without going into detail/spoiler territory, I didn't love the end (it just wrapped pretty quickly and something about it didn't quite match the rest of the book in a way I found offputting) and the start was a little rocky, too. Meeting Timothy Quibble felt kind of dissonant, and it came around in the story eventually that all the pieces of his character and life that I found odd became pertinent or at least relevant. So, justifiable choices, just not always satisfying. But overall, a great story, fun and easy read, and again, LOVE the artwork.
There are so many thing about "The Wump" that I love: the illustrations (B+W with green), the overall message, the realness of middle school with some absurdity thrown in.
There are also definite drawbacks; without going into detail/spoiler territory, I didn't love the end (it just wrapped pretty quickly and something about it didn't quite match the rest of the book in a way I found offputting) and the start was a little rocky, too. Meeting Timothy Quibble felt kind of dissonant, and it came around in the story eventually that all the pieces of his character and life that I found odd became pertinent or at least relevant. So, justifiable choices, just not always satisfying. But overall, a great story, fun and easy read, and again, LOVE the artwork.
October 1, 2026
This aurho/illustrator will always be.z2 fantasy, fae, D&D illustrator of the era pos classic and sci-fi WondLa. This book erases he author's best nd unique characteristics and magic keeping the elements of loss, change, being misunderstood, bullying, dealing with rage and speaking up for oneself but by taking the fantasy elements it's just one more midlit bullying and parent's neglect.
It's one of those that help parents identify red flags in the behavior of their explosive depressed children but they would have to read it. A fine line between activism rebellion and not carrying for consequences.
Do kids care about what excellence this author can deliver? No. This may be their first book from this author and relatable but a shame publishers continue to strip down uniqueness to bet on safe repetitive themes.
It's one of those that help parents identify red flags in the behavior of their explosive depressed children but they would have to read it. A fine line between activism rebellion and not carrying for consequences.
Do kids care about what excellence this author can deliver? No. This may be their first book from this author and relatable but a shame publishers continue to strip down uniqueness to bet on safe repetitive themes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2026
I started this book thinking it was sci-fi or fantasy. I found myself reading a book about bullying, anxiety and coping with one’s dark side.
The issues are cleverly tackled and the metaphor is well written.
Nevertheless I was not entirely convinced. Some of the cathartic action taken by the protagonist are just too much and could give kids bad idea.
It is a book for kids : it may raise awareness among adults about kids’ mental health but it is not written for adults and they might get bored.
I would likely recommend this book to teachers who are dealing with bullies among their students. It could help.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and everyone involved for this ARC in exchange of my honest review.
The issues are cleverly tackled and the metaphor is well written.
Nevertheless I was not entirely convinced. Some of the cathartic action taken by the protagonist are just too much and could give kids bad idea.
It is a book for kids : it may raise awareness among adults about kids’ mental health but it is not written for adults and they might get bored.
I would likely recommend this book to teachers who are dealing with bullies among their students. It could help.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and everyone involved for this ARC in exchange of my honest review.
September 29, 2026
We all have a monster growing inside us.
This is such a wonderful novel with beautiful illustrations and a memorable message. We follow Tim who just started middle school and is dealing with a lot of bullies. Eventually we is able to stand up to them because of a mysterious force living inside him. The whole novel is so hard to put down and is absolutely engaging. The illustrations really add to the story. I really enjoyed this one and I think it would be great for spooky season or someone who is a reluctant reader.
This is such a wonderful novel with beautiful illustrations and a memorable message. We follow Tim who just started middle school and is dealing with a lot of bullies. Eventually we is able to stand up to them because of a mysterious force living inside him. The whole novel is so hard to put down and is absolutely engaging. The illustrations really add to the story. I really enjoyed this one and I think it would be great for spooky season or someone who is a reluctant reader.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I assumed this book would be about a monster. I was ready to hand it to a middle grade reader who loved scary books. But… It’s so much darker and deeper than that. There were parts that made me cringe, but I think the symbolism could really be something to talk about with the right reader.
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"Our enemies have fueled us," I said, stepping closer. "With that fuel, we've destroyed everything and everyone who opposed us."
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"Our enemies have fueled us," I said, stepping closer. "With that fuel, we've destroyed everything and everyone who opposed us."
Review of advance copy received from Author
I read this ARC as a member of BookPosse. I thought it was fantastic. The way it dealt with bullying and how it affects children was unique and well done. I recommend middle school librarians purchase this book for their collections.
September 5, 2026
I received an ARC of this book from a local independent bookstore.
The Wump gave off Goosebumps vibes while tackling issues like anger and friendship. I think upper elementary & middle school kids will enjoy it!
The Wump gave off Goosebumps vibes while tackling issues like anger and friendship. I think upper elementary & middle school kids will enjoy it!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Review to come closer to publication.
Review to come closer to publication.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews