Don't Call at All

by Robbie Myles

Jessie Davidson is tired of being left out of group chats and Instagram posts! Everywhere he looks, his friends and classmates are hanging out not with each other, but through their cell phones. Jessie desperately wants to be included and constantly feels left out. His problem is that his parents don’t believe that he should own a cell phone at such a young age. What’s a young boy to do? Well, Jessie’s problems appear to be solved one day when mysterious things start happening all around him. A strange looking man appears to Jessie and offers him a deal which he cannot refuse. A deal that gets Jessie exactly what he’s always dreamed of, or so he thought. A deal that gets him his very own, brand new cell phone. Jessie finds out the hard way quickly that things are not always as they appear to be when his phone, his ticket for popularity and social super stardom begins doing things he could never dream possible.

Genres: Horror, Middle Grade

147 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 2021

About the author

Hi all,
My name is Robbie Myles, and I'm stoked to be sharing my writing with all of you!
For as long as I can remember, I loved being scared. Whether it was devouring every R.L. Stine title as a kid, watching classics like Evil Dead, or just using my profound imagination, I surrounded myself with horror. I owe much of my love of the genre to my dad, who made sure to introduce me into this wonderful world at a young age.
As I mentioned, I grew up adoring R.L. Stine. Most notably Goosebumps and Fear Street. He has always been a true hero of mine and a pioneer of the genre I love so much. He's an inspiration to an entire generation of readers and writers.
As fate would have it, in the Summer of 2014, I submitted a writing sample of mine to an R.L. Stine fan contest. After winning, I had the opportunity to spend a few hours with the legend, and pick his brain. Meeting him in person was a major WOW moment in my life, to say the least. The validation of having this experience gave me so much hope for my own writing. Since then, I've written three books and have had many short stories and articles published through various sources!
My goal is simply to do what R.L. Stine did for millions of children including myself. I want to bring some of those same scares from my childhood back to life. The inanimate object that came to life, the ancient relic in the attic, and of course, parents that will never believe their children, but update it for modern kids through technology.
I'm currently living on the Upper East Side in New York City, working as a Middle School English Teacher.

Reviews

[Cameron Chaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big thank you to Robbie Myles for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review! I should also say that I formatted the interior of this book, but that in no way sways my review. I was pleasantly surprised by this fun, spooky story while formatting it.

Don't Call at All is the debut middle-grade horror novel from Robbie Myles. It follows Jessie, a middle schooler who still doesn't have a phone, even when everyone else at school does. He would do anything to have a phone, even if that means taking a free phone from a homeless stranger Jessie encounters one day in the city. This mysterious man has... seen some better days, to say the least. His bone-thin skin is covered in slimy, oozing boils. He seems desperate to giveaway the phone. That should be Jessie's first clue, but he is so excited about getting a phone that he takes the device and runs home. Of course, something isn't right with the phone, as Jessie will soon learn...

This small middle-grade book is a modern day Goosebumps story, brought into the current decade with technological terror. While I was reading, I truly felt like I was reading a Goosebumps story, and that's a compliment! I was also really impressed with the body horror on display here, as well as the message about our over-reliance on our phones. Is this great literature? Of course not, but it is light, nostalgic fare and I enjoyed it very much. I can't wait to read more from this author!

To see my video review, click HERE.

[Kelsi - Slime and Slashers · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up for GR. This little book is definitely a quick and easy read. If you are a fan of 90s middle grade books, such as Goosebumps, then you'll probably enjoy this book too! It has the same style that I associate with a Goosebumps book, but the story has a modern twist. The message of the book is strong and particularly relevant to kids growing up today. The book also has some creepy and goopy imagery that makes it an overall fun read regardless of the moral of the story. I look forward to reading more by this author!

[Alex | | findingmontauk1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

DON'T CALL AT ALL is the debut middle grade horror book from up and coming Robbie Myles! The story follows young Jessie who feels like he is the only kid in his school w/o a cell phone. He feels outcast & always out of the loop on the latest jokes, trends, memes, group chats, & more. Out of nowhere one day a strange man approaches Jessie & offers him a phone... and Jessie thinks it's too good to be true but he also feels like all of his problems have just been solved! He accepts the phone (which is already set up & catered towards his preferences/contacts) but then starts getting DMs, likes, & more from someone called Ghost. His phone starts to get him in trouble & the thing he thought would make him feel more included ends up alienating him more as weird, spooky things start happening that push his friends even further away. His body starts changing...

I love the "modernization" of MG horror that's going on here. Reading Goosebumps as a kid, one of the things that made them even better was their relevance to what was going on & connection to me & my life. And I think fitting in at that age in school was always a big pressure when I grew up & fear of being on the outside was real then. Wanting to own something that everyone else has at such a young age is an issue that is likely not going to go away. Fitting in & being cool is on the forefront of the minds of many kids. In this case: a cell phone. But as we have all experienced in our lives, getting what you want is not always the answer to your problems. Sometimes more problems begin to arise. I think Myles did a great job at throwing in some life lessons to this book in the midst of the spooky adventure that we get to experience.

DON'T CALL AT ALL reads quickly, has a pretty good build up of some characters for a shorter MG story, and gets to the point. OH! We have friendships/frenemies and a cute doggo, too!

Looking forward to more from the author!

[Melissa S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessie Davidson is the only 13 year old in school without a cell phone, and it's basically killing him. He's left out of all the group chats, he's never in the loop on the memes that his friends are always talking about, and he has no presence on social media. His parents think he's too young and they just won't budge. He thinks all his problems are solved when a creepy looking man offers him a brand new phone, which comes with just a few strings attached - he can never give it back. Once he has gotten what he always wanted, things in his live go from bad to worse. This phone seems to be acting on its own, making posts and comments that hurt and embarrass his friends. His life is changing, and not in the way he expected, plus some unexpected changes start happening to his body. Maybe being connected is not all it's cracked up to be…

Super fun spooky middle grade read! What a great debut novel! It was a cautionary tale wrapped up in a Goosebumps plot. As a mom to kids a little younger than Jesse, I thought the characters felt very real and relatable. And the obsession with cell phones was spot on! I have to agree that this is a really scary part of life right now - kids being so connected is a double edged sword. This is a modern dilemma tackled in spooky supernatural way. There was some deliciously creepy imagery around the homeless mystery man and the changes that started to happen to Jesse, and I enjoyed the dark, scary atmospheres that were created within the setting of NYC. It was a quick, enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to seeing what Robbie comes up with next!

[Cristy Villemaire · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Sometimes the things we want most are the things that we can't have."

What an amazing middle grade horror book. Don't call at all is an amazing homage to Goosebumps, it is modern, clever and spooky. From page one the book builds up the premise to the story.

We are introduced to Jessie Davidson, your typical teenager who as many today are too young for a cell phone. He begs and begs his parents for one without any success. Jessie's parents are adamant he's too young and will have to be patient. Even Brad, Jessie's best friend has a cell phone, and everyone in school, except him, this creates much stress for Jessie and wishes he could do anything to have one.

Always be careful what you wish for, one day you might get your wish and have to be prepared to pay the consequences. I absolutely loved the moral of the story, and I appreciate the author's afterword. A lot has changed in the past twenty, almost thirty years. Social media consumes so much of our lives and society's obsession with cell phones. I can see people reading this story and relating to Jessie, how they feel the peer pressure of being popular and maybe take some of his misfortune and learn that life is priceless and we can enjoy social media responsibility.

[DarkBetweenPages · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a debut novel!
First off let me say Robbie Myles is one awesome guy.

Second off let me say although I may be old...
....
..... haha
I really enjoy a great spooky middle-grade read and Don't Call at All was just that!
All of the Goosebumps nostalgic feels!

I got to read this along side my oldest son who also loved it and said it is definitely a 5 star for him too.

This caution tale has it all.
Be careful what you wish for, be true to yourself, don't take your true friends for granted AND.... always listen to your parents ;) they know best! haha

Robbie's writing style is so much fun! He keeps things exciting, while matching a middle graders attitude so well. His characters are so relatable, I know my son can relate (Yes! I'm one of those Mom's that won't let him have a phone even though everyone else in his class has one).

I can't thank Robbie enough for sending me a copy of Don't Call at All. I look forward to reading more from him in the future, excited to see what he releases next.
Would absolutely recommend this to others.

Thank you all for reading
Your INFLUENCER Book Worm ;)
Nichi

[Gavin Gardiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like so many of us, I grew up on a healthy diet of Goosebumps books. They probably have much to blame for my later-life passion/obsession with horror, and for that R.L. Stine has my eternal gratitude.

Skip forward many years and much extreme horror later, and I see my pal Robbie Myles has released a YA horror tale in the vein of Goosebumps. Maybe it was all the ungodly traumas of my favourite books and films I’d put myself through – not to mention the writing of my own violent nightmare of a novel – but the prospect of returning to a more innocent strain of my beloved genre presented itself as pretty damned appealing.

Enter: Don't Call at All.

This is a story that revolves around the relatively recent development in humanity of complete and utter technological accessibility to children, specifically mobile phones. Being a middle school teacher himself, Robbie is particularly attuned to this recent phenomenon, and this drove him to write a Goosebumps-inspired YA tale about a boy who does NOT have this technological availability; a child who would do anything to acquire his own mobile phone, the supposed rite of passage to the social circles he so desperately wishes to join.

Except, in typical Goosebumps style, the unassuming phone he eventually acquires will prove the catalyst for his very own personal nightmare.

I’m not much of a YA expert, and as such can’t comment with much expertise on Robbie’s book, but I found it clear, concise, imaginative, and highly enjoyable. Most importantly, I didn’t feel like it spoon-fed the reader – a mistake I suspect many books geared towards younger readers may make. It’s important we teach kids not only the joy of reading, but in the process also encourage them to exercise their critical and attentive faculties. DON’T CALL AT ALL does just this.

So whether you’re a parent who would like to encourage your child both to read and take their first step into horror, or whether you know a child for whom you’d like to do this service, or if you just want to relive your own first experiences of the genre, Robbie’s book is the one to go for.

Full marks from me!

[lee_readsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I don't know what Brad told you, but there's something strange ... in the neighbourhood."
Sara looked confused. "Did you just quote Ghostbusters, Jessie"

Don't Call At All is a debut middle grade horror written by Goosebumps super-fan Robbie Myles. This book definitely has Goosebumps vibes all over it and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible.
School kids can tough, especially if you're not up with the the latest video games, movies, or especially mobile phones.
In this story Jessie is the only kid in his grade that doesn't even have a phone and his parents aren't about to budge.
One evening while Jessie is walking his dog a creepy looking guy comes up to him and offers him a brand new phone! He jumps at the chance to actually own a phone! The weird part is the phone comes with pre-loaded with all his contacts, has internet and data, but the freakiest part is the screens error...it's of Jamie and his dog!
As Jamie says something strange starts happening in the neighbourhood but it only ever happens around the phone. So who can you call?

This was totally like reading a modernised Goosebumps and I loved every bit. It reminded me of when my daughter started school and as parents we always tried to make sure she was keeping up with the other kids. I remember when she was in prep I went around asking all the mothers what they were buying their kids for Christmas. The majority said a Nintendo DS so of course Santa brought a pink Nintendo DS to our house that Christmas!!! Kids will do almost anything to keep up with with the kids at school and parents do need to draw a line but it's a fine line these days.

A reminder for any would be readers - there are some good life lessons thrown in this story, maybe your tween could learn a thing or two.

I'll be watching out for more books by Robbie Myles.

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY GOURD!!!!! This book was such a frightening good time! Not only should you never talk to strangers, but NEVER take things offered to you by strangers! This book had such a wonderful message rooted at its very core and while it was eerily creepy at times, I enjoyed this spooky read so much.

Do not let Robbie Myles' love for horror scare you away from purchasing a copy of this awesome book!!! You will definitely feel Goosebumps vibes mixed with a little bit of Ghostbusters and a hint of Stranger Things 🎃 This was such an enjoyable read and rang so true on a personal level for me.

I received my first phone when I was 19 and almost halfway through college which proved very difficult. Many times, I felt like an outsider and never felt like I could relate to what my peers would be talking about on social media. As I grew older however, I came to realize the importance of not having a phone for so many years and how it ultimately bettered my communication skills. Today, I don't rely on my phone at all and have no problems with putting it aside to spend time with my family or friends.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who is either looking to have a frightful time or wanting to teach their kiddo a little lesson 😀

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, it's been a hot minute but I was finally able to get to a non-Animorphs read. So I'm back on reading modern day middle grade horror books inspired by Goosebumps, with the debut work of Robbie Myles. I've seen him on instagram and the like, he's pretty cool from what I've seen. So I was interested in checking this out. and now that I have another Kindle Unlimited trial, I figured now I'd read.

I liked it. It has some problems but it was fairly good. It centers around Jessie Davidson, whose parents won't let him have a cell phone. This is bad for him as everyone in his grade is plugged into social media and the like, and he feels left out and ignored. Even his friend Brad is starting to pay more attention to a girl than him at times. His parents won't budge though, they think a 13 year old doesn't need one and all that.

He gets desperate so eventually when a creepy guy offers him a phone, that clouds his judgement. And of course the phone is evil somehow and even as his social life improves, things go south fast.

Alright, flaws first. The dialouge can be off at times, with the kids not talking in very natural ways. The writing itself is alright, just not quite detailed enough and it starts a bit clunky. Can't be too hard on that front though given what this is and as it goes on, that gets better.

It could have been a bit tighter, as it takes a bit to get to get him getting the hope. The horror and story elements could have been combined a tad better. It's mostly story focused which is fine but the bigger horror parts feel a bit separate and not quite as gradual as it could have been. The biggest scares for me were after Jessie basically learned the main lesson, when it could happened more slowly as the phone stuff is going on.

So there are bugs to be found but there was enough to appreciate. The horror we do get is some gnarly body horror which I like, fairly grotesque too. Jessie is alright as a protagonist, balanced enough as he can be whiny but it's understandable enough and when the friendship rift happens, he feels bad about certain things that go down. It's not quite exactly what I expected as far as how he acts as it goes on and it works fine.

I liked the core theme and friendship stuff. He and Brad have a believable thing going on and there's nice moments throughout. Jessie's arc works and has a nice conclusion. The resolution itself is interesting, a bit messed up but it makes for a decent twist I guess.

Now, this indeed goes into "phones bad territory". The level of which the other kids are on the phones is exaggerated and silly. That is a bit annoying and is another problem I can note. but tobey fair this launches into the theme of not trying too hard to be caught up in the latest fad and peer pressure and all that. There are good points when taking the phone stuff aside. So while that aspect is annoying, it goes somewhere alright. The note the positives of this stuff only like twice and it's light but while it's a bit annoying, it could have been worse.

So overall, it's a good debut book. A bit rough in places but as a whole it ends up having some decent horror and storytelling. It has some of that goosebumps feel without overdoing it. Actually, this plot is kinda like Download and Die, which I know isn't one of the actual books but yeah, there's that.

It's a recommendation from me, not a big favorite out of these but it has some highlights in there, and I'm interested in his follow up book which seems to have come out earlier this year.

That's all I got here. I ran out of new to me stuff on Unlimited so the rest I read this go around may be just revisiting old stuff. Infact, next will be an example, so see ya then.

[Emily Lorié · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessie wants nothing more than to have a cell phone like everyone at school. He feels left out of all the inside jokes and knows he’ll never get in with the cool crowd if he doesn’t get one soon.

When he finally snags a phone, against his parents’ wishes, he realizes just how right they were to make him wait. Having a cell phone is not all it’s cracked up to be.

As a homeschooling mom of many, I’m always looking for fun and educational books to read aloud with my kids. A few of them lean toward the dark and twisty tales (not sure where that came from), so when I heard about this gem, I was geeked!

Offering spooky entertainment with great life lessons, this is a book that will grace our shelves and capture our hearts for many years to come.

I mostly read this with my two middle schoolers and we all agree that this is a solid five skull story. 💀💀💀💀💀

We look forward to reading more from Robbie soon! 🤘🏻

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't Call at All has the feel of the nostalgic Goosebumps/90s vibes mixed with today's obsession with constantly needing to be connected, by cell phone in this case.
Jessie is desperate for a cell phone, to the point he would do anything to get one. Eventually he finds a phone or rather the phone "finds" him.
At first, everything is great. His popularity takes an uphill turn....and then comes slowly, crashing down.
This book is reminiscent of King's Christine, in the way of an inanimate object becoming the object of obsession. In both cases, the object becomes obsessed with the owner as well. Of course, this is a PG version of this type of story.
Anywho, if you are looking for a quick, nostalgic middle grade read with a horror aspect, snatch this up.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story a lot. I tried to put myself in these kids shoes because I grew up in a generation that didn’t have cell phones at that age. However, no matter what generation you grew up in there was always some trend everyone desperately wanted to be apart of to fit in, so I love how Robbie made the story relevant to modern times. It took me back to the days of Goodebumps where R.L. Stine would take these seemingly ordinary objects and give them a creepy twist. There are quite a few lessons to be learned from this story and how technology has truly taken over our children’s lives. I also really enjoyed the ending! It was very clever and I think everyone will really enjoy it because they can probably relate haha

[Amanda F · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an overall story that reads like a fable, this book was good. Don't use your cell phones too much because they steal your soul and suck your life away. I get it. However, as a realistic story, I could not handle how much freedom these 13 year old children had in NYC in 2019. First of all, those children should NOT be going out at all hours of the night. Secondly, when he met the scary man in the park (where he shouldn't even be going alone), not only was he not really frightened of him, but he was smarting off to him. I just didn't get how that was supposed to be a normal thing that kids did in 2019. Anyway, I gave this a 2.5 rating.

[M.R. Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t normally read middle grade, but Robbie kindly sent this to me a few months ago during a giveaway he hosted on IG and I’m so glad I read it.

This novella was fast paced with likable characters in an unbelievable situation. “Be careful what you wish for” rang true for poor Jessie who just wanted to fit in. After reading this, I’m so glad there weren’t cell phones when I was in high school!

I was surprised at some of the body horror images in this story, but it wasn’t too grotesque. I loved it!

There was one chapter in the middle that switched narratives unexpectedly, which jarred me a little, but overall I had a good time with it and recommend it for any MG horror lovers.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fast-paced book that had me hooked from the beginning! I was able to relate to many parts of this book and enjoyed the suspense throughout.

I did also appreciate reading about Jessie and Brads friendship and the closeness they experienced, despite the obstacles they went through in school/life. Also, the cover of this book is amazing and I’m so glad I was able to read it!!!

Honored to be great friends with Robbie as well and so thankful that I was able to review this book for him!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a MUST read! It’s perfect for a middle schooler looking to read something a little more spooky. It is super relatable for children growing up in the digital age. Everyone wants a cellphone to stay in the loop, but the book highlights the importance of true/real friendships. I also loved the writing style. As a teacher, I could actually hear my students saying the lines in the book. Definitely recommend Don’t Call at All!

[Wynter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t call at all” by Robbie Myles was a surprising gem. I even found it creepier than some of the goosebumps I’ve read. We all know modern technology and smartphones can be put to evil uses. Jesse learns that sometimes wishing for what everyone else has comes at a price. I won’t give away anything else. Very relatable content for middle grade readers, but still fun and entertaining for older audiences. Highly recommended if you like nostalgic horror or middle grade horror set in the present.

[Lindsay Warsaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Goosebumps fan growing up (and still today), this book really sends me back to my childhood! The book is a spooky tale for today’s technological times and I believe that many of my middle school students could relate to Jessie. I hope to bring this book to my classroom so that some of my students can read it and enjoy it as well!

[Shane Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Be careful what you call for..."

Robbie Myles did such a great job serving up a dish of Goosebumps-style scares. It really puts into perspective on how much we rely on electronics, especially kids and teens. The climax was great, and it had me guessing until the very end.

[Lindsay Honorof · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book! It was such a clever plot and I think we can all relate to Jessie. Definitely recommend it for anyone who is a fan of goosebumps!

[Escapereality4now · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t Call At All

“Don’t Call At All”, by Robbie Myles, is a fun debut middle grade horror story and fast pace binge worthy book.

It is easy to underestimate the pressures that children feel growing up in this digital age. Social media is all the rage and our lives revolve around it. Jessie Davidson feels the pressure. His friends have cell phones and interact regularly on instagram. But Jesse does have either which does not help his social standing with his peers. One day, while walking his dog, a creepy man approachs Jesse and offers him a phone.

Kids are desperate to fit in and this was Jesse’s way. The author did a great job at showing the the lengths a child will go to in order to fit in. The friendship between Jesse and brad was a highlight for me.

Myles wrote a fun Goosebumps style book with an important message. My eleven year-old son was instantly drawn to the cover and asked to read it...of course after taking a photo of the book 😂. Thank you to author Robbie Myles for sending me a review copy.

5 ⭐️

[Chelley Toy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic middle grade debut by Robbie Myles! If you loved / love Goosebumps you will absolutely love this! I can’t wait to read more books by Robbie! A definite firm fave!

[Sharon Dwyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded to 5… This was one of the most fun middle grade horror books that totally resonated with today’s parental challenges… total Goosebumps meets Stranger Things meets Gwendy’s Button Box (IMO). I loved so much about this book… Jessie was such the the perfect ‘not popular’ protagonist… there were so many subtle social commentary undertones as well.. I am always afraid to give too much away, especially on a short MG story… my advice… JUST READ IT. I also want to say something about Robbie Myles the author… he is a middle grade teacher… so he gets it… he is around kids this age all the time and IT SHOWS… he is also extremely accessible and willing to engage with readers…I had questions while I was reading and following and he was willing to answer (to a point ;).

Synopsis: Jessie Davidson is tired of being left out of group chats and Instagram posts! Everywhere he looks, his friends and classmates are hanging out not with each other, but through their cell phones. Jessie desperately wants to be included and constantly feels left out. His problem is that his parents don’t believe that he should own a cell phone at such a young age. What’s a young boy to do? Well, Jessie’s problems appear to be solved one day when mysterious things start happening all around him. A strange looking man appears to Jessie and offers him a deal which he cannot refuse. A deal that gets Jessie exactly what he’s always dreamed of, or so he thought. A deal that gets him his very own, brand new cell phone. Jessie finds out the hard way quickly that things are not always as they appear to be when his phone, his ticket for popularity and social super stardom begins doing things he could never dream possible.