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Nightbooks #2
Gravebooks
Return to the world of Nightbooks . . . if you dare. Dead stories—and dead witches—are back to haunt Alex and Yasmin. To find a happy ending, Alex will have to write it, in this sequel to Nightbooks from acclaimed author J. A. White. Alex thought he was done with witches. But when Natacha, the witch who held him captive for scary stories, appears again one night, Alex realizes he’s trapped in a nightmare—literally. She’s found a way to enter his dreams with a new, terrifying familiar named Simeon. And they once again want Alex to write. Transported to a story graveyard with best friend Yasmin, Alex will have to complete an original scary story each night. But what does Natacha plan to do with his finished stories? And what makes a story good enough? While Natacha might have control of the beginnings, only Alex has the power to write the ending. Readers can delight in a spooky story while also exploring the craft of writing alongside Alex. As he writes his own scary tales, he learns about plot twists, active characters, identifying originality, and accepting feedback, as well as dealing with writer’s block—making this an ideal book to read for fun or use in classrooms.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published August 16, 2022
29 people are currently reading
3349 people want to read
About the author
J.A. White
14 books618 followersJ. A. White lives in New Jersey with his wife, three sons, and a hamster named Ophelia that doesn’t like him very much. When he’s not making up stories, he teaches a bunch of kids how to make up stories (along with math and science and other important stuff). He wishes dragons were real because it would be a much cooler way to get to work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
August 6, 2022
This sequel to Nightbooks is a fantastic follow up to the first book, which I love and recommend constantly when kids ask me for something spooky.
I cannot wait to get this one into the hands of those who read the first one and to bring in new readers by showing them the set together.
The first chapter both recaps in a way that brings you right back into the world and the characters as well as entices you for what's about to come. Each short story Alex writes along the way adds to the value of the book. I love the way his writer's troubles are framed throughout as well. It felt realistic even amongst the talk of monsters and witches and magic.
So much to love about this story!
I cannot wait to get this one into the hands of those who read the first one and to bring in new readers by showing them the set together.
The first chapter both recaps in a way that brings you right back into the world and the characters as well as entices you for what's about to come. Each short story Alex writes along the way adds to the value of the book. I love the way his writer's troubles are framed throughout as well. It felt realistic even amongst the talk of monsters and witches and magic.
So much to love about this story!
February 12, 2023
No dobra, chyba nie jestem fanką tej serii. Zabrałam audiobook na spacer, bo miałam wrażenie, że nigdy o nie skończę, a nie jest to nie wiadomo jak gruba książeczka. Jak dla mnie to pierwsza część spokojnie mogłaby zostać jedynym tomiszczem i nic by na tym nie straciła. Nasz młody miłośnik hororrów tym razem ląduje na cmentarzu zapomnianych pomysłów. Pod ziemią znajdują się wszystkie zaczęte przez niego i niedokończone historie. I fakt, na początku byłam zadowolona, bo podobał mi się taki pomysł, ale ostatecznie jako całość jest dość nudnawa i wtórna. Druga połowa szła mi jak krew z nosa i zgubiła zainteresowanie, mimo pojawienia się całkiem fajnej postaci. Jest dobry pomysł, ale realizacja gdzieś po drodze kuleje albo po prostu nie jestem fanem gatunku.
May 27, 2022
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I was just so excited to read this book. The first is such a fun ride. I'm a sucker for magic and witches and, well, books. So, it was just a fun adventure. My mother enjoyed it and my nephew enjoyed it as well. We were able to bond over the book. This one will be the same and I am here for it.
Gravebooks is every bit as enchanting as Nightbooks, but it's also very different. We see an expanded world beyond the apartment (and it's door), a new world even. I was immediately drawn into this new world and what it might have in store for our main characters. The story jumps right in and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I started reading around midnight... And stayed up extra late to finish the book.
In it we see relationships rekindled and taken to new places. I was happy to see the cast back together again. As a reader/writer a story about writing stories appeals to me on many levels.
I would advise readers to make sure they've read the first book prior to jumping into this one as context is important. There's a short blurb at the start of the book, but reading the first will make this one make more sense.
I was just so excited to read this book. The first is such a fun ride. I'm a sucker for magic and witches and, well, books. So, it was just a fun adventure. My mother enjoyed it and my nephew enjoyed it as well. We were able to bond over the book. This one will be the same and I am here for it.
Gravebooks is every bit as enchanting as Nightbooks, but it's also very different. We see an expanded world beyond the apartment (and it's door), a new world even. I was immediately drawn into this new world and what it might have in store for our main characters. The story jumps right in and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I started reading around midnight... And stayed up extra late to finish the book.
In it we see relationships rekindled and taken to new places. I was happy to see the cast back together again. As a reader/writer a story about writing stories appeals to me on many levels.
I would advise readers to make sure they've read the first book prior to jumping into this one as context is important. There's a short blurb at the start of the book, but reading the first will make this one make more sense.
March 30, 2023
What a great sequel! I loved being back with Alex & Yasmin so much. We see old threats, new witches, new terrifying villains, & a horrifying new plot for our characters. Lenore still has my heart. Love her so much. The mystery & danger start from the word go in this, & I loved the direction this one took, & all the details about it (can't say much). The new villain was terrifying in different ways than our last villain-maybe even more so. Had a great time being back in this story/world. Loved that Alex's stories were sprinkled throughout this one again as well-also liked the little twist with them at the end. Beautiful cover by Dan Burgess too.💜
February 12, 2025
This was a fun book. =)
It wasn't super scary, but once I got over that, I was able to get really into this. I really relate to Alex. Not only do we both live scary stories (and some of the same authors too), we both love writing scary stories. And we were both dealing with lack of inspiration for our writing over the course of this novel.
I loved the character development and watching Alex grow as a writer -- some of his stories were seriously very good. Better than the ideas I've been having lately. 😅
I love this kid and this storyworld!
It wasn't super scary, but once I got over that, I was able to get really into this. I really relate to Alex. Not only do we both live scary stories (and some of the same authors too), we both love writing scary stories. And we were both dealing with lack of inspiration for our writing over the course of this novel.
I loved the character development and watching Alex grow as a writer -- some of his stories were seriously very good. Better than the ideas I've been having lately. 😅
I love this kid and this storyworld!
February 4, 2023
The ending was interesting. I hope they turn this into a movie also like they did with the first one so I can see the creature. It was a bit hard to imagine. I really enjoy the witch’s character. She keeps me reading.
November 14, 2022
Verdict: This haunting follow-up to Nightbooks finds Alex trapped in a nightmare, again. But the setting is unique, the villain is haunting his dreams. Alex, Yasmin, and Lenore must find a way to work together or Alex may be stuck in dreams forever…
Alex Mosher found himself standing in a graveyard.
- first line
I loved this follow-up to Nightbooks because I got to spend time with Alex, Yasmin, and Lenore again. And I got to read more of Alex’s spooky short stories. These stories are some of the best parts of the book. I love that the graveyard is where all of Alex’s unwritten story ideas go and how he must use them to survive once again. Yes, it is similar to Nightbooks, but there are enough unique details to make this another fantastic read. If your students enjoyed Nightbooks, they will love this one too. A must for Middle School library collections.
Alex Mosher found himself standing in a graveyard.
- first line
I loved this follow-up to Nightbooks because I got to spend time with Alex, Yasmin, and Lenore again. And I got to read more of Alex’s spooky short stories. These stories are some of the best parts of the book. I love that the graveyard is where all of Alex’s unwritten story ideas go and how he must use them to survive once again. Yes, it is similar to Nightbooks, but there are enough unique details to make this another fantastic read. If your students enjoyed Nightbooks, they will love this one too. A must for Middle School library collections.
November 11, 2022
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
**Spoilers if you haven't read Nightbooks.**
In Nightbooks (which is brilliantly recapped in the first chapter), Alex and Yasmin escaped from the evil witch Natacha who was forcing Alex to write stories for her. Both children are dealing with their trauma in different ways, and Yasmin finds it difficult to talk to Alex and also sleep at night, so the two don't see each other much. However, when Alex is visited by Natacha in a dream, and she tells him that he must write a story for her every night or she will visit him, he needs to seek out his former co-captive to figure things out. Natacha is dead, but visiting him in the dream, and needs Alex's stories to grow flowers. Why does she need the flowers? Alex tries to write stories, but is struggling with a lot of blockage. In his dreams, there is a greaveyard filled with the "graves" of his half-finished stories. He does successfully write some of them; the ones that are good enough burst into flames and provide Natacha with flowers. Alex and Yasmin try to figure out how to defeat her, but soon are dealing instead with Simeon, who had been masquerading as Natacha's familiar, but is really a nachpyr, a type of vampire who feeds on energy instead of humans. The flowers caused by the stories provide him with power. Yasmin seeks out the help of a witch to whom Natacha delivered oils, and finds Ms. Goffel in a hard-to-find barber shop, where she is imprisoned and sentenced to cut the hair of the dead. At first, she refuses to help Yasmin, but as the girl visits, brings her coffee and crullers, and adds some color to her otherwise drab existence, Ms. Goffel offers to help. Will Alex and Yasmin be able to collect totems and weave a spell that will do away with Simeon? And will Alex overcome his writers block so that he doesn't have to give into Simeon's offer of becoming a nachpyr so he will have all the time in the world to write?
Strengths: Alex and Yasmin are a good team, even though they haven't been talking to each other. They support each other in whatever way they can, and are very patient with each other, which is nice to see. Alex writes a number of stories, including one about a haunted bicyle, a carnival, and a carnivorous locker, which are rather good and spooky, in the vein of Lubar's Weenies stories. My favorite part was when Yasmin interacted with Ms. Goffel, and when Simeon was pursuing the children a bit more aggressively. Lots of creepy, scary things, and Alex's dreamscape was evocative of Gaiman's The Graveyard Book.
Weaknesses: I'm not a huge fan of scary books, and have read a lot lately that are the story-within-a-story format. Language arts teachers will ADORE the commentary on the writing process, but I sort of wanted Alex to quit worrying about writing and just write.
What I really think: Nightbooks has been really popular with my students, some of whom have even seen the television dramatization. I'll definitely be purchasing, since I've had to glue Nightbooks back together because of overuse!
**Spoilers if you haven't read Nightbooks.**
In Nightbooks (which is brilliantly recapped in the first chapter), Alex and Yasmin escaped from the evil witch Natacha who was forcing Alex to write stories for her. Both children are dealing with their trauma in different ways, and Yasmin finds it difficult to talk to Alex and also sleep at night, so the two don't see each other much. However, when Alex is visited by Natacha in a dream, and she tells him that he must write a story for her every night or she will visit him, he needs to seek out his former co-captive to figure things out. Natacha is dead, but visiting him in the dream, and needs Alex's stories to grow flowers. Why does she need the flowers? Alex tries to write stories, but is struggling with a lot of blockage. In his dreams, there is a greaveyard filled with the "graves" of his half-finished stories. He does successfully write some of them; the ones that are good enough burst into flames and provide Natacha with flowers. Alex and Yasmin try to figure out how to defeat her, but soon are dealing instead with Simeon, who had been masquerading as Natacha's familiar, but is really a nachpyr, a type of vampire who feeds on energy instead of humans. The flowers caused by the stories provide him with power. Yasmin seeks out the help of a witch to whom Natacha delivered oils, and finds Ms. Goffel in a hard-to-find barber shop, where she is imprisoned and sentenced to cut the hair of the dead. At first, she refuses to help Yasmin, but as the girl visits, brings her coffee and crullers, and adds some color to her otherwise drab existence, Ms. Goffel offers to help. Will Alex and Yasmin be able to collect totems and weave a spell that will do away with Simeon? And will Alex overcome his writers block so that he doesn't have to give into Simeon's offer of becoming a nachpyr so he will have all the time in the world to write?
Strengths: Alex and Yasmin are a good team, even though they haven't been talking to each other. They support each other in whatever way they can, and are very patient with each other, which is nice to see. Alex writes a number of stories, including one about a haunted bicyle, a carnival, and a carnivorous locker, which are rather good and spooky, in the vein of Lubar's Weenies stories. My favorite part was when Yasmin interacted with Ms. Goffel, and when Simeon was pursuing the children a bit more aggressively. Lots of creepy, scary things, and Alex's dreamscape was evocative of Gaiman's The Graveyard Book.
Weaknesses: I'm not a huge fan of scary books, and have read a lot lately that are the story-within-a-story format. Language arts teachers will ADORE the commentary on the writing process, but I sort of wanted Alex to quit worrying about writing and just write.
What I really think: Nightbooks has been really popular with my students, some of whom have even seen the television dramatization. I'll definitely be purchasing, since I've had to glue Nightbooks back together because of overuse!
June 23, 2022
I absolutely adored J.A. White’s The Nightbooks. When I heard he was working on a sequel, I was ecstatic. Even after building it up in my mind and after reading a few spoiler-free reviews accusing it of being formulaic, I enjoyed Gravebooks almost as much as the first book in the series. Alex and Yasmin are back. They’ve escaped the evil, magical apartment and are coping with their personal traumas. Alex’s experiences being forced to write daily horror stories for Natacha has left him with a severe mental block. But no need to fear, a new nightmare awaits him (literally). Natacha somehow made her way back after being eaten by the real witch and is now alive-ish and well (again ish) and living in a graveyard in Alex’s imagination where the remains of stories he’s given up on are buried. She forces him to write a new story every night, resurrecting his old ideas. It’s up to Alex and Yasmin to figure out what she's up to and how to rescue Alex before sleep deprivation gets the better of him.
Is it this the same basic formula as the Nightbooks? Absolutely. But that’s not necessarily bad. Nightbooks was already a retelling of A Thousand and One Arabian Nights. Star Wars is Lord of the Rings is Harry Potter (actually those three are eerily similar plot wise if you break them down to the most basic elements). We all line up to watch a dozen repetitive romantic comedies every single year (boy meets girl, boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back) and we love it. Writers use formulas because they work. And White’s use of the 1001 forumla is compelling, entertaining, and well written.
As a writer myself, I have felt so many of the same things Alex suffers from as he tries to create stories against his deadlines in the story. You can tell this is rooted in personal experience. The characters have to work together, trust each other (and some people they’d rather not trust) and overcome some of their own, personal weaknesses/demons to survive to the end of the story. The monsters are unique. The little stories woven in between chapters make me both laugh and scream. I’d read a thousand and one books in this format before I even thought about complaining. Please write another book in this series, J.A. White! I’m begging you.
Is it this the same basic formula as the Nightbooks? Absolutely. But that’s not necessarily bad. Nightbooks was already a retelling of A Thousand and One Arabian Nights. Star Wars is Lord of the Rings is Harry Potter (actually those three are eerily similar plot wise if you break them down to the most basic elements). We all line up to watch a dozen repetitive romantic comedies every single year (boy meets girl, boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back) and we love it. Writers use formulas because they work. And White’s use of the 1001 forumla is compelling, entertaining, and well written.
As a writer myself, I have felt so many of the same things Alex suffers from as he tries to create stories against his deadlines in the story. You can tell this is rooted in personal experience. The characters have to work together, trust each other (and some people they’d rather not trust) and overcome some of their own, personal weaknesses/demons to survive to the end of the story. The monsters are unique. The little stories woven in between chapters make me both laugh and scream. I’d read a thousand and one books in this format before I even thought about complaining. Please write another book in this series, J.A. White! I’m begging you.
October 1, 2022
I didn’t even know Nightbooks had a sequel until I randomly came across this on Goodreads a few months ago. I read it in 2019 and it might just be the best book I’ve ever read so I came into this with extremely high expectations.
Nightbooks absolutely did not need a sequel. It was a perfect stand-alone that did not beg for more, and this doesn’t really add anything to it. I liked it well enough, it was spooky and some aspects of it were smart (that’s what I loved about Nightbooks, the logic of everything and Alex’s stories is just phenomenal).
What I didn’t like was Yasmin’s take on everything, I’m shocked she just dropped Alex. I know there’s a lot to be said there about triggers and healing that probably makes a lot of sense in real life but I was disappointed in that turn of events. I’m glad they worked it out in the end but I didn’t like the way Yasmin treated him.
The back and forth of their POV’s was a bit disarming every time it switched because there was no indication of it, I wish a different font had been used or something in the chapter titles/headers told us. The first time it happened I was very confused.
Simeon wasn’t nearly as scary as Natacha, though the idea of a graveyard full of story ideas was incredible. The inclusion of Ms. Goffel (like Mother Gothel???) was nice, love another fairytale reference but in the end this wasn’t as scary and spooky as it could have been. The stakes didn’t feel that high to me, even with the possibility of Alex being turned into a sort of vampire.
Oh and I was worried about Lenore - they cut her tail off and that was horrible - but she was okay in the end and I’m super glad about that.
My favourite of Alex’s stories was The Wrong Puzzle, it gave off amazing Goosebumps vibes and was awesome.
It wasn’t bad, but it won’t stick with me like Nightbooks did.
FAVOURITE QUOTES
“There was also, he now noticed, no breeze at all. The wind was as dead as the corpses underfoot.”
“The backyard might have been warm and cozy during the daylight hours, but at night inserts chanted their secret songs and strange shapes lurked in the darkness.”
“It had felt like she was fading away, becoming a ghost without the common courtesy of dying.”
“Eventually I found this miraculous graveyard. I had seen such places before. Libraries of memories, a filing cabinet of wishes, alphabetized fears. Even in dreams, the human mind seeks to make order out of chaos."
Nightbooks absolutely did not need a sequel. It was a perfect stand-alone that did not beg for more, and this doesn’t really add anything to it. I liked it well enough, it was spooky and some aspects of it were smart (that’s what I loved about Nightbooks, the logic of everything and Alex’s stories is just phenomenal).
What I didn’t like was Yasmin’s take on everything, I’m shocked she just dropped Alex. I know there’s a lot to be said there about triggers and healing that probably makes a lot of sense in real life but I was disappointed in that turn of events. I’m glad they worked it out in the end but I didn’t like the way Yasmin treated him.
The back and forth of their POV’s was a bit disarming every time it switched because there was no indication of it, I wish a different font had been used or something in the chapter titles/headers told us. The first time it happened I was very confused.
Simeon wasn’t nearly as scary as Natacha, though the idea of a graveyard full of story ideas was incredible. The inclusion of Ms. Goffel (like Mother Gothel???) was nice, love another fairytale reference but in the end this wasn’t as scary and spooky as it could have been. The stakes didn’t feel that high to me, even with the possibility of Alex being turned into a sort of vampire.
Oh and I was worried about Lenore - they cut her tail off and that was horrible - but she was okay in the end and I’m super glad about that.
My favourite of Alex’s stories was The Wrong Puzzle, it gave off amazing Goosebumps vibes and was awesome.
It wasn’t bad, but it won’t stick with me like Nightbooks did.
FAVOURITE QUOTES
“There was also, he now noticed, no breeze at all. The wind was as dead as the corpses underfoot.”
“The backyard might have been warm and cozy during the daylight hours, but at night inserts chanted their secret songs and strange shapes lurked in the darkness.”
“It had felt like she was fading away, becoming a ghost without the common courtesy of dying.”
“Eventually I found this miraculous graveyard. I had seen such places before. Libraries of memories, a filing cabinet of wishes, alphabetized fears. Even in dreams, the human mind seeks to make order out of chaos."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2023
Alex and Yasmin's friendship experiences a major setback as Yasmin's post-kidnapping trauma pushes her to shut out all reminders of the past--including Alex.
Little do they know that Natacha, and magic, are not nearly done with them yet. And... there is more to fear than just witches
A wonderful follow-up to Nightbooks
with unexpected twists I honestly didn't see coming.
High on my list for middle graders who like a good scary read.
Little do they know that Natacha, and magic, are not nearly done with them yet. And... there is more to fear than just witches
A wonderful follow-up to Nightbooks
with unexpected twists I honestly didn't see coming.
High on my list for middle graders who like a good scary read.
December 23, 2023
“They thought they were done with witches. They were wrong.”
Sad to say that this novel lost a lot of the magic that made the first one so spectacular. It felt like it was trying too hard to be the same book in a different skin and the disconnect was palpable.
I’d much rather the author create something new. Let me know when White’s next book hits the shelves.
Sad to say that this novel lost a lot of the magic that made the first one so spectacular. It felt like it was trying too hard to be the same book in a different skin and the disconnect was palpable.
I’d much rather the author create something new. Let me know when White’s next book hits the shelves.
April 3, 2024
This book did not have as many parts with Alex and Yasmin together I feel like, which was really sad. I loved them as a couple, even if they were technically only friends. I also can't believe how they found the witch from Rapunzel and befriended her. That was so cool!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2022
I actually liked this one better than it’s prequel.
May 3, 2023
Honestly not great compared to the first one
September 27, 2023
I’m really enjoying this series. It is a fun combination of spooky middle grade and adventure. I love all the stories Alex tells throughout the story.
October 17, 2023
Lo gives this 5 stars, James gives it 4.5 stars. We enjoyed it, but not as much as the first movie one. Though we loved all the new stories that Alex wrote on this one.
November 21, 2023
4.5 stars
Possibly even better than the first book!
Possibly even better than the first book!
October 23, 2025
Rated—PG (my personal opinion based on content)
*Some scenes might be scary for young readers
*Some scenes might be scary for young readers
November 2, 2023
SYS 2023*
3.75 stars rounded down to 3**
3.75 stars rounded down to 3**
Read
January 18, 2024This is an amazing book, if you have seen Nightbooks I highly recommend following with this book. It has amazing characters and it sucks you into the book when you read it. My favorite part was when Alex and Yasmin defeated Simeon and Yasmin defeated Natacha.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2025
Even better than the original, this is the kind of sequel that builds on its predecessor instead of mindlessly copying it. Fantastic new characters, beautifully tied up loose ends, and a heartfelt ode to the art of storytelling.
April 12, 2022
What worked:
This book is the sequel to Nightbooks, but it’s not essential that you’ve read it first. The prologue provides enough information about the evil witch Natacha that readers can easily jump right into this new adventure. The premise of the story is reminiscent of The Arabian Nights where Scheherazade must make up new stories every day to avoid being killed by the king. Natacha enters Alex’s dreams and won’t allow him to wake up until he’s written her an original story. She expects a new one every night, although she often requires Alex to write multiple tales before she deems one of them acceptable. The stories appear on gravestones and cause flowers to grow. Natacha is expecting unique flowers, and her jackal’s sniff determines the worthiness of Alex’s efforts. The importance of the flowers will be revealed later in the book. The author provides multiple surprises as the plot nears its climax.
A fun twist to the book is the fact that the plot includes the short stories written by Alex. They’re supposed to be original and scary because Natacha won’t accept them if they’re not. If you’re like me, you’ll find yourself judging the quality of the stories just like Natacha. For the most part, Alex is successful, so readers are able to enjoy many spooky stories within the pages of one book. Another novel approach by the author occurs when Alex discusses his writing process, so readers can learn about how authors craft new stories. Alex considers the origin of new ideas, characterization, plot development, word choice, conflict, and creative endings. He also battles writer’s block, which presents an additional problem while trying to escape his dreams.
The author’s creativity is highlighted in this book. The dreamworld appears as a graveyard of Alex’s abandoned writing topics and it’s very real for him. It’s frightening how he can’t escape his own mind unless the witch allows it. After choosing a tombstone, Alex drops into another dreamworld based on an idea from his past, and he’s forced to compose a story before he can leave it. He’s trapped in a dream within a dream that has infinite possibilities. The additional characters, conflicts, and solutions allow plenty of room for healthy imagination. Alex must also learn to understand his friendship with Yasmin, and she’s forced to deal with her terrors from the first book.
What didn’t work as well:
While not a huge issue, the characters reference events from the first book, so readers may feel like they’re missing something. The easy solution to the problem is to read Nightbooks first. I’ve not read it yet, but I was easily able to enjoy the suspense and eeriness found in Gravebooks.
The Final Verdict:
It’s not safe to dream anymore. The overall book is scary, but the short stories included are even more frightening. The author is skillfully able to evoke feelings of uneasiness and fear, and I highly recommend you give it a shot.
This book is the sequel to Nightbooks, but it’s not essential that you’ve read it first. The prologue provides enough information about the evil witch Natacha that readers can easily jump right into this new adventure. The premise of the story is reminiscent of The Arabian Nights where Scheherazade must make up new stories every day to avoid being killed by the king. Natacha enters Alex’s dreams and won’t allow him to wake up until he’s written her an original story. She expects a new one every night, although she often requires Alex to write multiple tales before she deems one of them acceptable. The stories appear on gravestones and cause flowers to grow. Natacha is expecting unique flowers, and her jackal’s sniff determines the worthiness of Alex’s efforts. The importance of the flowers will be revealed later in the book. The author provides multiple surprises as the plot nears its climax.
A fun twist to the book is the fact that the plot includes the short stories written by Alex. They’re supposed to be original and scary because Natacha won’t accept them if they’re not. If you’re like me, you’ll find yourself judging the quality of the stories just like Natacha. For the most part, Alex is successful, so readers are able to enjoy many spooky stories within the pages of one book. Another novel approach by the author occurs when Alex discusses his writing process, so readers can learn about how authors craft new stories. Alex considers the origin of new ideas, characterization, plot development, word choice, conflict, and creative endings. He also battles writer’s block, which presents an additional problem while trying to escape his dreams.
The author’s creativity is highlighted in this book. The dreamworld appears as a graveyard of Alex’s abandoned writing topics and it’s very real for him. It’s frightening how he can’t escape his own mind unless the witch allows it. After choosing a tombstone, Alex drops into another dreamworld based on an idea from his past, and he’s forced to compose a story before he can leave it. He’s trapped in a dream within a dream that has infinite possibilities. The additional characters, conflicts, and solutions allow plenty of room for healthy imagination. Alex must also learn to understand his friendship with Yasmin, and she’s forced to deal with her terrors from the first book.
What didn’t work as well:
While not a huge issue, the characters reference events from the first book, so readers may feel like they’re missing something. The easy solution to the problem is to read Nightbooks first. I’ve not read it yet, but I was easily able to enjoy the suspense and eeriness found in Gravebooks.
The Final Verdict:
It’s not safe to dream anymore. The overall book is scary, but the short stories included are even more frightening. The author is skillfully able to evoke feelings of uneasiness and fear, and I highly recommend you give it a shot.
April 25, 2025
It was a good book
August 15, 2022
So I missed the part on the cover that said GRAVEBOOKS is a sequel. Thankfully, there’s enough in here that fills me in on the important details that I wasn’t left hanging or at all confused by what was going on. I got the gist of the first book and that was enough to get through this one. Now I have to go back and read NIGHTBOOKS. Obviously.
But this was a fun read. I absolutely ADORED the notion of a story idea graveyard. As a writer, it’s the most accurate thing in existence and I loved how it was used against Alex in this nightmare realm he had to escape from. I was expecting the story to be a touch darker, and before anyone comes for me screaming IT’S MIDDLE GRADE, I’ve read much darker MG horror, so shush. But I liked the balance this book provided. There are definite creepy, terrifying elements, but there was also a levity that came with it that didn’t make the story go too dark.
My favorite part was actually probably Yasmin’s reluctance to join Alex on this crusade, and basically her trauma that weighed on her for the first part of the book. That’s kind of demented to say, but I think that all was portrayed really well. Yasmin’s hand shy from her past experience with Natacha, and she associated Alex with that and cutting him out meant she was able to get past that experience. Except the experience was not having any of that.
I liked the twist, and then the twist again (dammit, that song is in my head now 🙄), unveiling each layer of the story. Just when you thought you knew what was going on, White threw a wrench into your spokes to send you off course. The book kept me guessing as a result.
Never a dull moment, great characters, GRAVEBOOKS is a fun, creepy read that will pull you straight through to the end.
4.5
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
But this was a fun read. I absolutely ADORED the notion of a story idea graveyard. As a writer, it’s the most accurate thing in existence and I loved how it was used against Alex in this nightmare realm he had to escape from. I was expecting the story to be a touch darker, and before anyone comes for me screaming IT’S MIDDLE GRADE, I’ve read much darker MG horror, so shush. But I liked the balance this book provided. There are definite creepy, terrifying elements, but there was also a levity that came with it that didn’t make the story go too dark.
My favorite part was actually probably Yasmin’s reluctance to join Alex on this crusade, and basically her trauma that weighed on her for the first part of the book. That’s kind of demented to say, but I think that all was portrayed really well. Yasmin’s hand shy from her past experience with Natacha, and she associated Alex with that and cutting him out meant she was able to get past that experience. Except the experience was not having any of that.
I liked the twist, and then the twist again (dammit, that song is in my head now 🙄), unveiling each layer of the story. Just when you thought you knew what was going on, White threw a wrench into your spokes to send you off course. The book kept me guessing as a result.
Never a dull moment, great characters, GRAVEBOOKS is a fun, creepy read that will pull you straight through to the end.
4.5
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 15, 2022
Book 2 in the series. After escaping Max and Yasmin struggle to find normal in world with fewer witches.
February 10, 2023
2.5 stars for Alexs scary stories-the best part of the novel
March 17, 2024
At the start of Gravebooks, Alex Mosher finds himself in a graveyard without knowing how he got there. He realizes that he is in an incredibly realistic dream. Shortly afterward, he runs into Natacha, the fake witch who was eaten by the real witch, Griselda. She has a new familiar, a jackal named Simeon. Natacha tells Alex that he will come to the dream graveyard every night for the rest of his life to write stories, and instead of buried bodies, they are story ideas that Alex forgot. He resists at first, but realizes the only way to wake up is to write. He digs up a grave, opens a coffin, and sees a warehouse through it. He goes in, writes his story, and comes back out. Natacha says that his rushed story was unoriginal, and it somehow grows a dandelion, a common flower. He wakes up, and later goes to a cafe to meet with Yasmin, to whom he has not talked to for months after she ended their friendship to cure her vivid nightmares of Natacha’s apartment. Alex tells her about the dream, but Yasmin is skeptical, and dismisses it as trauma from the apartment. Back in the graveyard that night, Alex writes another unoriginal story, and Natacha tells him that if he keeps writing boring stories he won’t be let out of the graveyard. The next night, Natacha brings Yasmin in. When Alex writes the story, she is satisfied with it. The next day, Yasmn and Alex meet at the park the next day to discuss their predicament. In the idea world, they formulate a plan to stop Natacha. When they get all the supplies, they follow through. They distract the jackal and grab the flower created by the story and run so that Natacha chases them.she steps on a modified piece of ground before a headstone and falls through what is a tablecloth covered by a thin layer of dirt. Before they can close it off, Simeon comes over and reveals himself to be a nachpyr, an eloquent vampire that feeds on nightmares instead of blood, can come into dreams, and shape shift. He frees Natacha from the coffin. She wants to punish the children, but Simeon decides against it. He instead gives them an example of his power by striking Natacha down with his stinger. He declares that Yasmin and Alex can never acknowledge each other again. The next day, Yasmin remembers that there is another real witch in New York City. The witch turns out to be the one who captured Rapunzel, going by Maria Goffel, but she seems nice enough. At first, she is reluctant to help, but after many days reveals valuable information. Yasmin can use special items to use magic on Simeon, but only if he is in the waking world first. She learns that she needs to find items tht remind her of strong fear, and she instantly knows that she must go to Natacha’s old apartment, which has reverted to its nonmagical state. Thankfully, the woman who lives there now is used to kids who were prisoners coming back in, and is extremely friendly. Yasmin gets what she needs, and leaves. When Alex is in the graveyard, Simeon reveals why he needs the flowers; to get his imagination back by making them into tea, and literally scare people to death. Against Simeon’s ruling, Yasmin sends Alex the way to get the nachpyr out of the dream, and what to do after that. Alex suddenly has a revelation, and when he gets to the graveyard, he writes one story, and tells Simeon that he realized the graveyard was an idea world, and he had just finished the story. Simeon would need to let them both out or they would be trapped forever. He lets them out. When Simeon shows up, Yasmin starts to cast the spell. Simeon mocks Yasmin at first, but when Alex joins in, Simeon is trapped in what appears to be a room from Natacha’s apartment. The Natacha from Yasmin’s nightmares appears and blows Simeon to pieces. After that, they go to Ms. Goffel’s to thank her.
I think this was a very good book that held up to the standards of Nightbooks.
I think this was a very good book that held up to the standards of Nightbooks.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2023
Nightbooks was a Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee a few years back and I, not a fan of the horror/scary book genre, gave it 3 stars because it completely creeped me out and felt very dark. My students loved it and their shudders and smiles meant that it should be recommended when library patrons requested something “really scary” and I did so. Often. When this sequel came out, I put off reading it because a) I was now retired, and b) scary isn’t my genre. But it was on my iPad and I needed something to read while on the tread mill. As you can tell from my 5 star rating, I am sorry I kept putting it further down my tbr stack.
Alex, Yasmin and Natacha are reunited in a dreamland graveyard of unfinished stories and the nasty, thought-she-was-dead-but-she-isn’t witch has a new familiar. Both Natacha and Simeon the jackal are dead set on having Alex finish his stories so that they can be used to create flowers of great importance. But writer’s block and fear-of-failure has stilled his creative juices and if something doesn’t change, Alex, Yasmin and even faithful Lenore may be doomed to live (or die) amid the monuments to those failures. Like in the first book, Alex’s stories are nestled between the action between kids and the villainess Natacha and creepy Simeon and they progress from hesitant and not terribly exciting to creatively chilling. Several surprises and a new character keep this book fresh and, in my opinion, much more interesting than the first. The “darkness” of all those stolen and tormented children being turned into figurines was not present in this one, just good old fashioned nefarious magic which may disappoint some readers of book 1, but with the uniqueness of Gravebooks’ storyline, I doubt it.
As with many series, the two books could be read out of order, but I don’t recommend it. Without book 1, a reader would not understand the tie between Alex and Yasmin and the import of apartment 4E would be lost, making the final, climatic scene less meaningful.
Thanks for the digital arc, NetGalley.
Alex, Yasmin and Natacha are reunited in a dreamland graveyard of unfinished stories and the nasty, thought-she-was-dead-but-she-isn’t witch has a new familiar. Both Natacha and Simeon the jackal are dead set on having Alex finish his stories so that they can be used to create flowers of great importance. But writer’s block and fear-of-failure has stilled his creative juices and if something doesn’t change, Alex, Yasmin and even faithful Lenore may be doomed to live (or die) amid the monuments to those failures. Like in the first book, Alex’s stories are nestled between the action between kids and the villainess Natacha and creepy Simeon and they progress from hesitant and not terribly exciting to creatively chilling. Several surprises and a new character keep this book fresh and, in my opinion, much more interesting than the first. The “darkness” of all those stolen and tormented children being turned into figurines was not present in this one, just good old fashioned nefarious magic which may disappoint some readers of book 1, but with the uniqueness of Gravebooks’ storyline, I doubt it.
As with many series, the two books could be read out of order, but I don’t recommend it. Without book 1, a reader would not understand the tie between Alex and Yasmin and the import of apartment 4E would be lost, making the final, climatic scene less meaningful.
Thanks for the digital arc, NetGalley.
October 16, 2024
Since Yasmin, Alex, and Lenore escaped from Natacha they have been recovering and trying to return to normal life. Yasmin has been suffering from horrible nightmares and distanced herself from Alex in an attempt to get them to quit. Alex was hurt by Yasmin's distance and has been suffering severe writer's block since they returned. But at least they are free. That is until one night Alex finds himself stuck in a dream with a very much alive Natacha accompanied by a nachpyr (a variant form of vampire that feasts on something besides blood) in a graveyard realm where Alex's unfinished stories end up. Once again, Natacha is demanding stories. This time, the finished tales produce flowers, and Natacha wants the most exotic he can produce. But with his writer's block, Alex doesn't know if he can do so, and he has no control over returning to this prison night after night. And Natacha desires he needs some inspiration so she draws Yasmin into the dream world too. Can the two kids once again escape magical clutches?
This is a good continuation of Nightbooks. It feels very similar in tone and premise to the first one so that fans who wanted more will get just what they desire, but it is also different enough that it doesn't feel quite like the author is stuck in a rut. The problem solving was clever, and I liked how Alex and Yasmin worked together and overcame personal hurdles along the way. Again, there's a bit of a twist in the why this is all going on.
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: There are deaths and injuries in several of the stories. One character is injured and another is drastically changed magically.
Ethnic diversity: The nachpyr is Eastern European, Yasmin is Asian American, Alex is white American.
LGBTQ+ content: None mentioned
Other: Many of the stories involve monsters, ghostly things, animated objects out for blood, etc. But again, they feel more creepy than nightmare-inducing, and they're more fantastical than the magical world Alex and Yasmin are in.
This is a good continuation of Nightbooks. It feels very similar in tone and premise to the first one so that fans who wanted more will get just what they desire, but it is also different enough that it doesn't feel quite like the author is stuck in a rut. The problem solving was clever, and I liked how Alex and Yasmin worked together and overcame personal hurdles along the way. Again, there's a bit of a twist in the why this is all going on.
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: There are deaths and injuries in several of the stories. One character is injured and another is drastically changed magically.
Ethnic diversity: The nachpyr is Eastern European, Yasmin is Asian American, Alex is white American.
LGBTQ+ content: None mentioned
Other: Many of the stories involve monsters, ghostly things, animated objects out for blood, etc. But again, they feel more creepy than nightmare-inducing, and they're more fantastical than the magical world Alex and Yasmin are in.
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