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Grin

Grin

Hardcover

Grin

About the Book

Full of chills and twists, a twelve-year-old boy is thrilled that he'll get to play endless games at his family’s arcade, but soon realizes he’s in the fight of his life when he’s forced to save himself and his possessed Uncle from a sinister video game.

Danny is spending a week with his Uncle Bill who runs a massive retro arcade called PixelWorks. His only plan is to play as many games as possible from open to close, but he wasn’t expecting to find the Holy Grail of arcade collectors, a gruesome looking game titled Grin.

Anyone who plays the game becomes surprisingly violent, and soon with the help of his friend Jodi and a knowledgeable videogame streamer, Danny realizes that Grin holds the soul of a dead serial killer.

Soon, the killer makes the jump into Bill’s body, and it’s up to Danny to figure out a way to stop him for good.

Product Details

On sale: August 26, 2025
Age: 8-12 years
Grade: Grades 3-7
Page count: 272 Pages
ISBN: 9780593814888
Reading level: Lexile: 760L

Author Bio

Born and raised in Middle Tennessee, D.W. Gillespie wrote his first short story in second grade. It involved (unsurprisingly) monsters wreaking havoc on some unsuspecting victim. Some things never change. He began writing seriously after taking a creative writing class in college, and he’s written steadily ever since. He lives in Tennessee with his wife and two kids, and on dark nights, you might find them huddled around a campfire sharing spooky tales.

Reviews

"A compulsively readable “follow you home” horror novel, recommended for gamers and fans of K.R. Alexander."—School Library Journal

"This high-octane narrative is an excellent choice for readers who are ready for something with real bite."—Kirkus Reviews

"Perfect for budding horror fans that like Five Nights at Freddy’s and Stranger Things."—Bloody Disgusting

"Clever, twisty, and full of chills!"—Lindsay Currie, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Delta Games series

"Give this to any kid who loves video games and they're guaranteed to come away loving books, too. It's that good."—Josh Roberts, author of The Witches of Willow Cove

"Will leave readers, gamers, and streamers gasping and grinning"—Ally Russel, author of It Came From the Trees

"Grin gave me literal nightmares. Danny is the realistic hero we all hope we'd be, and his friends are the support we all need to keep the darkness at bay."—Darcy Marks, author of Grounded For All Eternity