Dread Detention by Jennifer Killick

Dread Detention by Jennifer Killick. Delacorte Press, 2024. 9780593652251






Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4



Format : Horror or mystery fiction



What did you like about the book:   Four middle schoolers have to serve Saturday detention, but things turn weird and deadly!



Hallie, Gustav, Naira, and Angelo (our narrator) have little in common except that they have to serve detention together on a Saturday at their middle school, Dread Wood Academy, after causing a “riot” in the lunchroom. Naira is a perfectionist overachiever, Hallie is an impassioned animal rights activist, Gus is a jokester, and Angelo is mostly focused on helping his family who are struggling with food insecurity and poverty. The students have been assigned chores working with the animals on the farm, which Angelo and Hallie especially enjoy. Early on, however, things go off the rails when their teacher falls into a sinkhole…or maybe is dragged underground by a huge monster? The four students must work together to uncover the mystery of the creature that lives at their school while staying clear of the creepy married custodians.



With a relatively short exposition, interesting characters, and a driving plot, this book is a solid choice for kids who like creepy mysteries. I particularly liked seeing how the four students grew to depend on each other as the book went on. Their resulting friendship feels natural and is a great setup for this continuing spooky series. None of the characters’ race or ethnicity is mentioned specifically.



Anything you didn’t like about it? Nope! It’s a solid read with suspense and great character development.



To whom would you recommend this book?  This is a great next read for students who like R.L. Stine Goosebumps books and want something a little longer. Stay away if you have arachnophobia!



Who should buy this book?   Most elementary and middle school libraries 



Where would you shelve it ?  Horror or mystery fiction



Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? No



Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City and State: Laura Gardner, Dartmouth Middle School, Dartmouth, MA



Date of review:  June 2, 2024