The Witch House

Nobody terrifies—or quietly steadies—readers quite like DeAnna Knippling, veteran author of over 80 books.

Twelve-year-old new kid Jayla Jackson paints her fingernails black, hisses at anyone who talks to her, and wears steel-spiked Crocs as a warning. New school, new chance to keep everyone far, far away.

Her English teacher, Mr. Henderson, wants Jayla to bring creativity and exploration to her English journal.

Jayla rolls her eyes—fine, whatever—and claims to be a witch.

Spells for warding off Sunday sadness. Rules for feeding ghost cats. The kind of strange, fierce imagination that keeps dangerous girls safe.

Until her imagination stops being imaginary.

An unsettling, defiant middle-grade horror about weaving bonds worth defending.