Kaela Rivera's The Hungry Forest is a deeply imaginative, spooky story that is rooted in real family dynamics and authentic emotions. Young readers will connect with and root for Ryan and Teddy as they fight to survive an impossible forest and its weird inhabitants (and maybe make some friends along the way). The Hungry Forest belongs in schools and libraries and on the shelves of young readers who love a sometimes-scary, heartfelt adventure. I'll be handing this one to my own kids.

Lora Senf, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Clackity

The best horror stories don't just scare you. They heal you. Not only does The Hungry Forest get that-it does that.

Josh Allen, critically-acclaimed author of Out to Get You and Only If You Dare

I love this book. The monsters in The Hungry Forest rock. Spooks and scares with a classic feel, plus a story brimming with real heart and hope. I'll be seeing these monsters and thinking about Ryan and Teddy for a long, long time.

Sarah Allen, author of The Nightmare House and Monster Tree

Lyrical and immersive, The Hungry Forest hooks you from the first page. Rivera masterfully balances horror and heart in this high-stakes, fast-paced story of two brothers navigating unprocessed grief and learning that it's okay to be vulnerable.

Shakirah Bourne, author of Nightmare Island and Josephine Against the Sea

Kaela Rivera delivers a chilling, fast-paced tale that pulses with real emotional depth. The Hungry Forest is as terrifying as it is tender, grappling with grief, brotherhood, and the dangerous lessons boys inherit about what it means to be “strong.” Readers will race through its haunted shadows, rooting for Ryan and Teddy every step of the way. With nuanced Latinx representation and unforgettable scares, this novel lingers long after the final page. A gripping, resonant read.

David Bowles, award-winning author of They Call Me Güero and the 13th Street series

The Hungry Forest is a spooky middle grade that serves up equal parts horror, heart, and hair-raising moments. Readers will devour it in one gulp.

Marina Cohen, author of The Inn Between and The Doll's Eye