* I got this book for review from the publisher*

I am big fan of stranger things and found this to the prefect halloween novel for the middle grade set. It had was the prefect mix between mystery, scary and adventure. I was equally connected to both POV characters. It was such a fun novel to read with just a enough scare that younger kids will love it. I really loved the world building that was crafted and really am excited to see what comes in book 2. This book I was able to finish in two days, and found it to the prefect read to start off the fall season! ( )

* I got this book for review from the publisher*

I am big fan of stranger things and found this to the prefect halloween novel for the middle grade set. It had was the prefect mix between mystery, scary and adventure. I was equally connected to both POV characters. It was such a fun novel to read with just a enough scare that younger kids will love it. I really loved the world building that was crafted and really am excited to see what comes in book 2. This book I was able to finish in two days, and found it to the prefect read to start off the fall season! ( )

Ally Condie is an amazing author and this is the beginning of a new middle grade series. Highly recommended.

FROM AMAZON: New York Times best-selling authors Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs team up to coauthor this thrilling first book in a darkly suspenseful middle grade series.

Everyone in Timbers knows Still Cove is off-limits, with its creepy Beast sightings and equally terrifying legends. But when a bullying incident sends 12-year-old Nico Holland over a cliff and into Still Cove's icy waters, friends Tyler and Emma - and even Opal Walsh, who usually runs with the popular kids - rush to his rescue...and discover a mysterious island hiding in the murky, swirling mists below.

Though the island appears uninhabited, the kids can't shake a feeling that something about it is definitely not right. Their suspicions grow when they stumble upon an abandoned houseboat filled with all sorts of curiosities: odd-looking weapons, unnerving portraits, maps to unknown places, and a glass jar containing something completely unidentifiable. And in its lowest depths churns a dark, deep secret.

As the group delves deeper into this mysterious new clubhouse, their lives begin to intertwine in weird and dangerous ways. For something ancient has awakened...and it can detect not only their wishes and dreams but also their darkest, most terrible imaginings. Do they have what it takes to face the shadowy secrets lurking within their own hearts?

Told from alternating points of view, this pulse-racing tale from best-selling duo Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs is the start of a high-stakes, thrilling series about friendship and believing in yourself - and each other. ( )

The Darkdeep is the story of five middle school kids who are all dealing with their own set of problems, but they come together when they discover something they call The Darkdeep. On a remote island inside the lower depths of an abandoned houseboat, they find swirling water that looks and behaves strangely. Emma accidentally gets pulled in, and when she comes out, an image of something from a childhood memory is created. It's fun for a while, creating memories, but when the memories start to become more solid and finally dangerous, the kids know they have to do something to stop The Darkdeep.

The Darkdeep is a creepy paranormal story that includes the woes of middle grade students and weaves in a story about facing fears and accepting them. There are several main characters who are not well developed, all except for Nico whose father caused a loss of jobs in town due to his efforts as a conservation officer. As a result, Nico is bullied, making his life miserable. Through Nico, many of the book's themes are revealed. Overall, The Darkdeep is an interesting story with a satisfying ending that could lead into it's sequel. ( )

"The Darkdeep" was a quick, fun read for middle-school students. It had a strong emphasis on friendship and facing your fears. Emma, Nico, Opal and Tyler were all likeable characters and the Darkdeep was creepy and mysterious which will appeal to younger readers. ( )