- Chapter Books
- Ages 9–12
- Horror
Fear Ground
Book 2 in Dread WoodView the full series
Club Loser are back, and this time a scare-for-points app called Flinch is turning the whole school strange just as a sinister fair rolls into town. A funny-scary sequel that builds to a final showdown at the Fear Ground.
- Best for9–12
- FormatChapter
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The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Comedic
Tone
- Scary
- Funny
- Suspenseful
- Exciting
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Four months after they survived the spiders of Dread Wood High, Angelo, Naira, Gus, Hallie and new friend Colette are still watching their backs, and with good reason. The evil caretakers Mr and Mrs Latchitt haven't given up: they want their granddaughter Colette back, and they'll do anything to get her. Meanwhile a scare-for-points app called Flinch has swept the school, rewarding students for terrifying their friends, and the harder Club Loser look, the more they realise something is taking over people's minds. When a creepy fair arrives in town, fights break out and Flinch tips into full-blown fear, the gang know they're heading for a showdown at the Fear Ground. Jennifer Killick's second Dread Wood adventure keeps the winning mix of genuine chills, fast action and laugh-out-loud banter, while deepening the friendships and raising the stakes. Perfect for fans of funny-scary horror who like a gang worth rooting for. Read, scream, repeat.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
A strong fit for 9-12s who enjoyed the first book; independent reading from 9, read aloud from about 8 for children who like a scare. The sustained peril and creepy imagery make it unsuitable for bedtime or for particularly sensitive readers.
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- Best fit · 9–12
- Read aloud · 8–11
- Independent · 9–12
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
None
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Reluctant readers
Preview before sharing if a child is sensitive to: scary imagery, violence.
Bedtime suitability
1 / 5 · Wide awake
Sensitive-child
2 / 5 · Use judgement
Graphic intensity
3 / 5 · Some
Best for
- Funny scary
- Reluctant readers
- Goosebumps fans
- Horror adventure
Avoid if
- Wants gentle bedtime
- Sensitive to scares
Particularly good for children who are…
- Reluctant reader
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
Flinch is exactly the kind of dare game kids recognise, and watching it curdle into real mind-control terror is delicious. The creepy fair, the returning villains and the gang's constant banter make the second outing every bit as gripping as the first.
- Surviving danger
- Friendship and belonging
- The underdog winning
- Having a nemesis
Why parents love it
Killick keeps the pace relentless and the scares thrilling rather than traumatising, while giving the gang's friendships room to grow. The Flinch app gives it a knowing, contemporary edge that hooks reluctant readers straight into book two.
- Quick to read
- Shared humour
In the series
Dread Wood.
6 books · open the series →
About the author
Jennifer Killick.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
More like this…
Books that share themes and topics with this one.
