Beware the Jacks

A lot of things have changed in twelve-year-old Dahlia Reid's life. Her best friend moved away, her mom got remarried, and now Dahlia has a stepbrother, Levi, who isn't very nice. The one thing she can count on staying the same is Harvest Festival--the big scary event held every Autumn Equinox in the town of Wilcott Head. But when a new family arrives and grows a massive pumpkin patch, some people in town think it's bad news, even saying the pumpkin farm is cursed. Dahlia, on the other hand, thinks it's great. She even befriends the new girl, Penelope. After all, they're both being bullied by the same boy, Julian, at school.

But on the evening of the equinox, the famous jack-o'-lanterns that line the path to the bonfire begin to disappear, and then people begin to disappear too. Dahlia thinks the pumpkins might be cursed after all . . . especially when they come to life. Dahlia, Penelope, and Levi band together to fight the jacks, undo the curse, and save the town before it's too late.

Laura Lavoie, author of The Thirteen Doors of Black House, tells an action-packed story full of adventure, thrills, and chills in Beware the Jacks, perfect for fans of Katherine Arden and Lora Senf.

"This novel is lots of shivery fun, comparable to R.L. Stine's books. . . . A rollicking, spooky tale perfect for young Halloween fans." --School Library Journal

Author: Laura Lavoie
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Published: 07/21/2026
Pages: 256
Binding Type: Paperback
Size: 8.25h x 5.50w x 0.64d
ISBN13: 9781454958178
ISBN10: 1454958170
BISAC Categories:
- Juvenile Fiction | Horror
- Juvenile Fiction | Ghost Stories
- Juvenile Fiction | Paranormal, Occult & Supernatural

About the Author
Laura Lavoie loves all things spooky and mysterious. As a kid, she devoured Nancy Drew mysteries and the Goosebumps books by R.L. Stine. In addition to her middle grade novels Beware the Jacks and The Thirteens Doors of Black House, Laura is a picture book author whose titles include the just-a-little-bit-spooky Vampire Vacation and Monster Baker. When she isn't reading or writing, Laura enjoys sipping tea, rainy days, and taking walks in the woods. She lives in upstate New York with her husband, daughters, two persnickety cats, and one goofy golden retriever.