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Hide and Seeker
One of our most iconic childhood games receives a creepy twist as it becomes the gateway to a nightmare world.
I went up the hill, the hill was muddy, stomped my toe and made it bloody, should I wash it?
Justin knows that something is wrong with his best friend. Zee went missing for a year. And when he came back, he was . . . different. Nobody knows what happened to him. At Zee's welcome home party, Justin and the neighborhood crew play Hide and Seek. But it goes wrong. Very wrong.
One by one, everyone who plays the game disappears, pulled into a world of nightmares come to life. Justin and his friends realize this horrible place is where Zee had been trapped. All they can do now is hide from the Seeker.
I went up the hill, the hill was muddy, stomped my toe and made it bloody, should I wash it?
Justin knows that something is wrong with his best friend. Zee went missing for a year. And when he came back, he was . . . different. Nobody knows what happened to him. At Zee's welcome home party, Justin and the neighborhood crew play Hide and Seek. But it goes wrong. Very wrong.
One by one, everyone who plays the game disappears, pulled into a world of nightmares come to life. Justin and his friends realize this horrible place is where Zee had been trapped. All they can do now is hide from the Seeker.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2020
132 people are currently reading
4859 people want to read
About the author
Daka Hermon
9 books95 followersDaka Hermon was born in Tennessee and spent her childhood huddled under a blanket with a flashlight reading and writing fairy-tale and fantasy stories. She works in the entertainment industry, and is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She loves peach sweet tea, chocolate, cupcakes, and collecting superhero toys. Daka lives in California and can be found online at dakahermon.com and on Twitter @dakadh.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 584 reviews
September 26, 2021
This is the first middle grade I’ve ever read, and while I enjoyed this story I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was a little too old to be reading this? I think I would’ve enjoyed this a ton though in elementary school or middle school.
Reading vlog: https://youtu.be/6NaOItAWp7Q
Reading vlog: https://youtu.be/6NaOItAWp7Q
October 18, 2020
A truly chilling middle grade that is PERFECT to read if you're after genuine chills.
Justin is glad to have his friend Zee back after he went missing a year ago - but something seems off with him. Then, a game of hide and seek goes wrong at Zee's homecoming party, and one by one the kids who played go missing. Is it the Seeker snatching the children? Justin is marked and it's only a matter of time before he has to play hide and seek for his life.
This book is chef's kiss and I loved reading it. The atmosphere was fab and I was genuinely worried for the kids. It's the right amount of scary I think for children who read, and just a fun ride for the adults who still love their middle grade. Developments happened that really enriched the world and it went beyond what I was expecting.
Justin, Nia and Lyric were three fantastic protagonists who were very fun to follow. Their friendship was so compelling and they had their own emotional baggage that made the characters feel more real. I know I would want them on my team if I had to escape from the Seeker, that's for sure! One of the best scary middle grade books I've read in a VERY long time!
Justin is glad to have his friend Zee back after he went missing a year ago - but something seems off with him. Then, a game of hide and seek goes wrong at Zee's homecoming party, and one by one the kids who played go missing. Is it the Seeker snatching the children? Justin is marked and it's only a matter of time before he has to play hide and seek for his life.
This book is chef's kiss and I loved reading it. The atmosphere was fab and I was genuinely worried for the kids. It's the right amount of scary I think for children who read, and just a fun ride for the adults who still love their middle grade. Developments happened that really enriched the world and it went beyond what I was expecting.
Justin, Nia and Lyric were three fantastic protagonists who were very fun to follow. Their friendship was so compelling and they had their own emotional baggage that made the characters feel more real. I know I would want them on my team if I had to escape from the Seeker, that's for sure! One of the best scary middle grade books I've read in a VERY long time!
July 25, 2021
What a fun lil read! <3
August 13, 2020
There are many advantages to being a grown-up, and I’d be the first person to admit that. It’s great having the option to do or not do whatever I want (within reason) at any given time. I want chocolate chip cookies for breakfast? It’s a possibility! I want to bingewatch old British sitcoms for hours on end? Nothing could be easier! But adulthood isn’t that soft sweet song kids assume it to be. We have responsibilities we have to attend to. Take my book reviewing, for example. Every year I put aside the children’s books that I want to read (fantasy and ghost stories and general silliness) and end up reading the serious, meaningful, emotionally wrenching stuff 90% of the time instead. Still, on occasion, one of those books I like sneaks through and I devour it in one gulp. I guess I’m not as much of a grown-up as I fear, particularly when it comes to a title like Hide and Seeker. It’s exactly the kind of book 10-year-old me would have gravitated towards. If you have kids looking for outright, down and out, horror horror (the ones who’ve watched Stranger Things but balk at the heft of a Stephen King novel) this little book is an answer to your prayers. Prayers / nightmares.
Welcome home parties are supposed to be joyful affairs, particularly when the guest of honor went missing for a year. But nothing’s how it’s supposed to be at Zee’s party. Justin, Lyric, and Nia were always Zee’s closest friends but something horrible must have happened while he was away. He doesn’t talk about it, but he acts like he’s haunted. To pass the time at his party, the kids play a game of hide and seek . . . and that’s when the trouble starts. Any rules established at the beginning get broken, and that causes the evil Seeker to pull those rule breakers into its nightmare realm where fears become reality. It’s up to Justin to think on his feet, help his friends, and find a way to beat the Seeker at its own game. The only trouble is, he has fears of his own. And now they’re seeking him out.
So let’s just state the obvious right off the bat. One of the reasons I was really drawn to this book is that the cast is something like 90% Black and yet the book is just a fun horror novel. We talk a lot about finding books for kids in this age range that show “Black joy” rather than 24/7 trauma, but what we don’t talk a lot about is finding books that show other kinds of genres. Remember when I mentioned that the books I particularly like to read are fantasies and ghost stories and silly stuff? Well add “horror” to that list, and then explain to me why most of the books I see in these categories feature mostly White casts. We deserve Black horror novels. We deserve scary stuff with characters that skew away from what we’ve already seen a hundred times before. We need diverse books, sure, and needing diverse horror falls right under that umbrella.
I made this big deal at the beginning of this review about how I’m a grown-up but read this book because it’s the kind of thing I would have snapped up as a child. And all that is true, but I have to admit that I had a couple impediments in place while reading this book, and they were all directly linked to my not-a-kid-anymore social status. So I’m a mom, right? And let me state for the record that no one informed me when I got pregnant that it was going to affect my middle grade novel reading. If someone had tapped me on the shoulder and mentioned, “Hey, just so you know, every time you read a book now you’re going to identify with the parents,” I would have still HAD my children but I might have been a little better prepared for the future. So yeah, this book’s a rough deal for adults. A kid comes back from what essentially is a living Hell and all I’m thinking about is his poor mom. I also found what the kids go through when they’re sucked into the Seeker’s game a little too torturous for my tastes. They all end up okay in the end (we won’t inquire about the inevitable PTSD) but that’s small potatoes compared to what comes before. And so I found myself wondering idly if the book was too dark for kids and maybe some of the violence should have been toned down. I still haven’t come to any real conclusions on that matter, so I’m just going to say that it really comes down to the individual child reader. Some kids are going to be all in for this book and some are going to find it too dark. But for those looking for it, this is the real deal. No pussyfooting around.
I think we all know that the book isn’t going to win any major awards, but that’s not really what it’s aiming for anyway. I found the writing and the central storyline around Justin and his dead mom to be really affecting and effective. In fact, in a very short amount of time, Hermon is great at capturing full three-dimensional personalities. You never have a moment where you’d mess two characters up, and she ties their individual fears into their characters beautifully. Overarching themes about financial insecurity are woven into the book with seeming effortlessness. And the way in which the kids outsmart the bad guy works within the context of the story, though I was a bit sad to see so many loose threads. Then again, Ms. Hermon makes a very broad hint at the end that there’s more to this story to come, so maybe we’ll get some closure later on. My only real objection to the book, aside from some questions about the violence, was with the rhymes Zee spouts at the beginning. They’re supposed to mimic the singsong nature of those rhymes kids recite when they’re playing. The trouble is that they come off as a little too cute for the circumstances of the book. A bit too simple. It’s not a big thing, but it took me out of the story for a little while. Undoubtedly, kids won’t have the same problem.
You want to know what one of my favorite novels was as a kid? The House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton. Remember that moment where the old man rises out of the ground (and this is after a whole bunch of other scary stuff has happened) and chases our hero through the woods like the devil himself? I loved that book (and that one had a 100% Black cast, as I recall). And while that book is still around, I want to know why I’m still not seeing more books like Hide and Seeker out there. Look, it’s a little rough around the edges and it's not for the faint of heart, but I think you get a sense of that pretty early in. What’s important to me is that kids get drawn to it, read it, love it, and remember it long into adulthood. It’s a bit like It, a bit like Stranger Things, and a whole lot like nothing but itself. For those jaded thrill seekers, hand ‘em something they’ll actually like. A horror book for the kids of our time.
For ages 10 and up.
Welcome home parties are supposed to be joyful affairs, particularly when the guest of honor went missing for a year. But nothing’s how it’s supposed to be at Zee’s party. Justin, Lyric, and Nia were always Zee’s closest friends but something horrible must have happened while he was away. He doesn’t talk about it, but he acts like he’s haunted. To pass the time at his party, the kids play a game of hide and seek . . . and that’s when the trouble starts. Any rules established at the beginning get broken, and that causes the evil Seeker to pull those rule breakers into its nightmare realm where fears become reality. It’s up to Justin to think on his feet, help his friends, and find a way to beat the Seeker at its own game. The only trouble is, he has fears of his own. And now they’re seeking him out.
So let’s just state the obvious right off the bat. One of the reasons I was really drawn to this book is that the cast is something like 90% Black and yet the book is just a fun horror novel. We talk a lot about finding books for kids in this age range that show “Black joy” rather than 24/7 trauma, but what we don’t talk a lot about is finding books that show other kinds of genres. Remember when I mentioned that the books I particularly like to read are fantasies and ghost stories and silly stuff? Well add “horror” to that list, and then explain to me why most of the books I see in these categories feature mostly White casts. We deserve Black horror novels. We deserve scary stuff with characters that skew away from what we’ve already seen a hundred times before. We need diverse books, sure, and needing diverse horror falls right under that umbrella.
I made this big deal at the beginning of this review about how I’m a grown-up but read this book because it’s the kind of thing I would have snapped up as a child. And all that is true, but I have to admit that I had a couple impediments in place while reading this book, and they were all directly linked to my not-a-kid-anymore social status. So I’m a mom, right? And let me state for the record that no one informed me when I got pregnant that it was going to affect my middle grade novel reading. If someone had tapped me on the shoulder and mentioned, “Hey, just so you know, every time you read a book now you’re going to identify with the parents,” I would have still HAD my children but I might have been a little better prepared for the future. So yeah, this book’s a rough deal for adults. A kid comes back from what essentially is a living Hell and all I’m thinking about is his poor mom. I also found what the kids go through when they’re sucked into the Seeker’s game a little too torturous for my tastes. They all end up okay in the end (we won’t inquire about the inevitable PTSD) but that’s small potatoes compared to what comes before. And so I found myself wondering idly if the book was too dark for kids and maybe some of the violence should have been toned down. I still haven’t come to any real conclusions on that matter, so I’m just going to say that it really comes down to the individual child reader. Some kids are going to be all in for this book and some are going to find it too dark. But for those looking for it, this is the real deal. No pussyfooting around.
I think we all know that the book isn’t going to win any major awards, but that’s not really what it’s aiming for anyway. I found the writing and the central storyline around Justin and his dead mom to be really affecting and effective. In fact, in a very short amount of time, Hermon is great at capturing full three-dimensional personalities. You never have a moment where you’d mess two characters up, and she ties their individual fears into their characters beautifully. Overarching themes about financial insecurity are woven into the book with seeming effortlessness. And the way in which the kids outsmart the bad guy works within the context of the story, though I was a bit sad to see so many loose threads. Then again, Ms. Hermon makes a very broad hint at the end that there’s more to this story to come, so maybe we’ll get some closure later on. My only real objection to the book, aside from some questions about the violence, was with the rhymes Zee spouts at the beginning. They’re supposed to mimic the singsong nature of those rhymes kids recite when they’re playing. The trouble is that they come off as a little too cute for the circumstances of the book. A bit too simple. It’s not a big thing, but it took me out of the story for a little while. Undoubtedly, kids won’t have the same problem.
You want to know what one of my favorite novels was as a kid? The House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton. Remember that moment where the old man rises out of the ground (and this is after a whole bunch of other scary stuff has happened) and chases our hero through the woods like the devil himself? I loved that book (and that one had a 100% Black cast, as I recall). And while that book is still around, I want to know why I’m still not seeing more books like Hide and Seeker out there. Look, it’s a little rough around the edges and it's not for the faint of heart, but I think you get a sense of that pretty early in. What’s important to me is that kids get drawn to it, read it, love it, and remember it long into adulthood. It’s a bit like It, a bit like Stranger Things, and a whole lot like nothing but itself. For those jaded thrill seekers, hand ‘em something they’ll actually like. A horror book for the kids of our time.
For ages 10 and up.
November 29, 2021
hide and seeker is both chilling and authentically heartfelt, with believable young characters and an interesting mystery. i was impressed that a middle grade horror novel was able to frighten me and stir up my emotions!
i especially enjoyed the first half of the book, when the kids are riding around town on their bikes and investigating the hide and seek mystery. it's big classic ET vibes, and i love that they're so young and yet they have so much agency.
but they also carry such heavy emotional burdens. justin is a preteen, has recently lost his mother, and is struggling through his grief and anxiety. once the scary plotline kicks in, he realizes that kids are being taken and he will be taken soon too, so he tries to quietly say goodbye to his sister without alarming her. she is the only family he has left, and their quiet bond is intense.
when the kids get to the nightmare land of nowhere, there are a lot of scary action-packed scenes. everyone has a different fear that plagues them, and they try to find ways to help each other without being bogged down with fears other than their own. lots of friendship and teamwork!
the emotionally resonant ending is beautifully done.
the book balances being fun and creepy, but it also has so much substance. the anxiety rep and predominantly black cast of characters are great, and it's wonderfully written. definitely recommended for kids and adults both!
i especially enjoyed the first half of the book, when the kids are riding around town on their bikes and investigating the hide and seek mystery. it's big classic ET vibes, and i love that they're so young and yet they have so much agency.
but they also carry such heavy emotional burdens. justin is a preteen, has recently lost his mother, and is struggling through his grief and anxiety. once the scary plotline kicks in, he realizes that kids are being taken and he will be taken soon too, so he tries to quietly say goodbye to his sister without alarming her. she is the only family he has left, and their quiet bond is intense.
when the kids get to the nightmare land of nowhere, there are a lot of scary action-packed scenes. everyone has a different fear that plagues them, and they try to find ways to help each other without being bogged down with fears other than their own. lots of friendship and teamwork!
We can't depend on the police. We can only depend on each other. Kids helping kids.
the emotionally resonant ending is beautifully done.
the book balances being fun and creepy, but it also has so much substance. the anxiety rep and predominantly black cast of characters are great, and it's wonderfully written. definitely recommended for kids and adults both!
September 9, 2020
The book starts a little over a year after Justin's mother has died and his friend Zee has recently reappeared. The story gets right into the creepiness expected from the title and cover as Justin and some other friends from the neighborhood gather at Zee's house for his birthday and start a game of hide and seek. Now slowly friends are disappear and strange marks are appearing on them. Justin and his friends soon learn you can't break the rules of Hide and Seek unless you want to be hunted down by The Seeker.
When the Seeker hunts them down the children find themselves trapped in a land called Nowhere that looks similar to their own world except their greatest fears come to life there.
Daka Hermon does a great job keeping this book fast paced and enjoyable with just enough scary elements to earn it's horror spot. She also mixes the perfect amount of humor to add a bit of levity. She rounds it out by with a good portrayal of grief and loss that will be relatable for some kids. Justin is reeling from his mother's death throughout and must confront his fears about relieving those moments. He's also dealing with panic attacks and anxiety and on top of that there's the worry that he and his sister will lose their house to bill collectors.
It's a mostly Black group of children and the story is set in small town Tennessee. Children who are about 9/10 years old and like creepy things will enjoy this one. Overall a very solid debut story with an ending that will keep you wanting more.
I received this ARC from Scholastic in exchange for an honest review.
Originally posted at
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....
When the Seeker hunts them down the children find themselves trapped in a land called Nowhere that looks similar to their own world except their greatest fears come to life there.
Daka Hermon does a great job keeping this book fast paced and enjoyable with just enough scary elements to earn it's horror spot. She also mixes the perfect amount of humor to add a bit of levity. She rounds it out by with a good portrayal of grief and loss that will be relatable for some kids. Justin is reeling from his mother's death throughout and must confront his fears about relieving those moments. He's also dealing with panic attacks and anxiety and on top of that there's the worry that he and his sister will lose their house to bill collectors.
It's a mostly Black group of children and the story is set in small town Tennessee. Children who are about 9/10 years old and like creepy things will enjoy this one. Overall a very solid debut story with an ending that will keep you wanting more.
I received this ARC from Scholastic in exchange for an honest review.
Originally posted at
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....
October 8, 2020
Let me tell ya'll something. Hide and Seeker is that girl, will always be that girl and could never not be that girl okay! This book was AMAZING.
Anyone who says that Middle Grade books are boring or don’t offer any substance doesn’t have taste. Listen, you don’t have to like an age group of books that aren’t meant for you. That’s fine. But don’t sit up here and say that Middle Grades don’t have flavor when this masterpiece exists. This book creeped me out more than some adult horrors I’ve read AND covered social issues at the same time. THE TALENT! In this book we follow Justin as he is grieving the death of his mother and dealing with his best friend returning after going missing one year ago. An innocent game of hide and seek turns out to be not so innocent and suddenly Justin and his friends are faced with a monster trying to steal their souls all because of a game! This book dealt with grief, anxiety, loneliness, family, mental health, and even the politics of the kidnapping of Black children and the lack of care society and the police show in those cases. And it doesn’t just gloss over those things, it faces them head on and makes it part of the overall plot. Like I said, a masterpiece. I wanted to protect these babies and fight along side them the whole time.
Anyone who says that Middle Grade books are boring or don’t offer any substance doesn’t have taste. Listen, you don’t have to like an age group of books that aren’t meant for you. That’s fine. But don’t sit up here and say that Middle Grades don’t have flavor when this masterpiece exists. This book creeped me out more than some adult horrors I’ve read AND covered social issues at the same time. THE TALENT! In this book we follow Justin as he is grieving the death of his mother and dealing with his best friend returning after going missing one year ago. An innocent game of hide and seek turns out to be not so innocent and suddenly Justin and his friends are faced with a monster trying to steal their souls all because of a game! This book dealt with grief, anxiety, loneliness, family, mental health, and even the politics of the kidnapping of Black children and the lack of care society and the police show in those cases. And it doesn’t just gloss over those things, it faces them head on and makes it part of the overall plot. Like I said, a masterpiece. I wanted to protect these babies and fight along side them the whole time.
April 30, 2021
This was phenomenal. Nice and creepy with a fun ensemble cast of smart, resourceful kids fighting to take down a monster. If you want a middle grade with a Nightmare On Elm Street atmosphere, I'd recommend this one for sure.
I also appreciate the fact that anxiety and panic attacks are featured here, because I feel like it's not something I've seen included in very many middle grade novels.
I also appreciate the fact that anxiety and panic attacks are featured here, because I feel like it's not something I've seen included in very many middle grade novels.
May 3, 2022
Whoa, this was pretty creepy and scary for a kids' book! I liked that unlike a lot of MG horror the ending wasn't made too easy in order for the kids to get free -- they really had to fight some horrible fears and monsters, and could easily have lost.
August 10, 2021
3 out of 5 stars!
I found this story to be very cozy and sweet. There were moments where it was creepy, but for me, it was mainly a story about friendship and dealing with grief. I didn't find too much that was new or fresh until around chapter 17 when I felt Daka Hermon introduced some concepts that were really interesting.
I also felt my age where the target audience for this book is concerned, but I was still able to enjoy it.
All in all it was a sweet little story.
I found this story to be very cozy and sweet. There were moments where it was creepy, but for me, it was mainly a story about friendship and dealing with grief. I didn't find too much that was new or fresh until around chapter 17 when I felt Daka Hermon introduced some concepts that were really interesting.
I also felt my age where the target audience for this book is concerned, but I was still able to enjoy it.
All in all it was a sweet little story.
October 4, 2020
I really liked the story and how CREEPY and scary it was. I just wished it wrapped up better towards the end in terms of the kids in nowhere and maybe more of a triumphant ending where they destroyed the seeker. Super good though and recommend for a spooky Halloween read.
January 4, 2021
How do I tell my 4 year old I can’t play hide and seek with him anymore because I’m not trying to go to Nowhere? Lol
This was honestly so perfect and the rhymes were sooo creepy. Exactly what I wanted!!
This was honestly so perfect and the rhymes were sooo creepy. Exactly what I wanted!!
November 19, 2020
I knew when I saw this cover and read the synopsis that I had to read this book! And I am pleased to say that this book does not disappoint in the slightest! It's full of coming-of-age, friendships, mystery/suspense, nightmares, and more. This book is a cautionary tale for abiding by the rules of any game played. Breaking the rules can have serious consequences. And in this case, the game they are playing is Hide and Seek. I can't even count how many hours and hours I spent playing this game with my friends and family as a child... but now I will never look at it the same again!
The book starts off about a year after Justin's mom has died and close friend, Zee, reappears after going missing for about the same time. Something is different about Zee and we will spend the rest of the book figuring out where he went, what happened to him, and how/why he came back. Every kid's nightmare will be explored in this story, and many of them were ones I also had growing up. It was fun, but not the most pleasant experience, reliving some of these childhood traumas. What seems silly to be afraid of now still evokes quite a feeling of discomfort and creepiness when looking back. But now the kids start disappearing from each other and the world as we know it, too. Who is Hyde? Who or what is the Seeker? How long have these connected childhood disappearances been happening? And as the kids band together in the Nowhere world of the Seeker, they must truly fight as one. They must communicate and explore each other's nightmares and fears if they have any chance for survival. Not since The Loser's Club in Stephen King's IT have I been rooting for a group of kids so much!
While this is middle grade horror, I still loved it as an adult. If I read this when I was growing up, I think it would have seriously scared me due to the situations the kids are put into as well as the monster. All the kids personalities and traits are fleshed out and explored. They have psychological traumas and terror as well as physical threats. This is Daka Hermon's debut and all I can say is that if she continues to write (and I hope she does!) and her books are even half as great as this one then sign me up every single time - she blew me away with this book!
The book starts off about a year after Justin's mom has died and close friend, Zee, reappears after going missing for about the same time. Something is different about Zee and we will spend the rest of the book figuring out where he went, what happened to him, and how/why he came back. Every kid's nightmare will be explored in this story, and many of them were ones I also had growing up. It was fun, but not the most pleasant experience, reliving some of these childhood traumas. What seems silly to be afraid of now still evokes quite a feeling of discomfort and creepiness when looking back. But now the kids start disappearing from each other and the world as we know it, too. Who is Hyde? Who or what is the Seeker? How long have these connected childhood disappearances been happening? And as the kids band together in the Nowhere world of the Seeker, they must truly fight as one. They must communicate and explore each other's nightmares and fears if they have any chance for survival. Not since The Loser's Club in Stephen King's IT have I been rooting for a group of kids so much!
While this is middle grade horror, I still loved it as an adult. If I read this when I was growing up, I think it would have seriously scared me due to the situations the kids are put into as well as the monster. All the kids personalities and traits are fleshed out and explored. They have psychological traumas and terror as well as physical threats. This is Daka Hermon's debut and all I can say is that if she continues to write (and I hope she does!) and her books are even half as great as this one then sign me up every single time - she blew me away with this book!
November 5, 2020
The cover truly does the book justice: very scary, and perfect for your kid reader who is ready for something spookier.
I was up late reading this book, and was seriously spooked. Highly recommended.
I was up late reading this book, and was seriously spooked. Highly recommended.
March 28, 2021
I will NEVER PLAY HIDE & SEEK AGAIN! Lol This was seriously so dark & creepy & I LOVED it! I read the last 80% last night. Impossible to put down. The not knowing would have driven me crazy, so I HAD to keep reading! Justin’s best friend Zee went missing for a year. When he came back, he was..different. Justin knows something’s very wrong w/him. Nobody knows where he was or what happened to him. At Zee’s welcome home party the neighborhood crew-Justin, Nia, Lyric, Quincy, Carla-play Hide & Seek..but it goes horribly wrong. 1 by 1 every player starts to disappear-pulled into a world of nightmares come to life. Justin & his friends realize that this horrible place is where Zee was trapped. Now they have to hide from the seeker. I can’t believe this is a debut. The writing is incredible. The story is unique/creative & so well thought out. The way the story plays out is done so well, you are always engrossed in what’s happening-& there’s ALWAYS something happening-& it just flows so beautifully. & when it all comes together & wraps up it’s just perfection. The story building is just epic. The characters in this are SO GOOD! The author has a real talent-well w/everything in here lol-w/characters. They made me laugh w/them, be scared w/them, root for them, & just love them. Lyric & Nia have some of the best dialogue! They both have my heart. Jimmy is such a force of his own as well. A week after his best friend went missing a year before, he experienced a huge loss-1 he is still trying to live w/. So huge messages on grief & anxiety, along w/friendship. Seeing how some police treat certain kids, whether b/c of their race or b/c of what side of town they’re from, made me so mad. More so b/c it’s a real life problem for so many kids. The mystery was so good. Seeing them trying to figure out how to save themselves & stop the seeker was brilliant. Never give up! The seeker was truly terrifying! I’m so glad I have my husband w/me when I’m reading!😆The ending was so good, & it ended like there could maybe be more? 🤞🏻Maybe w/different childhood games(ring around the rosie is starting to creep me out just thinking about it🤣). I hope so! Highly recommend! Absolutely creepily beautiful cover by Marcela Bolívar too!💜
October 1, 2021
4 stars. This was awesome! I loved every moment of this. It gave me the vibes of a Goosebumps book and I liked the way the author handled the tougher subjects mixed with the horror. The writing is really good and I grew attached to the characters.
Justin is a very lovable main character. He’s grieving the death of his mother and I loved how that became a really big plot point in the end and there were a lot of great emotional moments. He has a great group of friends and I also liked his big sister.
The plot was such a fun and unique take on the classic game of hide and seek. I liked the different twists and turns this had. Also, the ending was really cool and I liked the ambiguousness of it. I definitely wouldn’t mind a sequel following different characters or something. Overall, this was such an entertaining read and I will be looking forward to this author’s next book.
Justin is a very lovable main character. He’s grieving the death of his mother and I loved how that became a really big plot point in the end and there were a lot of great emotional moments. He has a great group of friends and I also liked his big sister.
The plot was such a fun and unique take on the classic game of hide and seek. I liked the different twists and turns this had. Also, the ending was really cool and I liked the ambiguousness of it. I definitely wouldn’t mind a sequel following different characters or something. Overall, this was such an entertaining read and I will be looking forward to this author’s next book.
October 4, 2020
Fans of Goosebumps, fans of Stephen King—heck anyone who wants a creepy story packed with incredible writing and a cast of characters you wish were your friends—they’re all going to eat this book up!
July 15, 2021
as much as i can remember that was my first middle grade paranormal thriller and i really liked the story and how creepy, chilling and scary it was! it blew me away at the right moments and surprised me, which was a good thing and left me speechless sometimes! being about kids while having such dark theme makes it even more scary!
the only "disappointment" that i've had is that i wanted the end to have a better wrap up about the other kids, their enthusiasm about winning against the seeker and they telling zee they also came back from nowhere!
but overall i'm totally happy with this reading and i recommend it to everyone looking for something spooky!
the only "disappointment" that i've had is that i wanted the end to have a better wrap up about the other kids, their enthusiasm about winning against the seeker and they telling zee they also came back from nowhere!
but overall i'm totally happy with this reading and i recommend it to everyone looking for something spooky!
July 16, 2021
I think this officially just opened up my reading horizon to Middle Grade! It took me a little bit to get into, but once I sat down and binged the last 200 pages, I was hooked for every page. Some of the scenes are actually pretty scary! I was surprised how much I viscerally reacted to certain parts. I didn't care for the characters in the beginning, but once they teamed up and started working together to defeat things, I loved them all. This is the perfect spooky summer read!
September 30, 2021
If The Conjuring made you too terrified to play Hide and Clap then this will surely end your days of playing (or letting your kids play) Hide and Seek. Middle grade horror done well.
April 19, 2021
How many times did you play Hide and Seek as a young child? How many times were you afraid to hide somewhere where it was DARK? Now, you will NEVER think of playing one of our most beloved outdoors; and sometimes even indoor games again in the same way, after reading this intense thriller! Ready Or Not....Here IT Comes! Ready to play Hide and SEEKER?
Daka Hermon's "Hide and Seeker" was supposedly a book for readers between the ages of 8 and 12....what the hell!!? No way would i ever give this to an 8 year old to read....nope. Daka writes of a game that we have all played and played over and over again growing up and she makes it out to be one of the most terrifying and scary games ever.....how you ask can the game be a terrifying race for your life? Did you ever think, "what if I cheat or break the rules?" These kids do exactly that and their lives will never be the same ever again!
The September 2020 released novel starts out with our main 6th grade character Justin losing his mother to Cancer, then a couple days later he loses his friend Zechariah or "Zee" as we learn to call him to a monster.....a monster called the 'Seeker', yes, just like the Seeker who it "IT" in the game of hide and seek. You find out later how Zee is taken and it is one of the most disturbing and creepy scenes in this 308 page thriller that you will remember days after you finish it. 394 days later Zee comes back home, but he is not the same kid that was 'taken' during the game that day.....the kid that comes back is almost mute and catatonic...his mother refuses the other 6 kids, Justin, Nia, Quincy and his twin sister Carla, Shae and Lyric to visit at all.
The character to set this story off is the creepy as hell Ice Cream Man; Hyde (yes, is this a 'hint' to Hide as in the title?) who delivers Ice cream to the celebratory 'Welcome Home Zee' party that is to be held for Zee after being home awhile now, and is to be 'reintroduced' to his best friends. The 6 kids wait and wait for the appearance of Zee, and while they wait they decide to play a game of hide and seek.....never knowing that this is what and how made Zee disappear in the first place!!!
One by one, the kids will start having a spiral looking mark appear on the insides of their wrists over the next couple days......and one the one the kids will start to disappear having to play a game of Hide and Seek with 'The Seeker'!!!
Wanna play a game?!
😱😳🎁🧩
Daka Hermon's "Hide and Seeker" was supposedly a book for readers between the ages of 8 and 12....what the hell!!? No way would i ever give this to an 8 year old to read....nope. Daka writes of a game that we have all played and played over and over again growing up and she makes it out to be one of the most terrifying and scary games ever.....how you ask can the game be a terrifying race for your life? Did you ever think, "what if I cheat or break the rules?" These kids do exactly that and their lives will never be the same ever again!
The September 2020 released novel starts out with our main 6th grade character Justin losing his mother to Cancer, then a couple days later he loses his friend Zechariah or "Zee" as we learn to call him to a monster.....a monster called the 'Seeker', yes, just like the Seeker who it "IT" in the game of hide and seek. You find out later how Zee is taken and it is one of the most disturbing and creepy scenes in this 308 page thriller that you will remember days after you finish it. 394 days later Zee comes back home, but he is not the same kid that was 'taken' during the game that day.....the kid that comes back is almost mute and catatonic...his mother refuses the other 6 kids, Justin, Nia, Quincy and his twin sister Carla, Shae and Lyric to visit at all.
The character to set this story off is the creepy as hell Ice Cream Man; Hyde (yes, is this a 'hint' to Hide as in the title?) who delivers Ice cream to the celebratory 'Welcome Home Zee' party that is to be held for Zee after being home awhile now, and is to be 'reintroduced' to his best friends. The 6 kids wait and wait for the appearance of Zee, and while they wait they decide to play a game of hide and seek.....never knowing that this is what and how made Zee disappear in the first place!!!
One by one, the kids will start having a spiral looking mark appear on the insides of their wrists over the next couple days......and one the one the kids will start to disappear having to play a game of Hide and Seek with 'The Seeker'!!!
Wanna play a game?!
😱😳🎁🧩
December 3, 2023
Hide and Seeker by Daka Hermon absolutely blew me away. Not only is it a scary middle grade novel - this is a straight up MG horror - it has a lot of heart. Friendship, family, terror. You guys have seen me praise a lot of middle grade horror lately, and this is one I highly, highly recommend. Put it in your classrooms, put it in your libraries, buy it for your kids, buy it for yourself. I was an absolute mess reading this book. Books like Hide and Seeker are exactly why I read - and will continue to read - middle grade. I haven't found an adult book with this kind of heart in a long time.
5/5 stars
5/5 stars
November 7, 2021
I had nightmares?! Crazy
June 24, 2021
Hide and Seeker was a terrifying read with Are You Afraid of the Dark vibes.
The story follows a group of friends who play hide and seek, and then find themselves being hunted by a mysterious monster known as The Seeker.
The book is filled with themes of loss, friendship, and the power of facing your fears. It has some really creepy imagery and the kids are put into some disturbing situations- but they learn how to overcome those situations by sticking together and facing them head on.
The story reminded me of an episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark and the Disney Channel Original movie Don’t Look Under the Bed. It’s original, creative, and unsettling. I highly recommend it for readers of all ages who like to be scared!
The story follows a group of friends who play hide and seek, and then find themselves being hunted by a mysterious monster known as The Seeker.
The book is filled with themes of loss, friendship, and the power of facing your fears. It has some really creepy imagery and the kids are put into some disturbing situations- but they learn how to overcome those situations by sticking together and facing them head on.
The story reminded me of an episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark and the Disney Channel Original movie Don’t Look Under the Bed. It’s original, creative, and unsettling. I highly recommend it for readers of all ages who like to be scared!
December 5, 2022
Such a fun little horror novel with so many good messages. It was like “The Goonies” meets “Stranger Things” just with Hide and Seek instead of Dungeons and Dragons.
I was rooting so hard for Justin, Nia, and Lyric. They’re little trio is friendship goals.
The ending leada me to believe there will be a sequel. I hope there will be. I need to find out what happened to Duke, and I need to see what things Mary has planned.
October 7, 2024
2.5 stars ⭐
This was so boring...
This was so boring...
February 22, 2024
Reading this was just so much fun!! In fact the supernatural plot reminds me of a Goosebumps book - but a much longer one. And who doesn't love that type of story, where your average neighborhood suddenly has dark shadows following you and maybe some giant bird is spotted? And the dog starts acting weird. Creepy music plays and the birthday party takes a horrible turn and then your heart is pounding in your chest, your hands are clammy and you only want to run out of there as quick as you can.
But its too late.
You just don't know it yet.
So be brave and attend Zee's birthday party. He is only slightly out of his mind.
And then some horrid thing will be looking for you... It only wants you for all eternity. That's not long is it? And you have to face your deepest fears... Forever.
As you can tell I had loads of fun reading this. This one is purely guilty pleasure in reading. A fast paced middle grade horror story with a very supernatural twist.. The story kept moving and young Justin faced so many different fears and problems. He was very brave. But the most bravest thing he did is he did not give up.
But do you know what I liked best about this book? How all the characters in here decided to work together to defeat the enemy. Or try to anyway. Its about being a team, not a single hero raising above everyone else.
Superb writing! Glad I read this one.
But its too late.
You just don't know it yet.
So be brave and attend Zee's birthday party. He is only slightly out of his mind.
And then some horrid thing will be looking for you... It only wants you for all eternity. That's not long is it? And you have to face your deepest fears... Forever.
As you can tell I had loads of fun reading this. This one is purely guilty pleasure in reading. A fast paced middle grade horror story with a very supernatural twist.. The story kept moving and young Justin faced so many different fears and problems. He was very brave. But the most bravest thing he did is he did not give up.
But do you know what I liked best about this book? How all the characters in here decided to work together to defeat the enemy. Or try to anyway. Its about being a team, not a single hero raising above everyone else.
Superb writing! Glad I read this one.
July 1, 2024
4.5 stars
Daaaaaang. This book brought me back to what it feels like to be a kid and how those fears felt at that age. So many terrifying moments.
Daaaaaang. This book brought me back to what it feels like to be a kid and how those fears felt at that age. So many terrifying moments.
September 30, 2021
This was such a great and creepy book! Loved the friendship between the kids and that story didn't focus on the plot at the expense of the characters.
I listened to the audiobook and I feel this made me feel closer to Justin and the horror of Hide and Seek(er), highly recommend. Also excited to see the author will release another creepy tale next autumn!
I listened to the audiobook and I feel this made me feel closer to Justin and the horror of Hide and Seek(er), highly recommend. Also excited to see the author will release another creepy tale next autumn!
October 22, 2020
I have a lot of cousins. Dozens upon dozens of cousins. And growing up all I did was play outside with these cousins, sunrise to sunset.
The adult(s) overseeing us would sit on the porch chatting, napping, drinking, telling us to stop hitting one another
WHATEVER
We played a variety of games.
Mother May I, Kick Ball, House, Tag, Hide and Seek. Yeah, you see where I’m going with this. I don’t really remember any rigid rules regarding Hide and Seek besides there being a Seeker who closes their eyes counts to a number and tries to find those who hide.
They could be anywhere. Hidden in the shadows, tucked away in some clouds, eaten by a wandering bear. You get the gist.
When Zee came back he came back wrong.
It was obvious to all of them even though they didn’t want to say it.
He had been missing for 404 days and now he was back and he was wrong and everything should have been great but it wasn’t.
When Justin and Nia arrive at Zee’s house for his welcome back party they realize that something is horrible amiss. Zee is not only a physical mess but is emotionally damaged as well. He speaks in thick harsh riddles and during a seemingly harmless game of hide and seek he melts down and has to be collected and restrained by his mother. He offers his group of friends a strange warning at their departure and that is when they realize how dire everything truly is.
That is when they all begin to go missing one by one into Nowhere. Into the nightmare world of the Seeker.
Can I just...shriek in delight for a moment here?
As a black woman who grew up as a black girl obsessed with horror stories you have no idea how absolutely delighted I was to read a BLACK HORROR STORY WITH BLACK CHARACTERS WRITTEN BY A BLACK WOMAN.
THIS. WAS. EVERYTHING.
THIS. IS. EVERYTHING.
It’s scary, it’s sad, it’s complex, it’s moving, it makes you think and it makes you want more.
Daka Hermon sets the scene, the fears, the characters perfectly and spins an innocent game of hide and seek into something otherworldly and sinister. Haven’t we all played that terrifying game of hide and seek? Hidden somewhere sketchy and thought well I am not getting out of this or gotten lost while trying to find the others.
It’s absolutely brilliant.
And among the horror Daka Hermon laces in another terrifying emotion- loss.
The protagonist has just lost his mother and his wounds are deep and they ache. We feel it along with each panic attack he has.
Along with Justin we are introduced to an array of characters. There’s Nia who is an encyclopedia of facts, Lyric, Carla and her younger brother Quincy, Shae, and of course Zee. I stress this with each review but again representation is so important and the fact that the main and majority characters are black is so so important.
Hide and Seeker doesn’t seem as though it’s a stand alone book and from the ending I don’t believe it is and I’m happy about that. I’m greatly looking forward to reading more from the author and if there is to be a series I’m looking forward to being further traumatized by my childhood.
Read this review and more like it at my website:
aelilyreads.com
The adult(s) overseeing us would sit on the porch chatting, napping, drinking, telling us to stop hitting one another
WHATEVER
We played a variety of games.
Mother May I, Kick Ball, House, Tag, Hide and Seek. Yeah, you see where I’m going with this. I don’t really remember any rigid rules regarding Hide and Seek besides there being a Seeker who closes their eyes counts to a number and tries to find those who hide.
They could be anywhere. Hidden in the shadows, tucked away in some clouds, eaten by a wandering bear. You get the gist.
When Zee came back he came back wrong.
It was obvious to all of them even though they didn’t want to say it.
He had been missing for 404 days and now he was back and he was wrong and everything should have been great but it wasn’t.
When Justin and Nia arrive at Zee’s house for his welcome back party they realize that something is horrible amiss. Zee is not only a physical mess but is emotionally damaged as well. He speaks in thick harsh riddles and during a seemingly harmless game of hide and seek he melts down and has to be collected and restrained by his mother. He offers his group of friends a strange warning at their departure and that is when they realize how dire everything truly is.
That is when they all begin to go missing one by one into Nowhere. Into the nightmare world of the Seeker.
Can I just...shriek in delight for a moment here?
As a black woman who grew up as a black girl obsessed with horror stories you have no idea how absolutely delighted I was to read a BLACK HORROR STORY WITH BLACK CHARACTERS WRITTEN BY A BLACK WOMAN.
THIS. WAS. EVERYTHING.
THIS. IS. EVERYTHING.
It’s scary, it’s sad, it’s complex, it’s moving, it makes you think and it makes you want more.
Daka Hermon sets the scene, the fears, the characters perfectly and spins an innocent game of hide and seek into something otherworldly and sinister. Haven’t we all played that terrifying game of hide and seek? Hidden somewhere sketchy and thought well I am not getting out of this or gotten lost while trying to find the others.
It’s absolutely brilliant.
And among the horror Daka Hermon laces in another terrifying emotion- loss.
The protagonist has just lost his mother and his wounds are deep and they ache. We feel it along with each panic attack he has.
Along with Justin we are introduced to an array of characters. There’s Nia who is an encyclopedia of facts, Lyric, Carla and her younger brother Quincy, Shae, and of course Zee. I stress this with each review but again representation is so important and the fact that the main and majority characters are black is so so important.
Hide and Seeker doesn’t seem as though it’s a stand alone book and from the ending I don’t believe it is and I’m happy about that. I’m greatly looking forward to reading more from the author and if there is to be a series I’m looking forward to being further traumatized by my childhood.
Read this review and more like it at my website:
aelilyreads.com
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