The Black Slide: A Scary Middle Grade Horror Adventure of Portals and Creatures for Kids (Ages 8-12)

An ominous new slide on the playground leads to a world of fear in USA Today bestselling author J.W. Ocker’s latest middle grade horror, perfect for fans of R.L. Stine and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.

Griffin Birch isn’t known for being brave, but there’s something about the new black slide on the elementary school playground that’s made him curious. Against his better judgment, he just has to follow his best friend, Laila, down.

But the Black Slide is no ordinary piece of playground equipment. What Griffin and Laila find at the other end of this strange portal is a cruel world, populated by bloodthirsty creatures on a quest to become immortal.

And it’s up to Griffin to save himself, his best friend―and the future of earth itself.

Fans of classic horror will devour this creepy adventure packed with more twists and turns than the ominous black slide itself.

What happens when the scariest thing on the playground isn’t the school bully, but the slide itself?

• Portal to Another World: The new black slide isn’t just a slide—it’s a one-way trip to a cruel, bizarre dimension where bloodthirsty creatures rule.
• Facing Your Fears: Griffin Birch has never been brave, but when his best friend Laila is in danger, he’ll have to confront terrifying monsters and his own insecurities to save her.
• A Spooky Survival Story: Trapped in the Painful Place, Griffin and Laila must outsmart their monstrous captors and navigate a hostile world made of metal and rock.
• Perfect for Young Horror Fans: With the classic thrills of R.L. Stine and the chilling atmosphere of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, this is a must-read for kids who love to be scared.

J.W. Ocker is the USA Today bestselling and Lowell Thomas– and Edgar Award–winning author of macabre travelogues, spooky kids’ books, and horror novels. His books include Poe-Land, A Season with the Witch, Death and Douglas, and The Smashed Man of Dread End. J.W. Ocker lives in New Hampshire.