The Darkdeep

Nobody goes to Still Cove.  It's dark, creepy, and constantly covered in a thick mist.  Plus, all those rumors about the beast can't be dismissed lightly.  That's why Nico and his friends go there to try out their new drone.  They are hoping to avoid Logan and the rest of the bullies, but they aren't so lucky.

When Nico falls off a cliff trying to catch his drone, his friends are terrified but also right behind him.  What they discover is an island hidden in the mist with an old houseboat floating in a pond in the middle.  The house is full of strange things, but the strangest by far is the thick whirlpool swirling in the basement.  Yeah, they didn't know houseboats could have basements, either.

An accident reveals the truth, if you jump through the whirlpool, it will spit you back out on the shore, and it will bring your fantasies to life, in a shadowy shortlived way.  What starts out as good fun quickly turns to something more terrifying, and the figments begin to change, and the darkdeep itself seems to call out to the kids.

This is book one in a series coauthored by Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs.  It's Stranger Things lite and will appeal to a younger crowd looking for a thrill.  I wish the plot had come to the scary part sooner, but it's still an enjoyable read, and plenty of kids will love it.  A spooky final scene will propel readers into the sequel.