We’ve got a wonderfully creepy new Middle Grade title for you: The Creature Keeper by Damaris Young has been published today by Scholastic!

This exciting adventure follows young Cora, who’s adjusting to a new job at the eerie but enticing Direspire Hall, but soon finds more than she bargained for lurking behind closed doors…

The perfect magical read for kids who love animals and care about saving the environment!

Creepy Direspire Hall sits glowering on the moors – and if you stray too close then beware the growls and scary sounds from within… When animal lover Cora learns that Direspire’s mysterious owner is looking for a new Creature Keeper, she realises this might just be the chance she’s looking for to save her parents’ farm.

But Direspire Hall is a spooky place and the strange creatures who live there are nothing like Cora is expecting. As Cora settles into her new life, it soon becomes clear that Direspire has its secrets, and that somebody will do whatever it takes to keep them..

Damaris has a wonderful talent for illuminating the most bewitching elements of the natural world. If you want to find out more on this stellar read, be sure to watch back the recent live conversation she had with fellow spooky Middle Grade author, Jenni Jennings, in celebration of Halloween. Damaris has had even more cause to celebrate recently – her debut,  The Swtiching Hour (Scholastic) which was met with plenty of praise following its release, was shortlisted in the Awesome Books Awards last week:

Damaris is a Middle Grade author who wrote her debut, The Switching Hour, whilst on the Bath Spa MA. She spent her childhood in Zambia where she was told local myths and stories which now influence her writing. She has since moved to Bristol where she works on building worlds and adventures for MG readers with strong friendships at the heart of them. She lives with her dogs and partner.

We can’t wait for readers to get stuck into this delightful new tale, which is sure to deliver on chills and thrills!