The Black Slide Published by HarperCollins on August 16, 2022
ISBN: 0062990551
Pages: 272
Genres: Horror, Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Board Book
Goodreads

Fifth-grader Griffin knows there is something strange about the new piece of playground equipment that suddenly appears at his school. After his classmates start to disappear, he accidentally follows his friend Laila though it and finds a world populated by pain-loving creatures made of rock and stone who are torturing the kids in a quest for immortality.

Griffin is no stranger to pain, thanks to an abusive father, but does he have what it takes to stand up to an entire dimension based on torture and angst?

Fans of Hellraiser will recognize the Merciless (the pain creatures) as Cenobites. This is no accident; in his acknowledgement Ocker mentions his “Hellraiser for kids” idea. Is Hellraiser for kids a good idea? It really could have been. Between great world-building and the edgy risk of the entire concept, there is a lot to offer here. Unfortunately, the characters would have been much more relatable had they been a little older. Because they’re supposed to be 10-11 years old, the dialog is unconvincing and weakens the character development. This might not bother some readers who are looking for unique middle grade horror, so cautiously recommended for middle grade horror fans.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath