Into the Gray by Kathleen Palm
Into the Gray is the first middle grade horror book in Kathleen Palm’s The Nowhere Series. Weighing in at 253 pages, it releases in its second edition on April 25, 2025 by Undertaker Books.
I don’t generally review middle grade horror, but I’m so glad I read this book. I had the honor of meeting its author Kathleen Palm at StokerCon 2024 in San Diego and once again seeing her at Scares That Care 2024 in St. Louis. She is a kind and genuine person, and I couldn’t resist purchasing a copy of Into the Gray—and getting it signed (see below!).
I believe I would have enjoyed reading this book as a teenager, since it was engaging and suspenseful as an adult reader. Not only does it have well-layered storylines, Palm has a wonderful way of creating images on the pages with her descriptions. Houses become monsters with trolls, dust is the remains of fallen vampires. There’s never a dull moment when you’re seeing the world through the eyes of the book’s curious main character Ember.
Ember loves all things spooky and horrific, but when she comes face-to-face with Caretaker and the Sprints in Nowhere, she’s not sure she’s ready to accept and face the horrors. One of my favorite parts of this story is the reminder that when things are scary, you can be brave and keep going.
I found nostalgia in parts, thinking back to when I was young going to slumber parties and trying to perform seances or conjure Bloody Mary in the bathroom mirror. Those moments of horror were exciting and thrilling. In the book, more realistic terrors are at play for Ember’s family and friends.
Into the Gray focuses on a young girl trying to find her place in the world. Found and adopted by her two new moms, she battles more than Nowhere’s weird creatures. She’s forced to stand up to emotions she keeps stuffing down while trying to make everyone else happy. Along the way, she learns important lessons: Sometimes being lost is the only way to find yourself, it’s okay to be different, and it’s okay not to be okay. Teenagers and young adults will relate to Ember, no matter their backgrounds or situations.
Also, there are some serious themes addressed in the book. Some are mentioned by name, and others are disguised as cracks in the ceiling or a sticky, black mist only Ember can see. No matter your age, though, this book will make you think about what you’re desperate to hold on to and what you might be too afraid to let go of. I found these emotions relevant as an individual and as a mother, since sometimes the things we need to let go of aren’t physical items but fears or beliefs. I wasn’t expecting a middle grade book to hit me in the feels like it did. There’s comfort and closure in the end, though, knowing you’re not alone in your feelings. Just like Ember.
I was thrilled to read on Palm’s website that she’s finishing up Within the Black, the second book in The Nowhere Series, which should be coming out this fall. There’s an intriguing character in this current book that I didn’t have full closure on, so I’m hopeful I will get a little more on that story! Fingers crossed!
Grab a copy of this for a young adult in your life or just for yourself. If you like a little magic in your day and an adventure or two, this is a great book to scratch that itch. Then let it go and share it with someone else.
Need more Kathleen Palm?
Get to know Kathleen Palm:
Kathleen Palm wanted to be a ballerina (but dancing was hard), then a marine biologist (but science was hard), but mostly she loved dreaming up strange creatures, interesting characters, and fascinating places. When she was thirty-one-years-old all those strange people and places in her mind started whispering stories, so she became a writer (which was hard, but she didn’t care). Her love of everything magical, weird, and creepy weaves into her words. Because through the dark, we can find the light. Because when we face fear, we become strong. Because it’s good to be scared.
She loves scary movies, TV shows and books, watching people play horror video games on YouTube, and chocolate cake. She lives in a big, old (sadly not haunted) house in rural Indiana with her husband, two kids, two dogs, and four cats. She does her best to not run through the killer-infested cornfields. Member HWA…Chicagoland chapter.
***Taken from Kathleen Palm’s website
I love having signed book copies!
To read my review of A Quaint and Curious Volume of Gothic Tales, including Palm’s short story “The Door to Other Places,” CLICK HERE.
Get to know Undertaker Books:
At Undertaker Books, our mission is to provide publishing services to indie authors worldwide, spotlighting new and unique voices within the realm of horror fiction. We strive to offer a seamless publishing journey from submission to publication while providing valuable feedback every step of the way.
We believe in collaboration between authors, publishers, editors, and designers to bring diverse voices to the forefront of the horror genre. Our passion lies in creating a long-lasting partnership with authors by focusing on the “less is more” concept: quality releases, not the quantity of them.
Undertaker Books is not limited to any specific theme or subgenre. Instead, we are dedicated to innovative storytelling and embracing the myriad voices that contribute to horror literature. To our readers, we hope to bring you stories you’ll take to your grave.
***Taken from the Undertaker Books website
