Jennifer Killick Books In Order

Publication Order of Alex Sparrow Books

Publication Order of Crater Lake Books

Publication Order of Creatures & Teachers Books

Publication Order of Dread Wood Books

Publication Order of Children's Books

Jennifer Killick

Jennifer Killick lives in England and writes horror stories for children. Her books have picked up some notable awards along the way, including the Children’s Book Award. She is the author behind the Crater Lake series, which came out in 2020 and 2021, and the Dread Wood series, which begun releasing back in 2022. These stories have found a strong audience among young readers who enjoy a good scare.

One reason her books work so well is the way she writes her characters. The kids in her stories feel like real people you might know. They are not fearless, and they do not always have the answers. That honesty makes it easy to root for them when things go sideways. The friendships that form between them feel earned, and the dialogue sounds natural. Readers are not just watching a plot move forward. They are spending time with people they genuinely care about.

Killick also knows how to build a story that keeps moving without ever feeling rushed. There is always something strange or unsettling creeping in, but it never tips over into something too dark for a younger reader. The tension is real, but it is balanced with warmth and humor. Her books are scary in a way that feels safe. That combination of heart and creepiness is hard to pull off, but she does it again and again. It is likely why her work keeps getting noticed and why young readers keep coming back.

Killick writes books that travel well beyond her home country. Young readers in different parts of the world seem to connect with her work even when the settings are specifically British. The humor lands. The scares work. The kids at the center of each story feel familiar no matter where the reader lives. She does not stretch herself thin trying to guess what might work in another market. She just writes the kind of book she would want to read herself.

That instinct to stay personal rather than global is part of why her stories feel so alive. She is not manufacturing a product. She is putting something real on the page. The dialogue sounds like actual children talking. The friendships have small, specific moments that feel observed rather than invented. Readers pick up on that. They can sense when a writer is being genuine. Killick never has to fake it because she is writing from a place of honest enthusiasm for her own ideas.

Jennifer Killick has more stories on the way. Her two series have found strong audiences, and she continues to write within the world of children’s horror fiction. Readers waiting for the next book will not have to wait forever. She is actively working, and there is no sign she plans to stop anytime soon.

Early and Personal Life

Jennifer Killick grew up with an interest in writing that was present from an early age. She enjoyed stories and the act of putting words on a page. For a long time, though, she did not actively pursue it as a career path.

Later she decided to develop her craft more formally and completed a Master of Arts at Brunel University London. That experience helped her build skills and confidence as a writer. It was a clear turning point in her creative life.

She now lives in Uxbridge with her husband and their five children from previous relationships. Her household is busy and full, which likely feeds her understanding of young people. She draws inspiration from the world around her, as her career grows from strength-to-strength.

Writing Career

Jennifer Killick wrote her debut novel during her Creative Writing MA. After early rejections, she rewrote it under mentorship. Firefly acquired the book in 2016 and published it in 2017, followed by two sequels. She released the Crater Lake series with Firefly in 2020 and 2021. Crater Lake was named The Times children’s book of the week.

She moved to Farshore for the Dread Wood series. The first book won the 2023 Children’s Book Award. More installments followed through 2024. She later published the Dread Detention books. Her following series was Serial Chillers, and she continues to write.

Fear Ground

Jennifer Killick wrote Fear Ground, a middle-grade horror mystery. Farshore published it in 2022 as the second book in the Dread Wood series. It followed the series debut from earlier that year.

A new game called Flinch spreads through Dread Wood High, allowing players to earn points by scaring their friends through an app. The fun quickly turns unsettling as Angelo and his friends notice others beginning to act strangely. The fair arrives in town as tension builds, with figures in unsettling clown masks remaining unidentified. Conflicts increase as the group prepares for a final confrontation at the Fear Ground.

Readers who enjoy a good scare will find plenty to like here. The game concept feels fresh and the tension builds naturally. Angelo and his friends are easy to root for as strange things start happening around them. It is a fast, fun read that keeps you turning pages.

Crater Lake: Evolution

Jennifer Killick wrote Crater Lake: Evolution, a middle-grade horror fantasy. Firefly published it in 2021 as the second book in the Crater Lake series. It followed the first book released the previous year.

Five months after the Crater Lake school trip, an explosion at the University has left a test creature missing and the town of Straybridge sealed off. Lance has lost touch with his friends and notices his mother beginning to act strangely. He moves door to door to reunite his team. Together with Katja, Max, Chets, Ade and a new friend named Karim, they must find a way to save their families from something straight out of their nightmares.

This sequel picks up right where the first book left off. The stakes feel higher with the town locked down and families in danger. Lance and his friends work well together, and the new character fits right in. It is a solid, exciting follow through.