1-2-3-4, I Declare a Thumb War - (Graveyard Girls) by Lisi Harrison & Daniel Kraus

About the Book

#1 New York Times bestselling authors Lisi Harrison and Daniel Kraus deliver a slightly scary, extremely addictive, contemporary middle-grade book series. This first installment of Graveyard Girls is part mystery book and part friendship story, centered around five young teen girls in for the fright of their lives.

Meet Whisper, Frannie, Sophie, Gemma, and Zuzu, five friends who tell eerie tales by night and navigate middle school drama by day. In Misery Falls, Oregon, it is the 100th anniversary of the electrocution of the town's most infamous killer, Silas Hoke, and the town is abuzz. When a mysterious text message leads the girls to the cemetery--where Silas Hoke is buried!--life can't get any creepier. Except, yes, it can, thanks to the surprise storyteller who meets them at the cemetery, inspires the first-ever meeting of the Graveyard Girls, and sets the stage for a terrifying tale from Whisper that they'll never forget.

Book one in a five-book series, Graveyard Girls blends popular scary books for kids (think: Goosebumps) with strong teen girl characters into a fresh, genre-blending middle-grade series. For kids ages 9­­-12 in search of girl friendship stories and mystery books, you'll find horror and heartfelt relationships in 1-2-3-4, I Declare a Thumb War.

Hardcover with dust jacket; 256 pages; 5.5 x 8.3 in. Illustrations by Flavia Sorrentino.

Book Synopsis

#1 New York Times bestselling authors Lisi Harrison and Daniel Kraus deliver a slightly scary, extremely addictive, contemporary middle-grade book series. This first installment of Graveyard Girls is part mystery book and part friendship story, centered around five young teen girls in for the fright of their lives.

Meet Whisper, Frannie, Sophie, Gemma, and Zuzu, five friends who tell eerie tales by night and navigate middle school drama by day. In Misery Falls, Oregon, it is the 100th anniversary of the electrocution of the town's most infamous killer, Silas Hoke, and the town is abuzz. When a mysterious text message leads the girls to the cemetery--where Silas Hoke is buried!--life can't get any creepier. Except, yes, it can, thanks to the surprise storyteller who meets them at the cemetery, inspires the first-ever meeting of the Graveyard Girls, and sets the stage for a terrifying tale from Whisper that they'll never forget.

Book one in a five-book series, Graveyard Girls blends popular scary books for kids (think: Goosebumps) with strong teen girl characters into a fresh, genre-blending middle-grade series. For kids ages 9­­-12 in search of girl friendship stories and mystery books, you'll find horror and heartfelt relationships in 1-2-3-4, I Declare a Thumb War.

Hardcover with dust jacket; 256 pages; 5.5 x 8.3 in. Illustrations by Flavia Sorrentino.

Review Quotes

"This clever, fast-paced story is filled with thrills that will have readers flipping pages into the night. . . . [F]or fans of scary stories, horror movies, and things that go bump in the night." --Booklist

"The humor is strong throughout, and the story is strongest when keeping readers guessing about what's real--both in the interpersonal conflicts and the seemingly supernatural happenings. . . . A good blend of spooky and silly." --Kirkus Reviews

"If you have a reader that enjoys a good scare, 1-2-3-4 I Declare a Thumb War is a great title to have on your list . . . . A wonderful start to a series by bestselling authors Lisi Harrison and Daniel Kraus, your child will thank you for the purchase." --Daily Mom

About the Author

Lisi Harrison has written forty YA and middle-grade novels including the #1 New York Times bestselling series The Clique, which has sold more than eight million copies, and the Monster High series. In 2021, Harrison launched two new middle-grade book series, Girl Stuff and The Pack. Lisi lives in California, and in addition to her work as an author, she is the cofounder of House of Thrive, a wellness center that teaches tweens, teens, and parents how to have healthy, drama-free friendships. Visit her at lisiharrison.com or Thrive@myhouseofthrive.com.

Daniel Kraus is a New York Times bestselling writer and coauthor of both Trollhunters and The Shape of Water with Guillermo del Toro. Kraus has won a Scribe Award, the Bram Stoker Award, and two Odyssey Awards, has had his work named as a Library Guild selection, a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults recipient, and more. His work has been translated into more than twenty languages. Daniel lives in Chicago. Visit him at danielkraus.com.