The Headless Horseman of Downers Grove - (Hazyscapes) by Kyle Sullivan (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In Downers Grove, the only thing worse than a hot-headed bully is the one without a head at all...

Being an outsider at Downers Grove Middle School is hard enough. But as Bodie, Abe, and Odesa learn, things can always get a lot worse...and a lot creepier. When a vengeful, headless phantom begins to stalk them in the night, the three 12-year-old strangers must work together to confront a tragic past that mysteriously connects them all.

Book #3 of the thrilling Hazyscapes middle-grade anthology, The Headless Horseman of Downers Grove is a pulse-pounding story of fantastic folklore, improbable friendship, and the lasting harm of intolerance.

Review Quotes

"The Headless Horseman of Downers Grove's terrorizing specters, brazen bullies, and intriguing spells will drive readers to unravel the horror of a deathly mystery. This is a frightfully good tale Washington Irving would delight to read. Middle schools will too!"
--Jonathan Kruk, Master Storyteller and author of Legends of Sleepy Hollow and the Hudson Valley

"A frightfully fun twist on a classic, The Headless Horseman of Downers Grove combines mystery, magic, and a heartening message about the power of friendship to make us brave."
--Jenna Lee-Yun, author of The Last Rhee Witch (Disney-Hyperion, 2024)

"A chilling tale of fierce friendship and fiendish folklore. I couldn't put it down."
--K.R. Alexander, international bestselling author of The Immortal Circus and The Collector

"Get your spooky on with genuinely chilling thrills around every corner."
--Rob Harrell, bestselling author/illustrator of Wink and Popcorn

[The Mirror People (Hazyscapes #2)]:

"The Mirror People reads like a chill wind at your back, keeping pages turning swiftly. I loved how the story combines the Gothic with the Modern in the most strangely creepy ways. The tightly plotted twists are sure to have you questioning what you see in the shadows. Don't be surprised if you start jumping at the sight of your own reflection...or of the wide-eyed figure standing right behind you!"

--#1 New York Times Bestselling author Dan Poblocki

"Kyle Sullivan mixes the paranormal with his gift for engaging young minds as only he can do."
--Jim Harold, Host of The Paranormal Podcast and Jim Harold's Campfire

[Bigfoot vs. Aliens (Hazyscapes #1)]:

★ 2023 Northern Lights Book Award Winner

★ 2023 Moonbeam Award Winner (Pre-Teen Fantasy)

★ Powell's Books Staff Pick (December 2023)

"Bigfoot vs. Aliens is a riveting fantasy novel in which love and empathy overcome differences to give Earth's inhabitants the strength to face major obstacles."--Foreword Reviews

[Hobgoblin and the Seven Stinkers of Rancidia]:

★ A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2019

★ A Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award Winner (2019)

★ "Readers will giggle through every page of this smart political satire." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Engages hard-to-please tween readers with imaginative adventure, fun illustrations and silly fart references...Read it together at bedtime to share laughter and a positive message of empathy and inclusivity." --The Seattle Times

"A hilarious second coming of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs...This story is like nothing you've ever read before...You'll instantly fart with glee." --Literary Features Syndicate

[Zombie, Or Not to Be]:

★ A Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award Finalist (2020)

★ Independent Publisher Book Award Winner (2021)

"A standing ovation for undead environmentalist theater." --Kirkus Reviews

"Highly recommended...A pandemic, environmental issues, and characters who do not believe in science are themes all too suitable for students seeking contemporary fiction to write about for class...Middle graders hungry for the next zombie book will devour this one." --School Library Journal

"Readers will chortle at the gross details, the Beetlejuice-style illustrations, and...the parodic twists." --Booklist

[Krampus Confidential]:

★ Independent Publisher Book Award Winner (2023)

"This mystery is a page-turner." --School Library Journal

"Tinseltown is packed with the usual (and unusual) suspects of Christmas lore, and the culprit could be anyone. Ruprecht narrates the mystery in a noir style that is both world-weary and tongue-in-cheek...This charming work draws to a satisfactory close with justice restored. Good fun for youngsters who prefer their holiday cheer with a dark twist." --Kirkus Reviews

"Krampus Confidential is a lighthearted winter romp through a magical world inhabited by some of Europe's most infamous Yuletide folk creatures. A great way to introduce children to the bizarre and fascinating worlds of monsters and mystery." --Dr. Emily Zarka, host of PBS' Monstrum

About the Author

Kyle Sullivan is an award-winning children's book author whose titles have sold more than a half million copies worldwide. Kyle writes middle-grade chapter books, picture books, and board books that appeal to parents, guardians, teachers, and librarians just as much as the young readers in their lives. His books include The Mirror People (Hazyscapes #2), Hazel and the Spooky Season, Krampus Confidential, and Hobgoblin and the Seven Stinkers of Rancidia, which was named a Kirkus Best Book of 2019 and received a Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award. Kyle has an MA in English Literature from the University of British Columbia and a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Washington. He lives in Portland, Oregon.