Ally Russell’s novel Down Came the Spiders will publish from Scholastic December 2025. Spooky Middle Grade is excited to help reveal the cover of Ally’s new book, but first . . . let us tell you what the book is about!
Twelve-year-old Andi loves everything about spiders—they’re endlessly fascinating creatures. So when she finds a species she’s never seen before at a classmate’s Halloween party, she’s over the moon. 🕷️ Until the spiders start to behave in unusual and threatening ways, that is. They can camouflage themselves incredibly well, they can jump higher than she’s ever seen, and their webs are strong. Maybe even strong enough to trap a person . . . 🕷️
Andi and her friends Carly and Devon try to find an adult to help, but make a terrifying discovery: The parent chaperones have been immobilized by the spiders. As the only ones who know 🕷️ what’s going on, Andi, Carly, and Devon will have to take on the spiders themselves—before it’s too late!
Sorry to leave you hanging by a thread. Here’s the cover!
Arachnophobia meets Five Nights at Freddy’s in this middle grade horror novel perfect for fans of K.R. Alexander and Mary Downing Hahn.
And now, let’s hear more from the spider on the cover:
Is this your first book cover?
I’ve been under plenty of books, but this is my first time being on a book.
Did you spin that web yourself?
Jai McFerran helped with the illustrations, and Stephanie Yang helped with the cover design, but I produced all the spider silk for the web. It was a team effort.
Why red?
Why not?
How did you decide on the title Down Came the Spiders?
I mean . . . that’s kind of what spiders do, you know?
When can readers get their hands on this book?
We were aiming for Halloween, but we decided to jazz things up, so look for this book under your bed . . . no. Wait. Sorry. Force of habit. Look for this book at Scholastic Book Fairs and bookstores December 2, 2025.
About the author:
Ally Russell is the author of It Came from the Trees. She grew up on a steady diet of Halloween parties, horror films, Unsolved Mysteries, and Goosebumps books. She has always loved scary stories, and got her MFA from Simmons University. She hails from Pittsburgh—ground zero for the zombie apocalypse. Ally lives with her husband and her two black cats, Nox and Fury. She’s afraid of the woods, the dark, and heights.
Website: https://allyrussellbooks.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onedarkally/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/allyoutthere.bsky.social
Newsletter: https://allyoutthere.beehiiv.com/
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