Fourteen-year-old Tessa has always loved her grandmother’s family fun park. Once a dazzling display of roadside attractions, highlighted by her grandmother’s puppet show, the park is now struggling after her parents inherited it. This might be the park’s last summer. Tessa, missing her grandmother, can’t bring herself to take over the puppet show, no matter how many times her parents ask. Luckily, a strange traveling puppeteer offers to do the show for free, which might save the park from ruin. Liza captivates her nightly audiences with tales of ghosts, monsters, and witches. She is magnetic and mesmerizing—a master storyteller—but her sharp gaze often sends chills crawling over Tessa’s skin. When children begin disappearing from the park and adults seem to fall under some kind of spell, Tessa goes undercover as the puppeteer’s apprentice to investigate. But when a friend goes missing, she must untangle a web of lies and magic in time to save them all. That’s not so easy when someone else is pulling your strings. Characterized by exciting, fast-paced plots and age-appropriate themes, Harbor’s Hi-Lo books are both engaging and easy to read. Short chapters, simple sentence structures, and an accessible format make these books perfect for tween reluctant readers. Harbor books are written at a 2nd- to 3rd-grade reading level with an interest level of ages 10 and up.
- Books
- Middle Grade Fiction & Indies
- Middle Grade Indie
- Hidden Strings (Harbor Set 4)
Hidden Strings (Harbor Set 4)
Editor review
1 review
A spooky story for kids
(Updated: June 19, 2026)
Overall rating
3.7
Plot
3.0
Characters
4.0
Writing Style
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
What worked:
Liza tells short, eerie stories throughout the book, even though Tessa’s grandmother never would have allowed them at the campground. The tales are typically two or three pages in length and end with a missing or frightened child. They provide hints about events that have already happened and others that may happen later. The stories allow readers to wonder how and why kids are disappearing and how Liza might be stopped. Young readers can quickly finish the short chapters, and motivated readers can complete the whole book in one or two sittings.
Readers immediately know Liza is an evil character, as she tells Tessa that she doesn’t like children. Liza says she never lies, so readers should consider her words carefully. Tessa gets an uneasy feeling when the woman looks at her, and adults get a glazed look in their eyes. A couple of kids go missing, but police and parents quickly forget about pursuing suspects. This situation creates a dramatic problem and gives a taste of the malevolent magic going on. The children listening to Liza’s nightly tales should be frightened, but it’s clear all of the characters’ minds have been addled.
What didn’t work as well:
The plot isn’t overly descriptive, and it’s predictable. The author is still able to skillfully evoke strong emotions of fear. More mature middle-grade readers might want a more intense problem, but it’s fine for its target audience.
The final verdict:
This book will appeal to young readers who enjoy spooky stories. The listing on Amazon indicates it’s appropriate for ages seven and up, but it may be too much for seven-year-olds. Overall, I recommend you give this book a shot.
Liza tells short, eerie stories throughout the book, even though Tessa’s grandmother never would have allowed them at the campground. The tales are typically two or three pages in length and end with a missing or frightened child. They provide hints about events that have already happened and others that may happen later. The stories allow readers to wonder how and why kids are disappearing and how Liza might be stopped. Young readers can quickly finish the short chapters, and motivated readers can complete the whole book in one or two sittings.
Readers immediately know Liza is an evil character, as she tells Tessa that she doesn’t like children. Liza says she never lies, so readers should consider her words carefully. Tessa gets an uneasy feeling when the woman looks at her, and adults get a glazed look in their eyes. A couple of kids go missing, but police and parents quickly forget about pursuing suspects. This situation creates a dramatic problem and gives a taste of the malevolent magic going on. The children listening to Liza’s nightly tales should be frightened, but it’s clear all of the characters’ minds have been addled.
What didn’t work as well:
The plot isn’t overly descriptive, and it’s predictable. The author is still able to skillfully evoke strong emotions of fear. More mature middle-grade readers might want a more intense problem, but it’s fine for its target audience.
The final verdict:
This book will appeal to young readers who enjoy spooky stories. The listing on Amazon indicates it’s appropriate for ages seven and up, but it may be too much for seven-year-olds. Overall, I recommend you give this book a shot.
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