Transylvania County by Jenny Howard | Book Review

 

Transylvania County by Jenny Howard

Transylvania County by Jenny Howard

Published By: Macmillan Publishers on July 21st, 2026

Genres: Middle Grade, Adventure. Mystery

Pages: 320

Format: ARC

Source: NetGalley

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Rating: 💋💋💋💋1/2

Vibe: ragtag kid squad • reluctant detective • small-town conspiracy • clue-driven chaos • friendship forged in danger • rule-breaking investigation

"Digby Romer has never lived in one place for very long; despite his best intentions, he’s managed to get kicked out of every European boarding school his parents have shipped him off to. Now, his dad has dragged him to live with his aunt and uncle in small-town USA, with hopes that a slower-paced life will finally fix Dig’s so-called “behavioral issues.”

But all is not well here in Transylvania County, even if the locals insist that the legends of cryptids and monsters lurking in the woods are nothing more than lore. On his first night in town, Dig is convinced that he spots a gigantic, fanged beast in the woods—but nobody believes him. And then the school’s PE teacher disappears, replaced by a greasy, suspicious man named Renfield who must have an ulterior motive. When more people begin to disappear, Dig sets off with a ragtag crew—his smartypants cousin, the bossy class president, and a survivalist loner—to get to the bottom of things.

Something is hunting in Transylvania County, and these kids might have to break a few rules to find out who. Luckily, if there’s one thing Dig is good at, it’s making trouble."

Transylvania County is one of those books where the worldbuilding is just clever enough that you can’t help but look forward to any future stories set in this fun little town. If monsters, mysteries, and a quirky cast of young characters are your speed, this is definitely one you don’t want to miss.

Digby Romer is our main character, a kid who seems to find trouble far more easily than most. He gets caught doing risky things, ends up where he’s not supposed to be, and generally leaves a trail of chaos behind him. Because of this, he’s been bounced from school to school all over the world, until his parents finally run out of options. That’s how he ends up in Transylvania County, living with his father’s family: his cop uncle Paul, his fussy aunt, his annoying teenage cousin, and his nerdy cousin Elliot, who is the same age as him but couldn’t be more different.

Dig immediately decides this place is going to be terrible. That is, until he comes face to face with something he can’t explain in the forests surrounding his new home. Soon, he and Elliot find themselves pulled into the middle of a monster mystery. The question is not just whether something is out there, but what it is.

As the mystery deepens, they team up with two other kids: Willa, the class representative who always plays by the rules, and Clem, a wild, forest-hunting girl who looks like she’s permanently been rolling in dirt. Together, the brave and impulsive Digby, the nervous but brilliant Elliot, the determined Willa, and the resourceful Clem set out to uncover the truth and stop whatever is being unleashed in the woods.

It’s a fun, fast-paced adventure that I’d highly recommend for an easy but spooky read. This is the kind of book I can see kids talking about long after they finish it.

Scores - Middle Grade Mystery

• Mayhem (stakes & momentum): 4/5
• Heart (character & relationships): 5/5
• Lore (worldbuilding & myth): 4.5/5
• Tension (prose & structure): 4/5
• Grip (unputdownable): 4/5

Content notes: creepy woods, cryptid threats, unexplained disappearances, kid-friendly suspense