THE GINGHAMS, by T. C. Kemper, Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), July 28, 2026, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 8-12)
A girl returns home from summer camp to find the people of her little town, including her best friend, chillingly changed in The Ginghams, by T. C. Kemper.
When 12-year-old Joni Bird returns home from summer camp, it’s clear something strange is afoot in Olive Springs. May, her usually head-banging best friend, now wears her hair in a tight bun and calls playing the drums “unladylike.” The ice cream shop only serves vanilla ice cream. The women and girls of the neighborhood all sport big pearl earrings and crisp cotton dresses.
At the heart of it all? The creepy new family in the neighborhood with their soulless, carnival smiles and retro fashion sense: the Ginghams. Everyone they invite to their Thursday night book club re-emerges as dead-eyed, smiling, Gingham-approved “model citizens,” all thanks to Mr. Gingham’s lifestyle guide, The Pillars of Perfection―and something even more sinister hidden behind his basement door.
Through quick thinking and cunning, Joni and her friend Tyler set out to fight not only to get their friend May back, but to save their whole town from forever falling under the Ginghams’ control. —Synopsis provided by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
The Ginghams is a fast-moving mystery with enough chills to keep the pages turning.
At the center of the story is a trio of inseparable friends. Joni, Tyler and May love comic books and each have an artistic flair. They are big and bold and comfortable in their own skin. So, it comes as a surprise when May suddenly becomes bland. Joni is certain she can solve the mystery as long as Tyler’s by her side. But in a place where conformity has become the name of the game, standing out is the last thing either one should do.
Author T. C. Kemper hits the nail on the head with The Ginghams. Her ode to the importance of self-expression is spot on. Kemper’s great at setting the tone, and her pacing is spot on.
The Ginghams is short and engaging, and it really speaks to kids and their insecurities. It’s a great read.
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