Hampton Heights: One Harrowing Night in the Most Haunted Neighborhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin By Dan Kois

Hampton Heights, Dan Kois’s surprising second novel, is a thrilling blend of horror, adventure, and coming-of-age set on a single fateful night in 1987. On a cold winter evening, six middle-school paperboys set out into an eerie Milwaukee neighborhood to sell newspaper subscriptions, enticed by the promise of bonuses and fast food. But what they find in Hampton Heights is far from ordinary—monsters lurk in the shadows, waiting to confront each boy with challenges both supernatural and deeply personal.

The boys are paired off, each facing their own demons. Sigmone, bussed to a white school, teams up with Joel, a white kid fascinated by Black culture. Mark, grappling with his sexuality, is paired with Ryan, his secret crush. Nishu, a second-generation immigrant, and Al, a poor kid in a rich school, round out the group. Over the course of one wild night, they confront werewolves, witches with ancient secrets, and a terrifying memory-eating monster. Meanwhile, their manager Kevin embarks on his own misadventure in a neighborhood tavern, unaware that things are not as they seem.

In a style reminiscent of Stand by Me, Stranger Things, and The Twilight Zone, Hampton Heights delivers a rollicking, hair-raising adventure that’s both funny and poignant. Kois skillfully balances horror with heartfelt moments, exploring friendship, identity, bravery, and the fear of growing up. With a dash of fairy-tale logic and a nostalgic 80s vibe, this tender horror-comedy is a celebration of youth and camaraderie, capturing the wonder and terror of adolescence.