Back in June 2020, I was fortunate enough to have been asked by author Kaela Rivera to host the exclusive cover reveal for her debut middle grade novel, Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls. Today, I feel honoured to welcome Kaela back to Pop! Goes The Reader to share the exclusive cover reveal for her forthcoming middle grade novel, The Hungry Forest! Publishing August 18th 2026 by Bloomsbury Children’s Books, The Hungry Forest is a middle grade horror novel “about a boy who must confront his grief over his father’s death and save his younger brother from a haunted forest before sunrise”.
Please read on to learn about The Hungry Forest in greater depth and to see the haunting cover created by designer John Candell and artist Neil Swaab, as well as read a special note from the author about the novel’s inception and inspiration!
Kaela Rivera
Kaela Rivera is the multi-award-winning author of the Cece Rios trilogy, LEGO DREAMZzz books, and The Hungry Forest (August 2026). She grew up reading the folktales of her Mexican-American and British parents in the forests of Tennessee, but now she writes about them from the soaring mountains of Utah. She has a BA in English and nearly a decade of experience in marketing. When she’s not writing, she enjoys watching anime, illustrating new stories, and adventuring into the unknown either in real life or a good video game. She believes in the power of hope and the beauty of exploring cultural differences to bring us all closer. Sign up for her newsletter at KaelaRivera.com.
The Hungry Forest initially started as a set of doodles that came to mind while listening to some Five Nights At Freddy‘s fan music. It was just that for a while — doodles of masks, and creepy trees, and two little boys in over their heads. Then, one day, the premise, world, and basic plotline struck me like lightning! I was so excited that I finished the first draft in six days. I barely ate, barely did anything else, besides pour myself into these troubled boys, the horrific world they encounters, and the monsters designed to push them to their limits.
Obviously, the short first drafting period meant it took a bit longer to revise — six days does not a refined product make. And in that process (and thanks to wonderful editors), I discovered deeper themes and layers to the plot and sinister magic, as well as who I wanted to make this book for.
The story is fast-paced, tight, and filled with the horror fun that my nephews and I bonded over when they were middle-grade age. We’ve worked to keep the chapters page-turning, the setting fun and scary, and the upmarket themes about grief, brotherhood, and authenticity as a solution for toxic masculinity accessible to the age group.
Not only that — remember how I said the initial book ideas started as sketches and doodles? I’m happy to say I’m getting to illustrate this book! It’s my first time getting my artwork published, let alone in my own book, and I’m so pleased. I hope the illustrations will support reluctant readers and motivate them throughout the book. I know how much illustrations added to the experience when I was reading growing up. Each one feels like a reward for progressing through the story!
Cover design by John Candell, Cover art by Neil Swaab
Title The Hungry Forest
Author Kaela Rivera
Target Audience Middle Grade
Publication Date August 18th 2026 by Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Find It On Goodreads ● Amazon ● Chapters ● Blackwell’s ● Barnes & Noble ● IndieBound
Ryan’s dad had a lot of rules:
Never let others see you cry.
Never let people outside of the family hear you speaking Spanish.But the most important rule of all?
Never go into the hungry forest.
Since his father’s death, Ryan has worked extra hard to follow his father’s rules and be the kind of man his father would be proud of. But Ryan’s anger is getting out of control, and he can’t seem to stop taking it out on his younger brother Teddy.
When Teddy and Ryan think they hear their father calling them from The Hungry Forest, Ryan ventures in. Teddy was supposed to wait outside, but he didn’t listen, and is quickly captured by a terrifying, masked monster.
With no sign of Dad and monsters closing in, one thing is clear: The forest is as cursed as the legends say. If Ryan can’t find his brother and escape the woods before sunrise, they’ll be trapped there forever. Ryan and Teddy will have to face their fears — and each other — to make it out alive.
One Response
Thank so much for having me! It’s always a wonderful time when I get to hang out on Pop! Goes with you