The Wump

"A Kafkaesque offering..."

—Booklist

The Wump

From the co-creator of the #1 New York Times bestselling Spiderwick Chronicles series comes a deliciously dark supernatural middle-grade coming-of-age story, with two-color illustrations throughout.

Timothy’s grandpa has a saying: the best way to deal with bullies is to wump ‘em. But Timothy would never hurt a fly—and not just because he genuinely loves bugs. He’s always been a good kid…until a shadowy monster appears and begins feeding on his darkest thoughts. Facing bullies both at home and at school, Timothy cocoons himself in the monster’s shadows, where he is consumed by a desire for revenge. But how much of himself can Timothy give up before he is completely transformed?

Award-winning author-illustrator Tony DiTerlizzi stuns in this creepy, brilliantly illustrated, and poignant reflection of the darkness—and light—inside of all of us.

Published: September 29, 2026
Ages: 9-12
Format: Hardcover, 320 pages, Audiobook
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers Purchase Info

Extras

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Browse the Art

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Praise

“A haunting and heartfelt coming-of-age tale that refuses to shy away from the sorrow and uncertainty of leaving childhood behind, while also celebrating the messy, marvelous process of growing into oneself."
–Booklist

“A deliciously supernatural tale sure to delight not just fans of the “Spiderwick Chronicles” series; readers will see there’s a bit of a Wump in most of us, and it just may come out if emotions aren’t managed."
–School Library Journal

“...a creepy, provocative story about coping with adolescent turmoil."
–Publisher's Weekly

“DiTerlizzi’s expertly crafted grayscale illustrations with pops of bright green are a highlight."
–Kirkus Reviews

“I’ve been looking forward to this book for years, and it delivers—darkly funny, heartfelt, and unforgettable."
–Holly Black, author of 'Doll Bones' (A Newbery Honor book), and co-creator of The Spiderwick Chronicles

“Terrifyingly terrific—The Wump is perfect flashlight reading for middle-schoolers!"
–Jeff Kinney, New York Times bestselling creator of the 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' series

“A monster comes out of the shadows—and it’s not what you think it is! Many twists, many shocks, many surprises. And the book is crawling with bugs! Look out!"
–R.L. Stine, author of 'Goosebumps' and 'Fear Street'

Browse Books
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The Wump
A Very Scary Book
A Very Cranky Book
The Broken Ornament
The Story of Diva & Flea
Realms
The Adventures of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight
The WondLa Trilogy
Adventure of Meno
The Tales of Kenny Rabbit
Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles
Care and Feeding of Sprites
G is for One Gzonk!
Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide
The Spiderwick Chronicles
The Spider & The Fly
Ted
Jimmy Zangwow’s Out-of-this-World Moon Pie Adventure

Never Abandon Imagination Tony DiTerlizzi: Never abandon imagination.

Imagination is a world of possibility that exists within each of us. It is what makes us uniquely human. It is our creative fingerprint that touches and influences the world around us. Imagination is essential to art and science; to innovation and prosperity. It gives us hope, calls us to action and leads to change.

Whether it’s fairies, dragons, robots or aliens, all of my children’s book characters are siblings born of my imagination – an imagination strengthened through years of encouragement from family, teachers and friends. While so many others abandoned it during their transition from childhood to adulthood, I fiercely held onto mine, hoping for a day when I could share it to inspire the next generation of dreamers. Innovators. World changers.

Imagination empowers us to envision and create a reality of what could be. We must hold it dear, foster it and never abandon it.