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The Replay Trap
Table of Contents
About The Book
A girl stuck in a time loop repeatedly relives an awkward sleepover at a wildlife center with a wolf-like monster in the woods in this fun and creepy middle grade adventure.
When Sydney heads to a sleepover birthday party at a wildlife center, she’s sure it’s a terrible idea. Not only because she’ll be staying in a creepy cabin surrounded by wolf enclosures, but because she wasn’t actually invited to the party. Instead, her mom asked Ari’s mom if Sydney could join, and now she’s crashing the event with a group of kids she barely knows. Ugh.
It turns out she isn’t the only party crasher when a strange, wolf-like creature bounds out of the woods and throws the night into chaos. In the rush to escape, Sydney hits her head, is knocked out cold…and wakes up back in the car, headed to the party.
Sydney realizes she’s living the same night again and again and again. Why is the evening stuck in a loop, and what is the creature prowling around the center? And—most importantly—how can she break the loop and finally see the morning?
When Sydney heads to a sleepover birthday party at a wildlife center, she’s sure it’s a terrible idea. Not only because she’ll be staying in a creepy cabin surrounded by wolf enclosures, but because she wasn’t actually invited to the party. Instead, her mom asked Ari’s mom if Sydney could join, and now she’s crashing the event with a group of kids she barely knows. Ugh.
It turns out she isn’t the only party crasher when a strange, wolf-like creature bounds out of the woods and throws the night into chaos. In the rush to escape, Sydney hits her head, is knocked out cold…and wakes up back in the car, headed to the party.
Sydney realizes she’s living the same night again and again and again. Why is the evening stuck in a loop, and what is the creature prowling around the center? And—most importantly—how can she break the loop and finally see the morning?
Product Details
- Publisher: Aladdin (June 30, 2026)
- Length: 320 pages
- ISBN13: 9781665981880
- Grades: 3 - 7
- Ages: 8 - 12
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Raves and Reviews
"Sydney must unravel the mysterious connection between the creature and the temporal trap by facing her self-doubts, owning up to her choices, and ultimately finding herself—or risk spending an eternity in a never-ending loop of fear. Containing messages that embody inner courage, continual growth, and the meaning of true friendship, Replay Trap is a campfire story alive with the spark of self-transformation."
– Booklist, 6/1/2026
"Compellingly spooky and encouragingly empathetic."
– Kirkus Reviews, April 15, 2026
Awards and Honors
- Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
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Book Cover Image (jpg): The Replay Trap
Trade Paperback 9781665981880
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Author Photo (jpg): Juliana Brandt Photograph by Rachel Graff Photography(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit

