The Tale of the Vanishing Circus (Are You Afraid of the Dark? #3)

The third spine-chilling book set in the world of Nickelodeon’s hit TV show Are You Afraid of the Dark?, written by New York Times bestselling author Kayla Cottingham!Thirteen-year-old Riley Beasley is focused on her future—especially her goal of leaving the small town of Lake Glory to attend an Ivy League school. It’s a lot of pressure, and her mom’s reminders to live in the moment only make her feel more misunderstood. Even Riley’s best friend, paranormal-obsessed Genna, just doesn’t get it. On the night of the Blood Moon, Genna convinces Riley to sneak out and investigate some strange lights that beckon from the woods. There the two friends discover a mysterious circus and its teenage ringleader, Starr. At first, both girls are drawn to the magic of the big top. But soon, they can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t quite right. Where did all these circus kids come from? Why aren't there any adults around? Like anyone, Starr certainly has her secrets . . . but can she be trusted?As the girls become more entrenched in Starr’s hypnotic world, their friendship faces the ultimate test. Will they be best friends forever? Or will the sinister truth tear them apart? Written by Kayla Cottingham​ and set in the world of Nickelodeon’s hit TV show Are You Afraid of the Dark?, this spine-chilling third installment in the original middle-grade horror series takes us to Lake Gory, a small town where a mysterious circus appears once a year, where a young girl looking to have some fun gets more than she bargained for

Thirteen-year-old perfectionist Riley Beasley doesn’t have time for friends. She’s too busy making her Ivy League dreams a reality. Her only “friend,” Genevieve, is more of a persistent neighbor with an obsession for all things supernatural than actual confidante. But one night, Genevieve convinces Riley to sneak out and investigate the strange lights that have suddenly appeared in the surrounding woods.

They follow the lights to find a magnificent circus in a clearing. Tickets cannot be purchased; guests must be invited and accept the invitation.

Uncharacteristically, Riley finds herself immediately drawn to the carefree fun of the all-kids circus, where there are no adults to spoil the magic. She is particularly captivated by Miss Starr, the mysterious sixteen-year-old ringleader who always seems to be nearby.

Genevieve is the first to point out the strange aspects of the circus, the troupe, and Miss Starr. Why do all the kids have a ghostly appearance? How is it that they can perform impossible feats without getting hurt? Why is Miss Starr so intent on convincing Riley to join her circus? And why does one of the troupe members look so familiar?

Riley finds herself caught between Starr and her alluring circus and Genevieve’s attempts to convince her that something is wrong. Will Riley solve the mystery unfolding in the circus tent before the final curtain falls? Or will she runaway with the circus forever?

• | Author: Kayla Cottingham
• | Publisher: Abrams
• | Publication Date: Jan 22, 2026
• | Number of Pages:
• | Language:
• | Binding: Hardback
• | ISBN-13: 9781419763540
• | ISBN-10: 1419763547