The Replay Trap
The Replay Trap
Publishing Date - 6/30/2026
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?
Cover Artist: Carmine Pucci
Cover Designer: Tiara Iandiorio
Publisher: Aladdin, Simon & Schuster
PRAISE
“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
“Compellingly spooky and encouragingly empathetic.”
-Kirkus
“Brandt deftly weaves mild frights, mystery, and science fiction in a pulse-pounding adventure with a visually cinematic climax. Readers will ask for more exploits with relatable, resourceful, inspiring Sydney. VERDICT Sci-fi with an undercurrent of personal growth; a recommended addition to middle grade collections.”
-School Library Journal