In this Author POV feature, we speak with animator and author Rob Renzetti about his middle-grade horror–fantasy novel The Horrible Bag of Terrible Things, a darkly funny and adventure-filled story perfect for readers who love their thrills with a touch of absurdity. The book follows eleven-year-old Zenith Maelstrom, whose curiosity gets the better of him when he opens a grotesque, mysterious bag left on his family’s doorstep. Moments later, a foul spider-hairball creature emerges, kidnaps his fourteen-year-old sister Apogee, and drags her into GrahBhag—a monstrous realm hiding inside the bag itself. To save her, Zenith must navigate a world that is as bizarre as it is dangerous, outsmarting creatures far stranger than anything he imagined.
Renzetti, well-known for his work in animation, brings the same high energy, humor, and world-building flair to his fiction—this time with an extra dose of spine-tingling suspense. Beneath the scares, the story explores themes of sibling relationships, bravery, memory, identity, and the power of intellect over superpowers. With its blend of horror, comedy, and heartfelt character work, The Horrible Bag of Terrible Things is a standout pick for middle-grade readers who enjoy imaginative adventures with genuine stakes.
Can you introduce your book for librarians who may be discovering it for the first time?
The Horrible Bag of Terrible Things tells the story of reckless, curious eleven-year-old Zenith Maelstrom, who unwisely opens a repulsive looking bag that’s been dropped on his family’s doorstep by persons unknown. A foul creature— part spider, part hairball— crawls out the bag, kidnaps his fourteen-year-old sister Apogee and drags her back to GrahBhag, the hideous world hiding inside the horrible bag. Zenith must journey through this bizarre, treacherous land and outsmart its dangerous denizens to rescue his sister.
What inspired you to write this book?
Having spent many years in the animation industry making kids laugh, I wanted to write this spine-tingling series because it gave me the chance to make kids shiver. I’m a huge horror fan and nothing makes me happier than sharing my love of all things spooky with young readers.
And what core themes do you hope readers take away from it?
I wanted the human characters in The Horrible Bag to be defined by their thoughts, words, and actions. It was important to me that none of them were ever described in terms of phenotype or visually depicted in the cover art because I didn’t want to limit readers’ imaginations about their identities. I hope readers are able to project themselves onto Zenith and Apogee. I also tried to create both human and non-human characters that challenge gender stereotypes. Hopefully readers appreciate that aspect because female strength is a recurring theme.
Another core theme is the celebration of brain power over superpowers. Although the world of GrahBhag is fantastical, Zenith and Apogee are normal kids. They cannot fly or turn invisible. They aren’t secret wizards. They have to rely on their wits and summon their bravery to survive. Zenith does eventually stumble upon one magical device, but he has to think carefully about how to use it. And in the end it does just about as much harm as good.
Lastly, The Horrible Bag of Terrible Things is about the tale we tell ourselves about ourselves through our own memories; what we choose to remember, and what we choose to forget. And about how important it is that we question our own recollections and challenge our own assumptions about who we are. Because a mistaken appraisal of our own past can do damage to ourselves, and the ones we love.
What kind of readers or patrons do you see this book resonating with most? (age range, grade levels, reading interests)?
Like most of my work in animation, The Horrible Bag is geared for middle grade readers, but I hope to draw in older book lovers as well. The book straddles horror and fantasy and should appeal to fans of either genre with some genuine scares, a lot of humor, and many high-stakes adventures.
Which formats are currently available? (Hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook, bilingual editions, large print, classroom sets, ISBNs, and whether bulk discounts or school pricing options exist.)
The Horrible Bag of Terrible Things is available in paperback, as an eBook, and as an audiobook. Questions about bulk discounts or school pricing should be addressed to my publisher, Penguin Workshop.
Do you offer author engagement options for schools or libraries? (Virtual visits, in-person events, Q&A sessions, etc.)
I am available for virtual visits. More information can be found on my website: robrenzetti.com.
Is there anything else you would like librarians, teachers, or educators to know about your work?
The heart of the story is the evolving relationship between siblings Apogee and Zenith. They were very close as young kids, but have grown apart ever since Apogee, the older of the two, became a teenager. Their harrowing experiences in GrahBhag will determine whether they can repair their bond. The twists and turns in their relationship will keep readers guessing as to how it will all turn out.
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