Rob Renzetti
Rob Renzetti is a veteran of TV animation, whose work on Cartoon Network’s Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends earned him an Emmy. He created the Nickelodeon show My Life as a Teenage Robot, acted as the supervising producer for Disney’s Gravity Falls, and served as executive producer on the first two seasons of Disney’s Big City Greens. Other notable credits include Dexter’s Laboratory, The Powerpuff Girls, Samurai Jack, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and most recently Netflix’s Kid Cosmic. He has also published four books for Disney Publishing, including the New York Times #1 Best Seller Gravity Falls: Journal 3 and Onward: Quests of Yore.
His original middle grade horror novel The Horrible Bag of Terrible Things is set to be published by Penguin Workshop in Summer 2023. When he’s not writing, Rob likes to play board games, watch horror movies, and chase after his very naughty rabbit, Zigzag.
The Horrible Bag of Terrible Things
“Zenith Maelstrom is certain of a few things: he's "eleven going on twelve"; his older sister, Apogee, is no longer fun; and he's going to be in big trouble if he can't catch the "coughed-up hairball come to life" that popped out of the bag he found on the porch. After an unsuccessful chase, Zenith is horrified to see the creature grab Apogee and drag her into the bag. Zenith climbs in after her and enters the land of GrahBhag, where giant birds record the history of the land, gargoyles have a taste for earwax, and eight-foot-tall patchwork dolls may be friends or foes. As the boy attempts to find his sister, he learns that the dangers of GrahBhag are not hypothetical--they're very real and very deadly. Renzetti paces his horror in waves, keeping the story lively and dynamic while also heightening the sense of fear. Zenith is a wonderfully complex preteen protagonist who, even though he struggles with his changing relationship with his sister, doesn't want to see any harm come to her. This first in a series is a read-alike for fans of Neil Gaiman's Coraline or Adam Gidwitz's A Tale Dark and Grim series, and is likely to be enjoyed by both tweens and younger teens.”—Shelf Awareness, Starred Review
“Eleven-year-old Zenith Maelstrom is on a thrilling mission to save his older sister, Apogee, who was taken by a scary creature down into the world of GrahBhag. Zenith is stuck at home with 13-year-old Apogee when a mysterious weathered and worn bag appears on their front porch. Curious about this unmarked carryall, he brings it inside—and out crawls the horrific, spiderlike Shlurp, which drags Apogee down into the bag. Zenith follows her, and once inside, the magical, eerie world of GrahBhag opens up before him. He’s thrust into a harrowing journey to save his sister before the unthinkable happens. Renzetti’s story is fast paced and fully imagined, with completely original creatures and characters. The small, literal-minded gargoyle Kreeble proves an unlikely helpful companion for Zenith, perched on his shoulder throughout. The large ravens, Muncie and Hugh, are likable, interesting characters whose work in gathering and preserving history and knowledge makes the descriptions of the Collectory some of the most vivid in the story. The bond between brother and sister is well drawn and believable, as Zenith is desperate for a chance to protect and save his sibling. A painful story from their past shines light on just how much they rely on each other. The ending, resolved and yet open, sets the stage for a follow-up. Imaginative and immersive.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Two combative siblings must come together to survive an otherworldly kidnapping in this haunting adventure by Renzetti (Onward). Following a science-class mishap that resulted in his grounding, 11-year-old Zenith “Nit” Maelstrom is spending his summer constantly supervised by his patronizing older sister Apogee when a weathered satchel with a “general air of hostility” appears on the family’s doorstep. After it belches forth a spidery creature comprised of knotted hair and toenails that drags his sister into the bag’s interior, Nit dives in after her and emerges into an unsettling realm called GrahBhag. The eerie land proves populated by bloodthirsty, mouthlike seam monsters; a stuffed, patchwork man with a terrifying definition of friendship; and a gargoyle named Kreeble, who agrees to help Nit find Apogee in exchange for the opportunity to feast on the boy’s earwax. A speedy plot hurtles a frantic Nit toward Apogee’s cultlike captors and their insectoid leader, and insightful narration highlights the siblings’ personal history to emotive effect. Renzetti imbues this series debut with classic horror inflections; the author’s dedication to gross-out imagery transforms an otherwise straightforward fantasy into an inventive and genuinely creepy-crawly read.”—Publishers Weekly