The Hungry Pixel by T. Granler

Eleven-year-old Ethan Jones only wanted a friend. Lonely and out of place at his new school, he downloads an unlisted virtual pet app called PixelPet. At first, caring for the quirky digital critter, Nibbles, is harmless fun. But Nibbles has an insatiable appetite, growing bigger and stranger with every single bite.

When a school science project pairs Ethan with two enthusiastic classmates, he discovers something he never expected: real-life friendship. As Ethan trades screen time for laughter with his new crew, his tablet begins to flicker in fury.

Neglected, Nibbles turns vicious. Strange gouges appear on the wooden furniture, lightbulbs burst across the house, and the tablet screen shatters outward. The digital beast has crawled into the real world—a razor-toothed glitch of hard-light static, driven by terrifying jealousy.

Now, Ethan, his older sister Zoe, and his friends must combine their wits and tech skills before Ethan's vengeful pet deletes everything and everyone he loves.

Can Ethan pull the plug on his digital nightmare before it consumes his entire world?