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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
2.5? This wasn't bad, but it wasn't for me. I recently lost a nephew who had congenital issues and expected the subject matter to hit harder, for there to be some sort of message or something that Makes You Think, but it was a pretty run of the mill horror that seemed like it should be geared toward middle-grade kids. I wasn't in love with the writing and the story kind of fell apart by the end. The final confrontation was like bringing a knife to a gun fight and winning.
The best middle grade horror I've read. A very interesting, and in my opinion enthralling, concept for not only young readers but for those of all ages. The main character struggles with anxiety and is very much relatable for someone dealing with that as well.
So I believe this book is middle grade but I'd consider it an unsettling thriller which has horror elements. Seems way scarier than a middle grade book probably should. Regardless, it is slightly terrifying and unsettling story that didn't need many pages to hook one in and compel with its narrative. Incredibly good and enjoyable if you want a short story that feels slightly wrong the entire time but keeps you enthralled enough to finish it.
This was a truly creepy book, and I couldn't put it down until I finished it.
Steven's new baby brother was born with several congenital birth defects and has spent as much time in the hospital as he has at home. Because of this, Steven's parents are gone a lot, and when they are home things are tense and sad. Steven has always been a worrier, with nightmares and rituals he must follow. But the dreams he is having now seem much more real than regular dreams. In it, some kind of being is telling him that they will fix his brother. As the dreams become more and more real, Steven must come to terms with what is going on with his baby brother. But what happens when the dreams break through into reality? Recommended for grades 5 & up.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
Steven's new baby brother was born with several congenital birth defects and has spent as much time in the hospital as he has at home. Because of this, Steven's parents are gone a lot, and when they are home things are tense and sad. Steven has always been a worrier, with nightmares and rituals he must follow. But the dreams he is having now seem much more real than regular dreams. In it, some kind of being is telling him that they will fix his brother. As the dreams become more and more real, Steven must come to terms with what is going on with his baby brother. But what happens when the dreams break through into reality? Recommended for grades 5 & up.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
This was deliciously creepy AF. Especially for someone like me who (like the main character) has an intense fear of flying, stinging things.
I really enjoyed the progression of the main character realizing perfection isn't always the ideal.
I really enjoyed the progression of the main character realizing perfection isn't always the ideal.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Violence
A curious read, which gets under your skin and leaves you with a vague sense of horror.
Steve is an anxious boy, keeping a grip on life with his rituals. He is finding it hard to deal with the fact his younger brother, Theo, is seriously ill.
We are told Steve has always been an imaginative child, but when he dreams he is being spoken to by a wasp who promises to help save his brother we wonder if Steve is not as well as he thinks!
All Steve has to do is say 'yes', though he doesn't know to what. At this point we are plunged into the creepiest, oddest book I've read in a while.
There is more than a hint of Gothic to this, and the climax of the novel - where Steve confronts his fears - was truly terrifying.
Steve is an anxious boy, keeping a grip on life with his rituals. He is finding it hard to deal with the fact his younger brother, Theo, is seriously ill.
We are told Steve has always been an imaginative child, but when he dreams he is being spoken to by a wasp who promises to help save his brother we wonder if Steve is not as well as he thinks!
All Steve has to do is say 'yes', though he doesn't know to what. At this point we are plunged into the creepiest, oddest book I've read in a while.
There is more than a hint of Gothic to this, and the climax of the novel - where Steve confronts his fears - was truly terrifying.
Well, if it says anything about this book - I had to stop reading last night because it was getting late and I was starting to fall asleep but as soon as I woke up this morning, I felt compelled to finish it.
I don't want to give too much away, other reviews have said it better. This is a children's story, but in the classic vein of Grimm's Fairy Tales and the "be careful what you wish for" dark fable that stays with you. Give it to a kid who likes those kinds of darker stories...
If you liked the movie Labyrinth or the book [b:A Monster Calls|8621462|A Monster Calls|Patrick Ness|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1387584864s/8621462.jpg|13492114] or [b:The Rest of Us Just Live Here|22910900|The Rest of Us Just Live Here|Patrick Ness|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1429800081s/22910900.jpg|42475450], I think you will enjoy this book as it tackles similar themes.
I don't want to give too much away, other reviews have said it better. This is a children's story, but in the classic vein of Grimm's Fairy Tales and the "be careful what you wish for" dark fable that stays with you. Give it to a kid who likes those kinds of darker stories...
If you liked the movie Labyrinth or the book [b:A Monster Calls|8621462|A Monster Calls|Patrick Ness|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1387584864s/8621462.jpg|13492114] or [b:The Rest of Us Just Live Here|22910900|The Rest of Us Just Live Here|Patrick Ness|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1429800081s/22910900.jpg|42475450], I think you will enjoy this book as it tackles similar themes.
This was a good, quick listen. I would recommend for kids who are looking for a creepy book to read.
