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Nightmares! | May 27, 2015

by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller (Delacorte Books for Young Readers/Random House Children’s Books, September 2014)

Charlie Laird has always been drawn to the eerie purple mansion at the top of the hill. But when his father remarries the woman who lives in the house—a woman Charlie is certain moonlights as a witch—Charlie is horrified to learn that he’ll be the purple mansion’s newest resident. Things go from bad to worse as Charlie becomes plagued by nightmares that feel all too real—so real that they’re starting to infect his waking life, too. He soon discovers that the land of nightmares is real; he’ll have to venture into the Netherworld to save his family, friends, and his entire town from living out their worst nightmares forever.

While Nightmares! is not as scary as readers might expect from a book with its title, Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller craft a captivating story about facing your fears and what it means to be a friend, a brother, a son, and stepson. From the dark forest that is home to Charlie’s greatest fear, to Medusa’s son who doesn’t want to scare children anymore, the description of the Netherworld and its various inhabitants is thrilling and nuanced. Charlie’s group of friends strikes the perfect balance between strength and weakness as they help Charlie face his fears and overcome their own, each bringing a unique skill set to the team. The ending is satisfying and hints at the next book in the trilogy.

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