A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares

Author: Sutherland, Krystal

Number Of Pages: 368

Details:

From the author of Our Chemical Hearts comes the hilarious, reality-bending tale of two outsiders facing their greatest fears about life and love—one debilitating phobia at a time.   Ever since Esther Solar’s grandfather was cursed by Death, everyone in her family has been doomed to suffer one great fear in their lifetime. Esther’s father is agoraphobic and hasn’t left the basement in six years, her twin brother can’t be in the dark without a light on, and her mother is terrified of bad luck.   The Solars are consumed by their fears and, according to the legend of the curse, destined to die from them.   Esther doesn’t know what her great fear is yet (nor does she want to), a feat achieved by avoiding pretty much everything. Elevators, small spaces and crowds are all off-limits. So are haircuts, spiders, dolls, mirrors and three dozen other phobias she keeps a record of in her semi-definitive list of worst nightmares.   Then Esther is pickpocketed by Jonah Smallwood, an old elementary school classmate. Along with her phone, money and a fruit roll-up she’d been saving, Jonah also steals her list of fears. Despite the theft, Esther and Jonah become friends, and he sets a challenge for them: in an effort to break the curse that has crippled her family, they will meet every Sunday of senior year to work their way through the list, facing one terrifying fear at a time, including one that Esther hadn’t counted on: love. From School Library Journal Gr 9 Up—Esther's family is cursed; according to her grandfather, everyone Esther loves is doomed to be killed by the thing of which they are most afraid. Her twin Eugene is terrified of the dark, her mother is a superstitious compulsive gambler, and her father is agoraphobic and hasn't left the basement in six years. Esther's fears are elucidated in her "Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares." After reconnecting with her elementary school valentine Jonah, her list is stolen by said valentine, and the recovery of the list leads to a relationship between the two. As Esther comes to trust Jonah, they work together to overcome her fears, one by one, by facing them directly. Lobsters, graveyards, and heights are a few of the anxieties they tackle together, with Jonah filming the process and, unbeknownst to her posting it to YouTube. Esther, Jonah, and her family are complex and lovable characters fighting their individual demons. Woven throughout is a subplot concerning death incarnate that somehow manages to lighten the tone of the novel. VERDICT Rainbow Rowell devotees, John Green junkies, and fans of This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales will find a lot to love here.—Deidre Winterhalter, Oak Park Public Library, IL

Reviews:

Praise for A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares:An Amazon Editor's Favorite YA Book for Fall 2017 An Amazon September Best of the Month Pick

— YA/Teens A Hello Giggles Best of September Pick A Bustle Best of September YA PickA 2017 B&N Best Young Adult Book

“

[A] bewitching book . . . Sutherland's fertile imagination makes this book a deep dive into the intricacies of family, friends, and personal history. . . . A fresh and compelling look at mental illness.”

— Kirkus Reviews

“[A] darkly ironic tale about an offbeat dysfunctional family.”

— Publishers Weekly 

“ Rainbow Rowell devotees, John Green junkies, and fans of This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales will find a lot to love here.”

— School Library Journal 

“ [I]mmediately hooks readers . . . Libraries should purchase this for readers looking for something quite out of the ordinary.”

— VOYA 

“ Dark, magical, and humorous, this is a quirky and cohesive novel about fear, depression, and obsession with death.”

— Booklist 

“[A] magical take on mental illness that feels very real.”

— Bustle

Praise for Our Chemical Hearts: Indies Introduce Summer 2016 Pick Autumn 2016 Kids' Indie Next List –

"Inspired Recommendations for Kids from Indie Books...

EAN: 9780399546594

Release Date: 05-09-2017

Languages: English

Item Note: New and unused. Hardcover Used - Like New Ships fast! 2017

Item Condition: UsedLikeNew

Binding: Hardcover