The nightmares of Finnegan Quick by Larry Hayes

Finnegan Quick has recorded in his journal events that will scare and horrify, evidence that nightmare ghosts, monsters and vampires are real, and the twelve-year-old should know because all the bad things in his nightmares don’t stay there. Finn’s worst nightmares feature a woman monster, with blood dripping from its eyes and fingers; it steals away first his dog, then his mother and father, leaving him in the care of his grandmother with no trace of how they all disappeared or ever existed. The nightmares build in intensity, night after night until there is a crisis, like the disappearances, leaving Finnegan afraid to go to sleep. Things that happen in his dreams continue to bleed over into the real world like cuts and bruises, or wetting the bed, but the woman doesn’t come for Gran for years then, when a brave, monster fighting girl appears, taking him on adventures, Finn starts to relax. But when the girl, Cass, appears for real at school things really get weird. Cass is brave and fearless, taking control, training Finn and his best friend Squid how to meet up in dreams. She is big on belief, faith in your own power and conviction that you can control what happens. When a goblin appears sucking the life force from Grandma the trio join forces to expel it and things get more gory, complicated and thrilling with a spooky house, a crypt and portal in a sarcophagus.

The pace is fast and thrilling with climaxes and cliffhangers at every turn leavened with a lot of dark humour, the image of the exploded goblin skull splashing “stuff” on the children is particularly vivid. The characters are all brave in appalling circumstances with talents they are able to combine to outwit the monsters, most of the time. Squid, physically weak, is intellectually strong and courageous, Cass is independent and responsible guiding the others in their self-belief while concealing her own emotional needs and Finn, the fearful superhero has to take Gran’s advice and face his fears. A great middle school read for thrill seekers with just the right amount of horror to keep it exciting.

Themes: Paranormal, Horror, Family, Friendships.

Sue Speck