Staff Review: "Nightmares!" by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller

Charlie Laird can't go to sleep.  His nightmares are so terrifying, he'll do anything to keep them away.  Every time he falls asleep, day or night, the evil witch is there to torment him.  But his wakeful life is getting scary, too.  His new stepmother, Charlotte, is the town's herbalist, always mixing mysterious and smelly concoctions to cure people.  The family moved into her weird old purple mansion: the oddest place in town.  Charlie's convinced she's monstrous, but no one else sees it.  Charlie's nightmares start getting even more intense and happening during the day, and he needs the help of his best friends to face his fears and save his brother.
"Nightmares!" is this the first book in a trilogy written by actor Jason Segel-that wacky guy from The Muppets-and Kirsten Miller.  This is a great read just in time for Halloween.  It is creepy, but not too scary, and also funny and imaginative.  This book is recommended for readers 8-12 years old.  It's great for fans of "Coraline," "The Garden of Eve," "Floors," and Roald Dahl.

--Angie RH, Headquarters