Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 07/23/2023 *Starred Review* After the night the Fear Maker found Penny, she was never the same. She grew afraid of the world and shy around those in it. And, of course, it’s when the nightmares began. Four years later, the 11-year-old’s dreams are getting worse, leeching into the real world as the Fear Maker’s power grows. A creeping dread permeates the pages as Penny realizes she must face this monster down in his own territory, a tangled wood where his rickety house feeds on stolen souls. Poetry, sunflower seeds, and a new friend become Penny’s unlikely weapons in this endeavor, but they are exactly what is needed. Her poems weave their way through the narrative, fortifying Allen’s own lyrical writing and adding to the overall message that strength can be found in words and creativity. Family also plays an important role, especially Penny’s close relationship with her grandmother, a published poet. Fans of Jonathan Auxier’s The Night Gardener (2014) will find the Fear Maker alluring but may suffer some nightmares of their own after following Penny to his door. Allen deals in both beauty and terror, rendering this a sophisticated choice for horror readers. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.