Another by Paul Tremblay
Synopsis
The bone-chilling, instantly New York Times bestselling tale of an unsettling, unbreakable friendship—from acclaimed horror author Paul Tremblay.
“All the questions we ask as kids about who we are and what we’re worth take a terrifying turn in this spooky tale of a sinister, inhuman imposter and the nightmares he brings. Tremblay has taken the world of horror for adults by storm, and in his middle-grade debut, once again, he serves up scenes that will make you squirm long after the book is closed.”
—M.T. Anderson, National Book Award Winner
When Casey Wilson’s parents tell him that his friend is coming for a sleepover, he has no idea who that might be. Ever since the Zoom Incident, everyone treats him like a pariah, and his tics are worse than ever.
When Morel appears, he’s not like any friend Casey has ever met. His skin is like clay, and he doesn’t speak. But Casey’s parents are charmed by the strange kid, and it’s nice to have someone to talk to besides his sister, Ally, who is away at college. As his normally loving parents grow distant from Casey, they gush and fawn over Morel. Casey knows something is wrong—but with no end in sight to the sleepover, he’s exhausted. And in the dark, out of the corner of his eye, Morel doesn’t look like a kid at all. . . .
- Perfect for Halloween Reading
- Ideal for fans of the supernatural
- Features light scares
Overall Rating
4/5
Spooky Rating
3/5
What in the sporror, Paul?!
All jokes aside, Paul Tremblay’s debut middle grade novel, Another, is perfect for kids who lived through school during the pandemic. The pandemic in itself was true life horror that we all lived through and are still impacted by. But the lasting impact it had on kids is an atrocious horror of its own.
Sporror is a type of horror that incorporates different fungi that give off spores, including mold and mushrooms. The elements of decay emphasize feelings of dread, as well as the unseen.
The Last of Us is probably the most popular example of sporror right now, both the video game and the television show. But Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcio is an excellent example of sporror in novels.
Tremblay is a teacher, so he has firsthand experience of what it was like for kids going to school during the pandemic. He incorporated that real life horror, along with bullying and trauma, tied in a bow of clones and confusion. All while touching on the realistic childhood insecurity of your parents liking another kid more than you.
Not to mention that the accompanying illustrations were like milder versions of the classic art in Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.
Another follows Casey, a kid who suffered an incident over Zoom in his school that left him with trauma, tics, and anxiety. One day, Casey’s parents let him know that his friend is coming over for a sleepover, but Casey has no idea who this kid is.
Enter Morel, a kid with uncanny similarities to Casey, while being off in a way other people don’t seem to notice. Which Casey doesn’t understand. He grapples with his trauma, tics, and confusion over who Morel is and the bizarre effects he has on Casey’s parents.
Tremblay captures the deep discomfort that comes with being a middle school kid and trying to navigate adolescence, something that brought back many uncomfortable memories. That is how I know this book will resonate with many kids, because not only was the book timely, but it stands apart from other spooky grade middle school books. Tremblay’s unique style of incorporating deep subjects under layers of traditional horror that are so true to life was entertaining with a heart wrenching undercurrent.
He proves again why he is such a power player in horror today.
*Thank you to Quill Tree Books for the review copy!
Rating Scales for Reference
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