Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things by Ted Naifeh
Reviewed by: Sarah Baker, Circulation
Genre: Fantasy, Graphic Novel
Suggested Age: Teens
What is the book about?: Courtney and her parents are moving out of the city and in with her great-uncle Aloysius in his creepy house. Her new classmates are snobbish and mean. Her parents are wrapped up in their own concerns and in climbing the social ladder. And the one kid she started to make friends with just got eaten by a goblin. But Courtney isn’t taking that kind of thing lying down. She’s snuck a look at her uncle’s study and he has books about these creatures. Courtney is going to meet the Night Things head on.
My Review: I started this series back in ’03 when I was working at Waldenbooks and absolutely adored it. Then life kept happening and it got forgotten. I remembered it again after cruising through a Goodreads list and decided to give it another go. It’s held up surprisingly well – a dark fantasy world with a teen witch finding her way, discovering that everything has a price, and who retains what makes her her. The art work is stark and highly reminiscent of Mike Mignola, and gives great atmosphere to the tale. Courtney has a bad attitude and refuses to change who she is. 14 year old me would have adored her; 34 year old me still does.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Dark, Magical, Intriguing
Give This a Try if You Like… The Addams Family, Gunnerkrigg Court, The Dresden Files
Rating: 4/5
About FDL Reads
Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!