SCARE BEAR

A birthday gift turns into a living nightmare for one young bully.

It’s been three years, and Gideon hopes that Juno, the creepy talking stuffed bear he received for his 9th birthday and quickly threw out, won’t be coming back. Still, the memory of Juno’s last words (“You’ll be sorry”) linger, as do the nightmares. Unfortunately, Juno returns much worse for wear soon after Gideon’s 12th birthday, seeking revenge for Gideon’s betrayal. The blame for Juno’s humiliating, gross, and destructive pranks falls on Gideon, a bully whose own hurtful actions have alienated nearly all his closest friends. No matter how hard Gideon tries to explain, his parents and his only remaining friend, Noah, believe he’s responsible for the mean-spirited acts. As Juno’s vengeance escalates, Gideon discovers the identity of the party guest who gave him the bear and tries to make amends for his past misdeeds—but will it be too late? Alexander’s latest balances horror and heart as Gideon reckons with his stuffed animal stalker while grappling with regret at how he treated his friends. Engaging and easy to follow, this suspenseful story is creepy enough to entertain seasoned horror fans without ever overwhelming newcomers to the genre. Physical descriptors are minimal.

A darkly satisfying tale with a redemptive thread.