A BETTER NIGHTMARE

In a world where every child has a “brain defect”—a “cognitive disease” that can be mild—those with the severe version called Grimm-Cross Syndrome are trapped at Wildsmoor Facility.

For 15-year-old Emily Emerson, who presents white, and the others at Wildsmoor, which is run by the evil Matron (who’s also the only fat character), the Grimm is dangerous, rendering them capable of causing earthquakes, breaking bones using only their minds, and worse. They’re given medication to stop their symptoms from manifesting. Emily knows that at 18, she’ll have to leave—but not what happens next. After losing her pills one day, she experiences withdrawal symptoms but doesn’t tell anyone for fear of punishment. When two other grimmers, Gabriel and Emir, recruit her to their cause, Emily is introduced to a life without numbing medication. To set the other kids free, Emily must learn to control her immense powers over nightmares (her own and other people’s), come to terms with her own darkest dreams, and learn how to lead in a world where imagination is feared. Although the story is largely entertaining, the repetitive narration slows the pace. Readers who find benefits in using medication to support mental health may find the messaging lacking in nuance. Traumatized Emily struggles with panic attacks and tells herself that she can “force those thoughts away. I can choose to breathe. I can choose how to react.”

An excessive reliance on tropes undermines a perennially popular premise.