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Nightmare Island
*From rising star Shakirah Bourne, author of Josephine Against the Sea, comes a mysterious adventure that explores one of the most chilling tales in Caribbean mythology: the faceless douen children.*
Twelve year-old Serenity Noah has never told anyone about her recurring nightmares -- the haunting images of silver butterflies whose flapping wings drive away all sound, leaving only suffocating silence in their wake. Her parents already favor her "perfect" younger brother, Peace, and she doesn't want to be seen as the "problem" child.
Instead, Serenity's found a productive way to channel her fears: creating a horror movie as scary as her nightmares.
When Peace suddenly becomes afraid of the dark and refuses to sleep alone, their parents take him away for "treatment" on Duppy Island. Serenity has a very bad feeling about the mysterious island and the facility's creepy leader, Dr. Whisper. And when she sees a silver butterfly from her nightmares in the forbidden forest she realizes that something is seriously, dangerously awry.
But nothing could've prepared Serenity for the truth: the island is home to douens -- faceless children with backward feet who are trapped in limbo between the world of the living and the land of the dead. And unless Serenity acts soon, her brother is going to join their ranks...
Twelve year-old Serenity Noah has never told anyone about her recurring nightmares -- the haunting images of silver butterflies whose flapping wings drive away all sound, leaving only suffocating silence in their wake. Her parents already favor her "perfect" younger brother, Peace, and she doesn't want to be seen as the "problem" child.
Instead, Serenity's found a productive way to channel her fears: creating a horror movie as scary as her nightmares.
When Peace suddenly becomes afraid of the dark and refuses to sleep alone, their parents take him away for "treatment" on Duppy Island. Serenity has a very bad feeling about the mysterious island and the facility's creepy leader, Dr. Whisper. And when she sees a silver butterfly from her nightmares in the forbidden forest she realizes that something is seriously, dangerously awry.
But nothing could've prepared Serenity for the truth: the island is home to douens -- faceless children with backward feet who are trapped in limbo between the world of the living and the land of the dead. And unless Serenity acts soon, her brother is going to join their ranks...
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First published June 6, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
June 7, 2023
Pore raising, what an adventure!
Shakirah Bourne knows how to write a book filled with adventure, storytelling while keeping you on the edge of your seat.
In Nightmare Island we meet Serenity who is the opposite of her name. It is one thing her parents talk to her about, keeping the volume down. Her brother Peace is the perfect child, doesn’t act up, aimable and their parents is constantly telling her to be like him.
Serenity loves music, and creating horror movies, she loves it so much she spends a lot of time telling her brother, Peace horror stories. Peace, doesn’t have the same reaction and finds himself unable to sleep during the night because he keeps having nightmares. With Peace unable to sleep, the parents are constantly up with him, and they decided to take him for “treatment” on Duppy Island. Serenity has never heard of this place and worries that her parents are making a very bad decision.
With some planning and tricks, Serenity steals onto the island to meet douens, magical butterflies, evil genius doctor, her parents being forgetful and island where there is no night. Serenity realizes the treatment her brother undergoing may change him into a douen! How can she stop this from happening?
One thing about Sharikah Bourne, she is going to make chills run through me with her writing. I know I am an adult but I could not read this book at night. I thoroughly enjoyed being in the world of Serenity and Peace and even being on Duppy Island! This is the perfect read for anyone who is adventurous, who grew up reading Anansi stories or love folktales. What an adventure, I cannot wait to read what Bourne writes next.
Shakirah Bourne knows how to write a book filled with adventure, storytelling while keeping you on the edge of your seat.
In Nightmare Island we meet Serenity who is the opposite of her name. It is one thing her parents talk to her about, keeping the volume down. Her brother Peace is the perfect child, doesn’t act up, aimable and their parents is constantly telling her to be like him.
Serenity loves music, and creating horror movies, she loves it so much she spends a lot of time telling her brother, Peace horror stories. Peace, doesn’t have the same reaction and finds himself unable to sleep during the night because he keeps having nightmares. With Peace unable to sleep, the parents are constantly up with him, and they decided to take him for “treatment” on Duppy Island. Serenity has never heard of this place and worries that her parents are making a very bad decision.
With some planning and tricks, Serenity steals onto the island to meet douens, magical butterflies, evil genius doctor, her parents being forgetful and island where there is no night. Serenity realizes the treatment her brother undergoing may change him into a douen! How can she stop this from happening?
One thing about Sharikah Bourne, she is going to make chills run through me with her writing. I know I am an adult but I could not read this book at night. I thoroughly enjoyed being in the world of Serenity and Peace and even being on Duppy Island! This is the perfect read for anyone who is adventurous, who grew up reading Anansi stories or love folktales. What an adventure, I cannot wait to read what Bourne writes next.
November 21, 2022
I had the pleasure of reading an advanced copy of Nightmare island. It is deliciously creepy and riveting. I could not put it down. Definitely put this on the list of your 2023 reads.
October 9, 2023
Nominated for 2023 Cybils Elementary/Middle School Speculative Fic
This was a great story about an older sister who doesn't quit. Her family is loving but utterly misunderstand her, and that is shown as a problem but not abusive. Her way of viewing the world through a horror film lens shapes the story in an interesting way, and her use of horror as a means of managing her fears seemed very authentic. I really like the synesthesia feel of people's music.
Things got a bit muddled at times -- sometimes I'd forget which J name went with which kid, and the layers of baddies between the different types of supernatural beings, the mad scientist, and his mad backer got confusing for me sometimes.
This was a great story about an older sister who doesn't quit. Her family is loving but utterly misunderstand her, and that is shown as a problem but not abusive. Her way of viewing the world through a horror film lens shapes the story in an interesting way, and her use of horror as a means of managing her fears seemed very authentic. I really like the synesthesia feel of people's music.
Things got a bit muddled at times -- sometimes I'd forget which J name went with which kid, and the layers of baddies between the different types of supernatural beings, the mad scientist, and his mad backer got confusing for me sometimes.
dnf
June 24, 2024DNF at 17%
June 1, 2023
An eerie middle grade horror story featuring a Caribbean girl who must travel to the dreadful Duppy Island where she must save her brother from creepy douen children.
Thank you Scholastic Press from providing a physical copy through Youth Services Book Review.
Rating: 4.5
Genre: Horror
Synopsis:
There are two things Serenity has never told anyone about: she can hear the music of individual people, and she has had the same recurring nightmare since the age of six. The images of a soundless, silver butterfly and a metal door opening to reveal something horrible on the other side fuels her passion of creating the greatest horror movie, much to the chagrin of her quiet parents, who wish she could be calm and “perfect” like her brother Peace. What they don’t understand is that Serenity must find out what was on the other side of that door, or else her unknown fear will plague her forever. So when her parents decide to take Peace on a vacation – without her – to a mysterious Duppy Island to cure his fear of the dark, Serenity makes a break for it, stealing onto a ship and following her family to film her next horror film. When she arrives though, nothing is as it seems. Everything is quiet and she can’t hear the music of anyone on the island. The “vacation” turns out to be a treatment at an eerie medical facility, surrounded by a creepy forest and run by the unsettling Dr. Whispers. Peace starts acting strangely hostile toward her, her parents are nowhere to be seen, and the other children of the program act almost…non-human. When Serenity spots the silver butterfly from her nightmares, she discovers the existence of douens – faceless children with the backward feet and mushroom heads of Caribbean folklore. Quickly, she understands the true danger that her family is in being on Duppy Island. If Serenity doesn’t act fast and connect the dots between the douens, Dr. Whispers, and her recurring nightmare, Peace might not stay as Peace anymore…
What I Liked:
Nightmare Island is a harrowing page-turner of creepy douens and haunted forests that will leave you awake at night. Serenity propels the plot; she is a smart protagonist who is the only one capable of surviving with her mind fully intact. The setting and worldbuilding are eerie and compelling, and all the creepy characters make readers’ skin crawl. There is also a plot twist that I honestly did not see coming. The story is set in the Caribbean and all the characters are Black. Read Nightmare Island for a haunting experience of ghoulish children, nature that’s out for blood, and a girl who must brave all fears to save her family.
Anything you didn’t like about it?
The ending was ever so slightly rushed, with certain reveals and loose-ends appearing in a sentence or two. But everything still is neatly tied up at the end.
To whom would you recommend this book?
Kids who like horror books, especially those based on Caribbean or worldly folklore. The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier, Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh, and Small Spaces by Katherin Arden are also recommended.
Date of review: May 15, 2023 on YSBR site
Thank you Scholastic Press from providing a physical copy through Youth Services Book Review.
Rating: 4.5
Genre: Horror
Synopsis:
There are two things Serenity has never told anyone about: she can hear the music of individual people, and she has had the same recurring nightmare since the age of six. The images of a soundless, silver butterfly and a metal door opening to reveal something horrible on the other side fuels her passion of creating the greatest horror movie, much to the chagrin of her quiet parents, who wish she could be calm and “perfect” like her brother Peace. What they don’t understand is that Serenity must find out what was on the other side of that door, or else her unknown fear will plague her forever. So when her parents decide to take Peace on a vacation – without her – to a mysterious Duppy Island to cure his fear of the dark, Serenity makes a break for it, stealing onto a ship and following her family to film her next horror film. When she arrives though, nothing is as it seems. Everything is quiet and she can’t hear the music of anyone on the island. The “vacation” turns out to be a treatment at an eerie medical facility, surrounded by a creepy forest and run by the unsettling Dr. Whispers. Peace starts acting strangely hostile toward her, her parents are nowhere to be seen, and the other children of the program act almost…non-human. When Serenity spots the silver butterfly from her nightmares, she discovers the existence of douens – faceless children with the backward feet and mushroom heads of Caribbean folklore. Quickly, she understands the true danger that her family is in being on Duppy Island. If Serenity doesn’t act fast and connect the dots between the douens, Dr. Whispers, and her recurring nightmare, Peace might not stay as Peace anymore…
What I Liked:
Nightmare Island is a harrowing page-turner of creepy douens and haunted forests that will leave you awake at night. Serenity propels the plot; she is a smart protagonist who is the only one capable of surviving with her mind fully intact. The setting and worldbuilding are eerie and compelling, and all the creepy characters make readers’ skin crawl. There is also a plot twist that I honestly did not see coming. The story is set in the Caribbean and all the characters are Black. Read Nightmare Island for a haunting experience of ghoulish children, nature that’s out for blood, and a girl who must brave all fears to save her family.
Anything you didn’t like about it?
The ending was ever so slightly rushed, with certain reveals and loose-ends appearing in a sentence or two. But everything still is neatly tied up at the end.
To whom would you recommend this book?
Kids who like horror books, especially those based on Caribbean or worldly folklore. The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier, Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh, and Small Spaces by Katherin Arden are also recommended.
Date of review: May 15, 2023 on YSBR site
October 30, 2023
Spoiler warning - Vaguely spoilery in general. I spoil something major at the end. You have been warned.
Nightmare Island has a cool premise that is not taken full advantage of.
There isn’t much to do on the Island once Serenity gets there. I feel like it sorely needed more activities or events to inject some tension or fun into the story. She's there for three or so days and it feels like one really long one instead because so much of it is just the same stuff over and over. Dr. Whisper sure is creepy, meditation ritual, those glitch kids sure are creepy, Peace has never acted like this before, my parents sure are acting strange, I wish I had my camera, repeated ad nauseum. I needed something that could have broken up the monotony.
I wish there had been an actual structure to the 'retreat'. I think a deviation is heightened more when compared to the standard. That is to say, if odd things starting happening when there were set class times or crafts or therapy or whatever, it would be more unsettling that everyone was ignoring it when it's so obviously veering off course from the established norm. More people would also have added to the eeriness or provided interesting dynamics to observe or play off of. Most of the people on the island are just one other family (5 people) and only one of the characters - Jacob, a boy Serenity befriends - is an actual character. The other 4 are props.
I think more things to do would have better highlighted Peace's transformation as well. Serenity talks about how he’s changed, but Peace isn’t well cemented as a character so it was very tell not show. I would have liked a little bit more time spent either before they arrived at the island or again, doing things at the island to give him time to be fleshed out. I would have felt more bothered by his change in demeanor if I knew firsthand what he was usually like.
There was a plot point about how Serenity felt set apart from her family that is never addressed. Her parents often make her feel like the loud weirdo messing up their perfect quiet, reserved trio. The book literally starts with her parents deriding her dreams of being a monster movie maker. Yet, the only time that comes up again is when she observes them laughing at one of her movies (or reading her script? I can’t remember the specific thing the two were looking at) and she’s suddenly all like ‘wow, they see me’. But, this means literally nothing. Her parents laughing at something she made one time does not translate to understanding why she values horror so much or respecting her hobby. They don’t apologize for always treating her like a nuisance nor does Serenity share how their behavior impacts her.
The big moment where the relationship is supposed to be fixed is when her mother chooses not to let her fall off a cliff in favor of ‘Perfect Peace’. Except that doesn’t fly because regardless of her specific feelings for Serenity, what kind of person would let a kid literally die? To Serenity this is the proof she needed that her parents cared about her. As the reader, I never doubted her parents cared about her; I only doubted they liked her. Saving her from the cliff does not alter that perspective. Not to mention her father has no similar defining moment.
On the positive side of the pillow, I really appreciated the mythos. I learned about douens when I read The Jumbies last year - another middle grade centering Carribbean folklore - so it's fun to return to the lore. Plus, it’s always nice to see books about other cultures get some much deserved shine; publishing continues to be abysmally white and US-centric in the narratives that are pushed. Despite being familiar with the concept of douens I was unable to figure out what was going on in totality. I was genuinely invested the entire time I was reading. Serenity was not given a lot by way of obstacles, nevertheless, what she did have she fought against admirably. I enjoyed seeing her rise to the occasion in the face of her parents’ lack of support.
(I wish there was a moment when they explicitly stated how they love her for it, but I digress.)
There is a twist at the end where Jacob is revealed to be the ringleader of the whole evil island. Dr. Whisper is his lackey. If Jacob was in charge this whole time, his actions don’t make any sense. Serenity has no secret knowledge, poses no risk to his plans, and spends most of the book not actually doing anything. He has memory erasing technology; her parents completely forget her towards the end. Why does he bother to befriend her or pretend to be a normal child at all? Why not simply lock her up or better yet, kill her? No one would know to miss her.
I finished Nightmare Island content enough though not altogether especially satisfied. It’s a fine book. A kid would have fun which is the real end goal here. In spite of that, I still maintain that some aspects needed tightening up.
Nightmare Island has a cool premise that is not taken full advantage of.
There isn’t much to do on the Island once Serenity gets there. I feel like it sorely needed more activities or events to inject some tension or fun into the story. She's there for three or so days and it feels like one really long one instead because so much of it is just the same stuff over and over. Dr. Whisper sure is creepy, meditation ritual, those glitch kids sure are creepy, Peace has never acted like this before, my parents sure are acting strange, I wish I had my camera, repeated ad nauseum. I needed something that could have broken up the monotony.
I wish there had been an actual structure to the 'retreat'. I think a deviation is heightened more when compared to the standard. That is to say, if odd things starting happening when there were set class times or crafts or therapy or whatever, it would be more unsettling that everyone was ignoring it when it's so obviously veering off course from the established norm. More people would also have added to the eeriness or provided interesting dynamics to observe or play off of. Most of the people on the island are just one other family (5 people) and only one of the characters - Jacob, a boy Serenity befriends - is an actual character. The other 4 are props.
I think more things to do would have better highlighted Peace's transformation as well. Serenity talks about how he’s changed, but Peace isn’t well cemented as a character so it was very tell not show. I would have liked a little bit more time spent either before they arrived at the island or again, doing things at the island to give him time to be fleshed out. I would have felt more bothered by his change in demeanor if I knew firsthand what he was usually like.
There was a plot point about how Serenity felt set apart from her family that is never addressed. Her parents often make her feel like the loud weirdo messing up their perfect quiet, reserved trio. The book literally starts with her parents deriding her dreams of being a monster movie maker. Yet, the only time that comes up again is when she observes them laughing at one of her movies (or reading her script? I can’t remember the specific thing the two were looking at) and she’s suddenly all like ‘wow, they see me’. But, this means literally nothing. Her parents laughing at something she made one time does not translate to understanding why she values horror so much or respecting her hobby. They don’t apologize for always treating her like a nuisance nor does Serenity share how their behavior impacts her.
The big moment where the relationship is supposed to be fixed is when her mother chooses not to let her fall off a cliff in favor of ‘Perfect Peace’. Except that doesn’t fly because regardless of her specific feelings for Serenity, what kind of person would let a kid literally die? To Serenity this is the proof she needed that her parents cared about her. As the reader, I never doubted her parents cared about her; I only doubted they liked her. Saving her from the cliff does not alter that perspective. Not to mention her father has no similar defining moment.
On the positive side of the pillow, I really appreciated the mythos. I learned about douens when I read The Jumbies last year - another middle grade centering Carribbean folklore - so it's fun to return to the lore. Plus, it’s always nice to see books about other cultures get some much deserved shine; publishing continues to be abysmally white and US-centric in the narratives that are pushed. Despite being familiar with the concept of douens I was unable to figure out what was going on in totality. I was genuinely invested the entire time I was reading. Serenity was not given a lot by way of obstacles, nevertheless, what she did have she fought against admirably. I enjoyed seeing her rise to the occasion in the face of her parents’ lack of support.
(I wish there was a moment when they explicitly stated how they love her for it, but I digress.)
There is a twist at the end where Jacob is revealed to be the ringleader of the whole evil island. Dr. Whisper is his lackey. If Jacob was in charge this whole time, his actions don’t make any sense. Serenity has no secret knowledge, poses no risk to his plans, and spends most of the book not actually doing anything. He has memory erasing technology; her parents completely forget her towards the end. Why does he bother to befriend her or pretend to be a normal child at all? Why not simply lock her up or better yet, kill her? No one would know to miss her.
I finished Nightmare Island content enough though not altogether especially satisfied. It’s a fine book. A kid would have fun which is the real end goal here. In spite of that, I still maintain that some aspects needed tightening up.
June 28, 2023
As a superfan of Caribbean folklore and horror, being a Trinidadian native myself, I was excited to start this book.
Though my expectations were a bit too high, the pace and the concept of the story eased me into reading through the chapters. I enjoyed Serenity's pov a lot with her childlike wit and sarcasm, it's what made her a likable character. Her bravery and determination had me floored because the first thought I had was (in patios), "Twelve-year-old me woulda never travel on a boat by sheself!" That's terrifying! But my girl Serenity is built differently (not to mention, her ability to hear people's music!)
I also like that the author gave the douens a moral compass, good, evil, and complex that made them human-like instead of entirely supernatural.
There were times in the book that felt a bit dragged but doesn't deter the suspense build-up. The plot and character development of the antagonist was executed well enough to conclude it.
Overall, this book is a fun read for kids, especially those who enjoy reading Goosebumps. It was creepy and cute.
Though my expectations were a bit too high, the pace and the concept of the story eased me into reading through the chapters. I enjoyed Serenity's pov a lot with her childlike wit and sarcasm, it's what made her a likable character. Her bravery and determination had me floored because the first thought I had was (in patios), "Twelve-year-old me woulda never travel on a boat by sheself!" That's terrifying! But my girl Serenity is built differently (not to mention, her ability to hear people's music!)
I also like that the author gave the douens a moral compass, good, evil, and complex that made them human-like instead of entirely supernatural.
There were times in the book that felt a bit dragged but doesn't deter the suspense build-up. The plot and character development of the antagonist was executed well enough to conclude it.
Overall, this book is a fun read for kids, especially those who enjoy reading Goosebumps. It was creepy and cute.
October 13, 2023
A middle grade that thoroughly creeped me out with engaging writing that painted each scene in my mind so vividly. The audiobook was great too!
March 20, 2023
Shakirah Bourne has served up a wonderfully creepy and frightening MG horror book! Just as the title suggests, this entire adventure feels like a waking nightmare, complete with faceless duppies and parents who have no memory of Serenity, the mc. I love how the author frames everything like a movie -- she's a budding filmmaker-- and of course, how cinematic the story feels. Spooky forests, an incredibly creepy clinic for ailing children, and several characters who might not be who we think they are, all add up to a wonderfully creepy and frightening read!
Thank you to Edelweis+ and Scholastic Press for the E-Arc
Thank you to Edelweis+ and Scholastic Press for the E-Arc
October 7, 2023
I may have turned this one off at night to be honest there were some seriously creepy moments! I really enjoyed the premise of Caribbean mythology mixed with modern horror movie elements as the main character is a fan of creating actual horror movies and encounters some interesting elements on Duppy Island.
Definitely a book I will be adding to my school library collection in the near future for all my horror and thriller readers.
Definitely a book I will be adding to my school library collection in the near future for all my horror and thriller readers.
March 10, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Serenity has been plagued by the same dream for years; she is in a hospital corridor, and bad things happen. To deal with this, rather than tell her parents, she heeds the advice of a kung fun movie that "avoiding fear increases the fear itself" and has become obsessed with making scary movies that will scare away her nightmare. She has roped her younger brother Peace into helping with the music and artwork on these, so regularly immerses him in her world of zombies, haunted houses, and gore. When Peace starts to have nightmares that just won't stop, her parents blame her and decide to take a vacation to Duppy Island alone with Peace and leave Serenity at her grandmother's house. Serenity has long felt that her yoga loving mother and quiet father prefer Peace to her because he rarely screams and causes problems the way that Serenity does. She decides it's a good plan to run away from her grandmother's house, stow away on the boat, and follow her family to the island. When she gets there, she finds a weird world were Dr. Whisper is working with a variety of children, including Peace. Jacob's father works on the island, so befriends Serenity and helps her get answers. There are a lot that are needed. She's told her parents are somewhere else, but she finds their suitcases. Peace treats her very oddly. Not only that, but there are the duppies themselves. Serenity has looked up what these creatures are, and her desire to create a film about them is one of the reasons that she has followed her family to the island, especially when she found out that the island housed a sanitarium where people were exiled in the 1850s when they had cholera. Meeting some of these spirits from the Caribbean islands is both frightening and the answer to her dreams. There's clearly a lot going on with her parents and Dr. Whisper, but I don't want to spoil all of the twists and turns.
Strengths: There is a lot of interesting Black history in the background of the story; the parents have bought a plantation house to reclaim some of the narrative, and the father finds some family connections with one of the spirits on the island. Serenity has a good process for filming her horror stories, and is constantly thinking in terms of background music for scenes, which gets her in trouble at one point. Younger brothers being possessed by demons (in Ellen Oh's Spirit Hunters) or other spirits always seem plausible to me, although I wouldn't have been as motivated to find the solution to this as Serenity was. There's plenty of creepiness, spooky forests, and duppies with no faces and backwards feet! Love the cover.
Weaknesses: A lot of my readers like shorter books, so at 304 pages, this is a bit on the long side. Some of the backstory of the island or Peace's existence could have been tightened up.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed this author's Josephine Against the Sea, Baptiste's The Jumbies, Stringfellow's Comb of Wishes, and Smith's HooDoo or especially Strong's Eden's Everdark.
Serenity has been plagued by the same dream for years; she is in a hospital corridor, and bad things happen. To deal with this, rather than tell her parents, she heeds the advice of a kung fun movie that "avoiding fear increases the fear itself" and has become obsessed with making scary movies that will scare away her nightmare. She has roped her younger brother Peace into helping with the music and artwork on these, so regularly immerses him in her world of zombies, haunted houses, and gore. When Peace starts to have nightmares that just won't stop, her parents blame her and decide to take a vacation to Duppy Island alone with Peace and leave Serenity at her grandmother's house. Serenity has long felt that her yoga loving mother and quiet father prefer Peace to her because he rarely screams and causes problems the way that Serenity does. She decides it's a good plan to run away from her grandmother's house, stow away on the boat, and follow her family to the island. When she gets there, she finds a weird world were Dr. Whisper is working with a variety of children, including Peace. Jacob's father works on the island, so befriends Serenity and helps her get answers. There are a lot that are needed. She's told her parents are somewhere else, but she finds their suitcases. Peace treats her very oddly. Not only that, but there are the duppies themselves. Serenity has looked up what these creatures are, and her desire to create a film about them is one of the reasons that she has followed her family to the island, especially when she found out that the island housed a sanitarium where people were exiled in the 1850s when they had cholera. Meeting some of these spirits from the Caribbean islands is both frightening and the answer to her dreams. There's clearly a lot going on with her parents and Dr. Whisper, but I don't want to spoil all of the twists and turns.
Strengths: There is a lot of interesting Black history in the background of the story; the parents have bought a plantation house to reclaim some of the narrative, and the father finds some family connections with one of the spirits on the island. Serenity has a good process for filming her horror stories, and is constantly thinking in terms of background music for scenes, which gets her in trouble at one point. Younger brothers being possessed by demons (in Ellen Oh's Spirit Hunters) or other spirits always seem plausible to me, although I wouldn't have been as motivated to find the solution to this as Serenity was. There's plenty of creepiness, spooky forests, and duppies with no faces and backwards feet! Love the cover.
Weaknesses: A lot of my readers like shorter books, so at 304 pages, this is a bit on the long side. Some of the backstory of the island or Peace's existence could have been tightened up.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed this author's Josephine Against the Sea, Baptiste's The Jumbies, Stringfellow's Comb of Wishes, and Smith's HooDoo or especially Strong's Eden's Everdark.
August 31, 2023
Nightmare Island - A Mesmerizing Journey into Caribbean Mythology
Get ready to be swept away on an unforgettable adventure into the mysterious world of Nightmare Island! Shakirah Bourne's spine-tingling masterpiece is a true game-changer that will leave you mesmerized!
Nightmare Island goes beyond your typical spooky read. It is a middle-grade gem infused with the enchanting essence of Caribbean mythology, making it a captivating and unique experience. The blend of folklore and storytelling is masterfully done, creating a rich and immersive world.
As a Caribbean soul myself, this book struck a chord with me on a profound level. The representation and validation it offers are priceless, resonating with the experiences and culture of the Caribbean. However, don't fret if you're not from the Caribbean because this book has something for everyone.
Let's talk about the remarkable protagonist, Serenity. This vibrant and audacious character captured my heart from the very beginning. Her courage, authenticity, and vibrant personality shine brighter than the Caribbean sun. You can't help but be inspired by her strength and determination as she fearlessly battles the unknown.
While the journey through Nightmare Island is filled with excitement and wonder, I must admit that the ending did have its drawbacks. The multitude of plot twists, while thrilling, seemed to drag on, slightly diminishing the overall impact. Act three, in particular, threw some last-minute twists that gave the impression of it being mighty long. However, this minor flaw doesn't overshadow the brilliance of the story as a whole.
I wholeheartedly encourage each and every one of you to dive into this extraordinary read. Not only will you be entertained by the captivating plot and well-drawn characters, but you'll also gain a deeper understanding of Caribbean mythology along the way. Shakirah Bourne's writing effortlessly transports you to a world of magic and wonder, leaving an indelible mark on your soul.
So, grab a copy of Nightmare Island, and let yourself be whisked away on a breathtaking journey. Open your mind to the allure of Caribbean mythology and let the magic unfold before your eyes. While the ending may have had a few too many twists, the overall experience is absolutely worth it. Trust me, you won't regret it!
Join me in spreading the word about this mesmerizing book. Leave a comment below and share the magic with your fellow bookworms. Let's unite and celebrate the power of storytelling!
Get ready to be swept away on an unforgettable adventure into the mysterious world of Nightmare Island! Shakirah Bourne's spine-tingling masterpiece is a true game-changer that will leave you mesmerized!
Nightmare Island goes beyond your typical spooky read. It is a middle-grade gem infused with the enchanting essence of Caribbean mythology, making it a captivating and unique experience. The blend of folklore and storytelling is masterfully done, creating a rich and immersive world.
As a Caribbean soul myself, this book struck a chord with me on a profound level. The representation and validation it offers are priceless, resonating with the experiences and culture of the Caribbean. However, don't fret if you're not from the Caribbean because this book has something for everyone.
Let's talk about the remarkable protagonist, Serenity. This vibrant and audacious character captured my heart from the very beginning. Her courage, authenticity, and vibrant personality shine brighter than the Caribbean sun. You can't help but be inspired by her strength and determination as she fearlessly battles the unknown.
While the journey through Nightmare Island is filled with excitement and wonder, I must admit that the ending did have its drawbacks. The multitude of plot twists, while thrilling, seemed to drag on, slightly diminishing the overall impact. Act three, in particular, threw some last-minute twists that gave the impression of it being mighty long. However, this minor flaw doesn't overshadow the brilliance of the story as a whole.
I wholeheartedly encourage each and every one of you to dive into this extraordinary read. Not only will you be entertained by the captivating plot and well-drawn characters, but you'll also gain a deeper understanding of Caribbean mythology along the way. Shakirah Bourne's writing effortlessly transports you to a world of magic and wonder, leaving an indelible mark on your soul.
So, grab a copy of Nightmare Island, and let yourself be whisked away on a breathtaking journey. Open your mind to the allure of Caribbean mythology and let the magic unfold before your eyes. While the ending may have had a few too many twists, the overall experience is absolutely worth it. Trust me, you won't regret it!
Join me in spreading the word about this mesmerizing book. Leave a comment below and share the magic with your fellow bookworms. Let's unite and celebrate the power of storytelling!
November 13, 2023
Serenity Noah’s family seems to be made up of two groups with 12 year old Serenity in one and her younger brother, mom and dad in the other. The trio require an almost abnormally calm and quiet atmosphere at all times and become visibly distressed when she plays her music loudly or expresses her moods and emotions in her usual dramatic and high volume way. But her feeling of being on the outside is confirmed when mom and dad announce that brother Peace’s inability to sleep means that he needs to take a vacation with them and she is not welcome. Hurt and curious, Serenity follows the trio to mysterious Duppy Island and a nightmare begins that resembles the actual one that she has been having for as long as she can remember. Author Shakirah Bourne uses folklore from her own Bajan heritage to create a haunted forest filled with blank faced, ghostly children that surrounds a medical center with bizarre residents and a terrifying physician who rules the facility with an iron hand. Readers will be deliciously intrigued by the medical experimentation and the paranormal inhabitants who live outside the clinic’s electric fence and while they may be able to predict aspects of the “perfect child” program, I am certain they will miss the mark on nearly everything. Bourne’s descriptions of the ghoulish douens, silver butterflies, and research bunnies are vivid and may cause a few readers to turn on a few more lights and check out the bushes around their homes. Text is free of profanity and sexual content. There is a high level of suspense and the villains do aim to destroy their targets but any physical violence is blood and gore-free. Test subject rabbits do die but the fact is not recorded in a graphic way. Representation: All characters present as Black although a variety of color words are used to describe skin tones.
Target audience: strong 4th grade readers through grade 7.
Target audience: strong 4th grade readers through grade 7.
December 6, 2024
Nightmare Island by Shakirah Bourne - ⅘
“Thrilling, creepy and action-packed”
This book gave me “Zo and the Forest of Secrets” vibes in such an exciting way and I’m pumped that these are the kinds of YA books being cranked out by Caribbean authors. They should be on the reading lists in schools in my opinion!
Serenity is a unique 12 year old girl with suffering from a recurring nightmare involving silver butterflies and a “NO ENTRY” sign, instead of trying to more of a “problem” child , she keeps it to herself and channels her fears into something more productive, like creating a horror movie meant to trump her own nightmare. When her “perfect” younger brother starts behaving strangely though, her parents whisk him away to ‘Duppy Island’ for mysterious ‘treatments’, meaning to leave Serenity behind with her grandmother. She decides to follow them anyway and manages to land herself in serious problems, she starts seeing silver butterflies, there's a creepy man on the island who is supposed to ‘cure’ her brother named ‘Dr Whisper’ who she gets very bad vibes from and even worse, the island is home to one of the most feared creatures from the world of Caribbean folklore; the faceless douen children. It will take all the courage and determination Serenity has to save her family and stop her brother from turning into one of them.
This book put a whole new spin on a Caribbean folktale and it was done in a very imaginative and modern way. Kudos to Bourne for such a well-written lead character; I love Serenity because she stands out and she sees the world a little differently and her uniqueness in this case, was what I think saved her in the end. If you’re a fan of “Goosebumps”, thrillers and things that go bump in the night, this chilling and suspense filled read is definitely for you. Just be forewarned, if you have nightmares, don’t blame me… you read this awesome book at your own risk.
“Thrilling, creepy and action-packed”
This book gave me “Zo and the Forest of Secrets” vibes in such an exciting way and I’m pumped that these are the kinds of YA books being cranked out by Caribbean authors. They should be on the reading lists in schools in my opinion!
Serenity is a unique 12 year old girl with suffering from a recurring nightmare involving silver butterflies and a “NO ENTRY” sign, instead of trying to more of a “problem” child , she keeps it to herself and channels her fears into something more productive, like creating a horror movie meant to trump her own nightmare. When her “perfect” younger brother starts behaving strangely though, her parents whisk him away to ‘Duppy Island’ for mysterious ‘treatments’, meaning to leave Serenity behind with her grandmother. She decides to follow them anyway and manages to land herself in serious problems, she starts seeing silver butterflies, there's a creepy man on the island who is supposed to ‘cure’ her brother named ‘Dr Whisper’ who she gets very bad vibes from and even worse, the island is home to one of the most feared creatures from the world of Caribbean folklore; the faceless douen children. It will take all the courage and determination Serenity has to save her family and stop her brother from turning into one of them.
This book put a whole new spin on a Caribbean folktale and it was done in a very imaginative and modern way. Kudos to Bourne for such a well-written lead character; I love Serenity because she stands out and she sees the world a little differently and her uniqueness in this case, was what I think saved her in the end. If you’re a fan of “Goosebumps”, thrillers and things that go bump in the night, this chilling and suspense filled read is definitely for you. Just be forewarned, if you have nightmares, don’t blame me… you read this awesome book at your own risk.
January 3, 2025
Twelve-year-old Serenity has recurring nightmares of silver butterflies, absolute silence, and other strange, frightening images. She's heard the phrase "face your fears," so she pours herself wholeheartedly into making her own stop-action horror movies. Her little brother, Peace, whom her parents call "the perfect child," often helps her by creating paper figures of the monsters she describes. But Serenity feels out of place in her family, where everyone is always telling her to quiet down and that she's too noisy. When her parents announce they're taking Peace away to a silent retreat on an island, Serenity doesn't go to her grandmother's as planned but stows away on the ferry to the island where her family is headed. What she finds there is more strange--and terrifying--than anything Serenity could dream up in her movies. This unique, twisty, action-packed story draws its inspiration from traditional Caribbean mythology. I enjoyed it--middle-grade horror is about my speed. I talk more about it in this video, starting at 17:43: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkPal...
April 4, 2023
'Faceless children with backward feet' was really all I needed to hear to know that I would love this deliciously creepy MG horror story. And Shakirah Bourne delivered, 100%. From the opening nightmare sequence to the final pages, NIGHTMARE ISLAND is a terrifying delight. Bourne's main character, Serenity 'Ren' Noah, has a fantastic voice. As a budding filmmaker, she narrates the story like a screenplay, complete with 'takes' instead of 'chapters' and directions for the soundtrack music that might suit a given scene. It's brilliantly done, and the non-stop action of the truly frightening plot (a 'facility' on an abandoned island where 'quarantined' victims of a cholera outbreak were once sent to die, red-eyed rabbits, and the world's creepiest game of 'Red Light - Green Light') will keep young readers absolutely riveted. Speaking for myself, I finished it in a single sitting. My thanks to Scholastic and Edelweiss for the eARC.
January 17, 2024
I liked that this book is scary but no blood and gore. I like the family relationships. Serenity, "Ren" is the 12 year old big sister and Peace, "Ace" is her soon to be 6 year old little brother. Her parents bought a home that one of their ancestors once worked at. (A plantation) and we learn the father is researching their family. I did find it odd that the parents insisted on certain decibel levels for TV and the kids talking, etc. (This perhaps is due to something we find out later but they never tell us) I just wish they explained that since it felt weird to me.
I loved the reoccurring nightmare Serenity described. I love how the dream connected into the main story and it really makes you question everything by the end. I also liked that the story was based on a Caribbean folklore.
I loved the reoccurring nightmare Serenity described. I love how the dream connected into the main story and it really makes you question everything by the end. I also liked that the story was based on a Caribbean folklore.
October 31, 2023
Well that was a little disappointing. Quick and to the point. The premise was good and the descriptive horror writing was fantastic, but the story and characters just didn't do it for me. There were some pretty big plot holes and, though I know you have to suspend belief for a lot of middlegrade books, this one threw logic out the window and some points.
Overall, I think some could consider this great for the age-appropriate audience, but overall there was not a lot to love and there are books that execute on the morals and life lessons the book is trying to get across much better. The strong point here is the Caribbean folklore about Douens, but even there it just didn't hit a home-run.
Overall, I think some could consider this great for the age-appropriate audience, but overall there was not a lot to love and there are books that execute on the morals and life lessons the book is trying to get across much better. The strong point here is the Caribbean folklore about Douens, but even there it just didn't hit a home-run.
August 20, 2024
Middle-grade
Horror mystery
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars
This chilling MG horror had me on the edge of my seat! Rooted in Caribbean mythology, it includes the mysteriously faceless douen children!
12yo Serenity can’t quite live up to her name and instead loves making horror movies and scaring her brother, Peace, with her stories, but when her parents rush Peace off to a special secret island to help his nightmares, Serenity sneaks along and finds herself in one big nightmare!
The faceless douen children in this book (not a spoiler… they’re mentioned in the synopsis) are kind of terrifying, making this perfect for fans of Small Spaces by Katherine Arden, but reminds me of one of my more recent MG horror reads, Bumps in the Night by Amalie Howard which also features Caribbean mythology!
Horror mystery
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars
This chilling MG horror had me on the edge of my seat! Rooted in Caribbean mythology, it includes the mysteriously faceless douen children!
12yo Serenity can’t quite live up to her name and instead loves making horror movies and scaring her brother, Peace, with her stories, but when her parents rush Peace off to a special secret island to help his nightmares, Serenity sneaks along and finds herself in one big nightmare!
The faceless douen children in this book (not a spoiler… they’re mentioned in the synopsis) are kind of terrifying, making this perfect for fans of Small Spaces by Katherine Arden, but reminds me of one of my more recent MG horror reads, Bumps in the Night by Amalie Howard which also features Caribbean mythology!
July 20, 2023
I was bored, honestly. I understand it's a children's book, and I'm an adult, but middle grade and YA are my genres and this just bored me. Maybe I'd have been more interested with a different narrator? I'm not sure. I think it's a combination of the narrator and the slow pace. I honestly feel like with the spooky effect, someone like Sandra Okuboyejo would have been a better choice. She did such a great job keeping me entertained in Delicious Monsters or Maybe Imani Parks. Soft voice but packed with emotion.
It just wasn't for me. Maybe I'll revisit when my eyes are better, and I can read it vs. listen. For now, 2 stars
It just wasn't for me. Maybe I'll revisit when my eyes are better, and I can read it vs. listen. For now, 2 stars
July 19, 2023
wahh akhirnya selesai juga dihari ke-13🥲
ini bisa dibilang buku middle grade pertama yg aku baca yg plotnya itu agak berat. kenapa aku bilang berat, karena menyangkut nyawa seseorang (which is adiknya sendiri), tentang suatu eksperimen yg super berbahaya, dan tentang suatu kejadian yg memang based on true story dibeberapa bagian, but aku gatau memang ada sangkut pautnya sama salah satu pulau yg disebutin dicerita ini atau nggak.
ceritanya seruu, agak creepy juga dan dijelasin lumayan mendetail.
ini bisa dibilang buku middle grade pertama yg aku baca yg plotnya itu agak berat. kenapa aku bilang berat, karena menyangkut nyawa seseorang (which is adiknya sendiri), tentang suatu eksperimen yg super berbahaya, dan tentang suatu kejadian yg memang based on true story dibeberapa bagian, but aku gatau memang ada sangkut pautnya sama salah satu pulau yg disebutin dicerita ini atau nggak.
ceritanya seruu, agak creepy juga dan dijelasin lumayan mendetail.
December 11, 2023
Interesting story and mythology. Female lead follows her brother to a mysterious island, and discovers the mythology behind the island is true.
Hospital School Librarian RA notes.
The lab situation feels a little too similar to institutionalization and is maybe not a good fit neurosciences. Characterization of doctor as nefarious may not be a great fit for hospitalized kids. Some of the story is a little disjointed, and may be hard to follow.
Hospital School Librarian RA notes.
The lab situation feels a little too similar to institutionalization and is maybe not a good fit neurosciences. Characterization of doctor as nefarious may not be a great fit for hospitalized kids. Some of the story is a little disjointed, and may be hard to follow.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2024
I would give this book a zero if I could, impossible to follow the storyline, meant to be based on a Caribbean folktale but so awkwardly constructed readers will be lost. Some characters are introduced so suddenly and presented as though the reader would have knowledge of them, so I went back through the text to determine whether I'd missed a page somehow, but they never were mentioned. I must say that I'm disappointed in some of the newbie selections for March Book Madness this year. ☹️
August 16, 2023
This was sooo good! I thought it wasn't gonna be creepy enough for me but it was. It was really creative, from the way the chapters are labeled to the many plot twists. I got chills reading some parts, like I could go on about how good it was. I hope in the future there's gonna be a sequel lol. I'm gonna make fanart of the characters especially the douens🤭🤭
September 4, 2023
Just not for me. It was so very slow. I liked the narrator and her obsession with horror movies and making a movie. I thought I was clever how she blended in movie element into the book. Overall the story evolved too slowly and was in parts confusing. I’m sure there is an audience for this book. It just isn’t me.
Read
September 13, 2023DNF @ 21%
This was an anticipated release and unfortunately I just wasn’t really connecting with the story or the characters. I think this has a great premise for the targeted audience but the story itself just didn’t grip me like I was hoping and every time I started reading I just was distracted and couldn’t keep my focus.
This was an anticipated release and unfortunately I just wasn’t really connecting with the story or the characters. I think this has a great premise for the targeted audience but the story itself just didn’t grip me like I was hoping and every time I started reading I just was distracted and couldn’t keep my focus.
November 24, 2024
Really fun middle grade horror. I definitely have some library kiddos who will like this one. There were a few important plot lines that felt a little loose and didn’t ever get explained to my liking, like why she’s able to hear people’s music in the first place, but overall it was just the right amount of creepy and fun.
June 30, 2023
A page turner with a genuinely interesting mystery at its heart. Not sure the last 1/3 holds up as well as the first 2/3, but it's a good book for middle readers. (Worth noting, it's my son's 2nd favorite book of all time as of this writing. He would give it six stars if he could.)
February 13, 2024
creepy... couldnt read before bed! allegory??? loved that it was told as if the protagonist was talki g about directing a film. addresses weird uncomfortable family dynamics, confronts the idea that children should be seen not heard... fractured folktale... 3.5
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