About This Book
A parent might reach for this book when their child is withdrawing into a private world to escape the overwhelming pressure of a family member's terminal illness. It is a profound choice for young teens who feel a complicated mix of resentment, guilt, and love toward a dying parent or a cold home environment. The story follows Donald, a boy who deals with his father's painful decline and his mother's emotional unavailability by slipping into a medieval dream world. In this second reality, he must hunt a terrifying, man-eating worm. It is a psychological masterpiece that validates the messy, 'unacceptable' feelings that come with grief, such as wanting to escape or feeling anger toward the sick. Because it uses dark fantasy to mirror internal struggles, it is best suited for ages 11 to 15 who can handle a story that is emotionally honest rather than purely comforting.
