Lily and the Night Creatures by Nick Lake

Abstract

Reviewed by: Lily and the Night Creatures by Nick Lake April Spisak Lake, Nick Lily and the Night Creatures; illus. by Emily Gravett. Simon, 2022 [240p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781534494619 $17.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781534494633 $10.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 4-6 Lily does not want a new baby sibling, and she quite likes her cozy little life with her parents, even with her serious health issues. Nevertheless, babies come anyway, and when her parents leave for the hospital, Lily is sent to stay with her grandmother. When she realizes she's left behind a beloved toy, she embarks on what will become a terrifying and exhilarating adventure that helps put her life into proper perspective: after all, a new baby is nowhere near as scary as the soulless replicas that look like her parents and have taken up residence in her home. Luckily, Lily does not have to face them alone as she has new animal friends, both wise and sardonic, that provide exactly what she needs to save her home. There's a strong hint of the deliciously creepy Coraline by Neil Gaiman (BCCB 11/02) in the mother-thing and father-thing, but Lily is her own girl, all prickles and anxiety and the kind of weary that can be particular to the chronically ill. Her animal assistants each offer something unique—from an indomitable mouse whose confidence far outweighs their size to a sly and mostly quiet snake that nevertheless plays a startling role after the parent creatures have been removed and Lily makes her way to the hospital. Thoughtful illustrations mirror the text, breaking up longer chapters and providing visual cues to just how harrowing this night is for Lily. Realistic fiction fans will find that Lily's growth and her relationships with herself and her family outweigh the scary stuff while horror fans will still relish the danger and spookiness. Copyright © 2022 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois