A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares by Krystal Sutherland

Pages: 349

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Contemporary

Notes for Parents: Contains coarse language, underaged drinking, and some mature scenes.

The Back Cover

Esther’s family is riddled with fear. Her father is agoraphobic and hasn’t left the basement in six years. Her twin brother cannot be in the dark. Her mother is terrified of bad luck. According to the family curses, they are destined to die from the very things they fear most.

Esther doesn’t know what her great fear is yet (nor does she want to). So she avoids nearly everything, keeping close track of every phobia in her semi-definitive list of worst nightmares.

Then Esther is pickpocketed by Jonah Smallwood, an old elementary school classmate. Along with her phone, money and a fruit roll-up she’d been saving, Jonah also steals her list. And so begins Esther’s ultimate challenge—to work her way through the list, tackling one fear at a time.

Including one that Esther hadn’t even considered: love.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

There’s a bit of a possible paranormal element to this story—maybe.

What’s good?

Esther Solar is facing her fears with the help of Jonah Smallwood. With macabre humor and sarcastic dialogue, checking fears off her semi-definitive list becomes an adventure. Esther and Jonah are strong characters, and well-supported by Esther’s twin Eugene, who needs a constant source of light, and her friend Hephzibah, who has selective mutism. The plot is simple and perhaps a little predictable, but the pace moves steadily making it a fast read. The story touches on phobias, anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicide, abuse, addiction, and more. And there’s even a hint of the supernatural, and a kitten.

Best Part: Lobster Shakespeare (pg. 73)

What isn’t good?

The Solar family was a bit over-the-top. To call them quirky feels like a bit of an understatement. As a result, the story felt a bit…theatrical. It also creates a confusing tone that changes from solemn to comical in the same scene. The end was satisfying but a little sappy.

Worst part: Nothing was terrible.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☺ (4/5)

It was that soft, supernatural element that won me over. Without it, this would have been just a weird story about family in desperate need of therapy. But it was heartwarming, and funny, and a little bit sad without being too serious or too flippant about the serious parts. I enjoyed it. Recommended.

Sutherland, Krystal. A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares. New York: Speak, 2017.