Every night, a young man hears children playing outside his boarding house—but the alley below his window is fenced off from the world. Then, when a young woman's family starts acting strangely at the same time she begins having bizarre dreams, she decides to stay with her aunt, but the town she heads for has neither addresses nor roads... Also, an all-you-can-eat ice cream bus that's more sinister than sweet! Legendary horror author Junji Ito presents ten bloodcurdling short stories....Rated:T+
1 of 2 copies available
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Creators
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Series
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Publisher
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Release date
July 23, 2024 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781974719877
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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October 1, 2024
Gr 10 Up-In this collection of short stories, master horror mangaka Ito revisits classic body horror tropes, like the invasion of privacy, monsters connected by myriad protuberances from the mouth, mold spores growing over host bodies, and more. There are also other horror topics covered in the anthology, such as murderous twins, nefarious ice cream men, and strange, floating, catatonic missing persons. Ito continues to shock, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions as to what's happening up until the opportune moment of reveal. Ito achieves this through his signature dark lines and deep shadows, featuring detailed backgrounds in situational horror scenes where vividness makes one's skin crawl. His panel awareness is on full display, capitalizing on page turns to deliver the equivalent of a jump scare or a big reveal. There is some topless nudity in a story where the central horror stems from a lack of personal privacy, which will make the sense of violation feel ever more real for readers. With so many offerings in the "Junji Ito" anthology series, it's hard not to compare, and while Alley may not be the strongest, it will find an audience. VERDICT This collection will draw Ito's loyal fans and horror enthusiasts; an additional purchase for libraries where his other work is popular.-Sara Smith
Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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