Curse of the Harvester

Gr 5–8—In this sequel to Nightmare Escape, Ben and Jake continue to operate their Dream Jumper business. Ben spends his nights entering his friends' dreams and intervening when nightmares take over. Each time Ben jumps into a dream, his ability grows stronger. But the first volume's villain, Nightmare Lord, has enlisted the aid of a new and deadly foe known as the Harvester. Will Ben be able to fight back when his own dreams turn frightening? Can he rescue Jake from the clutches of the Harvester? Who is the mysterious new player in Ben's dreams who shows up just in time to lend a helping hand? The fast-paced plot is cinematic and chock-full of heroic saves and superhero landings—appropriate, considering the author's acting background. Featuring sound effects and motion lines, Turnbloom's vivid cartoon art complements the text. At times the story and jokes are predictable (bathroom humor abounds), but the characters are genuine (though Jake is occasionally over-the-top). Like the previous installment, this one ends on a cliff-hanger, and readers will be anxious to see what comes next.