The Stuff of Nightmares

A fantastic, spine-tingling story by the award-winning author of the Noughts & Crosses sequence, Malorie BlackmanKyle has always been afraid of things, especially dying. But when he gets on the train that is taking him and his class on a school trip, he has no idea how close to Death he is going to come. Death enters the train and Kyle moves with him, past his friends, who are frozen in time, in life-or-death situations. Kyle finds that he can pick up on their deepest, darkest fears - real things that have happened to them, or may happen in the future, and sometimes their surreal nightmares too.Kyle realises that he isn't the only one who has buried fears and, more importantly, he now burns with the desire to live, and to live without fear. But will Death release him?

“A superbly told thriller that will keep readers hooked”

The Bookseller
Malorie Blackman is already a bestseller and The Stuff of Nightmares can only add to her fame . . . This book seems bound to be extremely popular -- Nicholas Tucker Independent
Blackman reaches reluctant readers like few others -- Amanda Craig The Times
Malorie Blackman is one of the most versatile and forthright of all authors for young adults. She has brought us an ambitious panorama of broken societies and depicted motive and action in searingly effective ways . . . This is a remarkable book, powerful, fearful -- Dennis Hamley Carousel
It is an intelligent, original and compelling novel -- Simon Treacy Cork Evening Echo

Malorie Blackman has written over seventy books for children and young adults, including the Noughts & Crosses series, Thief and a science-fiction thriller, Chasing the Stars. Many of her books have also been adapted for stage and television, including a BAFTA-award-winning BBC production of Pig-Heart Boy and a Pilot Theatre stage adaptation by Sabrina Mahfouz of Noughts & Crosses. There is also a major BBC production of Noughts & Crosses, with Roc Nation (Jay-Z's entertainment company) curating the soundtrack as executive music producer. In 2005 Malorie was honoured with the Eleanor Farjeon Award in recognition of her distinguished contribution to the world of children's books. In 2008 she received an OBE for her services to children's literature, and between 2013 and 2015 she was the Children's Laureate. Most recently Malorie wrote for the Doctor Who series on BBC One, and the fifth novel in her Noughts & Crosses series, Crossfire, was published by Penguin Random House Children's in summer 2019.

It begins with a ride on a train. But where it ends is on a precipice of horror - dangling on the border between life and death. It's a moment when Kyle discovers he's not the only one in his class who knows about fear. Not the only one who has nightmares. And now, as Death stalks the carriages, it's a moment when nightmares become real. Nightmares of wars, and a world devastated by chemical weapons. Of a body being slowly stolen, bit by bit. Of monstrous actions and monstrous creatures from old myths. Of jealousy, obsession and a stalker outside your window. Nightmares of everything imaginable. What will it take for Kyle to finally face his greatest fear? Pacy, compelling and seriously creepy, don't read this chilling novel late at night! Not suitable for younger readers.

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