To help young readers understand how addiction affects families, interfaith minister Lockwood spins a tale of a troubled king, harboring a “shadow of sadness” that casts a terrible pall on his life. The king, who loves his queen, children, and even his “spunky little dog,” is desperate to cast off his shadow; so desperate, he falls prey to a dangerous new pastime: playing at the quicksand pit with some ill-intentioned friends. Though he reassures himself that “nothing bad can happen to me,” he soon realizes even a king’s not immune to the monster lurking in the pit—a monster that feigns friendship but quickly takes over his entire life.

The king’s downward spiral is painful to behold, and younger readers would benefit from adult support when reading this pensive story. As he transforms into a monster himself, his family suffers, and the king slides further into the abyss, eventually crying “I miss my happy life! I want my family back… Somebody, please help me get away from this Monster!” Lockwood accompanies the heart wrenching text with stark renderings of the king’s monster, a black, sinister cloud that infiltrates his world, swelling in size until it consumes the entire page.

Just as the king reaches his breaking point, his Guardian Angels—who have watched over him since he was young—step in with a lifeline, sending him to the kingdom’s Wisdom Tree for help. That help means the king must move to a Healing House to recover, an important sobriety step that Lockwood skillfully portrays through sketches of his family’s sadness and bewilderment at his absence. Lockwood ties in other well-known Alcoholics Anonymous tenets as well, including depending on a higher power, as the king eventually heals and learns skills to keep his monster at bay, returning home to his joyful family. This is a heartbreaking—but necessary—read for any families facing addiction.

Takeaway: Powerful introduction to the impact of addiction, for younger audiences.

Comparable Titles: Laura Washington’s A Sickness You Can’t See, Anthony Curcio’s Critters Cry Too.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-