Early encounters with fear can shape how children understand the world around them. Children’s stories often deal with fear in child-friendly, relatable ways with anxieties often taking playful forms: creaky closets, shadowy corners or the rumble of thunder, and by confronting these imagined frights in the pages of a book, young readers learn practical strategies for handling real-life worries. Picture books and early chapter novels that tackle anxiety give children words to express their emotions and ways for seeking help when their hearts race. Carole P. Roman’s Oh Susannah: Things That Go Bump extends this vital tradition in early reader chapter books, inviting 7-9 year-olds to follow Susannah Maya Logan as she wrestles with nighttime jitters and discovers the power of sharing fears with friends and family.
In this second instalment of the Oh Susannah series that looks at children’s anxieties, the story continues with Susannah bracing herself for her best friend Lola’s Halloween-themed sleepover. Excited at first, she quickly becomes consumed by “what ifs”: What if she can’t sleep? What if the house is haunted? What if her giggles at ghost stories wake everyone? With each anxious thought, Susannah tucks an invisible “worry” deeper into her trusty oversized backpack – so deeply buried that even she can’t find the zipper to let them out. This short story cleverly brings to life Susannah’s ever-mounting anxieties and transforms her worry and fears into tangible burdens that young readers can see and feel.
Overall, Oh Susannah: Things That Go Bump is an excellent story with a simple plot for emerging readers that examines anxiety – how everybody has different ones and how to deal with and overcome them. It is a gentle, practical guide to overcoming nighttime worries. Perfect for those young readers who need reassurance that fear can be unpacked, shared and ultimately conquered with a little bravery and a lot of friendship.
Structured into ten brisk chapters over 62 pages, it is a good length to read in one sitting or as a couple of chapters each night. Each chapter ending on a question that pushes readers forward: Will Susannah stay in her sleeping bag all night? Can she summon the courage to explore the attic where Lola’s older brother told campfire stories? By weaving in scenarios that children can relate to such as improvised ghost tours, whispered legends of a friendly “house spirit” and midnight walks to the kitchen for chocolate chip cookies, the suspense is balanced with cosy reassurance. The language used throughout the book is child-friendly, using some repetition to reinforce new vocabulary while using short sentences and chapter breaks to manage the story in easy to read chunks, helping to sustain momentum for emerging readers.
Then there is the artwork by illustrator Mateya Arkova. It is warm and expressive which helps to heighten the suspense and tension of the story with just the right dash of whimsy: wide-eyed Susannah peeks under a rumpled blanket; a sketched “monster” lurks beneath her bed; a flickering lantern casts dancing shapes on the walls. These visuals cue children in on the story’s emotional beats – every gasp, every tremor of anticipation, while keeping the overall tone light-hearted rather than truly frightening.
While Things That Go Bump talks about Susannah’s anxieties, it also looks at her gradual realisation that unpacking these fears help to lightens her load. With stories shared of her friends own anxieties; being scared of unicorns and clowns, getting ill and thunderstorms she soon realises that everybody has their own fears, emphasising empathy. The moment Susannah opens her backpack to “unpack” her worries becomes a turning point, illustrating that talking about fears is a strength, not a weakness.
I thought that On Susannah: Things That Go Bump is an excellent book that deals with anxiety and good mental health in a child-friendly manner. It is a good length for younger readers.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £12.99 (Paperback) / £7.99 (Kindle)
Available to buy from Amazon here.
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