1. Art techniques
2. Book design
3. Fear
4. Horror
5. Literary techniques
6. Science fiction
7. Visual literacy

An unnamed narrator and his best mate Mickey agree that the ‘cornfield’ is a bad place especially when they remember what happened to the Pinchley kid when he went there. Despite this they set off across the field fuelled by a mixture of fear and bravado. The heat is oppressive, and the corn makes strange sounds and even stranger appearances – a headless scarecrow with a scythe. Do they make it across, do they make it at all?

There is a strong sense of foreboding and a sense of a hidden menace lurking on every page threatening the physical and mental health of the two boys. The use of dark colours and shadow reinforced by a washed-out appearance gives the illustrations a nightmarish quality. The fractured images and strange shapes that seem randomly pieced together is discombobulating and gives a real sense of threat and fear. Everything seems unbalanced and the word ‘giddy’ is used often. There are hints of something but never enough to help understand or negate the overwhelming sense of dread. This confusion is further emphasised by the stark black and white images on the first and final pages of the book.

The seamless blending of the first-person narration text and Aaron Hill’s chaotic style artwork creates a constantly disturbing tone, a prevailing evil that cannot be dismissed. This a real horror story without a happily ever after ending.

The reader may be reminded of some horror films involving corn fields. This book may have the power to elicit a similar sense of dread, confusion and fear as the films do.

1. Reading Time April 9, 2015. John Nolan reviews ’Corn Field’ by Gary Crew http://readingtime.com.au/corn-field/
2. Read Plus. November 13, 2014. Fran Knight reviews ‘Corn Field’ by Gary Crew. https://www.readplus.com.au/reviews/corn-field-by-gary-crew
3. Buzz Words Magazine January 2, 2015. Anne Hamilton reviews ‘Corn Field’ by Gary Crew http://www.buzzwordsmagazine.com/2015/01/corn-field.html
4. The Age. August 12, 2002. Gary Crew ‘Master of the Paranormal’ https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/books/a-master-of-the-paranormal-20020812-gduhkb.html