Mignola and Golden (Joe Golem and the Drowning City) successfully reunite for this spooky, if derivative, illustrated novella set in WWII Sicily. Father Gaetano has just joined the convent of San Domenico, which houses children orphaned by war. Given the suffering his new charges have already experienced, the priest finds teaching them of God’s love an uphill battle. When Gaetano learns that the convent’s former caretaker, Luciano, built an elaborate puppet theater that has been stored in the basement, he discounts the students’ spooky legends around the puppets and attempts to use the figures to retell Bible stories in an entertaining way. The puppets are not so pleased with this plan and decide to put a stop to it. Golden’s text and Mignola’s illustrations bring their characters to life, allowing the reader to get emotionally invested despite the clichéd set-up. B&w illus. (Oct.)
