Basil & Dahlia - A Tragical Tale of Sinister Sweetness

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Book cover and interiors for a story that follows Dahlia and her brother Basil as they battle an evil celebrity chef determined to obtain a malevolent ingredient for her famous eclairs.

AD: Greg Stadnyk

Selected for The Society of Illustrators, New York, 66th annual exhibition and book

Stark, stylized illustrations from Cluskey are perfectly creepy and help set the unconventional tone.
— Shelf Awareness
[A] bitingly humorous and appealingly weird action-adventure narrative studded with surreal illustrations by Cluskey.
— Publishers Weekly
. . . the piquant tale is rich in twists made all the more delicious by Cluskey’s retro-style illustrations and the narrative’s mildly gothic tone.
— Booklist
. . . edgy, stylish, black-and-white illustrations that have a retro feeling and enhance the drama.
— Kirkus Reviews