Welcome to our latest YA and Middle Grade roundup. Amongst the nine books featured we have an incredibly wide range of plots to dig into or recommend to your favourite youngsters, of which three are Middle Grade Danette Vigilante’s Tia Lugo Speaks No Evil, Jennifer Killick’s Crater Lake Evolution (sequel to the terrific Crater Lake) and Danny Weston’s excellent A Hunter’s Moon, which also crosses over into YA. Femi Fadugba’s mindboggling debut The Upper World is straight science fiction with a touch of dystopia, but as it is set very close to where I live I could not resist featuring it. I was delighted to see the return of the YA horror franchise Red Eye with Bryony Pearce’s Cruel Castle, which is a sequel to Savage Island (2018), unfortunately this was not one of the better Red Eye releases, but kids might still enjoy it. Alexandrea Weis’s Have You Seen Me was an entertaining murder thriller set in an American boarding school and Chris Whitaker’s The Forevers, a thoughtful end of the world drama with a huge meteor hurtling towards earth. Kat Ellis backs up the superb Harrow Lake of last year with another quality twisty horror thriller Wicked Little Deeds and finally Krystal Sutherland’s House of Hollow is a beguiling and highly entertaining dark, folklore, based fantasy. The books are listed alphabetically. Please get in touch if you have any Middle Grade or YA titles you would like us to review.  Kat Ellis – Wicked Little Deeds Last year, the fourth novel by Kat Ellis Harrow Lake impressed us tremendously and it featured in our best of 2020 Christmas YA roundup. Here’s an extract from the review: “A sly and clever YA novel for teen horror freaks to savour! Harrow Lake was a smartly plotted novel which has several layers which you will want to read very carefully, especially as you head towards the end. As a main character Lola was superb and I can think of lots of teenagers who are going to love this book and get lost in its gripping story. Clever, creepy, very original, and superb YA preparation for adult horror.” I’m delighted to say that Kat’s follow-up Wicked Little Deeds is another page-turning treat and for those readers who hid behind the sofa at the mention of ‘Mr Jitters’ in Harrow Lake are going to love ‘Dead-Eyed Sadie’, an equivalent character in Wicked Little Deeds. As with the previous novel, Ellis has fun with small town paranoia, local legends, old ghost stories and builds an entertaining thriller, with supernatural overtones, around the lore. It was one of those novels, that even though it was aimed at a teen audience, had me totally on the hook in figuring who the killer was. Also, I was pretty sure I had it sussed out, but was surprised with the big reveal, even though a few clues were dropped. The main plot was very clever and opens with Ava Thorn (with her uncle and aunt) having to leave the big house her family have lived in for generations. Set in the small town of Burden Falls, her family are closely linked to the legend and curse of ‘Dead-Eyed Sadie’ in which victims are supposed to see this spirit shortly before their imminent death. Moving to a smaller property, Ava is also trying to come to terms with the death of her parents from a year earlier and although a talented artist, is struggling to focus on school. Ava was an engaging lead character who jumps off the page, whose life goes even further off the rails when she realises who has bought her old house and believes she is seeing ‘Sadie’ stalking her. Is she going mad or not? After a teenager she had an argument with is murdered Ava becomes a suspect and begins to conduct her own investigation, whilst there seems to be a vendetta against her own family. Wicked Little Deeds was a pitch perfect slice of small-town life, which although it was more thriller than horror, had a lot going on and was very well plotted. For the most part ‘Dead-Eyed Sadie’ lurked in the background and did not do very much, but when you get to the end will realise why. Teenage thriller fans should eat this book up and it is an absolutely perfect summer read. AGE RANGE 13+  Femi Fadugba - The Upper World Femi Fadugba’s excellent debut is much more YA science fiction thriller than horror, however it has such a diverse and vibrant south London vibe I just have to give it a shout out. Its Amazon blurb says it is currently being developed into a Netflix film, I hope that is the case as I would love to see the areas of Peckham and Brixton (two interconnecting south London areas) feature prominently on screen. I live very close to Brixton and really enjoyed the slang, street life and authentic feelings of black teenagers struggling with gangs, poverty and the impossible dream of escaping. The book uses slang words which my fifteen-year-old daughter chats with, so if you don’t know what ‘peng’ means you’ll have to use a modern slang dictionary! Fadugba has a scientific background and it shows throughout The Upper World, which is a clever and captivating blend of gang warfare, physics, street violence, philosophy and time travel. I’m not going to pretend to understand the quirky detours into physics, some kids might find these confusing or frustrating, but I did enjoy them and much of the novel is grounded in science and quantum physics. Not surprisingly, for a book about time travel, The Upper World is set in two different times which are cleverly interconnected through location and one of the main characters. Firstly, London of 2020 in which teenagers run in gangs and question what kind of future they have, and a near future 2035 version of the city, which is credibly different but still recognisable, with teens having similar problems, but with certain escalations. Fadugba’s vision is scarily similar to ours, where the surveillance state is even more oppressive than it is today. London itself is instantly recognisable, vibrant, multi-cultural, alive and dangerous where we meet our main character Esso who is struggling at school, avoids gangs and has the usage teenage problems with girls and his mum (the relationship with his mum was a real strength of the novel). Soon he discovers he has the ability to see glimpses of the future and becomes haunted by a vision of a bullet fired in an alleyway with devastating consequences. The second plotline is set a generation later, fifteen-year-old Rhia, who is in the care home system and is a talented footballer, but a catastrophic moment from the past holds the key to understanding the parents she never knew. The book silkily leads both characters into a shadowy location called the ‘Upper World’ which exists outside of time (I think), which had other sequences I failed to grasp 100%, but its strengths were its engaging lead characters and authentic location which portrayed local gang feuds. Yes I was confused, but it was still cool. AGE RANGE 12+  Jennifer Killick – Crater Lake Evolution We reviewed Crater Lake back in September 2020 and were delighted to see the book pick up lots of positive vibes, great reviews and obviously successful enough for a sequel, Crater Lake Evolution. Here’s a short section of what we said about the original: “If I were nine years old, I would have loved Crater Lake! It concerns a class of Year Six pupils who are on their rights of passage school trip to an adventure centre. There are terrific action sequences, some gore, great interaction between the kids and big, exciting finish. This is an outstanding gateway into more mature science fiction and horror. It is also a terrific book for reluctant readers who want something relatively mature, but not too long.” The sequel picks up the story five months after the nightmare trip to the Crater Lake camp where a group of kids had to battle creatures which took over the bodies of their teachers, friends and camp staff. If you are after a cool Invasion of the Body Snatchers creepy story then these two books really do the trick. Evolution has many of the main characters as the original, with the gang now all happily settled in secondary school and making new friends, some of which feature in the story. This time out the action takes place in Lance’s hometown of Straybridge which has a university with a science department where they have been doing dodgy experiments connected to the creatures from book one. As with the original, the action takes place over a short period of time, with Lance trying to reconnect with his old friends, whilst suspecting something dodgy has happened to his mum. Before long, the old gang of Katja, Max, Chets and Ade, plus new friend Karim are breaking the curfew to make sure the events of Crater Lake are not repeated. Evolution is fast and furious fun and I love the way it picks up the story with the same kids now in secondary school, who deal with different problems, but still try to keep in touch with their old friends which often is not easy. There are plenty of excellent action sequences and the baddies are cartoony type characters and this is engaging fun for kids at the top end of primary, or first year at secondary. AGE RANGE 9-11  Bryony Pearce – Cruel Castle Bryony Pearce’s Cruel Castle heralds the exciting and long overdue return of the YA horror franchise Red Eye. Having not published a book since Gabriel Dylan’s excellent Whiteout back in 2018 it was looking like the series was well and truly washed up and so book eleven was a very welcome return. I have a feeling the publisher underestimated how popular this series was in school libraries and I was often asked “If I had any new Red Eye books?” by desperate kids. However, considering this is the first book in three years I was very surprised the publisher decided to bounce back with a sequel for its comeback? Cruel Castle follows the events in book nine Savage Island (2018) also by Bryony Pearce and the stories are very closely connected and reading this without having the predecessor might be rather confusing. Sadly, Red Eye do not return with a bang and Cruel Castle is one of the weaker entries in the series, with the whole novel build around a rather old hat escape room format. This lacks the freshness and cruelty of its predecessor Savage Island, which was set on a remote northern Scottish island. It is also worth pointing out that in June of this year Pearce published another YA horror novel called Raising Hell which was significantly better than this and would also have been a good fit for Red Eye rather than this rather bland and undemanding sequel. The story takes place some months after the events of Savage Island where a group of teens are duped into thinking they will be participating in adventure style challenges, for a huge cash prize, only to find out it is a huge setup and if they are to survive have to kill each other off. It’s not quite Battle Royale, but there are some nasty challenges lying ahead and the book was grisly fun. I am not going to say which characters are in Cruel Castle as it would provide spoilers as to who survives in Savage Island, but there is a lot of conspiracy, revenge is on the table, aimed at the billionaire psychopath who set it all up. However, the billionaire has his own ideas and the “team-building exercise” in a Scottish castle is much more than it seems, but ultimately a less fun version of what went down on the island. There were some solid twists and turns, with the plot more thriller than horror which might attract younger readers, but overall, I felt an overwhelming sense of disappointment as this was a brilliant opportunity for Red Eye to announce its triumphant return to YA horror with something wild, instead this was rather underwhelming and they return with a whisper instead of a howl. AGE RAGE 12+  Krystal Sutherland – House of Hollow I always enjoy authors moving around the genres and Krystal Sutherland’s third novel House of Hollow is an exceptionally convincing example of this. I read her debut Chemical Hearts a few years ago, which was an entertaining YA romantic drama, but this latest novel retains the convincing teenage voice of her debut, but effortlessly blends in the supernatural. One of the great strengths of the novel was that the reader was, for most of the time, unsure whether there was something otherworldly going on or not. It was obvious from the outset that the family the story revolved around was very strange, but the contemporary private school setting in Hampstead north London, grounded the action in the world of today. The novel is narrated by the youngest of three sisters Iris (the others being Vivi and Grey) and even she admits that odd things can happen around them, but kind of shrugs it off as the biproduct of being ‘Hollow Sister’ Whether Iris Hollow has special powers or is just plain weird is for the reader to find out, however, as a narrator she seriously crackles and gives House of Hollow a very authentic teenage voice which I am sure many teen readers will tap straight into. The reason the sisters are ‘special’ is because ten years earlier the three vanished into thin air, only to reappear a month later, with no memory of where they had been. Over the following years, even if the media interest eventually died down, both elder sisters Vivi and Grey led very different lives in a rock band and as a super model. However, even if the sister bond is very tight (and a great strength of the novel) it is Iris who is left behind. Early in the novel the story takes a fascinating direction when, once again, Grey disappears, but leaves clues to where she might be only her sisters can decipher. The story then moves into the realms of dark fairy tales and folklore, without ever playing to the stereotypes you often get in this brand of YA novel. Make sure you hang in there for a terrific ending. AGE RANGE 13+  Danette Vigilante - Tia Lugo Speaks No Evil If you’re after an enjoyable easy-read page-turning, but not too scary thriller, then Tia Lugo Speaks No Evil is worth a look for kids at the top end of primary, or first year of secondary school. Very early in the story thirteen-year-old New Yorker Tia Lugo partially witnesses a murder outside her bedroom window, suffering from Asma, she finds herself awake at odd times and struggles to sleep. The story is built around her failure to tell the police what she saw, fearful that the killer will target her family and at a certain point he does make contact. Adult readers will not find many surprises in this story, but I enjoyed Tia trying to negotiate what to do next, coming from a Spanish speaking family, with a grandmother who believes in herbal magic (and weird-smelling herb bundles, and eerie statues), the plot has some nice strands which are built around her close-knit family and a culture which does not find talking to the police easy. The nicest relationship is with her best friend Julius, who is the same age, and there are the early stages of romantic tension in the air, but the book keeps everything nicely innocent. Tia was a terrific main character, and although you will be screaming “go to the police!”, it was still very nice to have a Latin American central character, with the plot also taking in bullying at school and younger readers have an entertaining mystery to unravel, with a couple of red herrings thrown in along the way. Horror does not always have to be super scary, and this was a very enjoyable Middle Grade thriller with nice tension, atmosphere and family dynamics. AGE RANGE 8-11  Alexandrea Weis – Have You Seen Me Alexandrea Weis’s Have You Seen Me follows a well-trodden path into a posh American boarding school, Waverly Prep, with sinister goings on, which they seem to be deliberately playing down. There was little to separate this book from the crowded boarding school pack which falls short of the market-leader, Maureen Johnson’s Truly Devious series, which has a very similar setting. My main issue with this book was the way in which the murder mystery was framed, not necessarily the story itself, which was a decent read with twists and turns and a surprise ending (but not too much, as I knew who the killer was long before the end). When I read a thriller, I need to be convinced what I am reading is plausible. However, within the first thirty pages of Have You Seen Me new history teacher (main character Aubrey LeRoux) almost becomes best friends with a group of students and begins to investigate the disappearance of troubled teenager Lindsey Gillett. This was just so implausible, the brand-new teacher leading a Scoobie gang investigation with her pupils! Granted, the teens had their own agenda, but this lack of basic credibility put me off the book from the start. Perhaps it is because I have worked in education and schools since 1994 that this irritated me so much as it lacked even an inch of credibility. Genuine kids readers will undoubtedly swallow the story much easier that I did. Bearing that observation in mind teen readers should have fun with what is an engaging murder mystery which takes in disappearances over two time periods. Once Audrey turns up (she is a young teacher, mid-twenties), we realise that she previously attended the school as a pupil when another girl disappeared and was questioned as a suspect. It is quickly revealed that Audrey was bullied and did not have a particularly happy time at Waverly Prep. The teens who join her Scoobie gang were all friends of Lindsey, and are also aware of Sophie’s history, and use her to try and solve the mystery and any connections to the previous disappearance. In the end there were not too many suspects, and like with Scoobie, it is never the most obvious one. Other points of view are the kids in the group, with the story taking in usual teen issues in broad strokes. One might wonder why Audrey ever came back as the Headmistress was a real dragon who did not like anybody. Have You Seen Me was an easy and relatively undemanding read for thriller and mystery fans. AGE RANGE 12+  Danny Weston - A Hunter’s Moon If you are after a very fast paced historical supernatural thriller then Danny Weston’s A Hunter’s Moon is a terrific Middle Grade read and because it holds back on graphic violence is perfect for kids starting secondary school. Set in 18th Century Scotland, and top-loaded with local folklore, teenager Callum’s life is turned upside down when his father loses a pile of money at cards. As a result, Callum ends up working as a servant/slave to Frazer McCloud as payment for his father’s debt and McCloud is a tough master. Early in the novel the pair are hired to kill a wolf which is terrorising a local community some miles away. Once they arrive they realise the local farmers believe that the killer is not a wolf, but a creature from Scottish mythology called Cù Sìth. What follows is a very entertaining thriller in which Callum and Frazer realise that the Colonel who hired them has not told them the full story and something very nasty lurks in the encroaching forests and it’s hungry. I particularly enjoyed the interactions between the characters in A Hunter’s Moon. Initially McCloud is painted as a real bad guy, but he grows on the reader as the plot moves along. Likewise, the developing friendship between Callum and local girl Mhairi, the innkeeper’s daughter, came across as authentic, particularly as she has a strange air about her. Even though it was not an especially violent book the action sequences were wildly intense and the descriptions of the beast were particularly strong. I enjoy fiction which has a convincing folklore spin and A Hunter’s Moon had me checking Wikipedia a few times, all of which is blended into a convincing Scottish setting. Young horror and thriller fans will get quickly sucked into this engaging plot, especially as the body count increases, and even those readers who do not read much historical fiction will easily tap into this engaging novel. AGE RANGE 10-13  Chris Whitaker – The Forevers There are many YA novels about the end of the world which head into wild survivalist or dystopian settings and Chris Whitaker’s The Forevers is an antidote to that particular trope, as there is not a biker or cannibal in sight. Alternatively, this novel is a very philosophical and character driven look at the end of the world, it will be too slow for action seeking teens, but for those who enjoy more thoughtful dark thrillers then there is much to admire. It also reminded me of the fantastic Last Policeman by Ben Winters, an adult trilogy with a very similar plot, a giant asteroid will hit earth and the novel is the countdown to this cataclysmic event. In a YA setting a countdown to the end of the world asks lots of interesting questions involving the point of going to school, following rules or even the law. Is murder a big deal or even worth investigating? Like in The Last Policeman the asteroid is discovered ten years before impact and the novel picks up the story thirty days before the world (probably) ends. Main character Mae is seventeen and knows she is going to die before she turns eighteen, so it is easy why teens might ask “What’s the point?” type questions. The story is built around three suicides, including the best friend of Mae, and her investigation into whether this was indeed a suicide. If anything, the story dwells too much on this and for some of the time the asteroid is relegated to the background. As society begins to crumble (but not to the extent of most novels of this type) it asks the question what would you do if you could get away with anything? Ultimately it was a very sad book as the reader knows what exactly is going to happen on the very last page. It was inevitable, but somehow I was still hoping that there was a get out for Mae as she was a great character, damaged, but one teen readers will feel great empathy for. AGE RANGE 13+ Tony Jones TODAY ON THE GINGER NUTS OF HORROR WEBSITE[SPLASHES OF DARKNESS] |
![[YOUNG BLOOD LIBRARY] MIDDLE GRADE AND YA HORROR ROUND UP FOR AUGUST 2021](../../uploads/3/4/5/1/34519054/young-blood-library-middle-grade-and-ya-horror-round-up-for-august-2021_orig.jpg)
 | There are some terrific authors in this section, but my personal favourite is the great Scott Sigler who has written some vicious science fiction-tinged horror and more recently made a successful jump to YA with a trilogy which effortlessly blends science fiction and horror. |
This is the final of three article which takes a broad sweep at authors who started their careers as adult horror writers, but at some stage turned to YA fiction or visa-versa, those who began with YA and then jumped to adult. Interestingly, considering the huge number of horror writers there are, it is not an especially long list. If you missed part one and two follow the links below to catch up:
PART 1
https://gingernutsofhorror.com/young-blood/adult-horror-writers-who-also-write-ya-fiction-and-visa-versa-part-1-a-h
PART 2
https://gingernutsofhorror.com/young-blood/blurring-the-boundaries-between-worlds-horror-authors-who-write-ya-and-adult-horror-part-2-i-r
There are some terrific authors in this section, but my personal favourite is the great Scott Sigler who has written some vicious science fiction-tinged horror and more recently made a successful jump to YA with a trilogy which effortlessly blends science fiction and horror. It is tricky writing for both age groups and if you do not know many of these authors, they are well worth dipping into. Interestingly, many of them are much better known for one age group and would be seen as ‘dabblers’ in the others, for example, how many of you knew the great Jeff Strand has written many YA novels or that the multi-million selling YA legend Darren Shan writes adult fiction as Darren Dash?
It is not an authoritative list, and it has been compiled mainly from going through my old Ginger Nuts of Horror reviews, which date back to 2015. I would also like to thank the Twitter horror-sphere and the Books of Horror Facebook group who helped with many of the suggestions. I am sure there are many other great examples, so get in touch if there are any glaring omissions and they may feature in a follow-up article.
The short accompanying reviews notes: if it is a novel I have previously reviewed on Ginger Nuts of Horror it is introduced with “Here’s what we said about….” Others might have reviews of books I have read but have never previously reviewed online. The late additions, books I have not read, have blurbs which I have taken from either Fantastic Fiction or Amazon. Many of these are future reads! The dates I have used have also originated on Amazon or Fantastic Fiction. Note, they do not aim to be complete, and I have featured what I have found to be the most relevant to this project.
The authors are listed alphabetically.
PART 1
https://gingernutsofhorror.com/young-blood/adult-horror-writers-who-also-write-ya-fiction-and-visa-versa-part-1-a-h
PART 2
https://gingernutsofhorror.com/young-blood/blurring-the-boundaries-between-worlds-horror-authors-who-write-ya-and-adult-horror-part-2-i-r
There are some terrific authors in this section, but my personal favourite is the great Scott Sigler who has written some vicious science fiction-tinged horror and more recently made a successful jump to YA with a trilogy which effortlessly blends science fiction and horror. It is tricky writing for both age groups and if you do not know many of these authors, they are well worth dipping into. Interestingly, many of them are much better known for one age group and would be seen as ‘dabblers’ in the others, for example, how many of you knew the great Jeff Strand has written many YA novels or that the multi-million selling YA legend Darren Shan writes adult fiction as Darren Dash?
It is not an authoritative list, and it has been compiled mainly from going through my old Ginger Nuts of Horror reviews, which date back to 2015. I would also like to thank the Twitter horror-sphere and the Books of Horror Facebook group who helped with many of the suggestions. I am sure there are many other great examples, so get in touch if there are any glaring omissions and they may feature in a follow-up article.
The short accompanying reviews notes: if it is a novel I have previously reviewed on Ginger Nuts of Horror it is introduced with “Here’s what we said about….” Others might have reviews of books I have read but have never previously reviewed online. The late additions, books I have not read, have blurbs which I have taken from either Fantastic Fiction or Amazon. Many of these are future reads! The dates I have used have also originated on Amazon or Fantastic Fiction. Note, they do not aim to be complete, and I have featured what I have found to be the most relevant to this project.
The authors are listed alphabetically.
VE SCHWAB AKA VICTORIA SCHWAB
Between 2013-2021 VE Schwab has written ten or eleven novels, which are a blend of dark fantasy, although technically they are adult reads, most have very strong YA vibes to them and are popular with teens. For example, my fifteen-year-old daughter loved The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (2020) and has read many of her other ‘adult’ novels, the best known are Vicious (2013), A Darker Side of Magic (2015) and The Steel Prince (2018). Her most recent novel is Extraordinary (2021), which kicks off her new series. When writing as Victoria Schwab her fiction is a mixture of dark fantasy and the supernatural, aimed at both YA and younger Middle Grade age groups. Her series include The Near Witch (2011), Archived (2013-14), Everyday Angel (2014), Monsters of Verity (2016-17) and Cassidy Blake (2018-21) which begins with City of Ghosts.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT CITY OF GHOSTS (2018)
The multi-talented Victoria Schwab who writes for both adults and teens returns with a new fantasy ghost story for slightly younger children. When Cass was younger, she had a near-death-experience which resulted in her having the ability to see ghosts. Her best friend, Jacob, is a ghost, whom her parents believe is just an invisible friend she will grow out of. After her parents get a new job presenting a TV programme about true supernatural hauntings her family relocate from America to Edinburgh in Scotland. Once in Edinburgh the ‘City of Ghosts’ Cass begins to see even more ghosts and even meets another little girl who has the same gift as her who teaches her to use it properly. This was a very easy read, quite gently written, with no real level of threat and would be a pleasant introduction for children beginning to develop an interest in ghost stories. AGE RANGE 8-11
DARREN SHAN AKA DARREN DASH
Darren Shan is arguably the most important British YA horror writer of the 21st Century and his twelve-book series The Saga of Darren Shan (2000-2005) and ten book Demonata (2005-2009) series were instrumental in creating a new generation of teen horror readers, selling millions of copies along the way. We regularly bang on about the importance of RL Stine and Christopher Pike, but in the UK Shan is as important as those other guys. Between 2010-12 he returned to his most famous debut series with a quartet of prequels The Saga of Larten Crepsley. By this stage, his popularity had begun to dip, and the twelve book ZOM-B series (2012-16) did not have the impact of his earlier work and one could argue the twelve books were published too closely together. Darren had originally started out as an adult writer, using his real name Darren O'Shaughnessy with the City Duology (1999-2000) which was later republished under Darren Shan, expanding into a trilogy. Other experiments with adult writing continued in 2012 with Lady of the Shades and other dark thrillers followed, including Molly Likes It Hot (2019), The Evil and the Pure (2014), Sunburn (2015) and An Other Place (2016) under the pseudonym Darren Dash. He has recently returned to YA with the multibook fantasy series Archibald Lox (2020-21). YA horror is sending out an SOS to the true king: we need you back, Darren!
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT THE SAGA OF LARTEN CREPSLEY QUARTET (2010)
‘Origin’ stories are dime a dozen these days, however, back in 2010 Darren Shan was way ahead of the curve when he returned to the world of his most memorable creations, the twelve-book series Cirque Du Freak which is one of my personal favourites and essential reading for any young teen. You could easily read this quartet without reading Cirque Du Freak, but much of it has been written for those ‘in the know’ and stars Larten Crepsley one of the main supernatural characters from Cirque Du Freak who is several hundred-years-old. This origins story takes us back to when Larten was still a human boy and gets into trouble after killing a man who murdered his brother. Once on the run he meets a vampire, Seba, and his life changes forever. The four books beautifully humanise Larten who at various times falls out of love with being a vampire and immortality, taking the reader on a highly entertaining and swashbuckling series of adventures and escapades. I wish Darren Shan would start writing horror for teens again, few have done more for engaging boys into reading horror than this outstanding author in the last twenty years. AGE RANGE 11+
SCOTT SIGLER
If I’m ever asked who my favourite author is, Scott Sigler is always in my all-time top three and sometimes occupies the top spot. I have read every word this wonderful author has written and if anybody blends bloody horror, science fiction and wild crazy technology together better, I have yet to discover them. I even met him when he visited London a few years back. He has too many amazing adult novels to list, but my favourites are Infected (2008), its sequel Contagious (2008), Earthcore (2001), Ancestor (2007) and Nocturnal (2012). At the time of writing my tongue is hanging out waiting for Mount Fitz Roy, the sequel to Earthcore, to drop at the end of 2021. Between 2015-17 Sigler tried his hand at YA with the impressive Generations Trilogy, which was a blend of dystopian science fiction and horror. However, you could argue that Sigler first dabbled with YA way back in 2009 with The Rookie (2009), which was the first book in his Galactic Football League series (2009-21), which now numbers six books. I have them in my school library and over the years many kids have read their way through the series.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT THE GENERATIONS TRILOGY (2015-17)
Sigler ranks amongst my favourite ever authors and has written many terrific adult novels, but Alive is his first full dip into YA which expertly blends science fiction, dystopia and horror with a group of kids waking up in coffins, not knowing who or where they are; all suffering from amnesia and feeling rather weird in the bodies they now inhabit. It’s an outstanding move into YA from the author of the horrific Infected trilogy and the inter-connected trilogy has many outstanding twists along the way. AGE RANGE 13+
RL STINE
RL Stine has written, quite literally, hundreds of books since first appearing in the mid-1980s and remains most famous for his Goosebumps (1992-2021), Fear Street (1989-98) and Point Horror novels, which are a mixture of Middle Grade and YA. Some of these series are truly massive, with the original Fear Street a huge 53 books and the first Goosebumps series, well over a hundred books. The impact Stine has had on young readers, horror fans, and budding authors, as a gateway to the world of the supernatural is truly beyond measure. At various times, with limited success, Stine has experimented with adult horror, but they seem to lack an edge. His first attempt was Superstitious (1995), others include Eye Candy (2003) and Red Rain (2012). There is always nostalgia for the Point Horror series, but in reality they are rather dated and YA has moved on considerably in the following decades.
BLURB FOR ‘THE SNOWMAN’ (1991)
Heather is so unhappy. Her evil guardian hates her and treats her like dirt, she has few friends, and she feels cold and alone. Then she meets a great guy who calls himself the Snowman. Heather feels safe, but is the Snowman all that he seems?
Between 2013-2021 VE Schwab has written ten or eleven novels, which are a blend of dark fantasy, although technically they are adult reads, most have very strong YA vibes to them and are popular with teens. For example, my fifteen-year-old daughter loved The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (2020) and has read many of her other ‘adult’ novels, the best known are Vicious (2013), A Darker Side of Magic (2015) and The Steel Prince (2018). Her most recent novel is Extraordinary (2021), which kicks off her new series. When writing as Victoria Schwab her fiction is a mixture of dark fantasy and the supernatural, aimed at both YA and younger Middle Grade age groups. Her series include The Near Witch (2011), Archived (2013-14), Everyday Angel (2014), Monsters of Verity (2016-17) and Cassidy Blake (2018-21) which begins with City of Ghosts.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT CITY OF GHOSTS (2018)
The multi-talented Victoria Schwab who writes for both adults and teens returns with a new fantasy ghost story for slightly younger children. When Cass was younger, she had a near-death-experience which resulted in her having the ability to see ghosts. Her best friend, Jacob, is a ghost, whom her parents believe is just an invisible friend she will grow out of. After her parents get a new job presenting a TV programme about true supernatural hauntings her family relocate from America to Edinburgh in Scotland. Once in Edinburgh the ‘City of Ghosts’ Cass begins to see even more ghosts and even meets another little girl who has the same gift as her who teaches her to use it properly. This was a very easy read, quite gently written, with no real level of threat and would be a pleasant introduction for children beginning to develop an interest in ghost stories. AGE RANGE 8-11
DARREN SHAN AKA DARREN DASH
Darren Shan is arguably the most important British YA horror writer of the 21st Century and his twelve-book series The Saga of Darren Shan (2000-2005) and ten book Demonata (2005-2009) series were instrumental in creating a new generation of teen horror readers, selling millions of copies along the way. We regularly bang on about the importance of RL Stine and Christopher Pike, but in the UK Shan is as important as those other guys. Between 2010-12 he returned to his most famous debut series with a quartet of prequels The Saga of Larten Crepsley. By this stage, his popularity had begun to dip, and the twelve book ZOM-B series (2012-16) did not have the impact of his earlier work and one could argue the twelve books were published too closely together. Darren had originally started out as an adult writer, using his real name Darren O'Shaughnessy with the City Duology (1999-2000) which was later republished under Darren Shan, expanding into a trilogy. Other experiments with adult writing continued in 2012 with Lady of the Shades and other dark thrillers followed, including Molly Likes It Hot (2019), The Evil and the Pure (2014), Sunburn (2015) and An Other Place (2016) under the pseudonym Darren Dash. He has recently returned to YA with the multibook fantasy series Archibald Lox (2020-21). YA horror is sending out an SOS to the true king: we need you back, Darren!
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT THE SAGA OF LARTEN CREPSLEY QUARTET (2010)
‘Origin’ stories are dime a dozen these days, however, back in 2010 Darren Shan was way ahead of the curve when he returned to the world of his most memorable creations, the twelve-book series Cirque Du Freak which is one of my personal favourites and essential reading for any young teen. You could easily read this quartet without reading Cirque Du Freak, but much of it has been written for those ‘in the know’ and stars Larten Crepsley one of the main supernatural characters from Cirque Du Freak who is several hundred-years-old. This origins story takes us back to when Larten was still a human boy and gets into trouble after killing a man who murdered his brother. Once on the run he meets a vampire, Seba, and his life changes forever. The four books beautifully humanise Larten who at various times falls out of love with being a vampire and immortality, taking the reader on a highly entertaining and swashbuckling series of adventures and escapades. I wish Darren Shan would start writing horror for teens again, few have done more for engaging boys into reading horror than this outstanding author in the last twenty years. AGE RANGE 11+
SCOTT SIGLER
If I’m ever asked who my favourite author is, Scott Sigler is always in my all-time top three and sometimes occupies the top spot. I have read every word this wonderful author has written and if anybody blends bloody horror, science fiction and wild crazy technology together better, I have yet to discover them. I even met him when he visited London a few years back. He has too many amazing adult novels to list, but my favourites are Infected (2008), its sequel Contagious (2008), Earthcore (2001), Ancestor (2007) and Nocturnal (2012). At the time of writing my tongue is hanging out waiting for Mount Fitz Roy, the sequel to Earthcore, to drop at the end of 2021. Between 2015-17 Sigler tried his hand at YA with the impressive Generations Trilogy, which was a blend of dystopian science fiction and horror. However, you could argue that Sigler first dabbled with YA way back in 2009 with The Rookie (2009), which was the first book in his Galactic Football League series (2009-21), which now numbers six books. I have them in my school library and over the years many kids have read their way through the series.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT THE GENERATIONS TRILOGY (2015-17)
Sigler ranks amongst my favourite ever authors and has written many terrific adult novels, but Alive is his first full dip into YA which expertly blends science fiction, dystopia and horror with a group of kids waking up in coffins, not knowing who or where they are; all suffering from amnesia and feeling rather weird in the bodies they now inhabit. It’s an outstanding move into YA from the author of the horrific Infected trilogy and the inter-connected trilogy has many outstanding twists along the way. AGE RANGE 13+
RL STINE
RL Stine has written, quite literally, hundreds of books since first appearing in the mid-1980s and remains most famous for his Goosebumps (1992-2021), Fear Street (1989-98) and Point Horror novels, which are a mixture of Middle Grade and YA. Some of these series are truly massive, with the original Fear Street a huge 53 books and the first Goosebumps series, well over a hundred books. The impact Stine has had on young readers, horror fans, and budding authors, as a gateway to the world of the supernatural is truly beyond measure. At various times, with limited success, Stine has experimented with adult horror, but they seem to lack an edge. His first attempt was Superstitious (1995), others include Eye Candy (2003) and Red Rain (2012). There is always nostalgia for the Point Horror series, but in reality they are rather dated and YA has moved on considerably in the following decades.
BLURB FOR ‘THE SNOWMAN’ (1991)
Heather is so unhappy. Her evil guardian hates her and treats her like dirt, she has few friends, and she feels cold and alone. Then she meets a great guy who calls himself the Snowman. Heather feels safe, but is the Snowman all that he seems?
SAM STONE AKA SAMANTHA LEE HOWE
Sam Stone is known for the six book adult Vampire Gene series (2008-16), the Jinx Chronicles (2015-18), Posing for Picasso (2018) and other novellas, collections and short stories. She has also written mysteries, The Stranger in our Bed (2020) and the House of Killers series (2021) under the name Samantha Lee Howe. Between 2012-18 she also moved into urban YA fantasy with a strong Steampunk twang, with the Kat Lightfoot Mysteries, which begins with Zombies at Tiffany’s.
BLURB FOR ZOMBIES AT TIFFANY’S (2012)
Kat Lightfoot thought that getting a job at the famed Tiffany's store in New York would be the end to her problems ... she has money, new friends, and there's even an inventor working there who develops new weapons from clockwork, and who cuts diamonds with a strange, powered light. This is 1862, after all, and such things are the wonder of the age.
But then events take a turn for the worse: men and women wander the streets talking of 'the darkness'; bodies vanish from morgues across town; and random, bloody attacks on innocent people take place in broad daylight. Soon Kat and her friends are fighting for their lives against a horde of infected people, with only their wits and ingenuity to help them.
JEFF STRAND
Jeff Strand is so prolific I have given up trying to keep up with him and although I’ve read a good few of his books, there are plenty more to go. Many of his recent books have been self-published, but that does not signify any dip in quality and Strand keeps on doing his prolific crazy and rather unique thing. He has too many books to list, so here are a few of my favourites Blister (2011), the utterly wild Cyclops Road is my personal favourite (2016), My Pretties (2019), Clowns Vs Spiders (2019) and Allison (2020). Much of his work has a distinctive brand of comic horror and often branches into other genres, his YA titles include Elrod McBugle On The Loose (2007), A Bad Day for Voodoo (2008), I Have a Bad Feeling About This (2014), The Greatest Zombie Movie Ever (2016), Stranger Things Have Happened (2017) and How You Ruined My Life (2018). Strand if one of the few authors to be both nominated for a YA Stoker (A Bad Day For Voodoo) and in the adult best novel category, for Pressure (2006). If you have never tried Jeff, you are in for an absolute blast. A deeper exploration of his YA is on my ‘to-do’ list and he is one of those authors I am always delighted to dip into his outstanding back catalogue.
BLURB FOR ‘A BAD DAY FOR VOODOO’ (2008)
When your best friend is just a tiny bit psychotic, you should never actually believe him when he says, "Trust me. This is gonna be awesome." Of course, you probably wouldn't believe a voodoo doll could work either. Or that it could cause someone's leg to blow clean off with one quick prick. But I've seen it. It can happen.
And when there's suddenly a doll of YOU floating around out there - a doll that could be snatched by a Rottweiler and torn to shreds, or a gang of thugs ready to torch it, or any random family of cannibals (really, do you need the danger here spelled out for you?) - well, you know that's just gonna be a really bad day ...
STEVE STRED
Canadian literary whirlwind is another author who is way too prolific for me to keep up with. Over the last few years Steve has released an impressive range of fiction, mainly at novella length. I’ve read a range of these and my favourite is the awesome The Window in the Ground (2020) which can count itself unlucky in not making the final ballot for the Novella Bram Stoker Award. The One That Knows No Fear (2019) was also a great read and The Girl Who Hid in the Trees (2019) and Ritual (2019) were also enjoyable. In 2020 Stred released his first junior fiction title, The Boy Whose Room Was Outside, which showed promise and I’ll be interested whether he returns to the younger age groups or attempts to write for the older YA audience.
REVIEW OF ‘THE BOY WHOSE ROOM WAS OUTSIDE’ (2020)
The Boy Whose Room Was Outside was quite a gentle and non-threatening fantasy novel aimed at a younger age group. The story revolves around a young boy who when he falls asleep wakes up in a fantasy and magical world where he meets lots of different animals who can talk. Whilst he is in this other world, he is also being watched by a dark presence which draws closer to him as the story progresses. This dark force does not want him in the forest, but we do not know why.
This was a very easy read which might fire the imagination of younger children but considering the depth of excellent fantasy novels on the market a story needs more strings to its bow than talking animals to genuinely hold the attention. There were many nice touches, including his relationship with his parents, his dad attempting to get to the other world, Peter’s understanding mother and the fact that his parents couldn’t figure out where he learned to swim! The giant was a lovely character, but in the end of the day the ‘dark’ character did not do much apart from lurk in the background. Having said that, not all stories have to be truly dark, and Peter’s journey was a nice, gentle, and easy to read coming-of-age story aimed at younger children. AGE RANGE 8-10
CL TAYLOR
CL Taylor is best known for her bestselling adult psychological thrillers, which include The Accident (2014), The Lie (2015), The Escape (2017), The Fear (2018), Strangers (2020) and most recently Her Last Holiday (2021). However, she has also written two YA novels, The Treatment (2017) and The Island (2021) neither of which are traditional horror novels, mor a blend of dark thriller with supernatural overtones.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT ‘THE TREATMENT’ (2017)
The Treatment by CL Taylor has had some hype in YA land recently, being the teen debut for a bestselling adult thriller writer. I haven’t read any of her adult offerings, but this was a tad underwhelming and although it was well written with an engaging free flowing style the plot was telegraphed and predictable to an adult reader. Drew is having a tough time at school and is being bullied after her troublemaker brother is sent to a reform school. This is a new type of school, called Residential Reform Academy (RRA), Drew finds out that the RRA may have some dodgy ‘treatment’ which reconditions and cures these troublesome teens. Of course, before long Drew also ends up in the RRA and it all becomes very predictable. It’s more thriller than horror and teens looking for an easy read will get some entertainment from it. AGE RANGE 12+
Sam Stone is known for the six book adult Vampire Gene series (2008-16), the Jinx Chronicles (2015-18), Posing for Picasso (2018) and other novellas, collections and short stories. She has also written mysteries, The Stranger in our Bed (2020) and the House of Killers series (2021) under the name Samantha Lee Howe. Between 2012-18 she also moved into urban YA fantasy with a strong Steampunk twang, with the Kat Lightfoot Mysteries, which begins with Zombies at Tiffany’s.
BLURB FOR ZOMBIES AT TIFFANY’S (2012)
Kat Lightfoot thought that getting a job at the famed Tiffany's store in New York would be the end to her problems ... she has money, new friends, and there's even an inventor working there who develops new weapons from clockwork, and who cuts diamonds with a strange, powered light. This is 1862, after all, and such things are the wonder of the age.
But then events take a turn for the worse: men and women wander the streets talking of 'the darkness'; bodies vanish from morgues across town; and random, bloody attacks on innocent people take place in broad daylight. Soon Kat and her friends are fighting for their lives against a horde of infected people, with only their wits and ingenuity to help them.
JEFF STRAND
Jeff Strand is so prolific I have given up trying to keep up with him and although I’ve read a good few of his books, there are plenty more to go. Many of his recent books have been self-published, but that does not signify any dip in quality and Strand keeps on doing his prolific crazy and rather unique thing. He has too many books to list, so here are a few of my favourites Blister (2011), the utterly wild Cyclops Road is my personal favourite (2016), My Pretties (2019), Clowns Vs Spiders (2019) and Allison (2020). Much of his work has a distinctive brand of comic horror and often branches into other genres, his YA titles include Elrod McBugle On The Loose (2007), A Bad Day for Voodoo (2008), I Have a Bad Feeling About This (2014), The Greatest Zombie Movie Ever (2016), Stranger Things Have Happened (2017) and How You Ruined My Life (2018). Strand if one of the few authors to be both nominated for a YA Stoker (A Bad Day For Voodoo) and in the adult best novel category, for Pressure (2006). If you have never tried Jeff, you are in for an absolute blast. A deeper exploration of his YA is on my ‘to-do’ list and he is one of those authors I am always delighted to dip into his outstanding back catalogue.
BLURB FOR ‘A BAD DAY FOR VOODOO’ (2008)
When your best friend is just a tiny bit psychotic, you should never actually believe him when he says, "Trust me. This is gonna be awesome." Of course, you probably wouldn't believe a voodoo doll could work either. Or that it could cause someone's leg to blow clean off with one quick prick. But I've seen it. It can happen.
And when there's suddenly a doll of YOU floating around out there - a doll that could be snatched by a Rottweiler and torn to shreds, or a gang of thugs ready to torch it, or any random family of cannibals (really, do you need the danger here spelled out for you?) - well, you know that's just gonna be a really bad day ...
STEVE STRED
Canadian literary whirlwind is another author who is way too prolific for me to keep up with. Over the last few years Steve has released an impressive range of fiction, mainly at novella length. I’ve read a range of these and my favourite is the awesome The Window in the Ground (2020) which can count itself unlucky in not making the final ballot for the Novella Bram Stoker Award. The One That Knows No Fear (2019) was also a great read and The Girl Who Hid in the Trees (2019) and Ritual (2019) were also enjoyable. In 2020 Stred released his first junior fiction title, The Boy Whose Room Was Outside, which showed promise and I’ll be interested whether he returns to the younger age groups or attempts to write for the older YA audience.
REVIEW OF ‘THE BOY WHOSE ROOM WAS OUTSIDE’ (2020)
The Boy Whose Room Was Outside was quite a gentle and non-threatening fantasy novel aimed at a younger age group. The story revolves around a young boy who when he falls asleep wakes up in a fantasy and magical world where he meets lots of different animals who can talk. Whilst he is in this other world, he is also being watched by a dark presence which draws closer to him as the story progresses. This dark force does not want him in the forest, but we do not know why.
This was a very easy read which might fire the imagination of younger children but considering the depth of excellent fantasy novels on the market a story needs more strings to its bow than talking animals to genuinely hold the attention. There were many nice touches, including his relationship with his parents, his dad attempting to get to the other world, Peter’s understanding mother and the fact that his parents couldn’t figure out where he learned to swim! The giant was a lovely character, but in the end of the day the ‘dark’ character did not do much apart from lurk in the background. Having said that, not all stories have to be truly dark, and Peter’s journey was a nice, gentle, and easy to read coming-of-age story aimed at younger children. AGE RANGE 8-10
CL TAYLOR
CL Taylor is best known for her bestselling adult psychological thrillers, which include The Accident (2014), The Lie (2015), The Escape (2017), The Fear (2018), Strangers (2020) and most recently Her Last Holiday (2021). However, she has also written two YA novels, The Treatment (2017) and The Island (2021) neither of which are traditional horror novels, mor a blend of dark thriller with supernatural overtones.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT ‘THE TREATMENT’ (2017)
The Treatment by CL Taylor has had some hype in YA land recently, being the teen debut for a bestselling adult thriller writer. I haven’t read any of her adult offerings, but this was a tad underwhelming and although it was well written with an engaging free flowing style the plot was telegraphed and predictable to an adult reader. Drew is having a tough time at school and is being bullied after her troublemaker brother is sent to a reform school. This is a new type of school, called Residential Reform Academy (RRA), Drew finds out that the RRA may have some dodgy ‘treatment’ which reconditions and cures these troublesome teens. Of course, before long Drew also ends up in the RRA and it all becomes very predictable. It’s more thriller than horror and teens looking for an easy read will get some entertainment from it. AGE RANGE 12+
STEVE RASNIC TEM
Steve Rasnic Tem published his first novel Excavation back in 1987, however he has been writing short stories since the 1970s with over 200 published, and either winning or being nominated for top awards such as the British Fantasy Award, the World Fantasy and Bram Stoker Awards. His short story output is so prolific he regularly has his own collections published, including his debut Decoded Mirrors in 1978, the many others which followed include Ugly Behaviour (2012) and Onion Songs (2013). Other adult horror novels are Blood Kin (2014) which won the Bram Stoker Award for best novel and Ubo (2017). However, in 2018 Tem changed direction and published his first novel for children, The Mask Shop of Doctor Blaack.
BLURB FOR THE ‘MASK SHOP OF DOCTOR BLAACK’ (2018)
Fall is Laura's favorite time of year, but this autumn, things are different. She's a teenager now, and the season brings new changes and challenges. Laura's decided she's too old for trick-or-treating and wants a more grown-up Halloween experience with her friends. Unfortunately for Laura, her parents tell her she has to take her little brother, Trevor, out trick-or-treating first. When they go shopping for Halloween costumes, they stumble upon a very strange shop and its even stranger proprietor. When Trevor tries on the wrong mask, the consequences are exciting...and dangerous. AGE RANGE 10+
GABY TRIANA
Gaby Triana has written a blend of YA horror, fantasy and teen romance, most recently the excellent Moon Child (2021) which is reviewed below. Other titles include Back Stage Pass (2004), Summer of Yesterday (2014) and Cakespell (2018). Her adult fiction includes The Haunted Florida Trilogy (2018). Gaby has also ghost written many other books.
HERE’S OUR REVIEW OF ‘MOON CHILD’ (2021)
Gaby Triana has a number of novels, across different genres, but Moon Child was the first time I had tried her fiction and I look forward to dipping into her back catalogue. This was another novel with a great catch phrase which I thought would be very difficult to live up to, however, Moon Child makes a rock-solid attempt of truly being “The Craft meets The Shining in this slow-burn Florida gothic horror.” Religious conflict lies at the heart of this engaging story as eighteen-year-old Cuban American Valentina Callejas has been brought up very close to the Catholic Church, with both a dominating mother and grandmother in a very close-knit Latin community in which tradition comes first. However, Valentina has a secret interest in tarot cards and the occult which guiltily clashes with her strict Catholic upbringing. After a bust up with her family, and a refusal to stay on a church retreat, she heads to visit her half-sister (whom she has never met) and finds her welcoming, warm, and completely different from her immediate family. There was a lot going on in Valentina’s life, even before we get to the horror.
Whilst out exploring, close to where her sister lives, Valentina discovers an abandoned hotel which sits beside a lake and inside the building meets a group of teenagers, who claim to have been waiting for her to complete their magic circle. After getting over her suspicions, Valentina realises the group all have slightly different magical gifts and are trying to open a supernatural entryway to the spirit world. However, although Valentine is delighted to make new friends, she senses a much darker presence in the hotel, connected to its sinister past as a mental hospital. Things quickly hot up and the supernatural element develops in the second half of the story, nicely tying into Valentina’s complex family history. This was a very convincing blend of supernatural and family drama, made even more so by the flashbacks to an unpleasant sexual experience Valentina had with a boy at the church camp the previous year. Readers are going to have a lot of fun with this spunky teenage girl as she goes on her own voyage of discovery and tries to leave her Catholic guilt in the past and be accepted for who she is. AGE RANGE 13+
LISA TUTTLE
In a career spanning five details Lisa Tuttle effortlessly moves through the genres, including science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, historical mystery and horror. She is also an absolute master of the short story and has featured in countless anthologies, edited others and has a new collection of the best of her short work, The Dead Hours of Night published in 2021. Some of her adult novels include Windhaven (1981) with George RR Martin, Familiar Spirit (1983), Gabriel (1987), Lost Futures (1992), The Mysteries (2005) and The Silver Bough (2006). Some of her YA fiction includes Catwitch (1983), Panther in Argyll (1996) and Love-On-Line (1998). Tuttle also contributed to the YA series Horrorscopes (1995) where various authors all used the penname Maria Palmer.
BLURB FOR ‘PANTHER IN ARGYLL’ (1996)
When Danni chooses to spend the school holidays with her godmother, Claire, she thinks she will find a kindred spirit. She doesn't bank on meeting the mysterious Finlay Black, or Claire being on the lookout for the Panther of Argyll - the beast that supposedly roams the woods around her cottage. And she doesn't bank on discovering that she has the 'animal spirit' - a rare and unique ability that not only provides an empathy with animals, but the ability to become them. But there is a price for letting the animal within loose. Panthers are wild, primal, strong . . . and most of all free: why remain human when all of this is within your grasp?
STEVEN E WEDEL
Over the last decade Steven Wendall has regularly moved between adult and YA fiction, co-authoring After Obsession (2011) and In the Woods (2019) with popular YA writer Carrie Jones. Further YA titles include Love Curse (2016), Afterlife (2020) and for much younger children Songbird (2017). Wedel began his four-book adult Werewolf Saga back in 2014 and his other work includes The God of Discord (2015), Seven Days in Benevolence (2015), Amara's Prayer (2015), A Light Beyond (2017) and the western Orphan (2017).
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT IN THE WOODS (2019)
Although it offers nothing new In the Woods was a very enjoyable and engaging collaboration between Carrie Jones and Steven Wedel, set in a small Oklahoma town in the Ozrak mountains. The book was split into two very distinct first-person narratives ‘Chrystal’ and ‘Logan’ perhaps the authors each created a ‘voice’ and if so it worked a treat. The action opens in Logan’s farm where he hears something attacking one of their calves, although he does not get a clear view of the assailant, he is certain it is not human. Meantime, Chrystal who is on holiday in New York, is dismayed to be pulled away from her fun to head to Oklahoma with her cryptozoologist father who is obsessed with finding evidence of everything from Big Foot to aliens. The story ends up in the National Enquirer and before long Chrystal and her father are knocking on Logan’s farm door not for the scoop, but to investigate further.
From then on In the Woods hits the ground running and is a fine horror Scoobie Doo style monster-mash-up mystery with a tasty dose of awkward romance. Both lead characters are very likable and really carry the novel and develop a friendship, or something more, when it seems like the creature is targeting locals after the disappearance of a teenage girl. The support cast were terrific also, I especially loved the way Chrystal tolerated her very quirky father, who when he wasn’t creature hunting was a kinder garden teacher! It was a well-paced novel when built suspense nicely before its big reveal. If you’re a fan of big hairy monsters stalking spunky teenagers jump right in, there is a lot of fun to be had here. Aimed at kids aged thirteen or older.
STEVE RASNIC TEM
Steve Rasnic Tem published his first novel Excavation back in 1987, however he has been writing short stories since the 1970s with over 200 published, and either winning or being nominated for top awards such as the British Fantasy Award, the World Fantasy and Bram Stoker Awards. His short story output is so prolific he regularly has his own collections published, including his debut Decoded Mirrors in 1978, the many others which followed include Ugly Behaviour (2012) and Onion Songs (2013). Other adult horror novels are Blood Kin (2014) which won the Bram Stoker Award for best novel and Ubo (2017). However, in 2018 Tem changed direction and published his first novel for children, The Mask Shop of Doctor Blaack.
BLURB FOR THE ‘MASK SHOP OF DOCTOR BLAACK’ (2018)
Fall is Laura's favorite time of year, but this autumn, things are different. She's a teenager now, and the season brings new changes and challenges. Laura's decided she's too old for trick-or-treating and wants a more grown-up Halloween experience with her friends. Unfortunately for Laura, her parents tell her she has to take her little brother, Trevor, out trick-or-treating first. When they go shopping for Halloween costumes, they stumble upon a very strange shop and its even stranger proprietor. When Trevor tries on the wrong mask, the consequences are exciting...and dangerous. AGE RANGE 10+
GABY TRIANA
Gaby Triana has written a blend of YA horror, fantasy and teen romance, most recently the excellent Moon Child (2021) which is reviewed below. Other titles include Back Stage Pass (2004), Summer of Yesterday (2014) and Cakespell (2018). Her adult fiction includes The Haunted Florida Trilogy (2018). Gaby has also ghost written many other books.
HERE’S OUR REVIEW OF ‘MOON CHILD’ (2021)
Gaby Triana has a number of novels, across different genres, but Moon Child was the first time I had tried her fiction and I look forward to dipping into her back catalogue. This was another novel with a great catch phrase which I thought would be very difficult to live up to, however, Moon Child makes a rock-solid attempt of truly being “The Craft meets The Shining in this slow-burn Florida gothic horror.” Religious conflict lies at the heart of this engaging story as eighteen-year-old Cuban American Valentina Callejas has been brought up very close to the Catholic Church, with both a dominating mother and grandmother in a very close-knit Latin community in which tradition comes first. However, Valentina has a secret interest in tarot cards and the occult which guiltily clashes with her strict Catholic upbringing. After a bust up with her family, and a refusal to stay on a church retreat, she heads to visit her half-sister (whom she has never met) and finds her welcoming, warm, and completely different from her immediate family. There was a lot going on in Valentina’s life, even before we get to the horror.
Whilst out exploring, close to where her sister lives, Valentina discovers an abandoned hotel which sits beside a lake and inside the building meets a group of teenagers, who claim to have been waiting for her to complete their magic circle. After getting over her suspicions, Valentina realises the group all have slightly different magical gifts and are trying to open a supernatural entryway to the spirit world. However, although Valentine is delighted to make new friends, she senses a much darker presence in the hotel, connected to its sinister past as a mental hospital. Things quickly hot up and the supernatural element develops in the second half of the story, nicely tying into Valentina’s complex family history. This was a very convincing blend of supernatural and family drama, made even more so by the flashbacks to an unpleasant sexual experience Valentina had with a boy at the church camp the previous year. Readers are going to have a lot of fun with this spunky teenage girl as she goes on her own voyage of discovery and tries to leave her Catholic guilt in the past and be accepted for who she is. AGE RANGE 13+
LISA TUTTLE
In a career spanning five details Lisa Tuttle effortlessly moves through the genres, including science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, historical mystery and horror. She is also an absolute master of the short story and has featured in countless anthologies, edited others and has a new collection of the best of her short work, The Dead Hours of Night published in 2021. Some of her adult novels include Windhaven (1981) with George RR Martin, Familiar Spirit (1983), Gabriel (1987), Lost Futures (1992), The Mysteries (2005) and The Silver Bough (2006). Some of her YA fiction includes Catwitch (1983), Panther in Argyll (1996) and Love-On-Line (1998). Tuttle also contributed to the YA series Horrorscopes (1995) where various authors all used the penname Maria Palmer.
BLURB FOR ‘PANTHER IN ARGYLL’ (1996)
When Danni chooses to spend the school holidays with her godmother, Claire, she thinks she will find a kindred spirit. She doesn't bank on meeting the mysterious Finlay Black, or Claire being on the lookout for the Panther of Argyll - the beast that supposedly roams the woods around her cottage. And she doesn't bank on discovering that she has the 'animal spirit' - a rare and unique ability that not only provides an empathy with animals, but the ability to become them. But there is a price for letting the animal within loose. Panthers are wild, primal, strong . . . and most of all free: why remain human when all of this is within your grasp?
STEVEN E WEDEL
Over the last decade Steven Wendall has regularly moved between adult and YA fiction, co-authoring After Obsession (2011) and In the Woods (2019) with popular YA writer Carrie Jones. Further YA titles include Love Curse (2016), Afterlife (2020) and for much younger children Songbird (2017). Wedel began his four-book adult Werewolf Saga back in 2014 and his other work includes The God of Discord (2015), Seven Days in Benevolence (2015), Amara's Prayer (2015), A Light Beyond (2017) and the western Orphan (2017).
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT IN THE WOODS (2019)
Although it offers nothing new In the Woods was a very enjoyable and engaging collaboration between Carrie Jones and Steven Wedel, set in a small Oklahoma town in the Ozrak mountains. The book was split into two very distinct first-person narratives ‘Chrystal’ and ‘Logan’ perhaps the authors each created a ‘voice’ and if so it worked a treat. The action opens in Logan’s farm where he hears something attacking one of their calves, although he does not get a clear view of the assailant, he is certain it is not human. Meantime, Chrystal who is on holiday in New York, is dismayed to be pulled away from her fun to head to Oklahoma with her cryptozoologist father who is obsessed with finding evidence of everything from Big Foot to aliens. The story ends up in the National Enquirer and before long Chrystal and her father are knocking on Logan’s farm door not for the scoop, but to investigate further.
From then on In the Woods hits the ground running and is a fine horror Scoobie Doo style monster-mash-up mystery with a tasty dose of awkward romance. Both lead characters are very likable and really carry the novel and develop a friendship, or something more, when it seems like the creature is targeting locals after the disappearance of a teenage girl. The support cast were terrific also, I especially loved the way Chrystal tolerated her very quirky father, who when he wasn’t creature hunting was a kinder garden teacher! It was a well-paced novel when built suspense nicely before its big reveal. If you’re a fan of big hairy monsters stalking spunky teenagers jump right in, there is a lot of fun to be had here. Aimed at kids aged thirteen or older.
DAN WELLS
Dan Wells is one of the few authors who smoothly moves between adult and YA without breaking sweat and is equally comfortable writing in both areas. Back in 2009 Wells published the superb I Am Not A Serial Killer (2009-17), which remains his best-known novel. Interestingly, in the USA this was marketed as an adult book, but was seen as YA in the UK, many sequels followed and also a successful and well received indie film. Also known as the John Cleaver series, the final book six was published in 2017 and over those years Wells also wrote the excellent Partials (2012-14) YA series, as well as the Mirador (2016-18) sequence. Over the years he occasionally returns to adult horror, including The Hollow City (2012) and Extreme Makeover (2016), which was a real hoot and a pleasure to review for Ginger Nuts of Horror.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT THE JOHN CLEAVER SERIES (2009-17)
This gleefully nasty thriller series which begins with I Am Not a Serial Killer about a teenage mortician who helps the family business, with serious, serious issues, who believes he may have serial killer tendencies or is a type of sociopath. He’s the sort of kid who would write a school ‘heroes’ essay on serial killer John Wayne Gacy. This sort of attitude gets him serious trouble with his teachers who would much rather an essay on Martin Luther King. Interestingly, this was always packaged as a YA novel in the UK but was aimed at the adult market in the USA. There is also an excellent indie-film of the same name. AGE RANGE 13+
F PAUL WILSON
Francis Paul Wilson has been prolifically releasing horror, thrillers, mystery and science fiction since 1976 and is best known for his very long-running Repairman Jack (1984-2019) series, which started back in 1984, and the international smash The Keep (1981) which kicks off the seven book Adversary Cycle (1981-2020). Wilson is not known as a YA writer, nevertheless between 2008-10 wrote Repairman Jack: The Teen Trilogy and later the Nocturnia Trilogy (with Thomas F Monteleone) which was first published in 2015. I have been meaning to investigate the Repairman Jack series for a while and will get to it soon.
BLURB OF SECRET HISTORIES (FIRST BOOK IN THE REPAIRMAN JACK TEEN TRILOGY) 2015
Ever come across a situation that simply wasn't right—where someone was getting the dirty end of the stick and you wished you could make things right but didn't know how? Fourteen-year-old Jack knows how. Or rather he's learning how. He's discovering that he has a knack for fixing things. Not bikes or toys or appliances—situations….
It all starts when Jack and his best friends, Weezy and Eddie, discover a rotting corpse—the victim of ritual murder—in the fabled New Jersey Pine Barrens. Beside the body is an ancient artifact carved with strange designs. What is its secret? What is the secret of the corpse? What other mysteries hide in the dark, timeless Pine Barrens? And who doesn't want them revealed? Jack's town, the surrounding Barrens, his friends, even Jack himself…they all have…Secret Histories.
Stay tuned for the final part of this massive feature soon, S-Z.
Tony Jones
Dan Wells is one of the few authors who smoothly moves between adult and YA without breaking sweat and is equally comfortable writing in both areas. Back in 2009 Wells published the superb I Am Not A Serial Killer (2009-17), which remains his best-known novel. Interestingly, in the USA this was marketed as an adult book, but was seen as YA in the UK, many sequels followed and also a successful and well received indie film. Also known as the John Cleaver series, the final book six was published in 2017 and over those years Wells also wrote the excellent Partials (2012-14) YA series, as well as the Mirador (2016-18) sequence. Over the years he occasionally returns to adult horror, including The Hollow City (2012) and Extreme Makeover (2016), which was a real hoot and a pleasure to review for Ginger Nuts of Horror.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT THE JOHN CLEAVER SERIES (2009-17)
This gleefully nasty thriller series which begins with I Am Not a Serial Killer about a teenage mortician who helps the family business, with serious, serious issues, who believes he may have serial killer tendencies or is a type of sociopath. He’s the sort of kid who would write a school ‘heroes’ essay on serial killer John Wayne Gacy. This sort of attitude gets him serious trouble with his teachers who would much rather an essay on Martin Luther King. Interestingly, this was always packaged as a YA novel in the UK but was aimed at the adult market in the USA. There is also an excellent indie-film of the same name. AGE RANGE 13+
F PAUL WILSON
Francis Paul Wilson has been prolifically releasing horror, thrillers, mystery and science fiction since 1976 and is best known for his very long-running Repairman Jack (1984-2019) series, which started back in 1984, and the international smash The Keep (1981) which kicks off the seven book Adversary Cycle (1981-2020). Wilson is not known as a YA writer, nevertheless between 2008-10 wrote Repairman Jack: The Teen Trilogy and later the Nocturnia Trilogy (with Thomas F Monteleone) which was first published in 2015. I have been meaning to investigate the Repairman Jack series for a while and will get to it soon.
BLURB OF SECRET HISTORIES (FIRST BOOK IN THE REPAIRMAN JACK TEEN TRILOGY) 2015
Ever come across a situation that simply wasn't right—where someone was getting the dirty end of the stick and you wished you could make things right but didn't know how? Fourteen-year-old Jack knows how. Or rather he's learning how. He's discovering that he has a knack for fixing things. Not bikes or toys or appliances—situations….
It all starts when Jack and his best friends, Weezy and Eddie, discover a rotting corpse—the victim of ritual murder—in the fabled New Jersey Pine Barrens. Beside the body is an ancient artifact carved with strange designs. What is its secret? What is the secret of the corpse? What other mysteries hide in the dark, timeless Pine Barrens? And who doesn't want them revealed? Jack's town, the surrounding Barrens, his friends, even Jack himself…they all have…Secret Histories.
Stay tuned for the final part of this massive feature soon, S-Z.
Tony Jones
TODAY ON THE GINGER NUTS OF HORROR WEBSITE
[BOOK REVIEW] THE DEATH OF AN AUTHOR BY S.L. EDWARDS
[FILM REVIEW] GAIA (2021), DIRECTED BY JACO BOUWER
BLURRING THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN WORLDS, HORROR AUTHORS WHO WRITE YA AND ADULT HORROR, PART 2: I-R
16/8/2021
 | This article, which is the second of three, looks at authors who started their careers as adult horror writers, but later wrote YA fiction or visa-versa, beginning with YA before jumping to adult. |
If you missed the first post, follow the link:
ADULT HORROR WRITERS WHO ALSO WRITE YA FICTION (AND VISA-VERSA) PART 1: A-H
ADULT HORROR WRITERS WHO ALSO WRITE YA FICTION (AND VISA-VERSA) PART 1: A-H
Interestingly, considering the huge number of horror writers there are, it is not an especially long list. Jonathan Maberry and Sarah Pinborough are two of my personal favourites from this section and fine examples of authors who write adult and YA fiction equally convincingly. Mastering both age groups is an artform and if you do not know many of these authors, they are well worth exploring. For example, I am sure not many of you knew Joe Lansdale or Graeme Masterton wrote YA!
It is not an authoritative list, and it has been compiled mainly from going through my old Ginger Nuts of Horror reviews, which date back to 2015. I would also like to thank the Twitter horror-sphere and the Books of Horror Facebook group who helped with many of the obscurer suggestions. I am sure there are many other great examples out there, so get in touch if there are any glaring omissions and they may feature in a follow-up article.
Regarding the short accompanying reviews: if it is a book I have previously reviewed on Ginger Nuts of Horror it is introduced with “Here’s what we said about….” Others might have reviews of books I have read but have never previously reviewed online. The late additions, books I definitely have not read, have blurbs which I have borrowed from either Fantastic Fiction or Amazon. These are books to be read further down the line. The dates I have used have also originate from Amazon or Fantastic Fiction. Note, they do not aim to be complete lists, and I have selected what I have found to be a good sample most relevant to this project.
The authors are listed alphabetically.
It is not an authoritative list, and it has been compiled mainly from going through my old Ginger Nuts of Horror reviews, which date back to 2015. I would also like to thank the Twitter horror-sphere and the Books of Horror Facebook group who helped with many of the obscurer suggestions. I am sure there are many other great examples out there, so get in touch if there are any glaring omissions and they may feature in a follow-up article.
Regarding the short accompanying reviews: if it is a book I have previously reviewed on Ginger Nuts of Horror it is introduced with “Here’s what we said about….” Others might have reviews of books I have read but have never previously reviewed online. The late additions, books I definitely have not read, have blurbs which I have borrowed from either Fantastic Fiction or Amazon. These are books to be read further down the line. The dates I have used have also originate from Amazon or Fantastic Fiction. Note, they do not aim to be complete lists, and I have selected what I have found to be a good sample most relevant to this project.
The authors are listed alphabetically.
DAVE JEFFERY
Dave Jeffrey is a very versatile author who is equally accomplished writing about werewolves, zombies as he is about yetis. His impressive back catalogue includes the Necropolis Rising series, Tooth and Claw (2019) and the Frostbite duology (2017-20) which involve this diverse range of creatures and more. However, over the last couple of years he has genuinely upped the ante with a fascinating change of pace, A Quiet Apocalypse (2020) and its sequel Cathedral (2021), in which survivors of a virus live in a post-apocalyptic world where those with hearing are hunted and used as slaves or killed. Part three, The Samaritan (2021), was even better and I urge you to check this excellent series out. Dave is one of the few authors who has frequentlyly switched from adult to YA and back again with his engaging supernatural Beatrice Beecham series which saw six books published between 2007-18, with another volume currently in the works.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT ‘THE BEATRICE BEECHAM’ SERIES
Beatrice Beecham's Cryptic Crypt is an entertaining and enterprising fun read about a group of four teenage misfits (the ‘Newshounds’) who get wrapped up in a supernatural mystery in their sleepy small coastal town. The series is lightly spooky, but also very good natured; the joy of the first kiss and walks on the pier holding hands and all that cute stuff. I found the main character Beatrice to be really engaging and innocently likable, and not really the type of girl to get wrapped up in the weird reawakening of World War II and Neo Nazis. The books can be read in any order and this review is based on reading which are technically books five and six, the latter features the crazy reappearance of a ghost-ship which begins to possess some of the characters. Don’t worry though, Beatrice is soon on the case, leading a memorable fightback and outstanding climax. 2021 should see another book in the series released. AGE RANGE 11+
Dave Jeffrey is a very versatile author who is equally accomplished writing about werewolves, zombies as he is about yetis. His impressive back catalogue includes the Necropolis Rising series, Tooth and Claw (2019) and the Frostbite duology (2017-20) which involve this diverse range of creatures and more. However, over the last couple of years he has genuinely upped the ante with a fascinating change of pace, A Quiet Apocalypse (2020) and its sequel Cathedral (2021), in which survivors of a virus live in a post-apocalyptic world where those with hearing are hunted and used as slaves or killed. Part three, The Samaritan (2021), was even better and I urge you to check this excellent series out. Dave is one of the few authors who has frequentlyly switched from adult to YA and back again with his engaging supernatural Beatrice Beecham series which saw six books published between 2007-18, with another volume currently in the works.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT ‘THE BEATRICE BEECHAM’ SERIES
Beatrice Beecham's Cryptic Crypt is an entertaining and enterprising fun read about a group of four teenage misfits (the ‘Newshounds’) who get wrapped up in a supernatural mystery in their sleepy small coastal town. The series is lightly spooky, but also very good natured; the joy of the first kiss and walks on the pier holding hands and all that cute stuff. I found the main character Beatrice to be really engaging and innocently likable, and not really the type of girl to get wrapped up in the weird reawakening of World War II and Neo Nazis. The books can be read in any order and this review is based on reading which are technically books five and six, the latter features the crazy reappearance of a ghost-ship which begins to possess some of the characters. Don’t worry though, Beatrice is soon on the case, leading a memorable fightback and outstanding climax. 2021 should see another book in the series released. AGE RANGE 11+
JOHN HORNOR JACOBS
John Hornor Jacobs kicked off his career off in style with two awesome adult horror novels Southern Gods (2011) and This Dark Earth (2012) before making a fascinating sidestep into YA with the Twelve Fingered Boy Trilogy (2013-15) a series which is so cool it deserves to be in every school library in the country. He followed this with The Incorruptibles Trilogy, which although was adult fantasy, also had YA leanings. John then found his stride with the beguiling and critically acclaimed A Lush and Seething Hell (2019). This is another author I hope returns to YA one of these days, but whatever he publishes, I always keep a keen eye on what he is up to. The Twelve Fingered Boy was also ranked 31 out of 50 in the Ginger Nuts of Horror top 50 YA horror novels of the decade.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT THE TWELVE FINGERED BOY (2013)
John Hornor Jacobs is an incredibly versatile author who effortlessly moves around the genres, and from YA to adult. He is equally skilled in writing about cosmic horror and zombies, as he is with fantasy, deserving to be much more widely read than he probably is. I first came across him after loving his beguiling adult horror debut about the blues, Southern Gods and followed that with an entertaining zombie novel This Dark Earth and his fantasy series The Incorruptibles. I reckon this author could turn his hand to just about anything and proves it with The Twelve Fingered Boy series, a superb coming of age tale set in a juvie prison.
Fifteen-year-old Shreve Cannon does not mind being locked up as he sells contraband sweets and treats, and for him anything is better than living with his drunk mother. Soon a new kid, Jack, who freakishly has twelve fingers arrives on the wing, and when he gets angry or triggered develops telekinesis powers which he struggles to control. Soon others, including a sinister doctor, begin to show interest in Jack and it is not because they want to help him. Shreve quickly takes the vulnerable Jack under his wing in this commanding fusion of fantasy, horror and teen coming-of-age drama which kicks off an outstanding trilogy in which Jack’s superpowers really come out to play. An engaging series which has been criminally ignored by the YA world. AGE RANGE 12+
John Hornor Jacobs kicked off his career off in style with two awesome adult horror novels Southern Gods (2011) and This Dark Earth (2012) before making a fascinating sidestep into YA with the Twelve Fingered Boy Trilogy (2013-15) a series which is so cool it deserves to be in every school library in the country. He followed this with The Incorruptibles Trilogy, which although was adult fantasy, also had YA leanings. John then found his stride with the beguiling and critically acclaimed A Lush and Seething Hell (2019). This is another author I hope returns to YA one of these days, but whatever he publishes, I always keep a keen eye on what he is up to. The Twelve Fingered Boy was also ranked 31 out of 50 in the Ginger Nuts of Horror top 50 YA horror novels of the decade.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT THE TWELVE FINGERED BOY (2013)
John Hornor Jacobs is an incredibly versatile author who effortlessly moves around the genres, and from YA to adult. He is equally skilled in writing about cosmic horror and zombies, as he is with fantasy, deserving to be much more widely read than he probably is. I first came across him after loving his beguiling adult horror debut about the blues, Southern Gods and followed that with an entertaining zombie novel This Dark Earth and his fantasy series The Incorruptibles. I reckon this author could turn his hand to just about anything and proves it with The Twelve Fingered Boy series, a superb coming of age tale set in a juvie prison.
Fifteen-year-old Shreve Cannon does not mind being locked up as he sells contraband sweets and treats, and for him anything is better than living with his drunk mother. Soon a new kid, Jack, who freakishly has twelve fingers arrives on the wing, and when he gets angry or triggered develops telekinesis powers which he struggles to control. Soon others, including a sinister doctor, begin to show interest in Jack and it is not because they want to help him. Shreve quickly takes the vulnerable Jack under his wing in this commanding fusion of fantasy, horror and teen coming-of-age drama which kicks off an outstanding trilogy in which Jack’s superpowers really come out to play. An engaging series which has been criminally ignored by the YA world. AGE RANGE 12+
LEX H JONES
Lex has been widely published in many horror anthologies and wrote The Other Side of the Mirror (2019) and Nick and Abe (2015) for adults. In 2019 Lex made a fascinating change of direction, with a Middle Grade reimagining of the life of HP Lovecraft, The Old One and the Sea (2019). It was as charming as it was delightful, and I hope Lex continues to write for children.
REVIEW OF THE OLD ONE AND THE SEA (2019)
Writing a book for children about the life of HP Lovecraft was never going to be an easy task. But Lex Jones completely nails it in a quirky tale which wisely avoids his adult politics and instead focusses upon how he developed his imagination for what would later feature in his fiction. It is not a YA novel, but more aimed at kids aged 7-10 and in many ways is a tale of grief and coming of age of a young boy who loses his father. Seeped in loneliness and melancholy HP is living on a quiet beach town and discovers a reef with a weird alter and coins with strange symbols. Adults with an interest in Lovecraft will undoubtedly enjoy this quirky read also and pick up on a few things which will pass child readers by. It is an incredibly gentle read, and I could well imagine this being a wonderful bedtime story for a parent to read to their child. Just don’t talk politics! AGE RANGE 7-10
Lex has been widely published in many horror anthologies and wrote The Other Side of the Mirror (2019) and Nick and Abe (2015) for adults. In 2019 Lex made a fascinating change of direction, with a Middle Grade reimagining of the life of HP Lovecraft, The Old One and the Sea (2019). It was as charming as it was delightful, and I hope Lex continues to write for children.
REVIEW OF THE OLD ONE AND THE SEA (2019)
Writing a book for children about the life of HP Lovecraft was never going to be an easy task. But Lex Jones completely nails it in a quirky tale which wisely avoids his adult politics and instead focusses upon how he developed his imagination for what would later feature in his fiction. It is not a YA novel, but more aimed at kids aged 7-10 and in many ways is a tale of grief and coming of age of a young boy who loses his father. Seeped in loneliness and melancholy HP is living on a quiet beach town and discovers a reef with a weird alter and coins with strange symbols. Adults with an interest in Lovecraft will undoubtedly enjoy this quirky read also and pick up on a few things which will pass child readers by. It is an incredibly gentle read, and I could well imagine this being a wonderful bedtime story for a parent to read to their child. Just don’t talk politics! AGE RANGE 7-10
GRAHAM JOYCE
Few authors effortlessly moved through the genres better than the late great Graham Joyce, who wrote horror, science fiction, fantasy and literary fiction. I have read many of his adult novels, my favourites were probably The Tooth Fairy (1996) and The Silent Land (2010) and of his non-horror YA I also enjoyed TWOC (2005). However, my personal favourite was always Do the Creepy Thing (2006), which was published as The Exchange in the USA. This terrific YA horror novel deserved much wider recognition than it ever got and truly showcased the originality of this very savvy writer.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT DO THE CREEPY THING (2006)
Two teenagers are cursed after breaking into an old lady’s house. They play a dare type game where you hover above the face (nose to nose) of the sleeping person who the house belongs to. Caz acquires a bracelet during one of these dares which begins to make her feel different. Not strictly a horror novel, but both clever and inventive, as you would expect from the late Graham Joyce who wrote several great books for teens.
Few authors effortlessly moved through the genres better than the late great Graham Joyce, who wrote horror, science fiction, fantasy and literary fiction. I have read many of his adult novels, my favourites were probably The Tooth Fairy (1996) and The Silent Land (2010) and of his non-horror YA I also enjoyed TWOC (2005). However, my personal favourite was always Do the Creepy Thing (2006), which was published as The Exchange in the USA. This terrific YA horror novel deserved much wider recognition than it ever got and truly showcased the originality of this very savvy writer.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT DO THE CREEPY THING (2006)
Two teenagers are cursed after breaking into an old lady’s house. They play a dare type game where you hover above the face (nose to nose) of the sleeping person who the house belongs to. Caz acquires a bracelet during one of these dares which begins to make her feel different. Not strictly a horror novel, but both clever and inventive, as you would expect from the late Graham Joyce who wrote several great books for teens.
T KINGFISHER AKA URSULA VERNON
T Kingfisher is the pseudonym for Ursula Vernon, the latter exclusively writes for children, including the eleven book graphic novel series Dragonbreath (2009-16) and the six book Hamster Prince series (2015-18). Kingfisher predominately writes fantasy, both for children and adult, but in recent years has turned to horror with the highly regarded The Twisted Ones (2019) and The Hollow Places (2020), both of which I have read, and thought were great. Kingfisher’s fantasy effortlessly moves between adult and children, including The Raven and the Reindeer (2016) and A Wizard's Guide To Defensive Baking (2020). Her children’s fiction has been predominately fantasy, rather than horror.
BLURB FOR A WIZARDS’S GUIDE TO DEFENSIVE BAKING (2020)
Fourteen-year-old Mona isn't like the wizards charged with defending the city. She can't control lightning or speak to water. Her familiar is a sourdough starter, and her magic only works on bread. She has a comfortable life in her aunt's bakery making gingerbread men dance.
But Mona's life is turned upside down when she finds a dead body on the bakery floor. An assassin is stalking the streets of Mona's city, preying on magic folk, and it appears that Mona is his next target. And in an embattled city suddenly bereft of wizards, the assassin may be the least of Mona's worries...
T Kingfisher is the pseudonym for Ursula Vernon, the latter exclusively writes for children, including the eleven book graphic novel series Dragonbreath (2009-16) and the six book Hamster Prince series (2015-18). Kingfisher predominately writes fantasy, both for children and adult, but in recent years has turned to horror with the highly regarded The Twisted Ones (2019) and The Hollow Places (2020), both of which I have read, and thought were great. Kingfisher’s fantasy effortlessly moves between adult and children, including The Raven and the Reindeer (2016) and A Wizard's Guide To Defensive Baking (2020). Her children’s fiction has been predominately fantasy, rather than horror.
BLURB FOR A WIZARDS’S GUIDE TO DEFENSIVE BAKING (2020)
Fourteen-year-old Mona isn't like the wizards charged with defending the city. She can't control lightning or speak to water. Her familiar is a sourdough starter, and her magic only works on bread. She has a comfortable life in her aunt's bakery making gingerbread men dance.
But Mona's life is turned upside down when she finds a dead body on the bakery floor. An assassin is stalking the streets of Mona's city, preying on magic folk, and it appears that Mona is his next target. And in an embattled city suddenly bereft of wizards, the assassin may be the least of Mona's worries...
KATHE KOJA
Although Kathe Koja is undoubtedly best known for her 1991 cult classic debut The Cipher, over the subsequent thirty years her widely varied career has taken in science fiction, horror, fantasy, romance and historical fiction. Between 2002-2008 Kathe also wrote seven, generally non-horror, YA novels featuring a range of teen issues including friendship, family dramas and animal stories. They were Straydog (2002), Buddha Boy (2003), Blue Mirror (2004), Talk (2005), Going Under (2006), Kissing the Bee (2007) and Headlong (2008). Her adult output also includes the Under the Poppy (2010-15) science fiction trilogy and Christopher Wild (2017) which is historical fiction.
BLURB OF ‘HEADLONG’ (2008)
The Vaughn School. Home of domed ceilings, gleaming checkerboard floors, and the Vaughn Virgins: the upper stratum of girls who have perfect grades, perfect lives, and perfect friends. Lily Noble is a lifer '" she knows all the rules. Then sophomore year, Hazel Tobias arrives as a scholarship student, with her model's looks and unconventional family, and shows Lily everything she's been missing. Can you ever fit in someplace you don't want to be? As Lily befriends Hazel, both girls discover what it means to dive deep beneath the surface '" of friendship, of commitment '" and to live life with all their hearts, with all they are, headlong.
Although Kathe Koja is undoubtedly best known for her 1991 cult classic debut The Cipher, over the subsequent thirty years her widely varied career has taken in science fiction, horror, fantasy, romance and historical fiction. Between 2002-2008 Kathe also wrote seven, generally non-horror, YA novels featuring a range of teen issues including friendship, family dramas and animal stories. They were Straydog (2002), Buddha Boy (2003), Blue Mirror (2004), Talk (2005), Going Under (2006), Kissing the Bee (2007) and Headlong (2008). Her adult output also includes the Under the Poppy (2010-15) science fiction trilogy and Christopher Wild (2017) which is historical fiction.
BLURB OF ‘HEADLONG’ (2008)
The Vaughn School. Home of domed ceilings, gleaming checkerboard floors, and the Vaughn Virgins: the upper stratum of girls who have perfect grades, perfect lives, and perfect friends. Lily Noble is a lifer '" she knows all the rules. Then sophomore year, Hazel Tobias arrives as a scholarship student, with her model's looks and unconventional family, and shows Lily everything she's been missing. Can you ever fit in someplace you don't want to be? As Lily befriends Hazel, both girls discover what it means to dive deep beneath the surface '" of friendship, of commitment '" and to live life with all their hearts, with all they are, headlong.
DANIEL KRAUS
I am a huge fan of the YA fiction of Daniel Kraus, who is equally proficient at writing for adults also, his superb most recent YA effort Bent Heavens (2020) was deservedly nominated for a YA Bram Stoker Award in 2021. Between 2009-13 Daniel kicked-off his career with three YA horror and dark fantasy novels, The Monster Variations (2009), the superb Rotters (2011) and Scowler (2013) before teaming up with Guillermo del Toro for the novelisation of the Oscar winning film The Shape of Water (2018) and later completing the massive zombie epic The Living Dead (2019) based on the original idea of zombie godfather George Romero. Along the way he has written Middle Grade novels also, Trollhunters (2015) also with del Toro, and two other series Death and Life of Zebulon Finch (2015-16) and finally the Teddies Saga (2020-21).
WHAT WE SAID ABOUT BENT HEAVENS (2020)
Kraus has a superb back-catalogue of dark/horror YA fiction, including the highly recommended Rotters, and this latest release maintains this high standard. Eighteen-year-old Liv Fleming leads this genre-bending thriller which dances around horror and science fiction in a very convincing, Ohio, small-town setting. Teenage readers will easily tap into the troubled psyche and angst of a girl whose world was turned upside down when her father disappeared two years earlier, but it is the circumstances surrounding her father which makes this story fascinating. Lee Fleming was a very popular English teacher at the school Liv attended and before he disappeared indefinitely, vanished for a much shorter period before reappearing, naked, on the school campus. He was not the same man and was deeply psychologically traumatised claiming to have been abducted by aliens, with patchy memories of being experimented upon. Officially, it was presumed he suffered a mental breakdown and the family struggled to cope with the very public emotional fallout.
Once Lee Fleming returns after his first disappearance, he becomes obsessed with aliens and constructs a series of six very dangerous traps in the woodland surrounding his house and names them; Amputator, Hangman’s Noose, Crusher, Neckbreaker, Abyss and Hard Passage. I found Bent Heavens to be a great read and it has enough strings in its bow to attract differing types of teen readers with its convincing blend of horror, drama, and thriller. In the end the story did not go where many readers might expect it to and is backed up an impressive twist (although I saw it coming) which was also completely heart-breaking. Ultimately, even though Liv might not have been the most sympathetic of characters, her pain and grief were convincingly portrayed in a powerful novel about the lengths people will go to know the truth. Even if the answers are going to provide more pain, there is at least closure. AGE RANGE 13+
I am a huge fan of the YA fiction of Daniel Kraus, who is equally proficient at writing for adults also, his superb most recent YA effort Bent Heavens (2020) was deservedly nominated for a YA Bram Stoker Award in 2021. Between 2009-13 Daniel kicked-off his career with three YA horror and dark fantasy novels, The Monster Variations (2009), the superb Rotters (2011) and Scowler (2013) before teaming up with Guillermo del Toro for the novelisation of the Oscar winning film The Shape of Water (2018) and later completing the massive zombie epic The Living Dead (2019) based on the original idea of zombie godfather George Romero. Along the way he has written Middle Grade novels also, Trollhunters (2015) also with del Toro, and two other series Death and Life of Zebulon Finch (2015-16) and finally the Teddies Saga (2020-21).
WHAT WE SAID ABOUT BENT HEAVENS (2020)
Kraus has a superb back-catalogue of dark/horror YA fiction, including the highly recommended Rotters, and this latest release maintains this high standard. Eighteen-year-old Liv Fleming leads this genre-bending thriller which dances around horror and science fiction in a very convincing, Ohio, small-town setting. Teenage readers will easily tap into the troubled psyche and angst of a girl whose world was turned upside down when her father disappeared two years earlier, but it is the circumstances surrounding her father which makes this story fascinating. Lee Fleming was a very popular English teacher at the school Liv attended and before he disappeared indefinitely, vanished for a much shorter period before reappearing, naked, on the school campus. He was not the same man and was deeply psychologically traumatised claiming to have been abducted by aliens, with patchy memories of being experimented upon. Officially, it was presumed he suffered a mental breakdown and the family struggled to cope with the very public emotional fallout.
Once Lee Fleming returns after his first disappearance, he becomes obsessed with aliens and constructs a series of six very dangerous traps in the woodland surrounding his house and names them; Amputator, Hangman’s Noose, Crusher, Neckbreaker, Abyss and Hard Passage. I found Bent Heavens to be a great read and it has enough strings in its bow to attract differing types of teen readers with its convincing blend of horror, drama, and thriller. In the end the story did not go where many readers might expect it to and is backed up an impressive twist (although I saw it coming) which was also completely heart-breaking. Ultimately, even though Liv might not have been the most sympathetic of characters, her pain and grief were convincingly portrayed in a powerful novel about the lengths people will go to know the truth. Even if the answers are going to provide more pain, there is at least closure. AGE RANGE 13+
JOE LANSDALE
The creator of the Hap and Leonard (1990-2019) series will need no introduction to the majority of you. Few authors effortlessly move and blend genres better than Joe Lansdale, also responsible for the cult-classic Bubba Ho-Tep (2003), which was turned into the awesome Bruce Campbell film. When not writing horror, Lansdale is equally at home with westerns and thrillers, including Cold in July (1989) which was also turned into a great film and Edge of Dark Water (2012), another high-quality thriller. He is also a prolific writer of short stories, novellas and is involved in graphic novels. However, he is not particularly known as a YA author, but has dipped into this reading age on a couple of occasions, including All the Earth Thrown to the Sky (2011) and Fender Lizards (2015) which has YA leanings.
BLURB FOR ALL THE ‘EARTH THROWN TO THE SKY’ (2011)
Jack Catcher's parents are dead - his mom died of sickness and his dad of a broken heart - and he has to get out of Oklahoma, where dust storms have killed everything green, hopeful, or alive. When former classmate Jane and her little brother Tony show up in his yard with plans to steal a dead neighbour’s car and make a break for Texas, Jack doesn't need much convincing. But a run-in with one of the era's most notorious gangsters puts a crimp in Jane's plan, and soon the three kids are hitching the rails among hoboes, gangsters, and con men, racing to warn a carnival wrestler turned bank robber of the danger he faces and, in the process, find a new home for themselves. This road trip adventure from the legendary Joe R. Lansdale is a thrilling and colourful ride through Depression-era America.
The creator of the Hap and Leonard (1990-2019) series will need no introduction to the majority of you. Few authors effortlessly move and blend genres better than Joe Lansdale, also responsible for the cult-classic Bubba Ho-Tep (2003), which was turned into the awesome Bruce Campbell film. When not writing horror, Lansdale is equally at home with westerns and thrillers, including Cold in July (1989) which was also turned into a great film and Edge of Dark Water (2012), another high-quality thriller. He is also a prolific writer of short stories, novellas and is involved in graphic novels. However, he is not particularly known as a YA author, but has dipped into this reading age on a couple of occasions, including All the Earth Thrown to the Sky (2011) and Fender Lizards (2015) which has YA leanings.
BLURB FOR ALL THE ‘EARTH THROWN TO THE SKY’ (2011)
Jack Catcher's parents are dead - his mom died of sickness and his dad of a broken heart - and he has to get out of Oklahoma, where dust storms have killed everything green, hopeful, or alive. When former classmate Jane and her little brother Tony show up in his yard with plans to steal a dead neighbour’s car and make a break for Texas, Jack doesn't need much convincing. But a run-in with one of the era's most notorious gangsters puts a crimp in Jane's plan, and soon the three kids are hitching the rails among hoboes, gangsters, and con men, racing to warn a carnival wrestler turned bank robber of the danger he faces and, in the process, find a new home for themselves. This road trip adventure from the legendary Joe R. Lansdale is a thrilling and colourful ride through Depression-era America.
TANITH LEE
The late Tanith Lee wrote over ninety novels, the majority of which were science fiction and fantasy, but she also released a few horror titles, dabbled in mystery, eroticism and literary fiction. Of her incredible output Kill the Dead (1980) and sequel Sabella (1980), the four-book series Secret Books of Paradys (1988-93), and the Blood Opera Trilogy (1992-4) were the most obviously horror. Although some of her adult fiction bridged into YA, The Castle of Dark Trilogy (1978) was specifically aimed at children. She also wrote picture books and was the first woman to win the British Fantasy Award best novel award, for Death's Master (1980).
BLURB FOR THE CASTLE OF DARK BOOK ONE (1978)
Although she leads an overprotected life with the two old hags, Lilune knows she possesses a special gift. When she 'calls' the musician, Lir, to her prison-like castle, she knows she must avail herself of the opportunity to escape and explore the world. But travelling south of the castle, Lilune and Lir realize that they aren't alone - for an ancient, infectious evil accompanies them, which instils terror in everyone they meet. Lir dislikes arrogant Lilune but finds himself intrigued by her and the source of the evil. Is it within Lilune, or does it come from a deeper source? When the pair become separated, he carries on searching for her. Finally, Lilune returns to her castle in despair, believing that she must be imprisoned to protect the world from the evil within her. But Lir follows her, and discovers that the root of the evil lies deep beneath the castle...
The late Tanith Lee wrote over ninety novels, the majority of which were science fiction and fantasy, but she also released a few horror titles, dabbled in mystery, eroticism and literary fiction. Of her incredible output Kill the Dead (1980) and sequel Sabella (1980), the four-book series Secret Books of Paradys (1988-93), and the Blood Opera Trilogy (1992-4) were the most obviously horror. Although some of her adult fiction bridged into YA, The Castle of Dark Trilogy (1978) was specifically aimed at children. She also wrote picture books and was the first woman to win the British Fantasy Award best novel award, for Death's Master (1980).
BLURB FOR THE CASTLE OF DARK BOOK ONE (1978)
Although she leads an overprotected life with the two old hags, Lilune knows she possesses a special gift. When she 'calls' the musician, Lir, to her prison-like castle, she knows she must avail herself of the opportunity to escape and explore the world. But travelling south of the castle, Lilune and Lir realize that they aren't alone - for an ancient, infectious evil accompanies them, which instils terror in everyone they meet. Lir dislikes arrogant Lilune but finds himself intrigued by her and the source of the evil. Is it within Lilune, or does it come from a deeper source? When the pair become separated, he carries on searching for her. Finally, Lilune returns to her castle in despair, believing that she must be imprisoned to protect the world from the evil within her. But Lir follows her, and discovers that the root of the evil lies deep beneath the castle...
JONATHAN MABERRY
The prolific Jonathan Maberry is probably best known for the Joe Ledger (2009-18) series which begins with the awesome Patient Zero, Ghost Road Blues (2006), Glimpse (2018), Ink (2020), the Dead of Night (2011-18) series and a huge range of comic and graphic novels. I am a massive Maberry fan and whilst Joe Ledger was going strong, he published the awesome five book YA Rot and Ruin series (2010-15) and later a second interconnected series called Broken Lands. This is undoubtedly the best YA zombie series ever written and Maberry’s transition to teen author was totally seamless and amongst the most impressive jumps I have come across. He has also written other YA novels, including the Nightsiders (2015-16) series.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT THE ROT AND RUIN SERIES (2010-15)
Rot and Ruin is an outstanding series (also known as the Benny Imura sequence) set in a zombie infested world. Two brothers hunt the creatures, but not for the most obvious reason, as they are a slightly different breed of zombie killer, which plays a major role in this excellent adventure horror story. Leading up to this, when Benny turns fifteen, he needs to find a job otherwise his rations will be cut in a beautifully described isolated community of survivors. This was Maberry’s YA debut, which remains the best zombie teen series in the business, through a combination of strong characterisation, clever plot and very well developed post-apocalyptic world near the Mexican border. Although they are primarily aimed at adults, many of Maberry’s other series deserve to find teen audience, Joe Ledger, Dead of Night and Glimpse have all been popular titles in my school library.
Maberry is simply a terrific author to gets teens reading, with his intensely fast-paced fiction, loaded with page-turning action sequences and likable characters which kids can easily connect with. The author recently returned to this world in a second series which begins with Broken Lands, and sees Benny Imura return with a host of other characters and further zombie adventures. I am not sure how successful that will be as the zombie craze never truly took off in YA like it did with adult horror. Rot and Ruins direct sequel, Dust and Decay, is also top notch. AGE RANGE 12+
The prolific Jonathan Maberry is probably best known for the Joe Ledger (2009-18) series which begins with the awesome Patient Zero, Ghost Road Blues (2006), Glimpse (2018), Ink (2020), the Dead of Night (2011-18) series and a huge range of comic and graphic novels. I am a massive Maberry fan and whilst Joe Ledger was going strong, he published the awesome five book YA Rot and Ruin series (2010-15) and later a second interconnected series called Broken Lands. This is undoubtedly the best YA zombie series ever written and Maberry’s transition to teen author was totally seamless and amongst the most impressive jumps I have come across. He has also written other YA novels, including the Nightsiders (2015-16) series.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT THE ROT AND RUIN SERIES (2010-15)
Rot and Ruin is an outstanding series (also known as the Benny Imura sequence) set in a zombie infested world. Two brothers hunt the creatures, but not for the most obvious reason, as they are a slightly different breed of zombie killer, which plays a major role in this excellent adventure horror story. Leading up to this, when Benny turns fifteen, he needs to find a job otherwise his rations will be cut in a beautifully described isolated community of survivors. This was Maberry’s YA debut, which remains the best zombie teen series in the business, through a combination of strong characterisation, clever plot and very well developed post-apocalyptic world near the Mexican border. Although they are primarily aimed at adults, many of Maberry’s other series deserve to find teen audience, Joe Ledger, Dead of Night and Glimpse have all been popular titles in my school library.
Maberry is simply a terrific author to gets teens reading, with his intensely fast-paced fiction, loaded with page-turning action sequences and likable characters which kids can easily connect with. The author recently returned to this world in a second series which begins with Broken Lands, and sees Benny Imura return with a host of other characters and further zombie adventures. I am not sure how successful that will be as the zombie craze never truly took off in YA like it did with adult horror. Rot and Ruins direct sequel, Dust and Decay, is also top notch. AGE RANGE 12+
TIM MAJOR
Tim Major is best described as a writer of speculative fiction, rather than horror, and his four novels and novellas cross horror, fantasy and science fiction. Machineries of Mercy (2018) is definitely YA, the others are adult reads. His adult fiction includes You Don’t Belong Here (2016), Snakeskins (2019) and Hope Island (2020). If you have a teenager who loves computer games, they might really dig Machineries of Mercy.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT MACHINIERIES OF MERCY (2018)
Machineries of Mercy was originally published in 2018 on CHITEEN, the YA section of the troubled CHIZINE publishing house. There problems have been well documented elsewhere, so if you are interested in this quirky dystopian thriller, perhaps consider waiting until it is republished on a new label later this year. I don’t know how fashionable the computer game SIMS is with kids today, but my fourteen-year-daughter remains an avid fan and there is an element of that system in this novel, there is also a large slice of Orwell’s 1984, John Wyndham’s Midwich Cuckoos and other novels of this type will probably spring to mind. Told through a double-narrative, Lex and Ethan, are involved in a break into a powerful company Mercy HQ and after he is caught, and imprisoned, things go from bad to worse. The story takes its time revealing what is going on and being set slightly in the future an Orwellian style world is chillingly mapped out in a Wyndham style village. Lex and Ethan are railing against the system created by the all-powerful Mercy HQ, but ‘the man’ is big and very powerful.
Once caught Ethan is not sent to a prison, he is sent to a virtual reality village called Touchstone, adult readers will quickly realise this is very similar to Westworld. However, this is a freaky place and is incredibly well drawn out by the author. There are loads of glitches in the system, the ‘prisoners’ so to school and many are avatars mixed in amongst the real prisoners who band together. Like 1984, the objective is brainwashing and breaking the spirits of the inmates. In one great scene Ethan runs in a long-distance race and is doing well, but eventually finishes last, as he is an avatar, the system is rigged for him to lose. Whilst he fights to survive in the virtual reality world Lex tries to solve the mystery of where he disappeared to. Things might fit together a bit too easily in the end, but for teens who like computer games and YA dystopian novels it was very entertaining. AGE RANGE 12+
Tim Major is best described as a writer of speculative fiction, rather than horror, and his four novels and novellas cross horror, fantasy and science fiction. Machineries of Mercy (2018) is definitely YA, the others are adult reads. His adult fiction includes You Don’t Belong Here (2016), Snakeskins (2019) and Hope Island (2020). If you have a teenager who loves computer games, they might really dig Machineries of Mercy.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT MACHINIERIES OF MERCY (2018)
Machineries of Mercy was originally published in 2018 on CHITEEN, the YA section of the troubled CHIZINE publishing house. There problems have been well documented elsewhere, so if you are interested in this quirky dystopian thriller, perhaps consider waiting until it is republished on a new label later this year. I don’t know how fashionable the computer game SIMS is with kids today, but my fourteen-year-daughter remains an avid fan and there is an element of that system in this novel, there is also a large slice of Orwell’s 1984, John Wyndham’s Midwich Cuckoos and other novels of this type will probably spring to mind. Told through a double-narrative, Lex and Ethan, are involved in a break into a powerful company Mercy HQ and after he is caught, and imprisoned, things go from bad to worse. The story takes its time revealing what is going on and being set slightly in the future an Orwellian style world is chillingly mapped out in a Wyndham style village. Lex and Ethan are railing against the system created by the all-powerful Mercy HQ, but ‘the man’ is big and very powerful.
Once caught Ethan is not sent to a prison, he is sent to a virtual reality village called Touchstone, adult readers will quickly realise this is very similar to Westworld. However, this is a freaky place and is incredibly well drawn out by the author. There are loads of glitches in the system, the ‘prisoners’ so to school and many are avatars mixed in amongst the real prisoners who band together. Like 1984, the objective is brainwashing and breaking the spirits of the inmates. In one great scene Ethan runs in a long-distance race and is doing well, but eventually finishes last, as he is an avatar, the system is rigged for him to lose. Whilst he fights to survive in the virtual reality world Lex tries to solve the mystery of where he disappeared to. Things might fit together a bit too easily in the end, but for teens who like computer games and YA dystopian novels it was very entertaining. AGE RANGE 12+
GRAEME MASTERTON
Scottish horror legend Graeme Masterton’s adult fiction needs no introduction. Actually, I would not know where to start and he was deservedly presented with a lifetime award by the Horror Writer’s Association a couple of years ago. In a career spanning six decades he has terrified and shocked readers with the likes of The Manitou (1976) and is as good as ever with recent titles Ghost Virus (2018) and The House of a Hundred Whispers (2020). Over the years he made an occasional foray into YA writing for two Point Horror spin-off series, Hair Raiser (2001) for Mutant Point Horror and House of Bones (1998) for Point Horror Unleashed, whilst contributing to many other YA Point Horror anthologies.
HERE’S THE BLURB FOR HAIR RAISER (2001)
Kelly has just started as a trainee hairdresser at Sizzuz, working for the sinister, but creative, Paul. One evening, having swept up the hair from the salon floor, she has a nasty experience disposing of it in the basement. Could there be something living there, something hairy?
Scottish horror legend Graeme Masterton’s adult fiction needs no introduction. Actually, I would not know where to start and he was deservedly presented with a lifetime award by the Horror Writer’s Association a couple of years ago. In a career spanning six decades he has terrified and shocked readers with the likes of The Manitou (1976) and is as good as ever with recent titles Ghost Virus (2018) and The House of a Hundred Whispers (2020). Over the years he made an occasional foray into YA writing for two Point Horror spin-off series, Hair Raiser (2001) for Mutant Point Horror and House of Bones (1998) for Point Horror Unleashed, whilst contributing to many other YA Point Horror anthologies.
HERE’S THE BLURB FOR HAIR RAISER (2001)
Kelly has just started as a trainee hairdresser at Sizzuz, working for the sinister, but creative, Paul. One evening, having swept up the hair from the salon floor, she has a nasty experience disposing of it in the basement. Could there be something living there, something hairy?
ADRIAN McKINTY
I have read many Adrian McKinty novels, none of which are horror, as he specialises in thrillers, including the Michael Forsythe Series (2003-07), the Lighthouse Trilogy (2006-08), the Sean Duffy Series (2012-17) and many standalone novels, of which my favourite was Fifty Grand (2009). In 2011, out of the blue, he wrote his single YA horror novel Deviant. It was outstanding and I hope he writes another one day.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT ‘DEVIANT’ (2011)
I really love this guy as he can expertly move around the genres and age groups and is best known as a highly distinguished crime novelist. Deviant is his only foray into YA though and blends his trademark mystery style with clever crossovers into horror with a troubled teenager biting off more than he can chew when he is sent to an experimental school in Colorado where a killer awaits and a tale which seamlessly blends horror and thriller.
I have read many Adrian McKinty novels, none of which are horror, as he specialises in thrillers, including the Michael Forsythe Series (2003-07), the Lighthouse Trilogy (2006-08), the Sean Duffy Series (2012-17) and many standalone novels, of which my favourite was Fifty Grand (2009). In 2011, out of the blue, he wrote his single YA horror novel Deviant. It was outstanding and I hope he writes another one day.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT ‘DEVIANT’ (2011)
I really love this guy as he can expertly move around the genres and age groups and is best known as a highly distinguished crime novelist. Deviant is his only foray into YA though and blends his trademark mystery style with clever crossovers into horror with a troubled teenager biting off more than he can chew when he is sent to an experimental school in Colorado where a killer awaits and a tale which seamlessly blends horror and thriller.
BRIANA MORGAN
Since 2016 Briana Morgan has published two plays Touch: A One-Act Play (2016) and Unboxed: A Play (2020), also her debut collection The Tricker-Treater and Other Stories (2020). Her debut publication was in 2015 with the YA novel Blood and Water, which she has since followed with Reflections (2019) and Livingston Girls (Livingston Witches Book 1) in 2020.
BLURB FOR ‘LIVINGSTONE GIRLS’ (2020)
What if you could become a witch? When my parents shipped me off to an all-girls boarding school, I thought I was in for a boring junior year. The last thing I expected was discovering magic and a secret coven of witches. Although I’d wanted to lie low at my new school, I couldn’t deny how tempting it was to join the witches.
As I got more involved in the coven, I discovered something else about myself: I had feelings for my roommate, another girl, for the first time in my life. Suddenly, learning magic didn’t seem so scary. But nothing exists in a vacuum, and along with becoming a witch, I learned our coven must go up against a witch-hunter. Not only that, but he’s the headmaster of the boys’ school across town. Now, I have to juggle my feelings for my roommate, my complicated new friendships, my status as a witch… and schoolwork. Maybe this year won’t be as boring as I thought.
Since 2016 Briana Morgan has published two plays Touch: A One-Act Play (2016) and Unboxed: A Play (2020), also her debut collection The Tricker-Treater and Other Stories (2020). Her debut publication was in 2015 with the YA novel Blood and Water, which she has since followed with Reflections (2019) and Livingston Girls (Livingston Witches Book 1) in 2020.
BLURB FOR ‘LIVINGSTONE GIRLS’ (2020)
What if you could become a witch? When my parents shipped me off to an all-girls boarding school, I thought I was in for a boring junior year. The last thing I expected was discovering magic and a secret coven of witches. Although I’d wanted to lie low at my new school, I couldn’t deny how tempting it was to join the witches.
As I got more involved in the coven, I discovered something else about myself: I had feelings for my roommate, another girl, for the first time in my life. Suddenly, learning magic didn’t seem so scary. But nothing exists in a vacuum, and along with becoming a witch, I learned our coven must go up against a witch-hunter. Not only that, but he’s the headmaster of the boys’ school across town. Now, I have to juggle my feelings for my roommate, my complicated new friendships, my status as a witch… and schoolwork. Maybe this year won’t be as boring as I thought.
SARAH J NAUGHTON
Sarah J Naughton started writing YA back in 2013, with a second novel in 2014, however, since then she has exclusively written adult thriller mysteries which include Tattletale (2017), The Last Gift (2017), The Girlfriend (2018), The Mothers (2020) and most recently The Festival (2021). It is a shame Sarah departed the world of YA as both The Hanged Man Rises (2013) and The Blood List (2014) were great reads, with her debut being nominated for the prestigious Costa Children's Book Award. Interestingly, both of Sarah’s YA novels are set in historical periods (Victorian and Sixteenth Century) whereas her adult novels have contemporary settings. Sarah and I exchange the occasional horror themed email and one of these days I might just try and convince her to return to YA horror.
THE HANGED MAN RISES (2013)
I read The Hanged Man Rises when it was originally nominated for the Costa Children's Book Award and was greatly impressed by a very clever page-turner set in a claustrophobically drawn and dangerous Victorian London. The descriptions are so vivid you can almost feel the smog and smell the squalor. Blended into a story of murder is the fact that the author naturally makes the reader aware how difficult it was for children raised in poverty in the Victorian era. Steeped in the gothic tradition, after their parents are killed in a fire Titus Adams and his little sister Hannah are left to fend for themselves before coming into the orbit of a policeman involved in apprehending a child killer. As the story moves on, the murders restart and the supernatural is beautifully blended into the story, with Titus going to any lengths to protect his little sister. Dangers lurk around every corner in this gripping chiller which is ripe for rediscover. AGE RANGE 12+
Sarah J Naughton started writing YA back in 2013, with a second novel in 2014, however, since then she has exclusively written adult thriller mysteries which include Tattletale (2017), The Last Gift (2017), The Girlfriend (2018), The Mothers (2020) and most recently The Festival (2021). It is a shame Sarah departed the world of YA as both The Hanged Man Rises (2013) and The Blood List (2014) were great reads, with her debut being nominated for the prestigious Costa Children's Book Award. Interestingly, both of Sarah’s YA novels are set in historical periods (Victorian and Sixteenth Century) whereas her adult novels have contemporary settings. Sarah and I exchange the occasional horror themed email and one of these days I might just try and convince her to return to YA horror.
THE HANGED MAN RISES (2013)
I read The Hanged Man Rises when it was originally nominated for the Costa Children's Book Award and was greatly impressed by a very clever page-turner set in a claustrophobically drawn and dangerous Victorian London. The descriptions are so vivid you can almost feel the smog and smell the squalor. Blended into a story of murder is the fact that the author naturally makes the reader aware how difficult it was for children raised in poverty in the Victorian era. Steeped in the gothic tradition, after their parents are killed in a fire Titus Adams and his little sister Hannah are left to fend for themselves before coming into the orbit of a policeman involved in apprehending a child killer. As the story moves on, the murders restart and the supernatural is beautifully blended into the story, with Titus going to any lengths to protect his little sister. Dangers lurk around every corner in this gripping chiller which is ripe for rediscover. AGE RANGE 12+
JAMES PATTERSON
These days James Patterson undoubtedly deserves his reputation as a low-brow thriller writer in which you leave your brain at the door, with many novels ‘co-authored’ with others who undoubtedly do all the heavy lifting. However, it was not always like that, back in the day Patterson wrote a couple of excellent YA series, Maximum Ride (2005-15) and Daniel X (2008-15) and to a lesser extent Witch and Wizard (2009-14).
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT MAXIMUM RIDE (9 BOOK SERIES 2005-15)
Many readers might have a doubletake when they see the mainstream writing machine James Patterson appear on a YA horror list, but this is a very entertaining fantasy/science fiction series. The story revolves around six teenagers who are 98% human and 2% bird after a series of scientific experiments. The six kids can fly and when the bloodthirsty Erasers who are half men, half-wolves genetically engineered by sick and sinister scientists, kidnap one of the group they have to go on a rescue mission with fourteen-year-old Max leading the group on a dangerous adventure where they might just have to save the world along the way. This was fast paced exciting fun, that heads into post-apocalyptic fiction as the series develops. AGE RANGE 11+
These days James Patterson undoubtedly deserves his reputation as a low-brow thriller writer in which you leave your brain at the door, with many novels ‘co-authored’ with others who undoubtedly do all the heavy lifting. However, it was not always like that, back in the day Patterson wrote a couple of excellent YA series, Maximum Ride (2005-15) and Daniel X (2008-15) and to a lesser extent Witch and Wizard (2009-14).
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT MAXIMUM RIDE (9 BOOK SERIES 2005-15)
Many readers might have a doubletake when they see the mainstream writing machine James Patterson appear on a YA horror list, but this is a very entertaining fantasy/science fiction series. The story revolves around six teenagers who are 98% human and 2% bird after a series of scientific experiments. The six kids can fly and when the bloodthirsty Erasers who are half men, half-wolves genetically engineered by sick and sinister scientists, kidnap one of the group they have to go on a rescue mission with fourteen-year-old Max leading the group on a dangerous adventure where they might just have to save the world along the way. This was fast paced exciting fun, that heads into post-apocalyptic fiction as the series develops. AGE RANGE 11+
CHRISTOPHER PIKE
Christopher Pike arrived on the YA horror scene in the mid-1980s, around the same time as RL Stine, combined the pair revolutionised the genre and went onto sell millions of books. Pike is probably best known for his Chain Letter (1986-92) duology, Remember Me (1989-95) trilogy, The Last Vampire (1994-96) series, and the 24-book series Spooksville (1995-8). Like RL Stine Pike dabbled, with limited success, in adult fiction, some of his titles included: Sati (1990), The Season of Passage (1992), The Listeners (1994), The Cold One (1995), Blind Mirror (2003) and Falling (2007). Like RL Stine, his YA fiction inspired many of the next generation of horror writers.
BLURB OF ‘SATI’ (1990)
The first adult novel from a bestselling author of young adult fiction. Michael picks up a young hitch hiker in the Arizona desert, bringing her home and letting her sleep on his couch. The next day, she talks about being God and strange things begin to happen to everyone coming in contact with her.
SARAH PINBOROUGH
Sarah Pinborough is one of the few authors who is equally skilled writing for adults as she is for teens. First published in 2004, her early novels The Hidden (2004), The Reckoning (2005) and Bleeding Ground (2006) were all adult horror before The Nowhere Chronicles Trilogy (2010-12) arrived as Sarah Singleton before returning to her original name to retell dark fairy tales. However, in 2015 and 2016 she really moved through the YA gears, publishing two awesome novels back-to-back, with The Death House (2015) and 13 Minutes (2016), the former was a particularly powerful and moving dystopian read. In 2017 she hit the jackpot with the adult twister Behind Her Eyes, which was adapted by Netflix and has followed that with other big selling thrillers. It’s sad to say, but I feel Sarah’s days in YA are over, but I hope I’m wrong.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT ‘THE DEATH HOUSE’ (2015)
When I recommend books to teenagers, I am always on the lookout for titles which the readers can make strong emotional connections with and in my experience, there are few better than The Death House. In the years I have been recommending this amazing dystopian thriller I always tell the kids to watch out for the stunning ending and if I enquire how they got on, more than a few admit to crying at the very sad end. Certain readers think the ending is unnecessarily downbeat, I am not sure though, but it is amazing that it encourages such debate. One thing is for sure: there are a lot of teenagers out there who are truly passionate about this knockout of a novel.
You could argue The Death House is not strictly a horror story, but it is so good I add it to just about any list I can. It has a haunting mix of dystopia, where everything is kept enticingly vague, and teen novel which has been rightly compared to classics such as Lord of the Flies. Children who are infected with a virus, which they have been told is deadly, are shipped to a remote orphanage on an island which they call ‘Death Houses’ because the survival rate is zero. What follows is a quite beautiful and haunting look at the teens who live there, waiting to die, whilst trying to live. The story is seen from the point of view of Toby, who has been in the Death House longer than everybody else (who are all dead) and what changes when a couple of girls arrive amongst the latest bunch of inmates. YA writing has never been better as young love begins to blossom on the island. An absolute stunner and I loved it more than you can ever imagine. AGE RANGE 13+
Tony Jones
Sarah Pinborough is one of the few authors who is equally skilled writing for adults as she is for teens. First published in 2004, her early novels The Hidden (2004), The Reckoning (2005) and Bleeding Ground (2006) were all adult horror before The Nowhere Chronicles Trilogy (2010-12) arrived as Sarah Singleton before returning to her original name to retell dark fairy tales. However, in 2015 and 2016 she really moved through the YA gears, publishing two awesome novels back-to-back, with The Death House (2015) and 13 Minutes (2016), the former was a particularly powerful and moving dystopian read. In 2017 she hit the jackpot with the adult twister Behind Her Eyes, which was adapted by Netflix and has followed that with other big selling thrillers. It’s sad to say, but I feel Sarah’s days in YA are over, but I hope I’m wrong.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT ‘THE DEATH HOUSE’ (2015)
When I recommend books to teenagers, I am always on the lookout for titles which the readers can make strong emotional connections with and in my experience, there are few better than The Death House. In the years I have been recommending this amazing dystopian thriller I always tell the kids to watch out for the stunning ending and if I enquire how they got on, more than a few admit to crying at the very sad end. Certain readers think the ending is unnecessarily downbeat, I am not sure though, but it is amazing that it encourages such debate. One thing is for sure: there are a lot of teenagers out there who are truly passionate about this knockout of a novel.
You could argue The Death House is not strictly a horror story, but it is so good I add it to just about any list I can. It has a haunting mix of dystopia, where everything is kept enticingly vague, and teen novel which has been rightly compared to classics such as Lord of the Flies. Children who are infected with a virus, which they have been told is deadly, are shipped to a remote orphanage on an island which they call ‘Death Houses’ because the survival rate is zero. What follows is a quite beautiful and haunting look at the teens who live there, waiting to die, whilst trying to live. The story is seen from the point of view of Toby, who has been in the Death House longer than everybody else (who are all dead) and what changes when a couple of girls arrive amongst the latest bunch of inmates. YA writing has never been better as young love begins to blossom on the island. An absolute stunner and I loved it more than you can ever imagine. AGE RANGE 13+
Tony Jones
TODAY ON THE GINGER NUTS OF HORROR WEBSITE
[COMIC REVIEW] SPLASHES OF DARKNESS: RAYGUN ROADS
THE HEART AND SOUL OF YA HORROR REVIEWS
 | This article looks at authors who started their careers as adult horror writers but at some point, have turned to penning YA fiction, or visa-versa, beginning in YA and then jumping to adult. Interestingly, considering the huge number of horror writers there are, it is not an especially long list, of which this is the first of three parts: A-H. |
In this section the awesome Neil Gaiman is a true standout, as an author this guy is unique, effortlessly moving from picture books, up through primary years, YA and onto adult. It is tricky writing for both age groups and if you do not know many of these authors, they are well worth exploring. Interestingly, many of them are much better known for one particular age group and would probably be seen as ‘dabblers’ in the other. Nobody would argue that adult horror legend Shaun Hutson was known for his YA literature. Many featured in the list such as Hutson, you might not know ever wrote a YA or novel for kids.
This is not an authoritative list, which has been compiled mainly from going through my old Ginger Nuts of Horror reviews, which date back to 2015. I would also like to thank the Twitter horror-sphere and the Books of Horror Facebook group who helped with many of the suggestions. I am sure there are many other great examples, so get in touch if there are any glaring omissions and they may feature in a follow-up article.
About the short accompanying reviews: if it is a book I have previously reviewed in the Ginger Nuts of Horror it is introduced with “Here’s what we said about….” Others included might have reviews of books I have read, but I have never posted online before or via Ginger Nuts. The late additions, books I have not read, have blurbs which I have taken from either Fantastic Fiction or Amazon. The dates I have used have also originated on Amazon or Fantastic Fiction. Note, they do not aim to be complete, and I have selected what I believe to be the books which are most relevant to this project.
The authors are listed alphabetically.
This is not an authoritative list, which has been compiled mainly from going through my old Ginger Nuts of Horror reviews, which date back to 2015. I would also like to thank the Twitter horror-sphere and the Books of Horror Facebook group who helped with many of the suggestions. I am sure there are many other great examples, so get in touch if there are any glaring omissions and they may feature in a follow-up article.
About the short accompanying reviews: if it is a book I have previously reviewed in the Ginger Nuts of Horror it is introduced with “Here’s what we said about….” Others included might have reviews of books I have read, but I have never posted online before or via Ginger Nuts. The late additions, books I have not read, have blurbs which I have taken from either Fantastic Fiction or Amazon. The dates I have used have also originated on Amazon or Fantastic Fiction. Note, they do not aim to be complete, and I have selected what I believe to be the books which are most relevant to this project.
The authors are listed alphabetically.
CLIVE BARKER
Best known for the Books of Blood (1981-85) series, The Damnation Game (1984), Weaveworld (1987), Cabal (1988) and a host of other novels Clive Barker is one of the modern giants of the genre, who also directed the cult horror film Hellraiser in 1987. However, along the way he has written a few excellent YA and children’s novels which are a clever blend of fantasy and horror. The Thief of Always (1992) is undoubtedly his most famous example, followed closely by Abarat (2002-11), which begins an engaging fantasy trilogy. Barker’s junior fiction was outstanding, and it is a great shame he never wrote more of it.
REVIEW OF ‘THE THIEF OF ALWAYS’ (1992)
I still remember reading this book for the first time in my early twenties, but strangely never associated it with the horror giant that Barker had become in the adult horror world, even though I had seen Hellraiser on video back in the day. In the pre-internet days those connections were not so easy or obvious to make, and I had never read Barker when I was a kid. Although I first read The Thief of Always as an adult, it maintains a steady level of dread as main character Harvey Swick is slowly sucked into the orbit of the dastardly Mr Hood’s house. I reread it a couple of years ago and it remains just as unsettling and sinister, and I still regularly recommend it to kids getting interested in horror. Barker creates a haunting world with well-drawn characters where countless children are welcomed into the dodgy embrace of Mr Hood’s holiday house. It is a place of miracles, a blissful round of treats and seasons, where every childish whim may be satisfied. But there is a price to be paid in this darkest of coming-of-age tale which beautifully blends childhood fantasy and horror. AGE RANGE 10/11+
REVIEW OF ‘THE THIEF OF ALWAYS’ (1992)
I still remember reading this book for the first time in my early twenties, but strangely never associated it with the horror giant that Barker had become in the adult horror world, even though I had seen Hellraiser on video back in the day. In the pre-internet days those connections were not so easy or obvious to make, and I had never read Barker when I was a kid. Although I first read The Thief of Always as an adult, it maintains a steady level of dread as main character Harvey Swick is slowly sucked into the orbit of the dastardly Mr Hood’s house. I reread it a couple of years ago and it remains just as unsettling and sinister, and I still regularly recommend it to kids getting interested in horror. Barker creates a haunting world with well-drawn characters where countless children are welcomed into the dodgy embrace of Mr Hood’s holiday house. It is a place of miracles, a blissful round of treats and seasons, where every childish whim may be satisfied. But there is a price to be paid in this darkest of coming-of-age tale which beautifully blends childhood fantasy and horror. AGE RANGE 10/11+
ALDEN BELL AKA JOSHUA GAYLORD
In 2010 Alden Bell wrote The Reapers are the Angels which is without doubt my favourite ever zombie novel, a prequel Exit Kingdom followed in 2012. It is open for debate whether these stunning novels were YA or adult books, and marketing varied in different counties, however, I have always seen Reapers as YA and in the huge Ginger Nuts of Horror ‘Top Fifty Novels of the Decade 2010-2019’ this book was our proud number one. Alden Bell is a pseudonym for Joshua Gaylord, who wrote the literary fiction novel Hummingbirds (2009) and When We Were Animals (2015) which also had strong YA leadings and was number 11 of 50 in that same Ginger Nuts of Horror decade poll.
WHAT WE SAID ABOUT ‘WHEN WE WERE ANIMALS’ (2015)
When We Were Animals is a strange novel about a small town where when teenagers reach a certain age, they ‘breach’. Although the concept of breaching is never fully explained, it is best described as a strong mental and physical pull where most teens lose control of their inhibitions, running wild in the streets, sometimes naked, abandoning all sense of civility. Their parents do not do anything about this because they did it themselves years earlier and it is seen as a peculiar right-of-passage into adulthood. Is When We Were Animals an adult or a teen novel? It was incredibly different to tell, however, it completely knocked out my fourteen-year-old daughter who found a lot of magic in the novel, particularly in relation to the ‘bad boy’ Blackhat Roy. He was not a main character, but his shadow dominated the book and my daughter felt herself being pulled to his dark, irresistible, side. Blackhat Roy was nasty, interesting, layered, violent and very human character. He was the ultimate outsider.
Lumen, however, swears she will never breach because of what happened to her mother. Soon everyone around her is breaching, including her only friend Polly. When the sound of the teens howling echoes the streets, she hears her classmates calling her name and the pull becomes almost irresistible. The novel also flashes forward to see Lumen as a married adult with a son, as she reflects on her past and begins to feel the urge again, it is a coming-of-age tale like no other. AGE RANGE 13/14+
WHAT WE SAID ABOUT ‘WHEN WE WERE ANIMALS’ (2015)
When We Were Animals is a strange novel about a small town where when teenagers reach a certain age, they ‘breach’. Although the concept of breaching is never fully explained, it is best described as a strong mental and physical pull where most teens lose control of their inhibitions, running wild in the streets, sometimes naked, abandoning all sense of civility. Their parents do not do anything about this because they did it themselves years earlier and it is seen as a peculiar right-of-passage into adulthood. Is When We Were Animals an adult or a teen novel? It was incredibly different to tell, however, it completely knocked out my fourteen-year-old daughter who found a lot of magic in the novel, particularly in relation to the ‘bad boy’ Blackhat Roy. He was not a main character, but his shadow dominated the book and my daughter felt herself being pulled to his dark, irresistible, side. Blackhat Roy was nasty, interesting, layered, violent and very human character. He was the ultimate outsider.
Lumen, however, swears she will never breach because of what happened to her mother. Soon everyone around her is breaching, including her only friend Polly. When the sound of the teens howling echoes the streets, she hears her classmates calling her name and the pull becomes almost irresistible. The novel also flashes forward to see Lumen as a married adult with a son, as she reflects on her past and begins to feel the urge again, it is a coming-of-age tale like no other. AGE RANGE 13/14+
MAX BRALLIER AKA JACK CHABERT
Max Braillier started his career with the adult ‘choose your own adult adventure novel Can You Survive the Zombie Apocalypse? (2011) which he followed with the sequel Highway to Hell (2016). Between the publication of these adult titles Brallier turned to junior and Middle Grade fiction where he has since concentrated. Between 2015-21 zombies headlined in his six-book series Last Kids on Earth and also wrote a trilogy of horror chillers Mister Shivers (2019-21) and other series, some of which were fantasy comedy. Between 2014-19 his pseudonym Jack Chabert published the ten book Eerie Elementary series which begins with The School is Alive!
BLURB OF THE LAST KIDS ON EARTH
Ever since the monster apocalypse hit town, average thirteen-year-old Jack Sullivan has been living in his tree house, which he's armed to the teeth with catapults and a moat, not to mention video games and an endless supply of Oreos and Mountain Dew scavenged from abandoned stores. But Jack alone is no match for the hordes of Zombies and Winged Wretches and Vine Thingies, and especially not for the eerily intelligent monster known only as Blarg. So, Jack builds a team: his dorky best friend, Quint; the reformed middle school bully, Dirk; Jack's loyal pet monster, Rover; and Jack's crush, June. With their help, Jack is going to slay Blarg, achieve the ultimate Feat of Apocalyptic Success, and be average no longer! Can he do it? AGE RANGE 8+
BLURB OF THE LAST KIDS ON EARTH
Ever since the monster apocalypse hit town, average thirteen-year-old Jack Sullivan has been living in his tree house, which he's armed to the teeth with catapults and a moat, not to mention video games and an endless supply of Oreos and Mountain Dew scavenged from abandoned stores. But Jack alone is no match for the hordes of Zombies and Winged Wretches and Vine Thingies, and especially not for the eerily intelligent monster known only as Blarg. So, Jack builds a team: his dorky best friend, Quint; the reformed middle school bully, Dirk; Jack's loyal pet monster, Rover; and Jack's crush, June. With their help, Jack is going to slay Blarg, achieve the ultimate Feat of Apocalyptic Success, and be average no longer! Can he do it? AGE RANGE 8+
ADAM CESARE
Adam made a massive splash in 2020 with his YA debut Clown in a Cornfield and I hope he becomes a major new voice in YA horror. As a writer for adults, he is very well known in the indie horror scene and has penned Video Night (2013), The Summer Job (2014), Zero Lives Remaining (2016) and many others. His arrival in the YA world was a breath of fresh air and he thoroughly deserved winning the YA Bram Stoker Award in 2021.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD (2020)
With a title like Clown in a Cornfield you might be forgiven for thinking you had stumbled upon a glorious ‘straight-to-video’ release from the 1980s heyday of lurid but wonderful horror films.
It is not deep, the characters neither ‘change’ or ‘grow’ and it does not have a heavy underlying serious message. I do love a ‘Final Girl’ and although the story is told in the third person, taking in various characters, Quinn Maybrook dominates the book and she is an excellent Final Girl (okay, other characters survive too) when the body count spirals in the second half of the story.
This truly is a book of two halves in which the first sets up the plot and in the second the story explodes. The set up was handled very well, my only concern might be that some readers might be frustrated by the lack of action in the first 50%, however, Quinn Maybrook and the other characters were varied enough to keep the reader invested in how the story would play out and intrigue in what part the clowns might have. Interestingly, the book is set over a very short time of a couple of days, after Quinn and her father Doctor Glen Maybrook arrive in the sleepy and very remote small town of Missouri town of Kettle Strings. Once the action kicks off, like many of the horror films it is inspired by, the action takes place over a single night. If you have watched many of the slasher films Clown in the Cornfield plays homage to, you’ll realise these films were all about the kill sequences and in this regard the novel does not hold back on the gore which involves chainsaws, shotguns and crossbows. This was both fun and gleefully nasty, whilst also being an excellent gateway novel for young teenagers not quite ready to make the jump to adult horror. AGE RANGE 13+
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD (2020)
With a title like Clown in a Cornfield you might be forgiven for thinking you had stumbled upon a glorious ‘straight-to-video’ release from the 1980s heyday of lurid but wonderful horror films.
It is not deep, the characters neither ‘change’ or ‘grow’ and it does not have a heavy underlying serious message. I do love a ‘Final Girl’ and although the story is told in the third person, taking in various characters, Quinn Maybrook dominates the book and she is an excellent Final Girl (okay, other characters survive too) when the body count spirals in the second half of the story.
This truly is a book of two halves in which the first sets up the plot and in the second the story explodes. The set up was handled very well, my only concern might be that some readers might be frustrated by the lack of action in the first 50%, however, Quinn Maybrook and the other characters were varied enough to keep the reader invested in how the story would play out and intrigue in what part the clowns might have. Interestingly, the book is set over a very short time of a couple of days, after Quinn and her father Doctor Glen Maybrook arrive in the sleepy and very remote small town of Missouri town of Kettle Strings. Once the action kicks off, like many of the horror films it is inspired by, the action takes place over a single night. If you have watched many of the slasher films Clown in the Cornfield plays homage to, you’ll realise these films were all about the kill sequences and in this regard the novel does not hold back on the gore which involves chainsaws, shotguns and crossbows. This was both fun and gleefully nasty, whilst also being an excellent gateway novel for young teenagers not quite ready to make the jump to adult horror. AGE RANGE 13+
JOHN CHRISTOPHER AKA CHRISTOPHER SAMUEL YOUD
John Christopher prolifically and effortlessly moved between children’s and adult fiction, across multiple genres. He is best known as a science fiction writer who specialised in post-apocalyptic tales such as The Tripods Quartet (1967-68) for children or The Death of Grass (1956) for adults. He rarely wrote what would be regarded as traditional horror, with A Dusk of Demons (1993) being one of the strongest examples for children and The Little People (1966) for adults.
HERE’S THE BLURB FOR A DUSK FOR DEMONS (1993)
Ben, like many others, has heard the stories of the Demons--those being summoned by the Dark One. But they exist only in his nightmares until his father, the Master, dies mysteriously and Ben is told the Demons are responsible. Then the Demons set fire to Ben's home on Old Isle and he and his stepsister must flee their homeland to find their family. Along the way, they face imprisonment, gypies, and terrified countrymen who are seeking a sacrifice to save themselves from the Dark One.
HERE’S THE BLURB FOR A DUSK FOR DEMONS (1993)
Ben, like many others, has heard the stories of the Demons--those being summoned by the Dark One. But they exist only in his nightmares until his father, the Master, dies mysteriously and Ben is told the Demons are responsible. Then the Demons set fire to Ben's home on Old Isle and he and his stepsister must flee their homeland to find their family. Along the way, they face imprisonment, gypies, and terrified countrymen who are seeking a sacrifice to save themselves from the Dark One.
JOHN CONNOLLY
I am a massive, MASSIVE, fan of Connolly’s nineteen book Charlie Parker series, which I completed over the Covid lockdowns. The blend of horror and detective thriller has never been bettered and I cannot recommend this magnificent series highly enough. However, once in a while this exceptionally talented Irish author writes either a children’s novel or a work like The Book of Lost Things (2006), which is totally unclassifiable. His YA fiction to look out for include Samuel Johnson Versus the Devil Quartet (2009-20) Chronicles of the Invaders Trilogy (2012-16). Book four in the Samuel Johnson series arrived eight years after number three and I hope we do not have to wait as long for another. As long as it does not detract from Charlie Parker!
HERE'S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT SAMUEL JOHNSON VERSUS THE DEVIL (2012)
I would highly recommend this great supernatural children’s series which begins with The Gates in which a comedy of errors leads to a gate to hell opening and poor little Samuel (and his pet dog) is just the boy to close it and save the world in an outstanding blend or the supernatural and fantasy. AGE RANGE 10/11+
HERE'S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT SAMUEL JOHNSON VERSUS THE DEVIL (2012)
I would highly recommend this great supernatural children’s series which begins with The Gates in which a comedy of errors leads to a gate to hell opening and poor little Samuel (and his pet dog) is just the boy to close it and save the world in an outstanding blend or the supernatural and fantasy. AGE RANGE 10/11+
TOM DEADY
Tom Deady is best known as an adult novelist and novella writer, although very recently he has been edging towards YA. His superb 2021 novella for Crystal Lake Publishing Of Men and Monsters is being sold as an adult release, however, it also has a serious YA vibe to it, and I would happily recommend this quality eighty-page come-of-age tale to any kid thirteen or older. It tackles mature themes, but blends it sensitively with family drama, the supernatural and a cool 1970s vide. Tom has written other adult horror novels Eternal Darkness (2017), Haven (2017) which won the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel, and the novellas Weekend Getaway (2017), Backwater (2018) and Coleridge (2020). Tom’s debut YA novel, The Clearing (2021) is really great and is reviewed below. I’ve already ordered this one for my school library.
HERE'S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT ‘THE CLEARING’ (2021)
If you’re after a gateway horror novel for kids aged ten plus, then look no further than Tom Deady’s outstanding The Clearing which is perfect for the top end of primary to the early secondary years. This engrossing read had everything to get keen kids turning the pages; engaging characters, great pace, threat (but not too scary), a taste of early romance, and friendship which is all cleverly built around a snappy mystery, which develops supernatural overtones and conspiracy in the local community. I have already bought a copy for my school library. Bizarrely, something about it made me think of the 1970s cult film Race with the Devil where Warren Oates and friends are stalked by Satanists, who hide in plain sight. Set in a small and sleepy New Hampshire town, two young girls find themselves in danger after deciding to do a Nancy Drew and carry out their own investigation, instead of going to the police. It was the summer holidays, and they were bored, so who can blame them?
The Clearing has a super cool opening hook which is guaranteed to reel any young horror hound in right from the off. Hannah Green is out walking her dog when the pooch makes a grisly find, a decomposing foot. Instead of going to the police she calls her best friend Ashley, and they begin to snoop, which leads them into a decades old mystery which they connect to the disappearance of a local girl. As they begin to join the dots, other characters are introduced and suspicion falls on a reclusive old woman, Mama Bayole. There were not too many suspects, but this mystery was great fun, with the supernatural story convincingly backed by the friendship story between Hannah and Ashley. Another story strands involves Hannah and her father, who is struggling to cope (as is Hannah) with the disappearance of her mother the previous year. The crisp pace, kidnappings and red herrings ensure the intensity keeps up right to the end, which finishes satisfyingly for a potential sequel. As with most Middle Grade horror, it was very clear who were the ‘good’ and who were the ‘bad’ guys, but it was great fun accompanying Hannah and Ashley on their adventure. AGE RANGE 10-13.
HERE'S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT ‘THE CLEARING’ (2021)
If you’re after a gateway horror novel for kids aged ten plus, then look no further than Tom Deady’s outstanding The Clearing which is perfect for the top end of primary to the early secondary years. This engrossing read had everything to get keen kids turning the pages; engaging characters, great pace, threat (but not too scary), a taste of early romance, and friendship which is all cleverly built around a snappy mystery, which develops supernatural overtones and conspiracy in the local community. I have already bought a copy for my school library. Bizarrely, something about it made me think of the 1970s cult film Race with the Devil where Warren Oates and friends are stalked by Satanists, who hide in plain sight. Set in a small and sleepy New Hampshire town, two young girls find themselves in danger after deciding to do a Nancy Drew and carry out their own investigation, instead of going to the police. It was the summer holidays, and they were bored, so who can blame them?
The Clearing has a super cool opening hook which is guaranteed to reel any young horror hound in right from the off. Hannah Green is out walking her dog when the pooch makes a grisly find, a decomposing foot. Instead of going to the police she calls her best friend Ashley, and they begin to snoop, which leads them into a decades old mystery which they connect to the disappearance of a local girl. As they begin to join the dots, other characters are introduced and suspicion falls on a reclusive old woman, Mama Bayole. There were not too many suspects, but this mystery was great fun, with the supernatural story convincingly backed by the friendship story between Hannah and Ashley. Another story strands involves Hannah and her father, who is struggling to cope (as is Hannah) with the disappearance of her mother the previous year. The crisp pace, kidnappings and red herrings ensure the intensity keeps up right to the end, which finishes satisfyingly for a potential sequel. As with most Middle Grade horror, it was very clear who were the ‘good’ and who were the ‘bad’ guys, but it was great fun accompanying Hannah and Ashley on their adventure. AGE RANGE 10-13.
JOE DONNELLY
Between 1989 and 2012 Joe Donnelly published ten adult novels which were a mixture of horror and mystery, which include Bane (1989), Stone (1990), The Shee (1992), Incubus (1996), and Full Proof (2012). In 2007 Joe took his first detour into Middle Grade children’s fiction with the Jack Flint trilogy, published between 2007-10 which deals Celtic mythology. He returned to YA fantasy in 2016 with the Book of Ways (2016) trilogy, which opens with Mythlands.
BLURB FOR ‘JACK FLINT AND THE REDTHORN SWORD’ (2007)
Jack Flint is 13. He's never known his mother and has - literally - lost his father. On a stormy Halloween he steps from his humdrum world of school, chores and getting by, into a maelstrom. Scaling the dark-walled coppice known as Cromwath Blackwood he and his best friend, Kerry Malone, find a mysterious circle of thirteen standing stones. Stones that almost seem to be breathing, pulling the boys to a place of myth and mayhem.
From playing fields to battle fields they stumble into the legendary world of Temair. Here Celtic myth comes to life as Jack, Kerry and Corriwen Redthorn, the orphaned daughter of a Temair Chief, face the terrifying cunning of Morrigan, goddess of death and her servants, the Scree and the cruel, black-feathered Roaks.
BLURB FOR ‘JACK FLINT AND THE REDTHORN SWORD’ (2007)
Jack Flint is 13. He's never known his mother and has - literally - lost his father. On a stormy Halloween he steps from his humdrum world of school, chores and getting by, into a maelstrom. Scaling the dark-walled coppice known as Cromwath Blackwood he and his best friend, Kerry Malone, find a mysterious circle of thirteen standing stones. Stones that almost seem to be breathing, pulling the boys to a place of myth and mayhem.
From playing fields to battle fields they stumble into the legendary world of Temair. Here Celtic myth comes to life as Jack, Kerry and Corriwen Redthorn, the orphaned daughter of a Temair Chief, face the terrifying cunning of Morrigan, goddess of death and her servants, the Scree and the cruel, black-feathered Roaks.
JG FAHERTY
JG Faherty is one of the very few authors to be nominated for both the YA Bram Stoker Award with Ghosts of Coronado Bay (2011) and the adult Best Novel category in 2015 with The Cure. Faherty moves around the genres and often blends fantasy with horror, but also writes science fiction. His most recent two horror novels Hellrider (2019) and Sins of the Father (2020) were both published by Flame Tree Press, who have been dropping excellent novels over the last few years. Faherty features in many anthologies and has his own collections The Monster Inside (2014) and Houses of the Unholy (2019). The majority of his other work, including many novellas, are adult rather than YA, check out Cemetery Club (2012), Carnival of Fear (2010), The Burning Time (2013) and others. I have read a couple of his adult novels and must look into his YA stuff.
BLURB OF GHOSTS OF CORONADO BAY (2011)
By all accounts, 16-year-old Maya Blair is a typical teen-age girl. She hangs out with her best friend Lucy, has a turbulent relationship with her ex-boyfriend Stuart, and works at her family’s diner. However, Maya has an extraordinary secret – she can see, hear, and talk to ghosts. And when spirits are near her they revert back to solid form. But now there are new ghosts in town and she’s fallen for two of them. The problem is, one of them is an evil spirit who wants her dead. Things were so much simpler when all Maya had to worry about was a date for the dance.
MICHAEL THOMAS FORD AKA MIKE FORD AKA ISOBEL BIRD
There can be very few writers in this A-Z which have the sheer versatility and range of the amazing Michael Thomas Ford who pens mainstream YA, genre fiction for both adults and teens, as well as horror for Middle Grade age groups. His remarkable output of fifty books (and counting) also takes in humour, gay fiction, romance, literary and nonfiction. His Jane Bites Trilogy (2009-12) features Jane Austen as a modern-day vampire and Z (2010) was his spin on the zombie novel. His incredible Lily (2016) was shortlisted for the Shirley Jackson Award and made the preliminary list for the YA Bram Stoker Award. Alas, it was probably just too strange for the HWA! (but I loved it). When writing as Mike Ford, he penned ten of the Indiana Eerie Series between 1997-98 of which The Dollhouse That Time Forgot (1998) was shortlisted for a YA Bram Stoker Award, he resurrected the name in 2020 for the four book Frightville series, aimed at junior and Middle Grade horror fans. His third name, Isobel Bird, wrote the fifteen book Circle of Three fantasy magic series between 2001-02. There is nothing that Mike cannot do.
WHAT WE SAID ABOUT ‘DON’T LET THE DOLL IN’ (FRIGHTVILLE BOOK 1) 2020
The constant in all the stories is the new Frightville store in the local town where the action takes place and kids buy quirky junk store objects from the creepy Odson Ends. In this opening tale Mara is delighted to purchase a small figurine doll called Charlotte. Kids love creepy doll stories, and this is a beauty when odd things happen after Charlotte ends up in Mara’s dollhouse. A fast-paced supernatural story quickly develops, with a very cool ending which your children will love.
WHAT WE SAID ABOUT ‘DON’T LET THE DOLL IN’ (FRIGHTVILLE BOOK 1) 2020
The constant in all the stories is the new Frightville store in the local town where the action takes place and kids buy quirky junk store objects from the creepy Odson Ends. In this opening tale Mara is delighted to purchase a small figurine doll called Charlotte. Kids love creepy doll stories, and this is a beauty when odd things happen after Charlotte ends up in Mara’s dollhouse. A fast-paced supernatural story quickly develops, with a very cool ending which your children will love.
PATRICK FREIVALD
Patrick Freivald started his career with two YA zombie novels, Twice Shy and Special Dead (2012-13) before moving onto adult horror and dark thrillers. Between 2014-19 he published four novels in his Matt Rowley series, about a superhuman commando, which opens with Jade Sky. Other novels are Blood List (2013) and Murmur (2020). Patrick has also featured in many anthologies and been nominated for the prestigious Bram Stoker Award four times.
BLURB FOR ‘TWICE SHY’ (2012)
High School Sucks. It's worse when you're dead. Ohneka Falls is a small, Western New York town where everyone knows everyone and nothing of note happens. Ani Romero is a sixteen-year-old girl who wants to play sports, hang out, and kiss Mike, her middle-school crush. A childhood carrier of the zombie virus, she died at fourteen but didn't become a mindless, brain-eating monster. Her controlling mother forces her to join the emo crowd to hide her condition behind a wall of black clothes and makeup, and her friends abandon her.
When creeper Dylan learns her secret, he falls into obsession, with Ani and with death. She bites him in self-defence. Persecuted by the jocks and ignored by Mike, Ani struggles through the motions of life hoping her mother's research unveils a cure, or Dylan dooms them all to a hungry, walking death. As her emo facade crumbles in the face of jealousy and obsession, Ani knows that the worst thing she can do is be true to herself.
BLURB FOR ‘TWICE SHY’ (2012)
High School Sucks. It's worse when you're dead. Ohneka Falls is a small, Western New York town where everyone knows everyone and nothing of note happens. Ani Romero is a sixteen-year-old girl who wants to play sports, hang out, and kiss Mike, her middle-school crush. A childhood carrier of the zombie virus, she died at fourteen but didn't become a mindless, brain-eating monster. Her controlling mother forces her to join the emo crowd to hide her condition behind a wall of black clothes and makeup, and her friends abandon her.
When creeper Dylan learns her secret, he falls into obsession, with Ani and with death. She bites him in self-defence. Persecuted by the jocks and ignored by Mike, Ani struggles through the motions of life hoping her mother's research unveils a cure, or Dylan dooms them all to a hungry, walking death. As her emo facade crumbles in the face of jealousy and obsession, Ani knows that the worst thing she can do is be true to herself.
NEIL GAIMAN
No author straddles the age groups as naturally or beautifully as Neil Gaiman. From his picture books, including The Wolves in the Walls (2007), to his fiction for the under tens, Fortunately, the Milk (2013), all the way up to the famous adult modern classics he is best known for. The Ocean at the End of the Lane (2013) is my favourite of his novels, is it an adult or YA novel? It is very hard to tell…. His top YA and children’s titles include Coraline (2002) and The Graveyard Book (2008), which is the only novel ever to win both the Carnegie and Newbery Medals, the biggest prizes in children’s literature. Further personal adult favourites include Good Omens (1990), Stardust (1998) and American Gods (2000). The quality of his fiction is so deep than Gaiman fans will argue all day over which is his ‘best’ novel. In Ginger Nuts of Horror recent top 50 YA novels of the decade The Ocean at the End of the Lane was placed number six.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE (2013)
The Ocean at the End of the Lane is, hands-down, my favourite Neil Gaiman novel and I have read most of them. It is predominately seen through the eyes of a little boy and features the scariest babysitter/nanny of all time who terrifies the child. Hell, she terrified me. This breath-taking blend of fantasy and horror is almost impossible to pigeonhole and possibly takes the best bits from many of Gaiman’s other novels; increasing the fear-factor from Coraline and The Graveyard Book, includes snatches reminiscent of Stardust, but without the huge page length of American Gods. It might very well be Gaiman’s masterpiece with old and dangerous magic filtering into the world.
On one level it reads like a children’s book, on another it is a story of loss, aging, and childhood memories. This is a big question: is this an adult or a YA novel? It is very hard to tell, and I have a special love for novels which blur that boundary. Since its publications I have read it twice with different book clubs at school and readers frequently argue about how it should be categorised. However, if it an adult novel, it is perfect for strong teenage readers and the majority I lend it to adore its strange blend of coming-of-story, childhood fear and nostalgia, not to mention very old magic. Life might not be normal for a boy whose nearest neighbours are a family of ancient witches, including a little girl who he befriends, in this dark and brooding tale of childhood and witchcraft which is half-forgotten and is totally unforgettable to the reader. Genius. But watch out for that babysitter…. AGE RANGE 13+
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE (2013)
The Ocean at the End of the Lane is, hands-down, my favourite Neil Gaiman novel and I have read most of them. It is predominately seen through the eyes of a little boy and features the scariest babysitter/nanny of all time who terrifies the child. Hell, she terrified me. This breath-taking blend of fantasy and horror is almost impossible to pigeonhole and possibly takes the best bits from many of Gaiman’s other novels; increasing the fear-factor from Coraline and The Graveyard Book, includes snatches reminiscent of Stardust, but without the huge page length of American Gods. It might very well be Gaiman’s masterpiece with old and dangerous magic filtering into the world.
On one level it reads like a children’s book, on another it is a story of loss, aging, and childhood memories. This is a big question: is this an adult or a YA novel? It is very hard to tell, and I have a special love for novels which blur that boundary. Since its publications I have read it twice with different book clubs at school and readers frequently argue about how it should be categorised. However, if it an adult novel, it is perfect for strong teenage readers and the majority I lend it to adore its strange blend of coming-of-story, childhood fear and nostalgia, not to mention very old magic. Life might not be normal for a boy whose nearest neighbours are a family of ancient witches, including a little girl who he befriends, in this dark and brooding tale of childhood and witchcraft which is half-forgotten and is totally unforgettable to the reader. Genius. But watch out for that babysitter…. AGE RANGE 13+
HELEN GRANT
I am a huge fan of Helen Grant and read the majority of her YA fiction published between 2009-2015, these six novels include her debut, The Vanishing of Katharina Linden (2009) which was shortlisted for the prestigious Carnegie Medal. Other titles are the equally impressive The Glass Demon (2010) and Wish Me Dead (2011), two novels I have enjoyed recommending widely. Helen does not write traditional horror novels, but her fiction often has a convincing flavour of myths, legends and are often set in European countries, including her Forbidden Spaces Trilogy (2013-15). In 2018 Helen made the impressive switch to adult fiction with Ghost and follows that with a second adult novel later in 2021. She is also widely published in many anthologies, and I hope she returns to YA before too long.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT WISH ME DEAD (2011)
Steffi and her friends visit the house of a long-dead local witch and is seemingly given the power to make wishes come true. This is far from a blessing as she is soon plagued with locals wanting her to do their dirty work over the most trivial slights. It is clever in that for a decent chunk of the novel you are not 100% sure whether there is anything supernatural or not. Grant is a British author who lives in Germany, where most of her books are set, often playing with the supernatural and local German superstitions. Others I recommend are The Glass Demon and The Vanishing of Katharina Linden which was a highly successful novel inspired by the Pied Piper story.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT WISH ME DEAD (2011)
Steffi and her friends visit the house of a long-dead local witch and is seemingly given the power to make wishes come true. This is far from a blessing as she is soon plagued with locals wanting her to do their dirty work over the most trivial slights. It is clever in that for a decent chunk of the novel you are not 100% sure whether there is anything supernatural or not. Grant is a British author who lives in Germany, where most of her books are set, often playing with the supernatural and local German superstitions. Others I recommend are The Glass Demon and The Vanishing of Katharina Linden which was a highly successful novel inspired by the Pied Piper story.
MIRA GRANT AKA SEANAN McGUIRE AKA DEBORAH BAKER
I have been a fan of Mira Grant for a number of years and have enjoyed both the Newsflesh/Feed (2011-16) series and the Parasitology (2013-15) trilogy, which although they are adult reads are also highly accessible for YA readers. Also writing (prolifically) as Seanan McGuire and more recently Deborah Baker she still remains best known for the terrific Newsflesh series, rather than the huge number of urban fantasy titles she has since released under her other two names. In 2019 Mira wrote a YA novel to the Aliens franchise which was an entertaining read and is reviewed below.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT ‘ALIEN ECHO’ (2019)
Her latest science fiction horror novel, Alien Echo, is specifically aimed at the YA audience and is set in the Alien universe created by Ridley Scott and developed by James Cameron. For much of the novel (unless you’re aware of the connection) you could be forgiven for not even noticing the connection to the Aliens made famous by Ridley Scott. At a certain point, the creatures are described as having a mouth (within a month) and then the acid for blood is a give-away. Apart from that you could be reading any science fiction novel and this book felt as if it were unnecessarily shoe-horned in a series when, in actual fact, Mira Grant creates enough cool creatures that the famous Aliens were not strictly necessarily.
Alien Echo was an entertaining, if slightly undemanding, YA science fiction horror which was set on the planet of Zagreus. The novel is seen from the point of view of a gay teenager Olivia who is the daughter of two distinguished xenobiologists. She has a twin sister, Viola, who has a serious medical condition which means she cannot go outside. In the early stages of the novel Olivia hooks up with Kora and things are going great, however, after her parents go on a routine expedition they bring something nasty back to the planet which quickly decimates the local wildlife, easily killing off the dangerous apex predators. Along the way there are friendship conflicts, family revelations, lots of killing and a battle for survival. You may well enjoy this better if you know nothing of the famous films it is inspired by it is a decent mix of teen stuff and fast faced action. AGE RANGE 12+
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT ‘ALIEN ECHO’ (2019)
Her latest science fiction horror novel, Alien Echo, is specifically aimed at the YA audience and is set in the Alien universe created by Ridley Scott and developed by James Cameron. For much of the novel (unless you’re aware of the connection) you could be forgiven for not even noticing the connection to the Aliens made famous by Ridley Scott. At a certain point, the creatures are described as having a mouth (within a month) and then the acid for blood is a give-away. Apart from that you could be reading any science fiction novel and this book felt as if it were unnecessarily shoe-horned in a series when, in actual fact, Mira Grant creates enough cool creatures that the famous Aliens were not strictly necessarily.
Alien Echo was an entertaining, if slightly undemanding, YA science fiction horror which was set on the planet of Zagreus. The novel is seen from the point of view of a gay teenager Olivia who is the daughter of two distinguished xenobiologists. She has a twin sister, Viola, who has a serious medical condition which means she cannot go outside. In the early stages of the novel Olivia hooks up with Kora and things are going great, however, after her parents go on a routine expedition they bring something nasty back to the planet which quickly decimates the local wildlife, easily killing off the dangerous apex predators. Along the way there are friendship conflicts, family revelations, lots of killing and a battle for survival. You may well enjoy this better if you know nothing of the famous films it is inspired by it is a decent mix of teen stuff and fast faced action. AGE RANGE 12+
JL HICKEY
JL Hickey started his career writing Middle Grade and YA, including his Secret Seekers Society series, which was republished in 2018-19 by Black Rose Writing, Beast of Bladenboro (book 1), Solomon’s Seal (book 2) and Wrath of the Wendigo (book 3). Earlier he wrote Deity Chronicles: Origins (2015). In recent times Hickey has turned to adult horror and in 2021 has two new novels: It Was Born in the Darkness of the Woods and The Dark and the Darker.
BLURB FOR ‘THE BEAST OF BLADENBORO’ (2018)
Secret Seekers Society and the Beast of Bladenboro follows the young protagonists Hunter Glenn and Elly Ann through an adventure ripe with adversity, paranormal monsters, secret societies, and most haunting of all, a life without their parents. Both siblings suffer emotional struggle from the sudden loss of their parents, as well as their physical journey into a new and strange “home”; an ancient and creepy mansion known only as the Belmonte Estate. The children slowly unravel the secrets of their parents’ true identities, the origin of the strange mansion and their inheritance into an ancient secret society of monster hunters. AGE RANGE 11+
BLURB FOR ‘THE BEAST OF BLADENBORO’ (2018)
Secret Seekers Society and the Beast of Bladenboro follows the young protagonists Hunter Glenn and Elly Ann through an adventure ripe with adversity, paranormal monsters, secret societies, and most haunting of all, a life without their parents. Both siblings suffer emotional struggle from the sudden loss of their parents, as well as their physical journey into a new and strange “home”; an ancient and creepy mansion known only as the Belmonte Estate. The children slowly unravel the secrets of their parents’ true identities, the origin of the strange mansion and their inheritance into an ancient secret society of monster hunters. AGE RANGE 11+
SUSAN HILL
Susan Hill effortlessly moves around the genres and is impressively impossible to pigeonhole, she is also an absolute master of the supernatural novella. Hill is probably still best known for The Woman in Black (1983) which although was released as an adult story, is frequently taught to the age group of 13-15-year-olds in UK schools. Many of her best horror novellas, including The Small Hand (2010) and Dolly (2012), which although are predominately aimed at adults, also have strong YA feels to them. My favourite of the many Hill novels I have read is I’m the King of the Castle (1970), which I have used for book clubs is also technically for adults, but again is popular in schools. Her non-horror output remains incredibly popular, with her detective Simon Serrailler now stretching to eleven books between 2004-2021. Hill has also written many picture books, literary fiction and the occasional children’s or teen fantasy novel, The Glass Angels (1991). Other highly recommended adult horror novels include The Mist in the Mirror (1992) and The Man in the Picture (2007).
BLURB FOR ‘THE BATTLE FOR GULLYWITH’ (2008)
A stone army, an enchanted castle, mysterious ancient powers - and some very clever tortoises - Olly finds there's more than meets the eye at Gullywith. When his family move to Gullywith Farm in the Lake District, Olly just can't imagine being happy in his new home. Gullywith is the coldest house in the world and no one has lived there for years. Then Olly meets KK and she tells him locals won't go near the place. It does seem to be jinxed - the roof falls in, walls collapse but even more strangely, Olly notices that there are stones at Gullywith that can move around of their own accord - stones with ancient markings on them. He feels sure that they are angry about something. KK takes Olly to see the mysterious Nonny Dreever to ask his advice and he tells them they must return the stones to Withern Mere. As they search for the answer to Gullywith's secret, Olly is drawn into a world of myth, magic and midnight adventure deep inside the surrounding hills. What is the ancient power that controls the stones, and can anything be done to end their hold over Gullywith? Susan Hill deftly weaves a tale of real life and enchantment to delight young readers. AGE RANGE 11+
BLURB FOR ‘THE BATTLE FOR GULLYWITH’ (2008)
A stone army, an enchanted castle, mysterious ancient powers - and some very clever tortoises - Olly finds there's more than meets the eye at Gullywith. When his family move to Gullywith Farm in the Lake District, Olly just can't imagine being happy in his new home. Gullywith is the coldest house in the world and no one has lived there for years. Then Olly meets KK and she tells him locals won't go near the place. It does seem to be jinxed - the roof falls in, walls collapse but even more strangely, Olly notices that there are stones at Gullywith that can move around of their own accord - stones with ancient markings on them. He feels sure that they are angry about something. KK takes Olly to see the mysterious Nonny Dreever to ask his advice and he tells them they must return the stones to Withern Mere. As they search for the answer to Gullywith's secret, Olly is drawn into a world of myth, magic and midnight adventure deep inside the surrounding hills. What is the ancient power that controls the stones, and can anything be done to end their hold over Gullywith? Susan Hill deftly weaves a tale of real life and enchantment to delight young readers. AGE RANGE 11+
NANCY HOLDER
Nancy Holder has regularly moved between adult fiction, YA and novelisations of TV shows in a long career which has seen her win four Bram Stoker Awards, three for short stories and the fourth for her adult novel Dead in the Water (1994). Her adult output has included science fiction, Gambler’s Star (1998-2000), romance novels and relatively recent novelisations of the films Crimson Peak (2015), Ghostbusters (2016) and Wonder Woman (2017). Earlier in her career she did similar novelisations for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Highlander. Further YA releases include Wicked series (2002-9), Gifted (2006-8), Possessions trilogy (2009-11), Wolf Springs Chronicles (2011-13), often dabbling in Paranormal Romance, werewolves or other areas of supernatural fiction.
BLURB FOR ‘POSSESSIONS’ BOOK ONE (2009)
New-girl Lindsay discovers all is not right at the prestigious Marlwood Academy for Girls. Ethereal, popular Mandy and her clique are plotting something dangerous. Lindsay overhears them performing strange rituals, and sees their eyes turn black. It doesn't help that the school itself is totally eerie, with ancient, dilapidated buildings tucked into the Northern California woods, a thick white fog swirling through campus. There are hidden passageways, odd reflections in the windows at night, and scariest of all is the vast lake rumoured to have captured the ghost of a girl who drowned many years ago.
What Lindsay doesn't yet realize is that Mandy and her cohorts are becoming possessed by spirits who have haunted the school for two hundred years. Spirits who want someone dead...
BLURB FOR ‘POSSESSIONS’ BOOK ONE (2009)
New-girl Lindsay discovers all is not right at the prestigious Marlwood Academy for Girls. Ethereal, popular Mandy and her clique are plotting something dangerous. Lindsay overhears them performing strange rituals, and sees their eyes turn black. It doesn't help that the school itself is totally eerie, with ancient, dilapidated buildings tucked into the Northern California woods, a thick white fog swirling through campus. There are hidden passageways, odd reflections in the windows at night, and scariest of all is the vast lake rumoured to have captured the ghost of a girl who drowned many years ago.
What Lindsay doesn't yet realize is that Mandy and her cohorts are becoming possessed by spirits who have haunted the school for two hundred years. Spirits who want someone dead...
GREGG HURWITZ
Gregg is almost exclusively known as an adult thriller writer rather than horror, with his best-known books being The Tim Rackley Series (2003-06) and the Orphan X Series (2016-21) with more on the way. In addition, he has written a host of standalone thrillers including You’re Next (2010) and Tell No Lies (2013). However, between 2016-17 Gregg made a brief, but highly impressive foray into YA horror/science fiction, with the outstanding Rains Duology. I’m not sure whether these books were successful enough to entice Gregg back to YA, but they were a killer blend of end of the world, alien invasion horror and deserve to be much better known than they probably are. I would love to see Gregg return to YA one of these days as these books seriously rocked.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT ‘THE RAINS’ (2016)
The Rains is a brutally successful mash-up of horror, science fiction and adrenaline pumping adventure. In fact, you’re unlikely to find a faster paced YA novel this year if you tried. It stops for the odd breather, but on the whole is unrelenting from beginning to end and I found myself reading it very fast through the multiple mini climaxes, which keep the book moving at a furious lick, helped by the fact the plot plays out in just one highly explosive week. The fast-paced zombie style action should be brilliant for the bored teenage boy and once you get sucked into the breath-taking pace, you’ll forget you even have a mobile phone and have sheer tunnel vision for the Rain brothers and their fight for survival and saving their small town from destruction. AGE RANGE 12+
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT ‘THE RAINS’ (2016)
The Rains is a brutally successful mash-up of horror, science fiction and adrenaline pumping adventure. In fact, you’re unlikely to find a faster paced YA novel this year if you tried. It stops for the odd breather, but on the whole is unrelenting from beginning to end and I found myself reading it very fast through the multiple mini climaxes, which keep the book moving at a furious lick, helped by the fact the plot plays out in just one highly explosive week. The fast-paced zombie style action should be brilliant for the bored teenage boy and once you get sucked into the breath-taking pace, you’ll forget you even have a mobile phone and have sheer tunnel vision for the Rain brothers and their fight for survival and saving their small town from destruction. AGE RANGE 12+
WILLIAM HUSSEY
In 2008 and 2009 ‘Bill’ Hussey wrote two adult horror novels Through a Glass, Darkly and The Absence before later turning to YA fiction in 2010. Between his debut Dawn of the Demontide (2010) and Jekyll’s Mirror in 2015 he wrote five excellent YA horror novels. In 2020 he abandoned horror for the critically acclaimed Hideous Beauty and The Outrage (2021), two novels with strong diversity themes and gay central characters, the latter using a modern dystopia which is so realistically portrayed it is close to horror. I hope Bill returns to the supernatural one of these days as he was one of my favourite YA writers and I regularly recommend his horror fiction to a lot of kids. However, I must also point out that his non-horror YA fiction is truly stunning. Jekyll’s Mirror was also ranked 48 in the Ginger Nuts of Horror top 50 YA horror novels of the decade.
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT JEKYLL’S MIRROR (2015)
Jekyll’s Mirror is an outstanding modern twist of RL Stevenson’s Jekyll and Hyde story, written for the social media generation as users of an experimental website called ‘Project Hyde’ are sucked into something much nastier as they turn against each other, have their fears manipulated and many aspects of the modern online world surface including trolling, cyber bullying and horrific violence collide fusing with dodgy magic. It is very easy to take liberties with the Stevenson masterpiece, but Hussey both updates it for the online generation whilst retains the subtleties of the original.
The main character Sam is easy to get behind because of the internal conflicts he struggles with. His father had anger management problems so severe that he is now in prison for killing Sam’s mother. Sam feels some of that same family rage and is fearful that too much of his father lurks inside him, in another clever nod to Jekyll and Hyde. Other great Hussey YA novels to check out include Witchfinder and Haunted. AGE RANGE 11+
HERE’S WHAT WE SAID ABOUT JEKYLL’S MIRROR (2015)
Jekyll’s Mirror is an outstanding modern twist of RL Stevenson’s Jekyll and Hyde story, written for the social media generation as users of an experimental website called ‘Project Hyde’ are sucked into something much nastier as they turn against each other, have their fears manipulated and many aspects of the modern online world surface including trolling, cyber bullying and horrific violence collide fusing with dodgy magic. It is very easy to take liberties with the Stevenson masterpiece, but Hussey both updates it for the online generation whilst retains the subtleties of the original.
The main character Sam is easy to get behind because of the internal conflicts he struggles with. His father had anger management problems so severe that he is now in prison for killing Sam’s mother. Sam feels some of that same family rage and is fearful that too much of his father lurks inside him, in another clever nod to Jekyll and Hyde. Other great Hussey YA novels to check out include Witchfinder and Haunted. AGE RANGE 11+
SHAUN HUTSON AKA NICK SHADOW AKA SPIKE T. ADAMS
If you’re serious about horror, then the legendary Shaun Hutson needs no introduction. This dude is a genuine giant of the genre and although his best-known work dates back to the eighties, the likes of Slugs (1982) and Spawn (1983) are as influential as anything King or Herbert wrote in the golden 1980s horror period. Hutson is also famous for having more pseudonyms than you can swing a cat at. He was prolific under his own name, and when you factor in his eight or nine aliases his output becomes truly staggering. When I was a teenager, I read his Wolf Kruger war novels (such as Kessler’s Raid from 1982) before realising they were Hutson, in the pre-internet days pseudonyms really were a secret! Until calling on Twitter to help with this article I was also unaware that Hutson had also penned children’s novels under the name Nick Shadow, specifically the twelve-book series The Midnight Library (2005-07) and apparently other authors have also written under this same name. When he got bored of Nick Shadow, Hutson then moved onto Spike T Adams and wrote a series of books called EDGE: last Lane which were a blend of genres aimed at reluctant readers, published in 2008, including Bad Brother and Burn Up.
BLURB FOR VOICES (BOOK 1 IN THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY SERIES) 2008
Damien Graves has spent a lifetime searching for the most terrifying stories in existence. Now, for the first time, he offers the best of his collection. Dare to be scared! Damien Graves has spent many years searching for the most spine-chilling stories in existence. Now, at last, he has chosen to share with you the best of his collection....
Kate hears startling voices in her head--voices that reveal a terrifying future. Justin fears for his life when his running shoes begin running after him. Tim wants an apple from the neighbour’s perfect orchard--no matter what the cost. Welcome to a realm of heart-stopping fear. Welcome to The Midnight Library.
Stay tuned for part two of this massive feature soon, I-R.
Tony Jones
BLURB FOR VOICES (BOOK 1 IN THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY SERIES) 2008
Damien Graves has spent a lifetime searching for the most terrifying stories in existence. Now, for the first time, he offers the best of his collection. Dare to be scared! Damien Graves has spent many years searching for the most spine-chilling stories in existence. Now, at last, he has chosen to share with you the best of his collection....
Kate hears startling voices in her head--voices that reveal a terrifying future. Justin fears for his life when his running shoes begin running after him. Tim wants an apple from the neighbour’s perfect orchard--no matter what the cost. Welcome to a realm of heart-stopping fear. Welcome to The Midnight Library.
Stay tuned for part two of this massive feature soon, I-R.
Tony Jones
TODAY ON THE GINGER NUTS OF HORROR WEBSITE
SPLASHES OF DARKNESS: WESTERNOIR - COMIC REVIEW
[FILM REVIEW] CENSOR, DIRECTED BY PRANO BAILEY-BOND
the heart and soul of ya horror reviews
 | I very purposely write characters from low-income homes because young people from all backgrounds need to see themselves as the heroes of stories, people with autonomy and purpose, and to see families like theirs portrayed with nuance and affection. |
INTERVIEWING ERICA WATERS: A POWERFUL NEW VOICE IN YA HORROR FICTION
An interview by TONY JONES
Today we are delighted to welcome the fantastic Erica Waters on the site, Erica is one of the most exciting new voices on the YA horror scene and we have given both her novels terrific reviews. Her debut Ghost Wood Song (2020) deservedly also reached the final ballot of the YA Bram Stoker Award and was one of the outstanding releases of 2020. If you are a fan of blue grass music, this is a rare opportunity to see (and hear!) it feature in a horror novel. This is part of our review:
The debut novel from Erica Waters, Ghost Wood Song, has a unique position in YA horror; the first I have ever read which features bluegrass music as a major theme. Shady Grove is named after a famous bluegrass tune and longs to follow in her late father’s footsteps by playing old school bluegrass music and part of the conflict comes from the fact that the other members of her band, including Sarah (who Shady has a thing for), want to play more modern or mainstream tunes. For older teens looking for a slow-burning drama with a strong musical theme and supernatural overtones there is much escapism to be had in these pages.
In late July/August 2021 Erica returns with an impressive and very striking second novel The River Has Teeth, which if anything, we loved even more than her first. We were very excited to have an early read of this absolute cracker and were so impressed we tracked Erica down for this interview. This is an extract from our review:
The River Has Teeth is a superb second novel and considering that Ghost Wood Song (2020) was a highly accomplished debut, this is an author to watch very closely and if she continues writing dark/horror YA fiction is destined to become a major new voice in the genre. Although the plots of her two novels are completely different, they have some similarities when it comes to themes, music (bluegrass to be precise) dominated Erica’s debut and although it does not do so in her second novel, it does play a role of some significance. Also, both novels feature bi-sexual female teenage characters who financially struggle and might be described as coming from the wrong side of the tracks. Erica convincingly gives these marginalised teens a voice. If you read and enjoyed Ghost Wood Song, you will absolutely adore The River Has Teeth. It hums with its own type of magic, which is so vibrant, believable, and beautifully described you will probably end up totally emersed in it.
If you are on the hunt for YA fiction which gives LGBTQ+ characters a convincing voice and explores settings miles away from traditional middle-class American high school, then Erica Waters needs to be sampled. This author gives the unrepresented and forgotten teenagers of trailer-parks a voice. If you’re a school or public librarian reading this, or parent of a thoughtful teen who likes their fiction dark DARK, then these two horror novels are pure poetry. We were delighted to welcome Erica to Ginger Nuts of Horror…..
GNOH: Family dynamics and parental issues/troubles are strong themes in both your novels. Do you find the supernatural an effective way of exploring what goes on behind the household curtains? There are some YA authors writing at the moment, such as Amy Lukavics and Dawn Kurtagich, who are superb at this….
ERICA: I think the supernatural is such a good way to get at things buried under the surface, all the things we want to hide that are waiting and festering in the dark. Ghosts and monsters and magic are a way to bring those issues into the light where we can face them and hopefully deal with them.
GNOH: Boys are very much in the background of both ‘Ghost Wood Song’ and ‘The River has Teeth’ with both novels led by female characters, is there much of yourself in Sarah, Shady, Della or Natasha? Or perhaps a little bit of all of them?
ERICA: I put a little of myself into all of my characters, I think, even the ones I don’t particularly like! It’s a way of exploring different sides of myself. The characters most like me are probably Sarah from Ghost Wood Song and Della from The River Has Teeth. Neither girl likes to be in touch with her emotions and both are blunt to a fault, which are two traits I have always had to work on in myself. Some of the boy characters have bits of me too, though, like Orlando’s love of insects in Ghost Wood Song!
GNOH: Both books feature convincing gay relationships or friendships with heavy overtones, we have Sarah and Shady in ‘Ghost Wood Song’ and in ‘The River Has Teeth’ the developing relationship between Della and Natasha. Do you feel the representation of gay and bi-sexual characters have improved in recent years in general YA fiction? Do you feel horror YA has a fair representation?
ERICA: LGBTQ+ representation in YA, including YA horror, is absolutely improving, though of course I would always like to see more of it. Two upcoming books readers should watch for are The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass and The Dead and The Dark by Courtney Gould.
GNOH: Over the last couple of years, I’ve noticed a number of YA horror novels with main characters who come from poorer backgrounds, such as trailer parks and rural locations, with a move from the standard richer suburban settings. Both your novels feature characters like this, are you consciously trying to give a group who might normally be overlooked a voice in YA fiction?
ERICA: I grew up low-income in the rural American South, and I don’t remember ever encountering a character like me in a novel for young people, except occasionally as an object of pity. I very purposely write characters from low-income homes because young people from all backgrounds need to see themselves as the heroes of stories, people with autonomy and purpose, and to see families like theirs portrayed with nuance and affection.
GNOH: Do you read much adult horror fiction and how widely to you read in general? Recommend us something amazing you read recently.
ERICA: I try to read pretty widely, a mix of fiction and nonfiction and poetry, from adult to middle grade. I do read adult horror, though gothic and dark fantasy are more my speed than the really scary stuff most horror buffs love. I recently read and loved Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (deliciously atmospheric and creepy) and Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss (a compact, dread-filled novel that made my heart race from the first page).
GNOH: Could you please walk us through your education background and literary path towards having your debut ‘Ghost Wood Song’ published? Do you have a stack of unpublished manuscripts hidden in your sock drawer at home?
ERICA: I am one of those stereotypical English majors turned author. I have a B.A. and M.A. in English, which I don’t think every writer needs but were great assets for me. I actually got serious about writing fiction after taking a creative writing course during my M.A., which made me realize that I loved writing fiction and seemed to be fairly good at it.
I wrote two novels before Ghost Wood Song, neither of which I ever expect to see the light of day. They were both high fantasy, one Middle Grade and one YA. They were really fun to write, but my style and interests have since gone in a different—and darker—direction. I don’t regret writing them at all because they taught me how to write and finish a book (and how to deal with the inevitable rejections that abound in publishing).
GNOH: What sort of stuff did you read as a teenager and which authors have had the greatest influence on you, horror or otherwise? Do you have any ‘gateway’ novels which flicked the switch for you?
ERICA: As a kid, I loved spooky books, especially R.L. Stine. When I was ten or so, I got my hands on a copy of Shadows by John Saul, which is an adult horror novel about these genius kids at an elite boarding school for the gifted. I got weirdly obsessed with it and read it probably a dozen times.
But as a teen I mostly remember being really into classics. I always gobbled up my required books for class and summer reading. I liked challenging myself with difficult texts, trying to work through books like Hamlet and Great Expectations on my own. I think I probably had more literary patience back then than I do now!
The greatest influences on my writing have been Virginia Woolf (though of course she would think my books were trash), Charlotte Brontë, Sarah Waters, Shirley Jackson, and Daphne du Maurier. I am such a sucker for atmosphere and beautiful sentences.
The book that first made me want to write YA was Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor, and the book that made me realize I should write about kids who grew up like me was The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner. Maggie Stiefvater’s and Anna-Marie McLemore’s books were also big YA influences.
GNOH: Could you tell us a little bit about novel three, hopefully you’re sticking with YA horror?
I’m glad you asked about this because I am very excited about it! My upcoming book, The Restless Dark, is a queer supernatural YA about two girls who team up in a macabre true crime contest to find the bones of a serial killer in a spooky, fog-filled canyon in Georgia. It will be out in fall 2022 from HarperTeen.
GNOH: Which author, alive or dead, would you most like to walk past on a bus reading one of your novels?
ERICA: Ursula K. Le Guin. She was such a literary badass, and the thought of her simply holding a book of mine in her hands gives me heart palpitations.
GNOH: We are most certainly not going to argue with Ursula Le Guin, Jeff Zentner or the many terrific authors you have name checked. John Saul was also an adult ‘gateway’ favourite for myself. Thank you very much for finding the time to feature on Ginger Nuts of Horror, we love both your novels and wish you all the best for the release of ‘The River Has Teeth’.
It goes without saying we are already looking forward to ‘The Restless Dark’.
Tony Jones
The debut novel from Erica Waters, Ghost Wood Song, has a unique position in YA horror; the first I have ever read which features bluegrass music as a major theme. Shady Grove is named after a famous bluegrass tune and longs to follow in her late father’s footsteps by playing old school bluegrass music and part of the conflict comes from the fact that the other members of her band, including Sarah (who Shady has a thing for), want to play more modern or mainstream tunes. For older teens looking for a slow-burning drama with a strong musical theme and supernatural overtones there is much escapism to be had in these pages.
In late July/August 2021 Erica returns with an impressive and very striking second novel The River Has Teeth, which if anything, we loved even more than her first. We were very excited to have an early read of this absolute cracker and were so impressed we tracked Erica down for this interview. This is an extract from our review:
The River Has Teeth is a superb second novel and considering that Ghost Wood Song (2020) was a highly accomplished debut, this is an author to watch very closely and if she continues writing dark/horror YA fiction is destined to become a major new voice in the genre. Although the plots of her two novels are completely different, they have some similarities when it comes to themes, music (bluegrass to be precise) dominated Erica’s debut and although it does not do so in her second novel, it does play a role of some significance. Also, both novels feature bi-sexual female teenage characters who financially struggle and might be described as coming from the wrong side of the tracks. Erica convincingly gives these marginalised teens a voice. If you read and enjoyed Ghost Wood Song, you will absolutely adore The River Has Teeth. It hums with its own type of magic, which is so vibrant, believable, and beautifully described you will probably end up totally emersed in it.
If you are on the hunt for YA fiction which gives LGBTQ+ characters a convincing voice and explores settings miles away from traditional middle-class American high school, then Erica Waters needs to be sampled. This author gives the unrepresented and forgotten teenagers of trailer-parks a voice. If you’re a school or public librarian reading this, or parent of a thoughtful teen who likes their fiction dark DARK, then these two horror novels are pure poetry. We were delighted to welcome Erica to Ginger Nuts of Horror…..
GNOH: Family dynamics and parental issues/troubles are strong themes in both your novels. Do you find the supernatural an effective way of exploring what goes on behind the household curtains? There are some YA authors writing at the moment, such as Amy Lukavics and Dawn Kurtagich, who are superb at this….
ERICA: I think the supernatural is such a good way to get at things buried under the surface, all the things we want to hide that are waiting and festering in the dark. Ghosts and monsters and magic are a way to bring those issues into the light where we can face them and hopefully deal with them.
GNOH: Boys are very much in the background of both ‘Ghost Wood Song’ and ‘The River has Teeth’ with both novels led by female characters, is there much of yourself in Sarah, Shady, Della or Natasha? Or perhaps a little bit of all of them?
ERICA: I put a little of myself into all of my characters, I think, even the ones I don’t particularly like! It’s a way of exploring different sides of myself. The characters most like me are probably Sarah from Ghost Wood Song and Della from The River Has Teeth. Neither girl likes to be in touch with her emotions and both are blunt to a fault, which are two traits I have always had to work on in myself. Some of the boy characters have bits of me too, though, like Orlando’s love of insects in Ghost Wood Song!
GNOH: Both books feature convincing gay relationships or friendships with heavy overtones, we have Sarah and Shady in ‘Ghost Wood Song’ and in ‘The River Has Teeth’ the developing relationship between Della and Natasha. Do you feel the representation of gay and bi-sexual characters have improved in recent years in general YA fiction? Do you feel horror YA has a fair representation?
ERICA: LGBTQ+ representation in YA, including YA horror, is absolutely improving, though of course I would always like to see more of it. Two upcoming books readers should watch for are The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass and The Dead and The Dark by Courtney Gould.
GNOH: Over the last couple of years, I’ve noticed a number of YA horror novels with main characters who come from poorer backgrounds, such as trailer parks and rural locations, with a move from the standard richer suburban settings. Both your novels feature characters like this, are you consciously trying to give a group who might normally be overlooked a voice in YA fiction?
ERICA: I grew up low-income in the rural American South, and I don’t remember ever encountering a character like me in a novel for young people, except occasionally as an object of pity. I very purposely write characters from low-income homes because young people from all backgrounds need to see themselves as the heroes of stories, people with autonomy and purpose, and to see families like theirs portrayed with nuance and affection.
GNOH: Do you read much adult horror fiction and how widely to you read in general? Recommend us something amazing you read recently.
ERICA: I try to read pretty widely, a mix of fiction and nonfiction and poetry, from adult to middle grade. I do read adult horror, though gothic and dark fantasy are more my speed than the really scary stuff most horror buffs love. I recently read and loved Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (deliciously atmospheric and creepy) and Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss (a compact, dread-filled novel that made my heart race from the first page).
GNOH: Could you please walk us through your education background and literary path towards having your debut ‘Ghost Wood Song’ published? Do you have a stack of unpublished manuscripts hidden in your sock drawer at home?
ERICA: I am one of those stereotypical English majors turned author. I have a B.A. and M.A. in English, which I don’t think every writer needs but were great assets for me. I actually got serious about writing fiction after taking a creative writing course during my M.A., which made me realize that I loved writing fiction and seemed to be fairly good at it.
I wrote two novels before Ghost Wood Song, neither of which I ever expect to see the light of day. They were both high fantasy, one Middle Grade and one YA. They were really fun to write, but my style and interests have since gone in a different—and darker—direction. I don’t regret writing them at all because they taught me how to write and finish a book (and how to deal with the inevitable rejections that abound in publishing).
GNOH: What sort of stuff did you read as a teenager and which authors have had the greatest influence on you, horror or otherwise? Do you have any ‘gateway’ novels which flicked the switch for you?
ERICA: As a kid, I loved spooky books, especially R.L. Stine. When I was ten or so, I got my hands on a copy of Shadows by John Saul, which is an adult horror novel about these genius kids at an elite boarding school for the gifted. I got weirdly obsessed with it and read it probably a dozen times.
But as a teen I mostly remember being really into classics. I always gobbled up my required books for class and summer reading. I liked challenging myself with difficult texts, trying to work through books like Hamlet and Great Expectations on my own. I think I probably had more literary patience back then than I do now!
The greatest influences on my writing have been Virginia Woolf (though of course she would think my books were trash), Charlotte Brontë, Sarah Waters, Shirley Jackson, and Daphne du Maurier. I am such a sucker for atmosphere and beautiful sentences.
The book that first made me want to write YA was Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor, and the book that made me realize I should write about kids who grew up like me was The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner. Maggie Stiefvater’s and Anna-Marie McLemore’s books were also big YA influences.
GNOH: Could you tell us a little bit about novel three, hopefully you’re sticking with YA horror?
I’m glad you asked about this because I am very excited about it! My upcoming book, The Restless Dark, is a queer supernatural YA about two girls who team up in a macabre true crime contest to find the bones of a serial killer in a spooky, fog-filled canyon in Georgia. It will be out in fall 2022 from HarperTeen.
GNOH: Which author, alive or dead, would you most like to walk past on a bus reading one of your novels?
ERICA: Ursula K. Le Guin. She was such a literary badass, and the thought of her simply holding a book of mine in her hands gives me heart palpitations.
GNOH: We are most certainly not going to argue with Ursula Le Guin, Jeff Zentner or the many terrific authors you have name checked. John Saul was also an adult ‘gateway’ favourite for myself. Thank you very much for finding the time to feature on Ginger Nuts of Horror, we love both your novels and wish you all the best for the release of ‘The River Has Teeth’.
It goes without saying we are already looking forward to ‘The Restless Dark’.
Tony Jones
The River Has Teeth
by Erica Waters
Lush and chilling, with razor-sharp edges and an iron core of hope, this bewitching, powerhouse novel of two girls fighting back against the violence the world visits on them will stun and enchant readers.
Girls have been going missing in the woods…
When Natasha’s sister disappears, Natasha desperately turns to Della, a local girl rumored to be a witch, in the hopes that magic will bring her sister home.
But Della has her own secrets to hide. She thinks the beast who’s responsible for the disappearances is her own mother—who was turned into a terrible monster by magic gone wrong.
Natasha is angry. Della has little to lose. Both are each other’s only hope.
From the author of Ghost Wood Song, this eerie contemporary fantasy is perfect for fans of Wilder Girls and Bone Gap.
Praise for Ghost Wood Song:
“A gorgeous, creepy gem of a book.” —Claire Legrand, New York Times bestselling author of Furyborn and Sawkill Girls
"It will make your heart dance." —Jeff Zentner, Morris Award-winning author of The Serpent King and Goodbye Days
"Strikes the perfect balance of atmospheric chills, dark familial secrets, and a yearning for the warm comforts of home.” —Erin A. Craig, New York Times bestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrows
“Waters' debut features a bisexual lead with both male and female love interests, an atmospheric southern gothic setting, and, for the musically inclined, lots of folk and bluegrass references.” --Booklist
“Haunting and alluring.” --Kirkus
Girls have been going missing in the woods…
When Natasha’s sister disappears, Natasha desperately turns to Della, a local girl rumored to be a witch, in the hopes that magic will bring her sister home.
But Della has her own secrets to hide. She thinks the beast who’s responsible for the disappearances is her own mother—who was turned into a terrible monster by magic gone wrong.
Natasha is angry. Della has little to lose. Both are each other’s only hope.
From the author of Ghost Wood Song, this eerie contemporary fantasy is perfect for fans of Wilder Girls and Bone Gap.
Praise for Ghost Wood Song:
“A gorgeous, creepy gem of a book.” —Claire Legrand, New York Times bestselling author of Furyborn and Sawkill Girls
"It will make your heart dance." —Jeff Zentner, Morris Award-winning author of The Serpent King and Goodbye Days
"Strikes the perfect balance of atmospheric chills, dark familial secrets, and a yearning for the warm comforts of home.” —Erin A. Craig, New York Times bestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrows
“Waters' debut features a bisexual lead with both male and female love interests, an atmospheric southern gothic setting, and, for the musically inclined, lots of folk and bluegrass references.” --Booklist
“Haunting and alluring.” --Kirkus
TODAY ON THE GINGER NUTS OF HORROR WEBSITE
SPLASHES OF DARKNESS WHITE: KNUCKLE (COMIC REVIEW)
The Heart and Soul of YA Horror Fiction Reviews
The standard of Middle Grade and YA horror continues to be very high, and I have so many books to review there will be a further roundup in August. For July we have a great selection of six books, including a unique double bill by Tom Deady. This author is well established on the adult horror scene, and is a winner of the HWA Bram Stoker Award, but The Clearing is his debut foray into YA fiction. I’m delighted to say Tom makes an impressive splash and this is solidly backed up by Of Men and Monsters, which although is an adult novella has strong YA vibes. Kathryn Foxfield follows her excellent Good Girls Die First (2020) with another quality read, It’s Behind You, will have teen readers speed reading everywhere when a group of low-rent social media stars get trapped in a haunted cave. YA horror great William Hussey continues his exile from the supernatural with the superb Outrage, which cements this amazing author’s reputation as a voice for the LGBTQ+ movement in dark fiction.
Over the years I have read many Kenneth Oppel novels, this versatile Canadian really deserves to be better known in the UK, and in Bloom (book one in the Overthrow Trilogy) we have a very enjoyable horror science fiction thriller development of Day of the Triffids. Bryce Moore takes us back to 1890s Chicago in The Perfect Place to Die where a naive teenager arrives in the big city looking for her sister, a potential victim of a serial killer. Last (and certainly not least) Rose Szabo’s What Big Teeth arrives in the UK with some hype. Is it YA or adult fiction? It is very hard to tell and this dark fairy-tale defies categorisation when a teenager returns to her monstrous family after many years in boarding school.
The books are presented in alphabetical order by author.
The books are presented in alphabetical order by author.
Tom Deady – The Clearing
If you’re after a gateway horror novel for kids aged ten plus, then look no further than Tom Deady’s outstanding The Clearing which is perfect for the top end of primary to the early secondary years. Deady is clearly on fine form, as this roundup also includes his Of Men and Monsters, which although is adult has solid YA leanings, thankfully The Clearing does not feature the same bleak ending and is more in tune with Middle Grade fiction. This engrossing read had everything to get keen kids turning the pages; engaging characters, great pace, threat (but not too scary), a taste of early romance, and friendship which is all cleverly built around a snappy mystery, which develops supernatural overtones and conspiracy in the local community. I have already bought a copy for my school library. Bizarrely, something about it made me think of the 1970s cult film Race with the Devil where Warren Oates and friends are stalked by Satanists, who hide in plain sight. Set in a small and sleepy New Hampshire town, two young girls find themselves in danger after deciding to do a Nancy Drew and carry out their own investigation, instead of going to the police. It was the summer holidays, and they were bored, so who can blame them?
The Clearing has a super cool opening hook which is guaranteed to reel any young horror hound in right from the off. Hannah Green is out walking her dog when the pooch makes a grisly find, a decomposing foot. Instead of going to the police she calls her best friend Ashley, and they begin to snoop, which leads them into a decades old mystery which they connect to the disappearance of a local girl. As they begin to join the dots, other characters are introduced and suspicion falls on a reclusive old woman, Mama Bayole. There were not too many suspects, but this mystery was great fun, with the supernatural story convincingly backed by the friendship story between Hannah and Ashley. Another story strands involves Hannah and her father, who is struggling to cope (as is Hannah) with the disappearance of her mother the previous year. The crisp pace, kidnappings and red herrings ensure the intensity keeps up right to the end, which finishes satisfyingly for a potential sequel. As with most Middle Grade horror, it was very clear who were the ‘good’ and who were the ‘bad’ guys, but it was great fun accompanying Hannah and Ashley on their adventure. AGE RANGE 10-13.
The Clearing has a super cool opening hook which is guaranteed to reel any young horror hound in right from the off. Hannah Green is out walking her dog when the pooch makes a grisly find, a decomposing foot. Instead of going to the police she calls her best friend Ashley, and they begin to snoop, which leads them into a decades old mystery which they connect to the disappearance of a local girl. As they begin to join the dots, other characters are introduced and suspicion falls on a reclusive old woman, Mama Bayole. There were not too many suspects, but this mystery was great fun, with the supernatural story convincingly backed by the friendship story between Hannah and Ashley. Another story strands involves Hannah and her father, who is struggling to cope (as is Hannah) with the disappearance of her mother the previous year. The crisp pace, kidnappings and red herrings ensure the intensity keeps up right to the end, which finishes satisfyingly for a potential sequel. As with most Middle Grade horror, it was very clear who were the ‘good’ and who were the ‘bad’ guys, but it was great fun accompanying Hannah and Ashley on their adventure. AGE RANGE 10-13.
Tom Deady – Of Men and Monsters
Tom Deady’s excellent novella Of Men and Monsters is undoubtedly aimed at the adult market, but it has a very strong YA vibe pumping through it. The thirteen or fourteen-year-old version of myself would have sped through these 88-pages in a single sitting, I might not have picked up on the heavy family abuse overtones but would have loved the convincing coming-of-age story set over a long hot summer and the cute girls hanging around in the background. Nostalgically set in 1975 the narrator Ryan Baxter, his brother Matt and their mother suddenly move to a small seaside town, which is generally empty when season is over. Ryan who is eleven, and in particular fourteen-year-old Matt are very sad to end up in Bayport (MA) but are on the run from their abusive father. However, they quickly make new friends and more importantly, both brothers meet girls.
I really enjoyed the relationship between the two brothers and their mother and their struggles to escape the shadow of their father and had fond recollections of my own childhood summers which seemed to go on forever. However, I was not convinced by eleven-year-old kids having girlfriends and talk of “going through the bases”, come on ELEVEN, when I was that age, I was somewhat behind Ryan who gets his first kiss over the course of the novella. The supernatural element was very cleverly introduced into the story, with Ryan finding a huge pile of old comics in the attic, then bonds with his brother through shared reading, before filling in a coupon which leads to the arrival of a strange package. The uneasiness which this begins is cleverly balanced with the trials of first love and the dangerous shadow of the father, the silent telephone caller. In the end it was a moving story, perhaps the ending was a tad too bleak for YA readers (and me!) but it was a great little book which said and crammed a lot into its engrossing 88-pages. AGE RANGE 14+
I really enjoyed the relationship between the two brothers and their mother and their struggles to escape the shadow of their father and had fond recollections of my own childhood summers which seemed to go on forever. However, I was not convinced by eleven-year-old kids having girlfriends and talk of “going through the bases”, come on ELEVEN, when I was that age, I was somewhat behind Ryan who gets his first kiss over the course of the novella. The supernatural element was very cleverly introduced into the story, with Ryan finding a huge pile of old comics in the attic, then bonds with his brother through shared reading, before filling in a coupon which leads to the arrival of a strange package. The uneasiness which this begins is cleverly balanced with the trials of first love and the dangerous shadow of the father, the silent telephone caller. In the end it was a moving story, perhaps the ending was a tad too bleak for YA readers (and me!) but it was a great little book which said and crammed a lot into its engrossing 88-pages. AGE RANGE 14+
Kathryn Foxfield - It's Behind You
Kathryn Foxfield impressed me greatly with her 2020 debut Good Girls Die First in which a group of teens get stranded on an abandoned pier and get picked off one by one by a malevolent force. Her follow up, It’s Behind You is another very entertaining read and fans of past-paced thrillers, with a strong emphasis on social media are in for another treat. It is probably not as dark as its predecessor, nor does it have the body count and is obviously a lighter read. However, it does have some very claustrophobic scenes when the gang are stuck underground and there is a potential killer, or supernatural entity stalking them. As some of these characters were loud You Tube ‘almost’ stars or wannabe actors I would not have minded a few more grisly killings! But the novel pulls back on that potential direction and instead convincingly blends characters (which genuinely grow on you), interview segments, a few comic scenes, folklore and ultimately having to pull together in order to survive and put their phones down for five minutes.
Like Good Girls Die First I sped through It’s Behind You and if it finds the right young teenagers, they will most certainly devour this frothy fun in a few days. Considering the novel was about a reality show that promises to scare you to death, the plot is not dominated by social media, although it does play a key part. Lex tells the story via a first-person narrative, and amusingly is told by the producers that she has no chance of winning the cash prize and is there as comic support to the other four contestants. But this girl has her own moves! The group aim to spend the night in the supposedly haunted Umber Gorge, where there were disappearances some years earlier. Lex starts off very confrontational, but really grows on you, and it was a great read when the production crew started to ramp up the scares, until things really went off-the-wall wrong. In the background we have the malevolent spirit, the infamous ‘Puckered Maiden’ which may or not be real, but I enjoyed the direction Foxfield took this element of the story. This was another very easy to read winner from an author to watch with some fun twists, great atmosphere and a really annoying You Tuber called ‘Python’! What is it with You Tubers that makes me want to punch them? AGE RANGE 12+
Like Good Girls Die First I sped through It’s Behind You and if it finds the right young teenagers, they will most certainly devour this frothy fun in a few days. Considering the novel was about a reality show that promises to scare you to death, the plot is not dominated by social media, although it does play a key part. Lex tells the story via a first-person narrative, and amusingly is told by the producers that she has no chance of winning the cash prize and is there as comic support to the other four contestants. But this girl has her own moves! The group aim to spend the night in the supposedly haunted Umber Gorge, where there were disappearances some years earlier. Lex starts off very confrontational, but really grows on you, and it was a great read when the production crew started to ramp up the scares, until things really went off-the-wall wrong. In the background we have the malevolent spirit, the infamous ‘Puckered Maiden’ which may or not be real, but I enjoyed the direction Foxfield took this element of the story. This was another very easy to read winner from an author to watch with some fun twists, great atmosphere and a really annoying You Tuber called ‘Python’! What is it with You Tubers that makes me want to punch them? AGE RANGE 12+
William Hussey – The Outrage
Whilst The Outrage is not a horror novel, I make no apologies, as a new novel from the great Bill Hussey is always something to celebrate. I’ve reviewed Bill numerous times in the past and although he has written some terrific YA horror novels, he is fast becoming a very distinctive literary voice in the LGBTQ+ movement. His last novel Hideous Beauty dealt with the fallout after a gay teen relationship was exposed on social media, but The Outrage explores a single-sex relationship in a much more sinister and scarily dystopian environment. The action is set in a near future version of Britain where gay relationships are banned and the government, the Protectorate, once seen as a loony fringe party enforce the ‘Public Good’. This means that women must keep their hair from being too short, films which show positive gay relationships are banned and those who are gay have to keep it hidden, otherwise they will end up in a prison camp for reconditioning.
To any teen reading this who has grown up in an era where homosexual people can marry and Pride is routinely celebrated, both the foreword by Jay Hulme and the afterword by Hussey are essential reading. They put it into context and make it clear that the equality LGBTQ+ currently have in the UK has not always been that way and is hard earned, with Hussey recalling ‘Section 28’ which made the promotion of homosexual activities illegal when he was growing up. The story focusses on two gay teenagers Gabriel and Eric and tells their story in tandem, ‘before’ and ‘after’ whilst they try to live in a society where being homosexual is a crime. Things are made worse by the fact that Eric is the son of the chief inspector at Degenerate Investigations and Gabriel is a natural rebel who enjoys rocking against the system. There were so many things I loved about this book; the beautiful unapologetic relationship, the background characters who were secretly in the rebellion and the references to the Underground Railroad, which helped slaves escape the south in America. The scariest thing about the book was how real if felt, with some sections feeling eerily familiar, or still practiced in many countries. Bill Hussey has written some great YA horror novels, but his last two efforts, which both have powerful LGBTQ+ messages have taken his fiction to new heights. AGE RANGE 13+
To any teen reading this who has grown up in an era where homosexual people can marry and Pride is routinely celebrated, both the foreword by Jay Hulme and the afterword by Hussey are essential reading. They put it into context and make it clear that the equality LGBTQ+ currently have in the UK has not always been that way and is hard earned, with Hussey recalling ‘Section 28’ which made the promotion of homosexual activities illegal when he was growing up. The story focusses on two gay teenagers Gabriel and Eric and tells their story in tandem, ‘before’ and ‘after’ whilst they try to live in a society where being homosexual is a crime. Things are made worse by the fact that Eric is the son of the chief inspector at Degenerate Investigations and Gabriel is a natural rebel who enjoys rocking against the system. There were so many things I loved about this book; the beautiful unapologetic relationship, the background characters who were secretly in the rebellion and the references to the Underground Railroad, which helped slaves escape the south in America. The scariest thing about the book was how real if felt, with some sections feeling eerily familiar, or still practiced in many countries. Bill Hussey has written some great YA horror novels, but his last two efforts, which both have powerful LGBTQ+ messages have taken his fiction to new heights. AGE RANGE 13+
Kenneth Oppel – Bloom (Overthrow book 1)
I have been a fan of Kenneth Oppel for a number of years and have a large number of his books in my school library. I also have a particular soft spot for Kenneth as his superb novel, The Nest (2015) was the first YA book I reviewed for Ginger Nuts of Horror back in 2015. If you have never tried Oppel I urge you to look him up, he masterly moves around the genres, taking in horror, historical fiction, fantasy, thrillers and comedy. This latest book Bloom changes direction once again and takes in the end of the world, or the beginning of the end, as this is the opening part of a trilogy, all of which were published quite close together. I recently heard Kenneth talk at a south London book event about his comedy fantasy Inkling, which is another cracker which shows the sheer versatility of his work. This is yet another clever change of pace and his very original riff on the Day of the Triffids story, or more generally killer plants trying to take over the world. I really enjoyed Bloom as soon as I finished it ordered book two and three for my school library! In his talk Oppel surmised that because of Covid-19 kids might not have the appetite for this ‘end of the world’ type of novel, I hope he’s wrong and I will definitely be recommending it widely.
You will read this book as pace. It's a great thriller, full of frightening surprises, exciting escapes and a terrific blend of horror and science fiction style ideas. The main characters are relatable teens dealing with broken relationships and believable real-life stuff (like acne, crushes and the school magazine) until a mysterious rain covers everything. The rain is followed by black grass growing incredibly fast all over town and you later realise the whole world. It is almost like the rain is alive or intelligent. The grass isn't the worst of it and there were some outstanding plot twists, involving genetics, about where it comes from and grows. As the terror ramps up, so do the mysteries surrounding the three main teenagers and the sudden bodily changes they are experiencing. It's a combination that makes the book a truly riveting read. Now I must read book two before a kid borrows it. AGE RANGE 10+
You will read this book as pace. It's a great thriller, full of frightening surprises, exciting escapes and a terrific blend of horror and science fiction style ideas. The main characters are relatable teens dealing with broken relationships and believable real-life stuff (like acne, crushes and the school magazine) until a mysterious rain covers everything. The rain is followed by black grass growing incredibly fast all over town and you later realise the whole world. It is almost like the rain is alive or intelligent. The grass isn't the worst of it and there were some outstanding plot twists, involving genetics, about where it comes from and grows. As the terror ramps up, so do the mysteries surrounding the three main teenagers and the sudden bodily changes they are experiencing. It's a combination that makes the book a truly riveting read. Now I must read book two before a kid borrows it. AGE RANGE 10+
Bryce Moore – The Perfect Place to Die
I enjoyed Bryce Moore’s The Perfect Place to Die which was predominately set in Chicago during the 1890s, with a seventeen-year-old girl travelling from Utah in search of her sister. During this historical period there was massive population migrations from rural states to the big cities, with the new arrivals being treated like country bumpkins with straw in their hair. This is effectively conveyed in the early stages with main character Zuretta being conned by the first person she meets, losing even the clothes she was wearing and forced to go to the police in her dressing gown. The story has a great sense of time and place and I found myself enjoying this dangerous, but nevertheless lively and bustling city. The action is set during the World's Columbian Exposition, bringing even more people to the city for jobs in hotels and visiting the Exposition. Arriving from Utah, Zuretta is concerned that her weekly letters from her nineteen-year-old sister abruptly stopped and finding the police unhelpful begins her own investigation.
Considering she was a Mormon from a small backwater in Utah Zuretta was way too street savvy for a seventeen-year-old girl, however, I guess she learned her lesson when she lost her clothes. Along the way she hooks up with a Pinkerton Detective and the story, in a roundabout way, looks at the situation of women in this period and their lack of opportunities. Zuretta becomes a maid in a hotel, as do most women. The Perfect Place to Die also has a strong true crime vibe and is based on a genuine series of murders, if you are familiar with these crimes (I wasn’t) then that could provide a major spoiler. Also, although it was a murder mystery, the plot lacked any major twists, and the big reveal was no surprise. Zuretta is certain her sister worked in a hotel known as The Castle and ends up getting a job there and quickly finds out this was an odd place to work, due to unfriendly management and a strange structural design. Every chapter is introduced by a quote from the journal of the killer. A lot of research went into this book, and it was an entertaining blend of historical fiction, thriller and an earnest look at how tough it was for women to get ahead in this era. Zuretta cracks it in the end though. Go girl! AGE RANGE 13+
Considering she was a Mormon from a small backwater in Utah Zuretta was way too street savvy for a seventeen-year-old girl, however, I guess she learned her lesson when she lost her clothes. Along the way she hooks up with a Pinkerton Detective and the story, in a roundabout way, looks at the situation of women in this period and their lack of opportunities. Zuretta becomes a maid in a hotel, as do most women. The Perfect Place to Die also has a strong true crime vibe and is based on a genuine series of murders, if you are familiar with these crimes (I wasn’t) then that could provide a major spoiler. Also, although it was a murder mystery, the plot lacked any major twists, and the big reveal was no surprise. Zuretta is certain her sister worked in a hotel known as The Castle and ends up getting a job there and quickly finds out this was an odd place to work, due to unfriendly management and a strange structural design. Every chapter is introduced by a quote from the journal of the killer. A lot of research went into this book, and it was an entertaining blend of historical fiction, thriller and an earnest look at how tough it was for women to get ahead in this era. Zuretta cracks it in the end though. Go girl! AGE RANGE 13+
Rose Szabo - What Big Teeth
There has been a fair bit of interest in What Big Teeth since its release in America earlier in the year and it is easy to see why. Billed as “Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children meets The Addams Family”, thus was a very strange, beguiling and very difficult to categorise dark fantasy. The American Amazon site lists it for ages 14-18, which I would agree with, however, adults could read this without ever catching on it technically was a teen novel. This is very mature YA which bleeds very closely with adult fiction, the fact that many existing reviews do not even mention it is YA would back that assumption up. It is most definitely aimed at older and capable readers, as it is very slow, atmospheric and lacks many of the traditional features of a YA teen novel, such as friendship, romance or a particularly big finish which resolves all. Alternatively, we are presented with one girl’s attempt to reconnect with her monstrous family after years in the wilderness. Part of the fun of the novel way trying to figure out what type of creatures Eleanor Zarrin’s family are? Hints and slights are dropped here and there, but it is never truly clarified, and the novel admirably refuses to tread any of the tropes connected to Paranormal Romance or popular authors such as Sarah J Maas or Leigh Bardugo. Also, the word ‘werewolf’ is never used and there is nothing in the family history to say this is what they are, but they are ‘wolfish’ in some way, vividly drawn and altogether unpleasant.
The story is bizarre and takes its time setting its stall out in a dark gothic setting and will undoubtedly be too slow for younger readers. However, it is not particularly violent, and I would not recommend restricting any reader from trying it, although a certain level of emotional maturity will be required. Eleanor has been at boarding school for years, abandoned by her family, What Big Teeth begins when she returns to the remote New England family home, and it becomes quickly clear her family members can turn into monsters. It is initially vague whether Eleanor is the same as the rest of the family, an incident from years earlier is referred to, as is a confrontation at school where she bit another girl. Thinking of the potential teen readership again, not a huge amount happens in the first half of the novel, but things begin to move in the second half after a death and the arrival of her grandmother who begins to shake the family up in all sorts of ways. Eleanor is more like her Grandmere than she realises, and a strange relationship is formed between the pair. As the novel develops, we realise everybody is even less human than we thought. I loved the vagueness of the setting, the time period and Eleanor’s search into what and who she exactly she is. Some of the imagery in the final third was really wild and blew me away. In some ways What Big Teeth a very dark coming of age with Eleanor an outcast in her tight-knit family searching for answers to which nobody is prepared to give and, in the end realises there are more than one type of monster, and some are more powerful than others. AGE RANGE 14+
The story is bizarre and takes its time setting its stall out in a dark gothic setting and will undoubtedly be too slow for younger readers. However, it is not particularly violent, and I would not recommend restricting any reader from trying it, although a certain level of emotional maturity will be required. Eleanor has been at boarding school for years, abandoned by her family, What Big Teeth begins when she returns to the remote New England family home, and it becomes quickly clear her family members can turn into monsters. It is initially vague whether Eleanor is the same as the rest of the family, an incident from years earlier is referred to, as is a confrontation at school where she bit another girl. Thinking of the potential teen readership again, not a huge amount happens in the first half of the novel, but things begin to move in the second half after a death and the arrival of her grandmother who begins to shake the family up in all sorts of ways. Eleanor is more like her Grandmere than she realises, and a strange relationship is formed between the pair. As the novel develops, we realise everybody is even less human than we thought. I loved the vagueness of the setting, the time period and Eleanor’s search into what and who she exactly she is. Some of the imagery in the final third was really wild and blew me away. In some ways What Big Teeth a very dark coming of age with Eleanor an outcast in her tight-knit family searching for answers to which nobody is prepared to give and, in the end realises there are more than one type of monster, and some are more powerful than others. AGE RANGE 14+
TODAY ON THE GINGER NUTS OF HORROR WEBSITE
THE RIVER HAS TEETH BY ERICA WATERS
THE HEART AND SOUL OF HORROR FICTION REVIEWS
The summer of 2021 sees the third annual ‘Summer Scares’ program and this is by far the strongest collection of books thus far. The reading list includes titles selected by a panel of authors and librarians and is designed to promote horror as a reading option for all ages, during any time of the year, not just summer. The books are not aimed at horror experts and are targeted at those dipping their toes into the genre, newbies and interested youngsters, and are books which librarians and educators can use to promote or stimulate discussion about the genre.
As this is the YA section of Ginger Nuts of Horror, I am only going to review the YA and Middle Grade selections. However, I found the adult section decidedly underwhelming, having read all three of the books chosen I would only recommend Alma Katsu’s The Hunger and find the inclusion of The Cipher perplexing, as it is one of those frustrating ‘love it or hate it books’ where very little happens. Is it a good entry to the horror genre for the newcomer? No, it is not. Neither is the third adult selection Ahmed Saadawi’s Frankenstein in Baghdad which is a plodding reimagining of Frankenstein which edges towards literary rather than genre fiction. This novel attracted zero attention in the horror world, so I am surprised this list is wasting its time with it.
Thankfully both the YA and Middle Grade selections were considerably better than the adult list. We have, reviewed all six books in alphabetical order:
As this is the YA section of Ginger Nuts of Horror, I am only going to review the YA and Middle Grade selections. However, I found the adult section decidedly underwhelming, having read all three of the books chosen I would only recommend Alma Katsu’s The Hunger and find the inclusion of The Cipher perplexing, as it is one of those frustrating ‘love it or hate it books’ where very little happens. Is it a good entry to the horror genre for the newcomer? No, it is not. Neither is the third adult selection Ahmed Saadawi’s Frankenstein in Baghdad which is a plodding reimagining of Frankenstein which edges towards literary rather than genre fiction. This novel attracted zero attention in the horror world, so I am surprised this list is wasting its time with it.
Thankfully both the YA and Middle Grade selections were considerably better than the adult list. We have, reviewed all six books in alphabetical order:
YA Category
Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson [Razorbill, 2018]
The Diviners by Libba Bray [Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2012]
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline [Dancing Cat Books, 2017]
Middle Grade
Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods by Hal Johnson [Workman, 2015]
Ollie’s Odyssey by William Joyce [Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 2015]
Whichwood by Tahereh Mafi [Dutton Books for Young Readers, 2017]
YA Category
Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson [Razorbill, 2018]
The Diviners by Libba Bray [Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2012]
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline [Dancing Cat Books, 2017]
Middle Grade
Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods by Hal Johnson [Workman, 2015]
Ollie’s Odyssey by William Joyce [Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 2015]
Whichwood by Tahereh Mafi [Dutton Books for Young Readers, 2017]
Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson
This was my least favourite in the YA section which we originally reviewed back in 2018. At the time of publication Lily Anderson’s Undead Girl Gang picked up very positive reviews in America, and although I found it entertaining, it was nearly as funny as it thought it was. Also, there was so much swearing in it, the UK cover which looks quite juvenile does not exactly gel with the repeated use of the f-word, although the American cover does look slightly more mature.
The story is quite a simple one to explain, Mila’s best friend has been found dead and Mila suspects she has been murdered, or was involved in a suicide pact, as the circumstances were suspicious. Mila is a type of witch, who practices Wicca, so rather than speculate on whether it was murder or suicide she brings Riley back from the dead so she can ask her directly. The problem is Riley has lost her memory and at the same time, by mistake, she also brings back two other dead teenagers. And, of course, having dead best friends hanging around cause all sorts of problems, like when they want to go to their own wake, and this is where the teen and comedy aspects of the novel come into play. Considering the novel dealt with some serious subjects it did not take itself too seriously and ultimately, the blend of horror and comedy entertained in patches, but misfired in others. AGE RANGE 13+
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
Cherie Dimaline’s The Marrow Thieves was first published in the UK back in 2019 and made no impression that I am aware of, which is a shame as it was terrific and ripe for rediscovery. This was a great choice for Summer Scares and a thoroughly entertaining twist on the environmentally themed dystopian novel which focuses on the indigenous people of North America. The plot cleverly avoids most of the cliches you will find the plethora of modern dystopian teen fiction and instead blends it into a survival story where the last members of the indigenous tribes retreat into the Canadian wilderness to survive. The problem is that many of them have forgotten the natural skills of their forefathers and in reality, many are city kids trying to survive, but are united by their blood and interconnected tribes.
The key hook of the book is a cracker: much of humanity has been destroyed by global warming and the world we know is gone. One of the biproducts of this shift is that the majority of people have lost their ability to dream, with the exception of the indigenous people who are now being hunted. If their bone marrow is extracted and given to others (like medicine) the ability to dream returns. The story begins a while after the environmental collapse and hunting, but it is cleverly revealed in campfire tales where members of the survivors pass on knowledge and through this keep their culture alive. ‘Recruiters’ are hunting Frenchie, who tells the story, and is a member of the Anishinaabe and desperately wants to find other members of his tribe, but nobody can be trusted and there are traitors everywhere. This is a beautifully written novel and deeply informed with a spirit of inclusivity and love for the people, nature, and the land, whilst avoiding the violence typical of this type of teen fiction. Highly recommended. AGE RANGE 13+
The key hook of the book is a cracker: much of humanity has been destroyed by global warming and the world we know is gone. One of the biproducts of this shift is that the majority of people have lost their ability to dream, with the exception of the indigenous people who are now being hunted. If their bone marrow is extracted and given to others (like medicine) the ability to dream returns. The story begins a while after the environmental collapse and hunting, but it is cleverly revealed in campfire tales where members of the survivors pass on knowledge and through this keep their culture alive. ‘Recruiters’ are hunting Frenchie, who tells the story, and is a member of the Anishinaabe and desperately wants to find other members of his tribe, but nobody can be trusted and there are traitors everywhere. This is a beautifully written novel and deeply informed with a spirit of inclusivity and love for the people, nature, and the land, whilst avoiding the violence typical of this type of teen fiction. Highly recommended. AGE RANGE 13+
The Diviners by Libba Bray
The Diviners was first published back in 2012 and attracted considerable hype and although it went relatively unnoticed in the UK was a big hit in the USA which spawned three sequels. This was a very challenging and meaty read which is aimed at older teens, adult readers might pick it up and not realise it is actually a 600+ page YA novel. Set in Prohibition era 1920s America The Diviners has an impressive eye for detail and vividly brings to life New York of the period, including the wild parties, jazz music, gin drinking at speak-easies and the dangers of the period before the depression arrives. Although the story centres upon eighteen-year-old Evie O'Neill, who is rich and new to the Big Apple, it has a large ensemble of characters who slowly knit together. I found Evie rather annoying in the early stages, however, the many jumps to the other characters gave ample rest-bite from her and she slowly grew on me. The author also pushes the boat out by including dialogue appropriate of the period and younger kids might get a bit tired of this.
Evie is delighted to have escaped Ohio and is staying with her eccentric uncle, who manages an occult museum and is unaware that she has her own supernatural gift which plays a big part in the story as it develops. Before long there are seances, murders and a terrific villain which the police have no chance of catching without help. The Diviners has a slow start, but it is worth sticking with and if it finds the correct readers is a book which will be enjoyed by strong readers who will hunt out the sequels. You are unlikely to find any more thorough blends of historical fiction and the supernatural than this meaty teen tome. AGE RANGE 14+
Evie is delighted to have escaped Ohio and is staying with her eccentric uncle, who manages an occult museum and is unaware that she has her own supernatural gift which plays a big part in the story as it develops. Before long there are seances, murders and a terrific villain which the police have no chance of catching without help. The Diviners has a slow start, but it is worth sticking with and if it finds the correct readers is a book which will be enjoyed by strong readers who will hunt out the sequels. You are unlikely to find any more thorough blends of historical fiction and the supernatural than this meaty teen tome. AGE RANGE 14+
Middle Grade Section
Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods (20 Chilling Tales from the Wilderness) by Hal Johnson
The twenty stories featured in Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods were inspired by a 1910 book of the same name by William T Cox which was an early source detailing the mythological creatures of North America and Canada. Interestingly, I was surprised how few of these creatures I had even heard of! Perhaps American readers will be more familiar with the likes of the Gumberoo, Snoligoster, Leprocaun, Wapaloosie, Squonk, Billdad, Snow Wasser, Tripadero, Acropelter and many others. There was not a Wendigo or Big Foot in sight! Okay, I’ll be honest, I had not heart of any of the twenty….
The way the short stories was framed was the strongest aspect of Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods, as they are narrated or retold by the last surviving Cryptozoologist and have a campfire story style to them which might be fun to read aloud to younger children. However, I found too many of the stories unconvincing as the creatures were so fantastical, they did not have an ounce of credibility and because of that lacked any real fear factor. Of course, they are aimed at much younger children and those who are slightly older could find them monotonous as the plots themselves were often rather uninspiring. In the mix we have the Snoligoster, who feeds on the shadows of its victims and the Hoop Snake, who can chase prey at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour and then, with one sting of its venomous tail, cause it to turn purple, swell up, and-alas-die. These were interesting enough creatures and deserved more thrilling plots, rather than the bland way in which they are told. AGE RANGE 7/8-10
The way the short stories was framed was the strongest aspect of Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods, as they are narrated or retold by the last surviving Cryptozoologist and have a campfire story style to them which might be fun to read aloud to younger children. However, I found too many of the stories unconvincing as the creatures were so fantastical, they did not have an ounce of credibility and because of that lacked any real fear factor. Of course, they are aimed at much younger children and those who are slightly older could find them monotonous as the plots themselves were often rather uninspiring. In the mix we have the Snoligoster, who feeds on the shadows of its victims and the Hoop Snake, who can chase prey at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour and then, with one sting of its venomous tail, cause it to turn purple, swell up, and-alas-die. These were interesting enough creatures and deserved more thrilling plots, rather than the bland way in which they are told. AGE RANGE 7/8-10
Ollie’s Odyssey by William Joyce
Ollie’s Odyssey was a beautiful little book, and I am not ashamed to say I had a tear in the eye as I reached the ending. Actually, it was not so small and although 304 pages might be long for kids aged 7-10, it is supplemented by many beautiful illustrations and the font is large. For kids who still like the comfort of a bedtime story, you really cannot do better than this. It was completely charming and slightly reminiscent of the work of AF Harrold, author of The Imaginary and The Song From Somewhere Else, who writes equally quirky stuff in the UK. Like many of the best books aimed at younger children there is a big adventure, which has friendship as a key theme and tackles a story which many kids will identify with: what happens when you lose your favourite toy? Adults who read this will undoubtedly think of the nightmares which surround leaving home without their kid’s prized possession and the anxiety it can bring. This clever and moving story, which also tackles growing up in a very sensitive manner, genuinely brings it to life.
Billy’s favourite toy ‘Ollie’ was made by his mother and when toys are recognised as a child’s favourite (they have their own ‘Code of Toys’) this becomes a very high honour in the Toy World. However, in Toy World there are villains (the Creeps) who steal the most treasured toys for Zozo the Clown King and that is exactly what happens to poor Ollie. If the stolen toys are taken for long periods, then the original owners slowly begin to forget their old favourite and they are left unloved and forgotten in Toy World. However, Billy is a special boy and even though he is very small he goes on a dangerous quest for Ollie. You’ll be with him every inch of the way! AGE RANGE 7-10
Whichwood by Tahereh Mafi
Whichwood is a companion novel to Furthermore, the latter was published first, but you can read them in either order, which is supplemented by very clever cross referencing through a highly engaging narrator. In fact, it is so intelligently done, after I finished Whichwood I then ordered Furthermore, which stars two of the main support characters (Oliver and Alice) to Laylee, the ‘Mordeshoor’ who is the lead in Whichwood. The engaging style of narration plays a big part in the success of the story and the reader can almost hear the whispering voice beckoning them in closer, revealing another part of the tale which begins on a cold frosty night. Laylee is struggling to cope without her recently deceased mother and father who has gone mad, as she has some very peculiar responsibilities. She has inherited the family business as a ‘Moreshoor’, destined to spend her days scrubbing the skins and souls of the dead in preparation for their journey into the afterlife, without her mother and father to help or guide her. This is a very tough responsibility, and she alone cleans the dead of the village of Whichwood and this is not the job for a thirteen-year-old girl, but she carries it out without complaint. The story revolves around what happens when Layee is stretched beyond her means and can no longer cope, doing her best to ignore her ever-increasing loneliness, but also the way her overworked hands are stiffening and turning silver, just like her hair. All of which are tell-tale signs that things are not as they should be.
I found this to be a rather beautiful book and it should be read as a dark fantasy novel, which has elements of horror, with the power of friendship beating at its charming heart. Set in a world reminiscent of ancient Persia (but with trains) and built around a very convincing Middle Eastern mysticism, the supernatural is real, and ghosts are part of everyday life. Whilst Laylee continues to wash the dead two other children turn up, Oliver and Alice, from the village of Furthermore (which you can only get to by submarine) with the task of helping Laylee. The problem is they are not quite sure what they need to help her with. What follows is a beautiful blend of fantasy, magic, teenage longing and the power of friendship. It was written in such a lyrical and beautiful manner it is guaranteed to charm readers of all ages and could just as easily have been selected for the YA category of Summer Scares. Mafi is an outstanding author and I also highly recommend her Shattered series. AGE RANGE 10-14
Tony Jones
I found this to be a rather beautiful book and it should be read as a dark fantasy novel, which has elements of horror, with the power of friendship beating at its charming heart. Set in a world reminiscent of ancient Persia (but with trains) and built around a very convincing Middle Eastern mysticism, the supernatural is real, and ghosts are part of everyday life. Whilst Laylee continues to wash the dead two other children turn up, Oliver and Alice, from the village of Furthermore (which you can only get to by submarine) with the task of helping Laylee. The problem is they are not quite sure what they need to help her with. What follows is a beautiful blend of fantasy, magic, teenage longing and the power of friendship. It was written in such a lyrical and beautiful manner it is guaranteed to charm readers of all ages and could just as easily have been selected for the YA category of Summer Scares. Mafi is an outstanding author and I also highly recommend her Shattered series. AGE RANGE 10-14
Tony Jones
TODAY ON THE GINGER NUTS OF HORROR WEBSITE
RICHARD MARTIN REVISITS THE MASTERS OF HORROR: PELTS, DIRECTED BY DARIO ARGENTO
the heart and soul of ya and mg horror
 | The Book of the Baku was one of the bravest and most impressive YA horror novels I have read in a good while. RL Boyle should now be on the radar of anybody with an interest in YA horror. |
THE YOUNG BLOOD LIBRARY'S MAY/JUNE YA AND MIDDLE GRADE HORROR AND DARK FICTION ROUNDUP by tony jones
For our latest roundup we have a terrific range of novels for you to choose from, many are ‘dark fiction’ rather than traditional horror, but don’t let that put you off, there are some real beauties listed. They are presented in alphabetical order, however, RL Boyle’s The Book of the Baku, which happens to be first, was also my favourite. This astonishingly bleak and brave debut should feature on every YA prize list under the sun. Sadly, horror and genre fiction are routinely overlooked on most stale children’s book awards, but this awesome book ticks every imaginable box. I am going to shout to the heavens about this knockout and doubt I will read many better YA horror novels all year.
However, Boyle is in fine company and there are some other outstanding books featured also. Make sure you look out for another excellent thriller from Mindy McGinnis, Be Not Far From Me, which makes we wonder why this author is not better known, particularly in the UK where she is an unknown quantity. Bryony Pearce takes us on a truly wild ride in Raising Hell and Julia Tuffs must have had a time machine as her entertaining witchy coming of age comedy Hexed, played out alongside a highly believable Everyone’s Invited scenario. Amazingly, this book was obviously written well before the whistleblowing website about pupil-on-pupil sexual abuse in secondary schools ever existed. Creepy or what? She totally nails it.
If you are looking to stock up books for your school or public library or seeking a gift for your favourite niece or nephew, there are many great selections here from the darker side of YA fiction.
RL Boyle – The Book of the Baku
RL Boyle’s The Book of the Baku is one of the YA novels of the year, but even after finishing this amazing book I’m still not 100% sure it is aimed at children? For the most part it was astonishingly bleak for a kid’s novel and although the blurb calls it “A Monster Calls meets The Shining” I would disagree and amend that to “A Monster Calls meets The Babadook” which suits it slightly better, as I could see little of The Shining in The Book of the Baku, but that is no bad thing. This highly unsettling debut novel is very much its own beast and does not lean on anything, except for the pain of broken families, isolation, guilt and tragedy. If you think this sounds bleak or heavy, do not let that put you off, Sean is a brilliant leading character who deserves your empathy. It was also fantastic to read a horror novel with a boy as a central character, these are few and far between, and one who struggles bravely with a disability, whose cause is revealed in tragic flashback.
The Book of the Baku plays out in two ‘before’ and ‘after’ narratives, but it is enticing unclear what happened to Sean’s mother when he arrives at his estranged grandfather’s house. A family tragedy has led to him developing a Conversion Order, which means he cannot talk, but he also has a serious leg disability which hampers his mobility and has been bullied because of it. In the past his grandad was a writer who wrote a collection of short stories about a mythical creature, called the ‘Baku’, which feeds on the dreams of children. As Sean reads the terrifying collection, he begins to lose touch with reality and the stories from the book blend into his every-day world, with some real Bababook style moments. This was one of those books where you just will the main character to confront their internal demons, and I was quite literally cheering out loud when some glimmers of light appeared in the darkness of the tunnel. In many ways the life Sean left behind was considerably more harrowing than anything the Baku could do to him and it was brilliantly written into the big reveals which come later in the plot. The Book of the Baku was one of the bravest and most impressive YA horror novels I have read in a good while. RL Boyle should now be on the radar of anybody with an interest in YA horror. AGE RANGE 11-15
Elley Cooper - The Cursed
(Creepshow Collection 2)
In a relatively recent development, the Creepshow adult horror brand which has been reenergised by the Shudder TV channel, dipping its toes into horror fiction for children. Late in 2020 Elley Cooper released The Taker, which we also reviewed recently, and returns with her second double bill The Cursed. The cover sells them as novels, but in reality, they are two one hundred or so page novellas. Like its predecessor, this was a Middle Grade read and I would aim it at the 9-12 age group, rather than YA. These types of stories are perfect for kids who are looking for gateway horror and a few chills. They also have a cool retro feel to them, respecting the style of the original 1982 Creepshow, with both stories beginning in comic format. If you are looking for way of comparison, the stories are slightly more advanced than Goosebumps, but not as challenging as the legendary Point Horror series.
The first of the two stories was by far my favourite, with Randy and his best friend Bill going camping in the local woods in The Green Mountain Monster. Set in 1956, the boys come from rural, poor, small-town families, with Bill having an unhealthy obsession with the dangers of Communism. Things take a weird turn when the boys think they see an alien in the woods, which then follows them. It starts off as a very familiar tale but takes a few unexpected turns and has a terrific ending. The second story, The Chatelaine, was not as clever as its processor and uses the very familiar trope of a kid buying something cursed from a very dodgy shop. Sound familiar? Yes, it has been done hundreds of times. After purchasing a piece of vintage jewellery Maisie finds herself transported back to another era, where she realises, amongst other things, women were most definitely treated as second class citizens. All in all, this was a decent duology, but like its predecessor, Creepshow really needs to ramp up its scares, as there were very limited chills on offer here. AGE RANGE 9-12.
The first of the two stories was by far my favourite, with Randy and his best friend Bill going camping in the local woods in The Green Mountain Monster. Set in 1956, the boys come from rural, poor, small-town families, with Bill having an unhealthy obsession with the dangers of Communism. Things take a weird turn when the boys think they see an alien in the woods, which then follows them. It starts off as a very familiar tale but takes a few unexpected turns and has a terrific ending. The second story, The Chatelaine, was not as clever as its processor and uses the very familiar trope of a kid buying something cursed from a very dodgy shop. Sound familiar? Yes, it has been done hundreds of times. After purchasing a piece of vintage jewellery Maisie finds herself transported back to another era, where she realises, amongst other things, women were most definitely treated as second class citizens. All in all, this was a decent duology, but like its predecessor, Creepshow really needs to ramp up its scares, as there were very limited chills on offer here. AGE RANGE 9-12.
Sarah Govett – We Go On Forever
I was a massive fan of Sarah Govett’s ecological dystopian trilogy The Territory and it has been one of the most popular trilogies in my school library over the past five years. After a two-book foray into lighter teen comedy Govett returns to dystopia, which has shades of Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go and from the world of YA, Louise O'Neill’s Only Ever Yours and Gemma Malley’s The Declaration. Although it lacks the edge of the O’Neill novel (which is aimed at slightly older children) it is still a highly engaging page-turner which slowly drops clues about the kind of dystopia the two characters Arthur and Alba both live in. Told with a split first-person chapter-by-chapter narrative, the two characters do not know each other and live worlds apart, but there is something which brings them together, which lies at the heart of the novel. Arthur is sick and looking for a transplant of some kind, otherwise he will die and soon, he is also very rich. On the other hand, Alba lives in some kind of home or orphanage, where she is waiting to be chosen as the next ‘Apprentice’, but what does an Apprentice do?
Adult readers will probably join the dots very quickly, however, for children who are new to dystopian novels this will come across as very refreshing and a great introduction to this fascinating area of fiction. It is not action driven and as the plot moves on readers will be shocked when they realise what is in store for Alba. Although the direction the plot takes was relatively predictable, it might have been nice to see more of this society beyond the two main characters, although there is always the possibility of that in a potential sequel. Sarah Govett creates likable and believable characters and the dystopias she presents her readers with are always well drawn which present them with tough choices and are not so far fetched. AGE RANGE 11-13
Adult readers will probably join the dots very quickly, however, for children who are new to dystopian novels this will come across as very refreshing and a great introduction to this fascinating area of fiction. It is not action driven and as the plot moves on readers will be shocked when they realise what is in store for Alba. Although the direction the plot takes was relatively predictable, it might have been nice to see more of this society beyond the two main characters, although there is always the possibility of that in a potential sequel. Sarah Govett creates likable and believable characters and the dystopias she presents her readers with are always well drawn which present them with tough choices and are not so far fetched. AGE RANGE 11-13
Mindy McGinnis – Be Not Far From Me
I am a hugefan of Mandy McGinnis and there are few authors currently writing YA with the ability to effortlessly more around the genres as she. I first came across her some years ago with the excellent dystopian ecological thriller Not a Drop to Drink and sequel In a Handful of Dust and was happy to reacquaint myself with her latest novel, The Initial Insult in the previous Young Blood roundup. Such was my interest in her work I backtracked and read the superb Be Not Far From Me which was published earlier in 2021. As is her style, the multitalented McGinnis makes another fascinating change of direction with a rather different survival thriller. All the cliches you might expect to find in such a thriller are joyfully absent from this story, there is no being stalked by bears, hunger is a reality, and how often would you see a teenage girl bash the brains in of a possum and then eat it? Or then chop off part of her infected foot? I winced. This terrific book refuses to play by the rules and is all about characterisation, regret and survival. It many ways, I found this to be a rather beautiful experience which was threaded with melancholy.
The story is a deceptively simple one. Ashley and a group of friends go camping and drinking in The Smokies, a mountain range and National Park which straddles a few American States, with the action kicking off in Tennessee. After the drinking and fooling around starts Ashley discovers her boyfriend with another girl and runs away, drunk, and in a strop. She loses her bearings, falls and badly injures her foot and in the morning finds all of her friends gone. She is lost, with no supplies, minimal clothing and, to make things worse, her period starts. What follows is a genuinely outstanding and very moving survival story, much of which is told in flashback from several years earlier when Ashley was twelve and was taught basic survival skills by a camp leader when she was on summer camp. Ashley loved Davey and never forgot him, or the skills he taught her. The story has the added spice of Ashley knowing that Davey died in these mountains a couple of years earlier (but his body was never found) and she feels his spirit watching over her. This is a non-supernatural novel, and I found this connection between Davey (who never knew she existed) and Ashley to be perfectly pitched and the ending brought a tear to my eye. This is as far away from an adventure novel as one could get and hums with authenticity and compassion. AGE RANGE 13+
The story is a deceptively simple one. Ashley and a group of friends go camping and drinking in The Smokies, a mountain range and National Park which straddles a few American States, with the action kicking off in Tennessee. After the drinking and fooling around starts Ashley discovers her boyfriend with another girl and runs away, drunk, and in a strop. She loses her bearings, falls and badly injures her foot and in the morning finds all of her friends gone. She is lost, with no supplies, minimal clothing and, to make things worse, her period starts. What follows is a genuinely outstanding and very moving survival story, much of which is told in flashback from several years earlier when Ashley was twelve and was taught basic survival skills by a camp leader when she was on summer camp. Ashley loved Davey and never forgot him, or the skills he taught her. The story has the added spice of Ashley knowing that Davey died in these mountains a couple of years earlier (but his body was never found) and she feels his spirit watching over her. This is a non-supernatural novel, and I found this connection between Davey (who never knew she existed) and Ashley to be perfectly pitched and the ending brought a tear to my eye. This is as far away from an adventure novel as one could get and hums with authenticity and compassion. AGE RANGE 13+
Kristen O’Neal - Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses: A Novel
Although Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses was an amusing blend of teen comedy with a very light touch of horror and a larger dose of health anxieties. It has been name checked in reference to the classic film Teen Wolf, but that is somewhat inaccurate also, as it lacks any of the high school antics you might associate with the Michael J Fox film or the successful and long running TV series spin-off. That is not to say Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses is not a decent read, it might just not be the read you are expecting, it is more about family, online friendships, relationships and illness than a supernatural tale. You might say it is also about werewolves, but as this was not really a horror novel, I would question how comfortably this aspect sat with the rest of the novel. I was very interested in finding out how the story would end, in the areas regarding the relationship it was convincing, but the werewolf angle less so. If you approach this book as a teen comedy, rather than a horror novel, you are much more likely to enjoy it, as that’s where it ticks most boxes.
Priya has dropped out of college because of a diagnosis of chronic Lyme disease which leaves her dreams of being a doctor in tatters. She returns home to her kind, but overbearing family, where she spends much of her time online with a virtual health support group and after her best online buddy Brigid drops off the radar she goes to her house, where she finds a hairy creature in the basement. This is far from your average werewolf story and its strength lies in the developing friendship between Priya and Brigid, which moves from the online world to reality and back again, with the rest of the support group never far away. A lot of the novel is written via texts from the online help group with everybody nicely trying to support each other. The book has a strong supportive message and although it tackles serious subjects, it does it with compassion and good humour. It is a rather goofy YA read which is bound to have some teens chuckling. AGE RANGE 14+
Priya has dropped out of college because of a diagnosis of chronic Lyme disease which leaves her dreams of being a doctor in tatters. She returns home to her kind, but overbearing family, where she spends much of her time online with a virtual health support group and after her best online buddy Brigid drops off the radar she goes to her house, where she finds a hairy creature in the basement. This is far from your average werewolf story and its strength lies in the developing friendship between Priya and Brigid, which moves from the online world to reality and back again, with the rest of the support group never far away. A lot of the novel is written via texts from the online help group with everybody nicely trying to support each other. The book has a strong supportive message and although it tackles serious subjects, it does it with compassion and good humour. It is a rather goofy YA read which is bound to have some teens chuckling. AGE RANGE 14+
Bryony Pearce – Raising Hell
Since 2011 Bryony Pearce has written a number of dark fiction titles for both children and adults and when it comes to YA horror is probably best known for the excellent Savage Island (2019) which is on the Red Eye brand and which promises a sequel Cruel Castle later this year. The latest effort Raising Hell was a highly entertaining and very fast paced hoot which could be read in a couple of sittings, with the frenetic action taking place over a very short period of time. Detailed characterisation was side-lined in favour of pace, but the central character Ivy Elisabeth Mann was more than enough to jog the book along. Ivy was far your stereotypical heroine and I found myself warming to her as the book progressed.
Raising Hell had a terrific opening with nineteen-year-old Ivy working as a security guard in the school she attended not long before as a pupil. Why do Birmingham schools need security guards you might ask? A good question. A few years earlier there was a weird supernatural occurrence (which Ivy was involved in) which resulted in black matter being released into the world and as a result, teenagers can cast spells. Her job is to ensure nobody brings magic or dodgy books into the school, but in the opening stages somebody calls a hell dog and soon things quickly spiral as there are more creatures and a potential zombie apocalypse which Ivy is sucked into. Along the way characters are raised from the dead, Ivy’s grandmother possesses her cat, and she even loses her job. However, this girl is a real fighter and even though she is partially responsible for the pending apocalypse she was sassy, cool and engaging enough to get behind. The dynamics behind how the magic worked was really clever, and how it was connected to Birmingham was neat, and it was a perfect read for Buffy The Vampire Slayer or Sabrina fans everywhere. AGE RANGE 12+
Raising Hell had a terrific opening with nineteen-year-old Ivy working as a security guard in the school she attended not long before as a pupil. Why do Birmingham schools need security guards you might ask? A good question. A few years earlier there was a weird supernatural occurrence (which Ivy was involved in) which resulted in black matter being released into the world and as a result, teenagers can cast spells. Her job is to ensure nobody brings magic or dodgy books into the school, but in the opening stages somebody calls a hell dog and soon things quickly spiral as there are more creatures and a potential zombie apocalypse which Ivy is sucked into. Along the way characters are raised from the dead, Ivy’s grandmother possesses her cat, and she even loses her job. However, this girl is a real fighter and even though she is partially responsible for the pending apocalypse she was sassy, cool and engaging enough to get behind. The dynamics behind how the magic worked was really clever, and how it was connected to Birmingham was neat, and it was a perfect read for Buffy The Vampire Slayer or Sabrina fans everywhere. AGE RANGE 12+
Neal Shusterman – Game Changer
Although the prolific YA writer Neal Shusterman has never written a traditional horror novel, his work is always very dark and a superb blend of science fiction, dystopia or fantasy and I love reviewing him. He is an absolute master of the ‘high concept’ novel, with his fiction often featuring very clever and original ideas which are very easy to sell or recommend to teens. Scythe featured a type of lawmen whose main job was to cull the population by 300+ people each year and Unwind was built around children who lose the right to their own bodies (or parts of them) and have them acquisitioned by others in a dystopian version of body farming. His latest novel Game Changer is his quirky spin on the ‘sliding doors’ theme that there are lots of interconnected parallel realities which are slightly different from each other, some in very small ways and other widely different.
Like everything Shusterman writes Game Changer was an outstanding page-turner, with an engaging and likable main character, who was very easy to get behind, especially as his life gets very complicated. Over the first half of the novel, I loved the intricate little differences between the realities Ash finds himself in. The main character is a star player on his high school American football team and is used to taking hard hits. But after a serious knock, which looks like concussion, he wakes up from a heavy blow and suddenly his life doesn’t look quite the way he remembers it. The differences start very slow; firstly, when driving home after the match he realises that red is no longer the road sign for stop and on other occasions he wakes up to find he has a new car, different family or his girlfriend circumstances, before things get very serious as he takes more whacks. Along the way, and very cleverly, he begins to forget which his true reality is. Game Changer has a great change of pace in the second half, where the author’s imagination goes truly crazy. I loved it. AGE RANGE 12+
Like everything Shusterman writes Game Changer was an outstanding page-turner, with an engaging and likable main character, who was very easy to get behind, especially as his life gets very complicated. Over the first half of the novel, I loved the intricate little differences between the realities Ash finds himself in. The main character is a star player on his high school American football team and is used to taking hard hits. But after a serious knock, which looks like concussion, he wakes up from a heavy blow and suddenly his life doesn’t look quite the way he remembers it. The differences start very slow; firstly, when driving home after the match he realises that red is no longer the road sign for stop and on other occasions he wakes up to find he has a new car, different family or his girlfriend circumstances, before things get very serious as he takes more whacks. Along the way, and very cleverly, he begins to forget which his true reality is. Game Changer has a great change of pace in the second half, where the author’s imagination goes truly crazy. I loved it. AGE RANGE 12+
Julia Tuffs – Hexed
“Sabrina the Teenage Witch meets Sex Education” is a perfect leading quote for this highly entertaining supernatural comedy set on the Isle of Wight. Fifteen-year-old Jessie Jones moves to the island with her single parent mother and struggles to settle in her new school, with a few amusing mishaps along the way. Jessica believes her mother to be having a mid-life crisis, but in actual fact her mother is descended from a long line of witches, but their power is only potent when they are on their island turf (this was a quirky spin). Early in her new school career weird things begin to happen when Math geek Jessie is around, and she begins to suspect she is the cause. Sure enough, now that she is back on her family’s island, she is beginning to develop the family’s witching powers. Interestingly, this is connected to her period, so although Hexed is a teen comedy, there is a lot of open talk of menstruation. It does not particularly read like a horror novel and is more in tune with teen dramas by the likes of Holly Bourne, with a feisty and very engaging teen negotiating the dangers of high school, boys, social media and fitting in without selling her soul.
Amazingly, when we get beyond the humorous aspects of Jessie trying to get a handle on her clumsy magical skills Hexed has a powerful message which is uncannily similar to the current media stories of rape culture and sexism in British secondary schools. In fact, Hexed completely nails this subject to the wall and does it with some style and good humour whilst making revealing observations. If you’re after something similar, but slightly darker, then The Burning by Laura Bates is another top recommendation. Incredibly, when Julia Tuffs wrote Hexed the website Everyone’s Invited did not exist, but it covers the same ground as Jessie finds herself being filmed and mocked. As a result, she is shocked by the level of sexism in her school and the fact that the teachers are aware of it but do little or nothing about it. This was an interesting development which took Hexed beyond the story of a normal girl developing supernatural powers. The final sequences in the assembly hall might have been lifted from an American high school teen drama, but I was still smiling and cheering Jessie on. Go girl! AGE RANGE 12/13+
Amazingly, when we get beyond the humorous aspects of Jessie trying to get a handle on her clumsy magical skills Hexed has a powerful message which is uncannily similar to the current media stories of rape culture and sexism in British secondary schools. In fact, Hexed completely nails this subject to the wall and does it with some style and good humour whilst making revealing observations. If you’re after something similar, but slightly darker, then The Burning by Laura Bates is another top recommendation. Incredibly, when Julia Tuffs wrote Hexed the website Everyone’s Invited did not exist, but it covers the same ground as Jessie finds herself being filmed and mocked. As a result, she is shocked by the level of sexism in her school and the fact that the teachers are aware of it but do little or nothing about it. This was an interesting development which took Hexed beyond the story of a normal girl developing supernatural powers. The final sequences in the assembly hall might have been lifted from an American high school teen drama, but I was still smiling and cheering Jessie on. Go girl! AGE RANGE 12/13+
Sue Wallman – I Know You Did It
I Know You Did It is Sue Wallman’s fifth YA novel since 2016, she does not write horror, alternatively she regularly delivers high quality and very dark teen thrillers. By day Sue works as a school librarian and her daily interactions with teens really shine through in her fiction, giving it both a realistic and believable edge, which develop into compulsive page turners. I have all her books in my school library and am always happy to recommend her work to young teens. Interestingly, I Know You Did It also has a Covid-19 lockdown vibe to it, with the characters mentioning social distancing, masks and other aspects of the way we have had to live our lives over the last eighteen months. At first glance it is very easy to compare this novel with Anne Cassidy’s modern classic Looking for JJ, as it involves a teenager who has killed another child, picking up the story many years later. Once the story starts to progress it develops into a very convincing blend of thriller, drama and the anxieties brought on by social media and the fact that these days, it is very, very difficult to keep a secret.
The action kicks off with Ruby starting a new school in Year 11 (age 16) and there is a cloud over the reason she has moved, with the plot dropping clues nice and slowly. All we know is that some years earlier she was involved in the death of another child and feels perpetual anxiety that her secret might be uncovered (again). Whilst she is trying to make friends a note is stuck on her locker “I know what you did” and Ruby feels instant fear and the social media aspect is cleverly explored and exploited around her dark secret. Ruby was a great character, and she was on edge for most of the novel and still feels guilt for what happened when she was small. In the second half of the novel the thriller element really ramps up and the interactions in the school and the power of social media and the gossip it feeds was particularly convincing. Along the way there was a really great twist and as you speed towards the end you will be desperate to find out who the killer is! AGE RANGE 12+
The action kicks off with Ruby starting a new school in Year 11 (age 16) and there is a cloud over the reason she has moved, with the plot dropping clues nice and slowly. All we know is that some years earlier she was involved in the death of another child and feels perpetual anxiety that her secret might be uncovered (again). Whilst she is trying to make friends a note is stuck on her locker “I know what you did” and Ruby feels instant fear and the social media aspect is cleverly explored and exploited around her dark secret. Ruby was a great character, and she was on edge for most of the novel and still feels guilt for what happened when she was small. In the second half of the novel the thriller element really ramps up and the interactions in the school and the power of social media and the gossip it feeds was particularly convincing. Along the way there was a really great twist and as you speed towards the end you will be desperate to find out who the killer is! AGE RANGE 12+
TODAY ON THE GINGER NUTS OF HORROR WEBSITE
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY WITH KONN LAVERY
the heart and soul of YA and MG Horror Fiction Reviews
We have seven books in our latest round-up, four of which are YA level, and the three others are Middle Grade. Actually, this is a very strong collection of titles, all of which would be worthy additions to any school library or gift for your favourite niece or nephew. This cool mix features highly recommended Middle Grade novels, Daka Hermon’s debut Hide and Seeker and Kate Alice Marshall’s Thirteen, which is an impressive change of direction from her excellent YA novel Rules for Vanishing which we have previously recommended. All four YA novels featured are top notch, however, The River has Teeth, the second novel by Erica Waters is particularly terrific and she is an author to watch and a powerful new voice in YA fiction. If you have not read her debut Ghost Wood Song, it is unmissable and was deservedly shortlisted for the YA Bram Stoker Award.
Over the last couple of years, we have regularly commented on the disappearance of the male narrative from modern YA horror fiction. How many do we have in the four YA novels featured today? A bit fat zero. This worrying trend continues. Publishers take note: teenage boys also need to see themselves reflected within horror fiction.
If you have any Middle Grade or YA fiction you would like reviewed on the site, then please get in touch, (details can be found here).
Over the last couple of years, we have regularly commented on the disappearance of the male narrative from modern YA horror fiction. How many do we have in the four YA novels featured today? A bit fat zero. This worrying trend continues. Publishers take note: teenage boys also need to see themselves reflected within horror fiction.
If you have any Middle Grade or YA fiction you would like reviewed on the site, then please get in touch, (details can be found here).
Elley Cooper – The Taker (Two Original Creepshow Novels)
In an interesting development, with the Creepshow adult horror brand which has been reenergised by the Shudder TV channel, dipping its toes into horror fiction for children. This was a good read if it finds the right hands, first up, it is not YA and definitely Middle Grade. Amazon lists this as age 12-18 which is incorrect and not a true reflection on the book I read, which I would categorise as 9-12 and even if pegged at that age range it lacked scares. Each of the two stories The Taker and Pretty Polly are solid one-hundred-page novellas, which are perfect for kids who are looking for gateway horror and a few chills. They also have a cool retro feel to them, respecting the style of the original 1982 Creepshow, with both stories beginning in comic format. If you are looking for way of comparison, the stories are slightly more advanced than Goosebumps, but not as challenging as the legendary Point Horror series.
The Taker kicks the duology off, with Bea moving into a new house which she quickly realises is haunted. However, she befriends the ghost and soon the supernatural being interlopes on the rest of her life when it gets jealous of her attempts to get onto the school dance team. The paranormal story is balanced by Bea’s attempts to fit in at school and takes in bullying and peer pressure. It was a solid page-turner, but an adult reader will see the ending coming from a mile away. Pretty Polly concerns an animal loving boy who lives with his mum, with his loser dad in the background continually letting him down. Answering an advert in the newspaper Casey rehouses a parrot called Dorien. This is no normal bird and soon the boy tracks Dorien’s previous owners and starts answering questions about his suspicions. Elley Cooper, who has also written for the Five Nights at Freddys franchise, returns with a second Creepshow collection The Cursed soon and I look forward to this next instalment. But if Shudder is looking to get into the YA book market, they need to up both the scares with meatier plots and more challenging characters. AGE 9-12.
The Taker kicks the duology off, with Bea moving into a new house which she quickly realises is haunted. However, she befriends the ghost and soon the supernatural being interlopes on the rest of her life when it gets jealous of her attempts to get onto the school dance team. The paranormal story is balanced by Bea’s attempts to fit in at school and takes in bullying and peer pressure. It was a solid page-turner, but an adult reader will see the ending coming from a mile away. Pretty Polly concerns an animal loving boy who lives with his mum, with his loser dad in the background continually letting him down. Answering an advert in the newspaper Casey rehouses a parrot called Dorien. This is no normal bird and soon the boy tracks Dorien’s previous owners and starts answering questions about his suspicions. Elley Cooper, who has also written for the Five Nights at Freddys franchise, returns with a second Creepshow collection The Cursed soon and I look forward to this next instalment. But if Shudder is looking to get into the YA book market, they need to up both the scares with meatier plots and more challenging characters. AGE 9-12.
Daka Hermon - Hide and Seeker
I thoroughly enjoyed Daka Hermon’s debut Hide and Seeker, it was also refreshing to read a book with a boy as the main character, as they seem to be in short supply these days! This was a Middle Grade book which kids aged around 10-12 will have a lot of fun with, as it adds a strange twist to the traditional game of hide and seek which results in a rash of disappearances in the close-knit neighbourhood where the story is set. It has some good chills, nice character developments and solid pace which will have kids turning the pages quickly. Those who like a spooky story are going to speed through Hide and Seeker in no time at all.
Hide and Seeker has an outstanding opening, main character Justin has not seen his best friend Zee for over a year. He disappeared, but now upon his return Justin and other local kids have been invited to Zee’s house for a welcome home party. Nobody knows where he has been. However, things do not go as planned as Zee is not the same boy who vanished and soon a harmless game of hide and seek is followed by the abduction of another child. Could they be connected? Before long, the disappearances are traced to what happened to Zee and Justin and his motley band of friends find themselves going up against a boogieman type creature called ‘The Seeker’. The ten-year-old version of myself would have loved this book and I hope Daka Hermon sticks with horror. AGE 10-12
Hide and Seeker has an outstanding opening, main character Justin has not seen his best friend Zee for over a year. He disappeared, but now upon his return Justin and other local kids have been invited to Zee’s house for a welcome home party. Nobody knows where he has been. However, things do not go as planned as Zee is not the same boy who vanished and soon a harmless game of hide and seek is followed by the abduction of another child. Could they be connected? Before long, the disappearances are traced to what happened to Zee and Justin and his motley band of friends find themselves going up against a boogieman type creature called ‘The Seeker’. The ten-year-old version of myself would have loved this book and I hope Daka Hermon sticks with horror. AGE 10-12
Kate Alice Marshall – Thirteen
When a book is plugged as “Coraline meets Stranger Things” I would normally think “yeah, yeah, no chance” but Kate Alice Marshall’s Middle Grade debut Thirteen just about pulls it off and works hard to justify that cool quote. I was greatly impressed by Marshall’s YA novel Rules For Vanishing (2019) which was nominated for the YA Bram Stoker Award and if this author keeps up this incredibly high standard, she is surely a star in the making. Thirteen is such an engaging gateway supernatural novel I would happily recommend it to strong readers from the age of ten and up. The story involves a sleepy town which has a dark secret, every thirteen years in Eden Eld three thirteen-year-olds disappear, which is part of an ancient pact going back to the 1850s. This is a really peculiar place and the way in which the supernatural is integrated into the story is cleverly done, doubling up with a terrifically well-paced plot which is guaranteed to have young readers turning the pages at speed. This novel also has a great villain, kids are going to love the dastardly ‘Mr January’ and the powerful hold he has over the place they call home.
Another major strength of Thirteen are the lovely engaging three main characters, Eleanor, Pip and Otto. These terrific children show the difference between Middle Grade and YA as the three youngsters become fast friends, without teen stuff or love interests getting in the way of their friendship or the plot. Eleanor is returning to the town after many years away and has a difficult relationship with her mother, who also comes from Eden Eld. On her first day at school Eleanor meets Pip and Otto and together they get sucked into a supernatural mystery which was very cleverly structured and top loaded with great ideas, such as the colour being sucked out of the town or pretending not to see ghosts. Thirteen was a winner from start to finish and is going straight onto my school reading lists. AGE 10-13
Another major strength of Thirteen are the lovely engaging three main characters, Eleanor, Pip and Otto. These terrific children show the difference between Middle Grade and YA as the three youngsters become fast friends, without teen stuff or love interests getting in the way of their friendship or the plot. Eleanor is returning to the town after many years away and has a difficult relationship with her mother, who also comes from Eden Eld. On her first day at school Eleanor meets Pip and Otto and together they get sucked into a supernatural mystery which was very cleverly structured and top loaded with great ideas, such as the colour being sucked out of the town or pretending not to see ghosts. Thirteen was a winner from start to finish and is going straight onto my school reading lists. AGE 10-13
Mindy McGinnis – The Initial Insult
Since Mindy McGinnis’s debut back in 2013 she has authored a further ten novels, but I think this might be her debut on Ginger Nuts of Horror. I am a big fan of this author who I would not classify her as a horror author, she however has an impressively wide range of fiction which began with the superb duology Not a Drop to Drink (2013) and In a Handful of Dust (2014). I still regularly recommend this pair in my library and they are one of my favourite environmental themed dystopian series. I notice also that she has a co-author credit for City of the Dead with James Patterson, which is out later this year, continuing the spin-off series of Maximum Ride, which we have featured in the past.
Considering Mindy writes varied YA fiction her latest, The Initial Insult, is perhaps the closest she has come to writing a traditional horror novel, top heavy with a slice of spiky modern America teen drama. And in the background lurks a major nod to Edgar Allan Poe which is threaded through the novel via names, locations, being buried alive and even a cat (kind of). This is the first part of a duology which one of the blurb notes is “Perfect for fans of One of Us Is Lying and Truly Devious!” I’m not sure about that, this was significantly darker than both those books, but for those who enjoy pitch black thrillers, cynical teenagers, twists and moody atmosphere this book delivers in spades.
This very dark mystery is told in alternating points of view which is built around a friendship which unravelled a few years earlier. Tress Montor’s family disappeared seven years previously whilst driving her best friend, Felicity Turnado, home and now lives with her drunken grandfather at what locals refer to as the “White Trash Zoo”, which is where one of the big Poe references come into play. The second narrative is seen from Felicity’s point of view, who is one of the most popular girls in the school but has her own secrets and complex issues regarding Tress. Much of the interaction between the two girls is normal feuding teen stuff, before it begins to hot up and Tress forces the issue, believing her ex-best friend really does know what happened to her parents all those years ago, and uses another Poe favourite to seek out the truth, or at least revenge. This was a great read and will be too bleak for many teen tastes, but McGinnis nails the Poe inspired teen angst perfectly. AGE 14+
Considering Mindy writes varied YA fiction her latest, The Initial Insult, is perhaps the closest she has come to writing a traditional horror novel, top heavy with a slice of spiky modern America teen drama. And in the background lurks a major nod to Edgar Allan Poe which is threaded through the novel via names, locations, being buried alive and even a cat (kind of). This is the first part of a duology which one of the blurb notes is “Perfect for fans of One of Us Is Lying and Truly Devious!” I’m not sure about that, this was significantly darker than both those books, but for those who enjoy pitch black thrillers, cynical teenagers, twists and moody atmosphere this book delivers in spades.
This very dark mystery is told in alternating points of view which is built around a friendship which unravelled a few years earlier. Tress Montor’s family disappeared seven years previously whilst driving her best friend, Felicity Turnado, home and now lives with her drunken grandfather at what locals refer to as the “White Trash Zoo”, which is where one of the big Poe references come into play. The second narrative is seen from Felicity’s point of view, who is one of the most popular girls in the school but has her own secrets and complex issues regarding Tress. Much of the interaction between the two girls is normal feuding teen stuff, before it begins to hot up and Tress forces the issue, believing her ex-best friend really does know what happened to her parents all those years ago, and uses another Poe favourite to seek out the truth, or at least revenge. This was a great read and will be too bleak for many teen tastes, but McGinnis nails the Poe inspired teen angst perfectly. AGE 14+
Goldy Moldavsky - The Last Girl
If Riley Sager were to write a YA novel it might turn out something like The Last Girl, the latest release from Goldy Moldavsky, who has several other entertaining YA thrillers, including the entertaining Kill the Boy Band (2016). The blurb sells the book story as “Scream meets Gossip Girl with a dash of One of Us is Lying” which is an eye-catching way of selling what is a very clever, twisting thriller which has an author who is surely a massive horror film fan. Who knows whether the average teen reader of today will pick up on the multiple horror film references which populate this novel, but I certainly had fun with them. Whether any seventeen-year-old girl would truly go to the cinema (on her own) to watch Evil Dead 2 I’m not sure, but if true she would be a dream date for most male horror fans! The novel kicks off a year after Rachel Chavez survives a knife attack in her own home and in the aftermath has emotional problems which result in her changing schools for a fresh start. Once in the new school she struggles to make friends and becomes an easy target for the cool school bullies. However, whilst trying to start a new life she never quite escapes her past, which is a key part of the story.
For much of the story The Last Girl reads like a teen drama with Rachel doing her best to negotiate high school, which is populated with unlikable, spoilt and unpleasant teenager characters which just get worse as the story progresses. At a certain point she gets recruited into the Mary Shelley Club, who are fanatics obsessed with horror films and ultimately scaring people. Membership is very select, and they do not fraternise with each other whist at school and carry out Fear Tests, which are comparable to complex dares or pranks which aim to scare the living daylights out of whichever sucker is the target. However, as things escalate Rachel begins to be reminded of her assault the previous year. Although the novel has considerable fun with familiar horror tropes the various Fear Tests tested my patience and I cared little for these spoilt posh rich kids, with Rachel even letting her best friend down. It was not a deep book, was a light read and has a tremendous twist at the end which I am sure teen readers will really enjoy. I would not be surprised at all to see The Last Girl make it to the screens, after all everybody loves a Final Girl. AGE 13+
For much of the story The Last Girl reads like a teen drama with Rachel doing her best to negotiate high school, which is populated with unlikable, spoilt and unpleasant teenager characters which just get worse as the story progresses. At a certain point she gets recruited into the Mary Shelley Club, who are fanatics obsessed with horror films and ultimately scaring people. Membership is very select, and they do not fraternise with each other whist at school and carry out Fear Tests, which are comparable to complex dares or pranks which aim to scare the living daylights out of whichever sucker is the target. However, as things escalate Rachel begins to be reminded of her assault the previous year. Although the novel has considerable fun with familiar horror tropes the various Fear Tests tested my patience and I cared little for these spoilt posh rich kids, with Rachel even letting her best friend down. It was not a deep book, was a light read and has a tremendous twist at the end which I am sure teen readers will really enjoy. I would not be surprised at all to see The Last Girl make it to the screens, after all everybody loves a Final Girl. AGE 13+
Gaby Triana – Moon Child
Gaby Triana has a number of novels, across different genres, but Moon Child was the first time I had tried her fiction and I look forward to dipping into her back catalogue. This was another novel with a great catch phrase which I thought would be very difficult to live up to, however, Moon Child makes a rock-solid attempt of truly being “The Craft meets The Shining in this slow-burn Florida gothic horror.” Religious conflict lies at the heart of this engaging story as eighteen-year-old Cuban American Valentina Callejas has been brought up very close to the Catholic Church, with both a dominating mother and grandmother in a very close-knit Latin community in which tradition comes first. However, Valentina has a secret interest in tarot cards and the occult which guiltily clashes with her strict Catholic upbringing. After a bust up with her family, and a refusal to stay on a church retreat, she heads to visit her half-sister (whom she has never met) and finds her welcoming, warm, and completely different from her immediate family. There was a lot going on in Valentina’s life, even before we get to the horror.
Whilst out exploring, close to where her sister lives, Valentina discovers an abandoned hotel which sits beside a lake and inside the building meets a group of teenagers, who claim to have been waiting for her to complete their magic circle. After getting over her suspicions, Valentina realises the group all have slightly different magical gifts and are trying to open a supernatural entryway to the spirit world. However, although Valentine is delighted to make new friends, she senses a much darker presence in the hotel, connected to its sinister past as a mental hospital. Things quickly hot up and the supernatural element develops in the second half of the story, nicely tying into Valentina’s complex family history. This was a very convincing blend of supernatural and family drama, made even more so by the flashbacks to an unpleasant sexual experience Valentina had with a boy at the church camp the previous year. Readers are going to have a lot of fun with this spunky teenage girl as she goes on her own voyage of discovery and tries to leave her Catholic guilt in the past and be accepted for who she is. AGE 13+
Whilst out exploring, close to where her sister lives, Valentina discovers an abandoned hotel which sits beside a lake and inside the building meets a group of teenagers, who claim to have been waiting for her to complete their magic circle. After getting over her suspicions, Valentina realises the group all have slightly different magical gifts and are trying to open a supernatural entryway to the spirit world. However, although Valentine is delighted to make new friends, she senses a much darker presence in the hotel, connected to its sinister past as a mental hospital. Things quickly hot up and the supernatural element develops in the second half of the story, nicely tying into Valentina’s complex family history. This was a very convincing blend of supernatural and family drama, made even more so by the flashbacks to an unpleasant sexual experience Valentina had with a boy at the church camp the previous year. Readers are going to have a lot of fun with this spunky teenage girl as she goes on her own voyage of discovery and tries to leave her Catholic guilt in the past and be accepted for who she is. AGE 13+
ERICA WATERS – THE RIVER HAS TEETH
We often hear about the second ‘difficult’ album or novel in which the creative juices which fed the debut struggle to flow, however the second release from Erica Waters completely blows this old wife’s tale from the water. The River Has Teeth is a superb second novel and considering that Ghost Wood Song (2020) was a highly accomplished debut, this is an author to watch very closely and if she continues writing dark/horror YA fiction is destined to become a major new voice in the genre. Although the plots of her two novels are completely different, they have some similarities when it comes to themes, music (bluegrass to be precise) dominated Erica’s debut and although it does not do so in her second novel, it does play a role of some significance. Also, both novels feature bi-sexual female teenage characters who financially struggle and might be described as coming from the wrong side of the tracks. Erica convincingly gives these marginalised teens a voice. If you read and enjoyed Ghost Wood Song, you will absolutely adore The River Has Teeth. It hums with its own type of magic, which is so vibrant, believable, and beautifully described you will probably end up totally emersed in it.
The action takes place in a small town in Tennessee where teenage girls have been disappearing and seventeen-year-old Della believes her mother to be the culprit. Della’s families are what we would probably term ‘hillbillies’ and live in a ramshackle house outside of town and make ends meet by selling remedies and potions to superstitious locals. Della is the youngest of a long family line of witches whose magic is connected to the area of land where they live and cultivate for the potions they create and make a living from. However, Della believes the magic has gone bad and this has turned her mother into a creature when night comes (don’t worry it’s not a vampire or werewolf) and as the police and others come snooping what can the teenager do to protect her dangerous mother? The story is told via a split first-person narrative, between Della and Natasha, whose sister is one of the disappeared girls. Natasha comes from a rich family but has her own problems from being adopted and accepting she is bisexual. After the police draw a blank Natasha comes to Della for help and after an initial personality clash the novel documents their developing friendship, secrets, and more.
The River has Teeth was convincing on several levels and although magic never dominated the novel, it had an earthy type of feel to it and within the constraints of the book and the way the family operated was excellent. The conflict between the two teenagers, and developing friendship, was also a pleasure to read, both having their own problems, issues and clashes. The way in which everything came together was top notch writing, and I enjoyed the fact that the killer was not the most obvious character (or the second most obvious) helping build a very satisfying finish. Both novels by Erica Waters have specialised in giving the reader terrific ‘outsider’ characters to root behind and I cannot wait to see what this she gives us next. AGE 13+
Tony Jones
The action takes place in a small town in Tennessee where teenage girls have been disappearing and seventeen-year-old Della believes her mother to be the culprit. Della’s families are what we would probably term ‘hillbillies’ and live in a ramshackle house outside of town and make ends meet by selling remedies and potions to superstitious locals. Della is the youngest of a long family line of witches whose magic is connected to the area of land where they live and cultivate for the potions they create and make a living from. However, Della believes the magic has gone bad and this has turned her mother into a creature when night comes (don’t worry it’s not a vampire or werewolf) and as the police and others come snooping what can the teenager do to protect her dangerous mother? The story is told via a split first-person narrative, between Della and Natasha, whose sister is one of the disappeared girls. Natasha comes from a rich family but has her own problems from being adopted and accepting she is bisexual. After the police draw a blank Natasha comes to Della for help and after an initial personality clash the novel documents their developing friendship, secrets, and more.
The River has Teeth was convincing on several levels and although magic never dominated the novel, it had an earthy type of feel to it and within the constraints of the book and the way the family operated was excellent. The conflict between the two teenagers, and developing friendship, was also a pleasure to read, both having their own problems, issues and clashes. The way in which everything came together was top notch writing, and I enjoyed the fact that the killer was not the most obvious character (or the second most obvious) helping build a very satisfying finish. Both novels by Erica Waters have specialised in giving the reader terrific ‘outsider’ characters to root behind and I cannot wait to see what this she gives us next. AGE 13+
Tony Jones
TODAY ON THE GINGER NUTS OF HORROR WEBSITE
POST RIPLEY STRESS SYNDROME (PRSS): HOW RIPLEY MADE ME BY E.F. SCHRAEDER
THE HEART AND SOUL OF HORROR WEBSITES
This article features many of my favourite YA female horror authors, all have written at least three high quality (very) dark fiction novels, some of them many more. Several expertly manoeuvre around the genres and have penned adult novels, stories for younger kids or made impressive jumps into dark fantasy. In fact, these days it is very normal for authors to regularly flit between horror and fantasy, with the latter holding a larger slice of the marketplace.
This piece is also a companion read to the recently published article “Women in (YA) Horror Month: 30 YA Authors You Should Know.” If you missed this first article, please catch up with it behind the link: https://gingernutsofhorror.com/young-blood/women-in-ya-horror-month-30-ya-authors-you-should-know
Female authors undoubtedly dominate YA horror and dark fantasy fiction, but it is still a worthwhile exercise in bringing these names together under a single literary roof. I have worked in school libraries since 1994 and have enjoyed recommending many of these authors for many years and others whom I have discovered only recently I endorse with equal enthusiasm. Needless to say, the school library I manage has a superb horror selection and I love flagging these authors to my pupils.
If you have a serious interest in YA, you should know who these authors are and if you do not, it is time to go exploring. If you are a librarian looking to develop a dark fiction collection in either a public or school library, then the combination of both these lists should be an excellent starting point.
Some of these women pick up considerably more media coverage than those who might not use social media, and a few are ripe for literary discovery on a wider scale, or with a lucky break could hit the bigtime overnight. Never forget also, if you are looking for a cool book for your favourite niece or nephew this is the perfect place to start. This list is an absolute treasure trove of great books and wonderful authors.
Some of the reviews reference a Ginger Nut multi-article feature from 2020 where we listed and ranked our top hundred YA horror novels of the previous, click the link if you want to see this earlier feature. The earlier articles reviewed the books in groups of ten.
https://www.gingernutsofhorror.com/young-blood/top-100-ya-horror-novels-of-the-decade-revealed-final-thoughts
This piece is also a companion read to the recently published article “Women in (YA) Horror Month: 30 YA Authors You Should Know.” If you missed this first article, please catch up with it behind the link: https://gingernutsofhorror.com/young-blood/women-in-ya-horror-month-30-ya-authors-you-should-know
Female authors undoubtedly dominate YA horror and dark fantasy fiction, but it is still a worthwhile exercise in bringing these names together under a single literary roof. I have worked in school libraries since 1994 and have enjoyed recommending many of these authors for many years and others whom I have discovered only recently I endorse with equal enthusiasm. Needless to say, the school library I manage has a superb horror selection and I love flagging these authors to my pupils.
If you have a serious interest in YA, you should know who these authors are and if you do not, it is time to go exploring. If you are a librarian looking to develop a dark fiction collection in either a public or school library, then the combination of both these lists should be an excellent starting point.
Some of these women pick up considerably more media coverage than those who might not use social media, and a few are ripe for literary discovery on a wider scale, or with a lucky break could hit the bigtime overnight. Never forget also, if you are looking for a cool book for your favourite niece or nephew this is the perfect place to start. This list is an absolute treasure trove of great books and wonderful authors.
Some of the reviews reference a Ginger Nut multi-article feature from 2020 where we listed and ranked our top hundred YA horror novels of the previous, click the link if you want to see this earlier feature. The earlier articles reviewed the books in groups of ten.
https://www.gingernutsofhorror.com/young-blood/top-100-ya-horror-novels-of-the-decade-revealed-final-thoughts
COURTNEY ALAMEDA
Courtney has written three outstanding horror novels on the bounce, which beautifully blend in fantasy and science fiction. Check out Shutter (2015), Pitch Dark (2018) and Seven Deadly Shadows (2020) and tell me if you have ever read such a wildly diverse trilogy of novels! I cannot wait to see what this incredibly talented author gives us next.
Here is our review of her debut Shutter which GNOH ranked as the 42nd best YA horror novel of the last decade in a 2020 feature.
After firstly reading the brilliant science fiction horror Pitch Black I had no choice but to track down Courtney Alameda’s earlier novel Shutter which was equally impressive. As with her other work, the level of intricate supernatural world-building is first rate and there are numerous ghosts built into a first-rate story. Micheline Helsing is a tetrachromat, a girl who sees the auras of the undead in a prismatic spectrum, as in this world supernatural occurrences, ghosts, and much nastier beings are common as mud. As one of the last descendants of the Van Helsing lineage, she has trained since childhood to destroy monsters both corporeal and spiritual: the corporeal undead go down by the bullet, the spiritual undead by the lens of the camera. Hence why the book is called Shutter, the analogue SLR camera is her best weapon, with the help of her team Micheline exorcises ghosts by capturing their spiritual energy on film.
Early in the novel a job goes wrong and one of Michelle’s friends is infected with a curse which will lead to death in seven days unless the team figure out how to break it. As a YA horror novel Shutter really delivered in spades, it was fast paced, powerfully drawn characters, loaded with creatively drawn monsters, and Micheline’s team of sidekicks had more than enough whack to kick ensure both the Ghostbusters and Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchises remain in retirement with their pipes and slippers.
Here is our review of her debut Shutter which GNOH ranked as the 42nd best YA horror novel of the last decade in a 2020 feature.
After firstly reading the brilliant science fiction horror Pitch Black I had no choice but to track down Courtney Alameda’s earlier novel Shutter which was equally impressive. As with her other work, the level of intricate supernatural world-building is first rate and there are numerous ghosts built into a first-rate story. Micheline Helsing is a tetrachromat, a girl who sees the auras of the undead in a prismatic spectrum, as in this world supernatural occurrences, ghosts, and much nastier beings are common as mud. As one of the last descendants of the Van Helsing lineage, she has trained since childhood to destroy monsters both corporeal and spiritual: the corporeal undead go down by the bullet, the spiritual undead by the lens of the camera. Hence why the book is called Shutter, the analogue SLR camera is her best weapon, with the help of her team Micheline exorcises ghosts by capturing their spiritual energy on film.
Early in the novel a job goes wrong and one of Michelle’s friends is infected with a curse which will lead to death in seven days unless the team figure out how to break it. As a YA horror novel Shutter really delivered in spades, it was fast paced, powerfully drawn characters, loaded with creatively drawn monsters, and Micheline’s team of sidekicks had more than enough whack to kick ensure both the Ghostbusters and Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchises remain in retirement with their pipes and slippers.
ALEX BELL
Since Frozen Charlotte was first published in 2014, I have lost count of the number of kids I have recommended this creep-fantastic novel to. Children love the idea of tiny, but deadly, dolls. Alex also wrote the excellent Haunting for the hugely successful UK horror brand Red Eye and the very quirky fantasy horror Music and Malice in Hurricane Town (2019) which blends music with the supernatural in New Orleans. In recent times Alex has mainly been writing for younger children, but her prequel to Frozen Charlotte, Charlotte Says (2017) is also highly recommended. It’s time to return to YA Alex. A Frozen Charlotte trilogy perhaps?
Here is part of our review of the smash hit Frozen Charlotte which GNOH ranked as the 9th best YA horror novel of the last decade in a 2020 feature.
Alex Bell’s dark and unsettling tale of tiny porcelain dolls, the size of two pence pieces, is an edgy read loaded with tension and dark atmosphere. Right from the opening pages of Frozen Charlotte, with teenagers unwisely fooling with online Ouija boards, it builds into an outstanding page-turner with these evil little creatures whispering from behind a locked glass cabinet and with their words, they have the power to kill. Equally demonic, the dolls can control and influence others to do their bidding, sneaking around a vast haunted house sowing horrible plans and turning characters against each other.
Loaded with gothic atmosphere, superb setting, a huge house converted from Dunvagen School for Girls which was closed in 1910 (and features heavily in the prequel), poor Sophie is sucked into a mystery which takes her all the way back to 1910. But first she must solve the secret of what really happened to her dead cousin Rebecca. Bearing in mind this novel is aimed at kids it has some hair-raising scenes, these nasty little dolls, once they escape from their cabinet even blind one of the characters with their “stick a needle in their eye game”. The pace moves fast, the characterisation is strong and the combination of mystery and the supernatural is finely balanced. It is perfectly pitched at children who like a good mix of horror, thriller, and mystery story. It also has an outstanding prequel, Charlotte Says and both books have been massive hits in my school library.
Here is part of our review of the smash hit Frozen Charlotte which GNOH ranked as the 9th best YA horror novel of the last decade in a 2020 feature.
Alex Bell’s dark and unsettling tale of tiny porcelain dolls, the size of two pence pieces, is an edgy read loaded with tension and dark atmosphere. Right from the opening pages of Frozen Charlotte, with teenagers unwisely fooling with online Ouija boards, it builds into an outstanding page-turner with these evil little creatures whispering from behind a locked glass cabinet and with their words, they have the power to kill. Equally demonic, the dolls can control and influence others to do their bidding, sneaking around a vast haunted house sowing horrible plans and turning characters against each other.
Loaded with gothic atmosphere, superb setting, a huge house converted from Dunvagen School for Girls which was closed in 1910 (and features heavily in the prequel), poor Sophie is sucked into a mystery which takes her all the way back to 1910. But first she must solve the secret of what really happened to her dead cousin Rebecca. Bearing in mind this novel is aimed at kids it has some hair-raising scenes, these nasty little dolls, once they escape from their cabinet even blind one of the characters with their “stick a needle in their eye game”. The pace moves fast, the characterisation is strong and the combination of mystery and the supernatural is finely balanced. It is perfectly pitched at children who like a good mix of horror, thriller, and mystery story. It also has an outstanding prequel, Charlotte Says and both books have been massive hits in my school library.
KENDARE BLAKE
I was a big fan of Kendare’s debut Anna Dressed in Blood (2011) and most kids I recommend it to just jump straight into the sequel, Girl of Nightmares (2012), which is testament to just how good it is. However, since then Kendare has concentrated on dark fantasy, which have convincing horror elements, particularly the quartet Three Dark Crowns. Her other series Goddess War is also a blend of fantasy and mythology. It would be great to see Kendare return with a traditional YA horror novel (she has a new book out in 2021), All These Bodies, so here’s hoping it’s dark and hopefully edges her back into the world of horror. She would be most welcome.
Here is a review of her debut Anna Dressed in Blood which GNOH ranked as the 18th best YA horror novel of the last decade in a 2020 feature.
Anna Dressed in Blood and its sequel Girl of Nightmares which appeared the following year are clever and highly entertaining spins on the teenage exorcist, ghost hunter, story (with a taste of romance thrown into the mix). Although the ghost ‘Anna’ is referenced in the title, the story is mostly seen from the point of view of Cas Lowood, who has inherited an unusual vocation: he kills the dead. Whilst most kids Cas’s age are enjoying high school, instead he moves around the country with his mother following leads about hauntings, local lore, and unusual deaths. He is also a boy with on a mission, his father before him, was gruesomely murdered by a ghost and Cas takes revenge on every supernatural entity he encounters.
The novel kicks off when the mother and son arrive in a new town in search for a ghost known as ‘Anna Dressed in Blood’ who apparently got her name after having her throat cut and blood flowed freely all over her dress. However, this ghost is incredibly powerful and might not be all bad, so their normal strategy of ‘track, hunt, kill’ goes out the window as he has a weird connection with the ghost after she spares his life after his initial attempt to exorcise her goes badly wrong. The novel is populated with believable well drawn high school characters, balanced with the obvious sympathy you feel for poor Anna. And the ending will most certainly make you return for the sequel, most kids I know who have read book one, head straight to book two and why not? I did exactly the same thing.
Here is a review of her debut Anna Dressed in Blood which GNOH ranked as the 18th best YA horror novel of the last decade in a 2020 feature.
Anna Dressed in Blood and its sequel Girl of Nightmares which appeared the following year are clever and highly entertaining spins on the teenage exorcist, ghost hunter, story (with a taste of romance thrown into the mix). Although the ghost ‘Anna’ is referenced in the title, the story is mostly seen from the point of view of Cas Lowood, who has inherited an unusual vocation: he kills the dead. Whilst most kids Cas’s age are enjoying high school, instead he moves around the country with his mother following leads about hauntings, local lore, and unusual deaths. He is also a boy with on a mission, his father before him, was gruesomely murdered by a ghost and Cas takes revenge on every supernatural entity he encounters.
The novel kicks off when the mother and son arrive in a new town in search for a ghost known as ‘Anna Dressed in Blood’ who apparently got her name after having her throat cut and blood flowed freely all over her dress. However, this ghost is incredibly powerful and might not be all bad, so their normal strategy of ‘track, hunt, kill’ goes out the window as he has a weird connection with the ghost after she spares his life after his initial attempt to exorcise her goes badly wrong. The novel is populated with believable well drawn high school characters, balanced with the obvious sympathy you feel for poor Anna. And the ending will most certainly make you return for the sequel, most kids I know who have read book one, head straight to book two and why not? I did exactly the same thing.
RIN CHUPECO
Rin started her career with a serious bang, with two excellent horror novels, The Girl from the Well (2014) and its sequel The Suffering (2015). Since then, her fiction has edged away from traditional horror into dark fantasy, including the excellent trilogy which begins with The Bone Witch (2017). However, this series does feature heavy supernatural overtones with the dead walking amongst us. The Never Tilting World (2019) duology followed next, with another new fantasy series beginning in 2020 with Wicked as you Wish. It is time for a new horror novel Rin!
Here is our review of The Girl from the Well which GNOH ranked as the 10th best YA horror novel of the last decade in a 2020 feature
At first glance the cover of The Girl from the Well looks like a rip-off of Ringu, but in fact there is very clever Japanese folklore written into the context of the book. This novel is largely narrated by a ghost named Okiku, who being dead for several hundred years and was originally killed when she was thrown down a well. The main thrust of this story revolves around the ghost who also brutally kills child murderers and rapists. She can see dead children almost hanging around the neck of their killers and the ways in which she seeks revenge is both nasty and gruesome. By killing the murderers, she releases the trapped spirits of the children.
The ghost Okiku is attracted to a teenage boy whom she can also sense the aura of death around, he is not a killer, but is certainly troubled. Also, the boy can see her, as can the boy’s cousin, a likable trainee teacher. Soon we enter the realms of demon possession, exorcisms, and some bloody killing in this excellent horror novel. The book is initially set in America, before moving to Japan, where there is lots about the Japanese supernatural world. The Girl from the Well is an outstandingly well-paced read and you genuinely feel for seventeen-year-old Tark who faces his inner demons. It was very well balanced and the quirky three-way friendship with the ghost (who let’s not forget was a multiple murderer) worked really well, as did the family dynamics of the boy who doesn’t realise, he comes from a family who have powerful connections with the dead.
Here is our review of The Girl from the Well which GNOH ranked as the 10th best YA horror novel of the last decade in a 2020 feature
At first glance the cover of The Girl from the Well looks like a rip-off of Ringu, but in fact there is very clever Japanese folklore written into the context of the book. This novel is largely narrated by a ghost named Okiku, who being dead for several hundred years and was originally killed when she was thrown down a well. The main thrust of this story revolves around the ghost who also brutally kills child murderers and rapists. She can see dead children almost hanging around the neck of their killers and the ways in which she seeks revenge is both nasty and gruesome. By killing the murderers, she releases the trapped spirits of the children.
The ghost Okiku is attracted to a teenage boy whom she can also sense the aura of death around, he is not a killer, but is certainly troubled. Also, the boy can see her, as can the boy’s cousin, a likable trainee teacher. Soon we enter the realms of demon possession, exorcisms, and some bloody killing in this excellent horror novel. The book is initially set in America, before moving to Japan, where there is lots about the Japanese supernatural world. The Girl from the Well is an outstandingly well-paced read and you genuinely feel for seventeen-year-old Tark who faces his inner demons. It was very well balanced and the quirky three-way friendship with the ghost (who let’s not forget was a multiple murderer) worked really well, as did the family dynamics of the boy who doesn’t realise, he comes from a family who have powerful connections with the dead.
KIMBERLY DERTING
Kim has an impressive body of work. I first came across her with the superb The Body Finder (2010) which is reviewed below and kicked off an impressive quartet. She also penned the excellent and highly original dystopian trilogy The Pledge (2011) which is cleverly based around languages and deserved to be much better known in this popular area of YA literature. Kim has a third trilogy, the quirky The Taking (2014) series about a girl who wakes up and has not aged in five years. Although she has written a couple of romance novels, Kim has not released anything new in a while. I hope this great author returns soon.
Here is our review of her debut The Body Finder which GNOH ranked as the 33rd best YA horror novel of the last decade in a 2020 feature.
YA fiction is top heavy with teenagers with weird abilities with Kim Derting’s The Body Finder quartet being one of my favourites, balancing a convincing supernatural story with a likable heroine and a style which is engaging, chatty, and easy to read. Sixteen-year-old Violet Ambrose has the power to sense dead bodies; she specifically feels the echoes the dead leave behind in the world and the imprints which might be attached to their killers, should a murder have been committed. When the story starts the only people, who are aware of this strange ability are Violet’s closest family and her oldest friend Jay Heaton, who she is also secretly in love with. It is an easy ability to keep secret until a teenage girl is murdered and a serial killer is suspected after a second teenager disappears.
The Body Finder is also periodically seen from the serial killer’s point of view who is amazed his victim’s bodies are discovered so rapidly and soon realises Violet is helping the investigation, inadvertently making herself the next target. This is one of those novels where you know the killer is going to get their comeuppance, but it is a fun and fresh read which is enhanced by the engaging friendship/romance side story between Violet and Jay. The sequels develop the story by having Violet working with the FBI and eventually a secret unit which tracks killers.
Here is our review of her debut The Body Finder which GNOH ranked as the 33rd best YA horror novel of the last decade in a 2020 feature.
YA fiction is top heavy with teenagers with weird abilities with Kim Derting’s The Body Finder quartet being one of my favourites, balancing a convincing supernatural story with a likable heroine and a style which is engaging, chatty, and easy to read. Sixteen-year-old Violet Ambrose has the power to sense dead bodies; she specifically feels the echoes the dead leave behind in the world and the imprints which might be attached to their killers, should a murder have been committed. When the story starts the only people, who are aware of this strange ability are Violet’s closest family and her oldest friend Jay Heaton, who she is also secretly in love with. It is an easy ability to keep secret until a teenage girl is murdered and a serial killer is suspected after a second teenager disappears.
The Body Finder is also periodically seen from the serial killer’s point of view who is amazed his victim’s bodies are discovered so rapidly and soon realises Violet is helping the investigation, inadvertently making herself the next target. This is one of those novels where you know the killer is going to get their comeuppance, but it is a fun and fresh read which is enhanced by the engaging friendship/romance side story between Violet and Jay. The sequels develop the story by having Violet working with the FBI and eventually a secret unit which tracks killers.
LOIS DUNCAN
The late great Lois Duncan published her first novel in 1958 and wrote a wide range of highly successful thrillers and dramas before her first horror novel I Know What You Did Last Summer (1973) which was rediscovered after the successful film 25+ years later. Buoyed by this success Lois regularly returned to horror and crossover supernatural thrillers, the best known being Down a Dark Hall (1974), Summer of Fear (1976), Killing Mr Griffith (1978), Daughters of Eve (1979), Stranger With My Face (1981), The Third Eye (1984), The Twisted Window (1987), Gallows Hill (1997), and I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998). Lois laid the path for many other authors to follow!
My recollection of my childhood favourite Stranger With My Face:
I first read this amazing novel when I was ten or eleven and it scared the hell out of me! I later read a few other Lois Duncan novels over the next few years. When I worked in my first school library way back in 1994, I was absolutely delighted to find that this creepy little book was already in the collection. Over the next couple of years, I recommended it to many kids as possible, as it had a tremendous hook; what if you have a doppelgänger (which was out to get you)?
For long periods the book very cleverly keeps the plot tightly guarded over whether there is anything truly supernatural going on. Sixteen-year-old Laurie Stratton is challenged by her boyfriend after being seen out in town with another guy. However, she was in bed sick and then soon more mysterious sightings convince Laurie someone very real is out there, watching her. Is it truly a double or something dark from her family’s past returning to haunt her? This was an outstanding blend of thriller, chiller and jump scare moments which will have you turning the pages in super quick time.
My recollection of my childhood favourite Stranger With My Face:
I first read this amazing novel when I was ten or eleven and it scared the hell out of me! I later read a few other Lois Duncan novels over the next few years. When I worked in my first school library way back in 1994, I was absolutely delighted to find that this creepy little book was already in the collection. Over the next couple of years, I recommended it to many kids as possible, as it had a tremendous hook; what if you have a doppelgänger (which was out to get you)?
For long periods the book very cleverly keeps the plot tightly guarded over whether there is anything truly supernatural going on. Sixteen-year-old Laurie Stratton is challenged by her boyfriend after being seen out in town with another guy. However, she was in bed sick and then soon more mysterious sightings convince Laurie someone very real is out there, watching her. Is it truly a double or something dark from her family’s past returning to haunt her? This was an outstanding blend of thriller, chiller and jump scare moments which will have you turning the pages in super quick time.
FRANCES HARDINGE
Frances Hardinge is undoubtedly one of the most accomplished all-round writers in the broad area of ‘dark fiction’ working in the world today. Her fiction is impossible to pigeon-hole to any specific genre, with Cuckoo Song (2014) probably her closest to what might be considered a traditional horror story. Very few YA (or adult) authors have her range or sheer imagination when it comes to world building and she virtually always sets her stories in historical, or fantasy settings. Although most of her other novels are closer to fantasy, there are always horror or supernatural elements bubbling in her intricate plots, and the darkness is never far away. Since her 2007 debut with Verdigris Deep, Frances has just got better and better, with her last three novels being of exceptional quality: The Lie Tree (2015), A Skinful of Shadows (2017) and Deeplight (2019).
In 2019 Ginger Nuts of Horror interviewed Frances and, in this excerpt, she discusses her inspiration from folktales for Cuckoo Song, which GNOH ranked as the 17th best YA horror novel of the last decade in a 2020 feature.
“Cuckoo Song is very much inspired by the old changeling folktales. I’ve been fascinated by the figure of the changeling since I was young, because as a child I had an irrational fear of doubles, doppelgangers, and evil twins. I had nightmares in which somebody I trusted turned out to be something else impersonating them. When I started reading the old changeling folktales, however, I discovered that they were chilling in ways I hadn’t expected. Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of those old stories was the way in which the human families reacted once they knew that they had a changeling in their midst. Changeling children (many of them babies) would be thrown in the fire, hurled into running water, beaten with sticks, or left on dung heaps to scream. To my surprise, I found myself feeling sorry for the changeling. Many aspects of Cuckoo Song are borrowed from the old changeling folktales. A tailor to see the truth. Eggshells and absurdity to flush out the imposter. A knife to hold the way open. A weaponised cockerel. A week of waning. A thing of sticks and leaves...”
Here is part of our review for Cuckoo Song:
This is an incredibly creepy and brooding novel, with exquisitely slow pace, which reveals its secrets very slowly. A girl wakes up after an accident she barely remembers, and everybody seems scared of her. She is, quite literally, not herself. Join Triss on the challenging quest to save her humanity in a memorable blend of fantasy, horror, period drama and folklore. Changeling stories are obviously great inspiration for YA fiction, but none tap into the mythology of the story better than Cuckoo Song.
In 2019 Ginger Nuts of Horror interviewed Frances and, in this excerpt, she discusses her inspiration from folktales for Cuckoo Song, which GNOH ranked as the 17th best YA horror novel of the last decade in a 2020 feature.
“Cuckoo Song is very much inspired by the old changeling folktales. I’ve been fascinated by the figure of the changeling since I was young, because as a child I had an irrational fear of doubles, doppelgangers, and evil twins. I had nightmares in which somebody I trusted turned out to be something else impersonating them. When I started reading the old changeling folktales, however, I discovered that they were chilling in ways I hadn’t expected. Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of those old stories was the way in which the human families reacted once they knew that they had a changeling in their midst. Changeling children (many of them babies) would be thrown in the fire, hurled into running water, beaten with sticks, or left on dung heaps to scream. To my surprise, I found myself feeling sorry for the changeling. Many aspects of Cuckoo Song are borrowed from the old changeling folktales. A tailor to see the truth. Eggshells and absurdity to flush out the imposter. A knife to hold the way open. A weaponised cockerel. A week of waning. A thing of sticks and leaves...”
Here is part of our review for Cuckoo Song:
This is an incredibly creepy and brooding novel, with exquisitely slow pace, which reveals its secrets very slowly. A girl wakes up after an accident she barely remembers, and everybody seems scared of her. She is, quite literally, not herself. Join Triss on the challenging quest to save her humanity in a memorable blend of fantasy, horror, period drama and folklore. Changeling stories are obviously great inspiration for YA fiction, but none tap into the mythology of the story better than Cuckoo Song.
DAWN KURTAGICH
Dawn is three novels (and a novella) into an impressive career of writing top-quality YA horror fiction. She writes challenging, scary and highly intelligent stories which are perfect reads for teens ready to leap into adult fiction. Actually, adults reading her books might not even realise they are YA, which is particularly the case with her most recent novel. The Dead House (2015) set the ball rolling, which was then followed by The Creeper Man (2016) and most recently Teeth in the Mist (2019). A new book by this author is guaranteed to just straight to the top of my TBR pile.
Here is part of our review for The Creeper Man which GNOH ranked as the 8th best YA horror novel of the last decade in a 2020 feature.
The Creeper Man was a challenging, twisty, unpredictable, and layered in such an intelligent manner, adults could enjoy it as well as any teen reader. On the simplest level, the plot revolves around two sisters who escape London and their violent father to live with an aunt in a remote country house in the middle of a foreboding forest. Something happens to the aunt and she shuns the girls and locks herself in the attic. The intimidating dense and surrounding forest seems almost alive and threatens the sanity of the girls, which is questioned repeatedly throughout the novel. For much of this multi-layered corker you can never really be sure whether there is a supernatural entity at work or whether everything is psychological, as the girls have complex personal issues shadowing their judgements.
The Creeper Man of the title is a superb creation and is as effective as any bogeyman creation in most adult horror as he and the imposing forest edge closer to the girls as the sanity of the elder girl disintegrates. You will find yourself asking questions, such as when is it set? Why don’t the girls go to school? Why are there no phones? Is there a war going on? And not all these questions are answered as this claustrophobic read has a truly remarkable unreliable narrator in Silla. The merging of her delusions with reality plays a crucial part of this exceptionally clever psychological horror novel which is fiendishly well plotted with a superb ending and very clever twist. Teen horror of the very highest order.
Here is part of our review for The Creeper Man which GNOH ranked as the 8th best YA horror novel of the last decade in a 2020 feature.
The Creeper Man was a challenging, twisty, unpredictable, and layered in such an intelligent manner, adults could enjoy it as well as any teen reader. On the simplest level, the plot revolves around two sisters who escape London and their violent father to live with an aunt in a remote country house in the middle of a foreboding forest. Something happens to the aunt and she shuns the girls and locks herself in the attic. The intimidating dense and surrounding forest seems almost alive and threatens the sanity of the girls, which is questioned repeatedly throughout the novel. For much of this multi-layered corker you can never really be sure whether there is a supernatural entity at work or whether everything is psychological, as the girls have complex personal issues shadowing their judgements.
The Creeper Man of the title is a superb creation and is as effective as any bogeyman creation in most adult horror as he and the imposing forest edge closer to the girls as the sanity of the elder girl disintegrates. You will find yourself asking questions, such as when is it set? Why don’t the girls go to school? Why are there no phones? Is there a war going on? And not all these questions are answered as this claustrophobic read has a truly remarkable unreliable narrator in Silla. The merging of her delusions with reality plays a crucial part of this exceptionally clever psychological horror novel which is fiendishly well plotted with a superb ending and very clever twist. Teen horror of the very highest order.
KIM LIGGETT
Kim’s fiction encompasses the paranormal, old school horror, dark fantasy and teen dystopia. She won the prestigious YA Bram Stoker award in 2017 for The Last Harvest, an old-fashioned tale of devil worship and conspiracy in a rural American town. However, I much preferred the superb The Grace Year (2019) which was one of the finest YA dystopian novels of the last few years and is one of the top recommendations in my school library (we have about six copies!) Kim has also written Blood and Salt (2015), Heart of Ash (2018) and The Unfortunates (2018).
Here is part of our review for The Grace Year which was one of our favourite novels of 2019:
Kim Liggett’s The Grace Year is a very clever mix of teenage angst and gender suppression in an unnamed, superstitious and backward (dystopian) society. Tierney James lives in an isolated village where at the age of sixteen girls are chosen to be brides and there is shame upon the families of those not chosen. The rejected individuals are then given menial jobs and are cast aside. Tierney is a tomboy and does not expect to be chosen…. However, before the marriages take place the girls (both chosen and not chosen) are banished for a calendar year to an isolated camp to survive for themselves, they are not allowed to leave and there are many dangers. Those who return after the year are not allowed to talk about the experience, many do not return at all.
Why does this happen? It is believed that for this year girls develop magical powers and if they’re kept isolated then they cannot cause any harm to the rest of the village, particularly men who may fall under their thrall. Kim Liggett creates a very believable setting and society in which suppression dominates the everyday lives of girls who do not know any better. This is a world in which a woman can be hung with little evidence and certainly no trial. As the girl’s time in the isolated camp lengths the author plays an excellent game of smoke and mirrors as the full extent of the conspiracy is revealed. The Grace Year was an outstanding thriller with a young woman fighting against oppression in a society where she had no voice.
Here is part of our review for The Grace Year which was one of our favourite novels of 2019:
Kim Liggett’s The Grace Year is a very clever mix of teenage angst and gender suppression in an unnamed, superstitious and backward (dystopian) society. Tierney James lives in an isolated village where at the age of sixteen girls are chosen to be brides and there is shame upon the families of those not chosen. The rejected individuals are then given menial jobs and are cast aside. Tierney is a tomboy and does not expect to be chosen…. However, before the marriages take place the girls (both chosen and not chosen) are banished for a calendar year to an isolated camp to survive for themselves, they are not allowed to leave and there are many dangers. Those who return after the year are not allowed to talk about the experience, many do not return at all.
Why does this happen? It is believed that for this year girls develop magical powers and if they’re kept isolated then they cannot cause any harm to the rest of the village, particularly men who may fall under their thrall. Kim Liggett creates a very believable setting and society in which suppression dominates the everyday lives of girls who do not know any better. This is a world in which a woman can be hung with little evidence and certainly no trial. As the girl’s time in the isolated camp lengths the author plays an excellent game of smoke and mirrors as the full extent of the conspiracy is revealed. The Grace Year was an outstanding thriller with a young woman fighting against oppression in a society where she had no voice.
AMY LUKAVICS
If there are any YA authors, men or women, who have written four consecutive YA horror novels of the quality of Amy Lukavics then I would be very interested in catching up with them. Ginger Nuts of Horror has frequently proclaimed Amy to be ‘The Queen of YA Horror’ as her fiction has the unique ability of getting under your skin and nobody nails the troubled female teenager better than Lukavics. All four novels are totally unmissable: Daughters Unto Devils (2015), The Woman in the Walls (2016), The Ravenous (2017) and Nightingale (2018). Although Amy has been quiet recently, there has been talk of an adult novella in the works. Bring it on Amy.
Here is our review of The Woman in the Walls which GNOH ranked as the 23rd best YA horror novel of the last decade in a 2020 feature.
The Women In The Walls is a complex, character driven, and highly enjoyable supernatural tale which reveals its secrets gleefully slowly through an excellently paced story. Seventeen-year-old Lucy lives in a huge house in the countryside with her cousin Margaret, they rarely see anyone except for her distant and distracted father and Margaret’s mother, her aunt, who acts like a surrogate mother. Much of the early action focusses on the two teenagers, who are very close, and how they deal with the suicide of a servant in the opening few pages. Although they are cousins they are as close as sisters and are inseparable. I loved the vagueness of the setting, time period and location, and although the odd hint thrown in here and there it was hard to pin-point. Considering they are two seventeen-year-old girls, there are no mobile phones, internet, boys, sex, very little mention of TV, school or other pop culture references. Neither do they go to school as we are told Margaret got into too much trouble. They exist in their own bubble in this big empty house.
Lucy is very close to her aunt, in many ways closer than Margaret which leads to some friction, especially after Aunt Penelope disappears. No police come to look for the missing aunt and both Lucy and Margaret become suspicious. As do we the readers. As the plot picks up the pace Margaret becomes withdrawn and believes she hears the voice of her missing mother in the walls, particularly the attic. Lucy, of course, doesn’t believe her. The novel has several very clever twists, a couple of which I didn’t see coming. You really can’t beat the cracker with the replacement cook! If you ever read it, you’ll know what I mean. The biggest compliment I can give a YA novel is when I read it with the same intensity as an adult novel, which I do with this and everything by this outstanding author.
Here is our review of The Woman in the Walls which GNOH ranked as the 23rd best YA horror novel of the last decade in a 2020 feature.
The Women In The Walls is a complex, character driven, and highly enjoyable supernatural tale which reveals its secrets gleefully slowly through an excellently paced story. Seventeen-year-old Lucy lives in a huge house in the countryside with her cousin Margaret, they rarely see anyone except for her distant and distracted father and Margaret’s mother, her aunt, who acts like a surrogate mother. Much of the early action focusses on the two teenagers, who are very close, and how they deal with the suicide of a servant in the opening few pages. Although they are cousins they are as close as sisters and are inseparable. I loved the vagueness of the setting, time period and location, and although the odd hint thrown in here and there it was hard to pin-point. Considering they are two seventeen-year-old girls, there are no mobile phones, internet, boys, sex, very little mention of TV, school or other pop culture references. Neither do they go to school as we are told Margaret got into too much trouble. They exist in their own bubble in this big empty house.
Lucy is very close to her aunt, in many ways closer than Margaret which leads to some friction, especially after Aunt Penelope disappears. No police come to look for the missing aunt and both Lucy and Margaret become suspicious. As do we the readers. As the plot picks up the pace Margaret becomes withdrawn and believes she hears the voice of her missing mother in the walls, particularly the attic. Lucy, of course, doesn’t believe her. The novel has several very clever twists, a couple of which I didn’t see coming. You really can’t beat the cracker with the replacement cook! If you ever read it, you’ll know what I mean. The biggest compliment I can give a YA novel is when I read it with the same intensity as an adult novel, which I do with this and everything by this outstanding author.
LISA McMANN
Lisa has been publishing novels since 2008 and is incredibly prolific. In recent years she has been predominately writing Middle Grade fantasy, however, earlier in her career she wrote some terrific horror novels I would like to highlight. Wake (2008) kicked off an outstanding trilogy about a girl who is pulled into other people’s dreams when she falls asleep, and followed this series with the terrific supernatural tale, The Missing (2011) and dark thriller Dead to You (2012). I continue to regularly recommend the Wake trilogy to my students a decade after first discovering it. Lisa has an animal story coming out later in 2021, but I hope she returns to YA dark fiction in some point in the future.
Here is our review of Wake, from back in 2016:
Janie has the weird ability of entering other people’s dreams. This is not as much fun as it sounds, as soon she realizes she is being stalked by a being from a nightmare which has been tracking her whilst she has been dream walking. This is a nasty curse (and is in no way a gift) to have, as when someone falls asleep close to Janie, like on a bus or train, she is pulled into their dream, like it or not. Because of this Janie ends up struggling to cope with school life, and is very withdrawn, in a series which blends drama and the supernatural exceptionally well. Do not expect Janie to go on any sleepovers soon with the sequels nicely develop the original plot.
Here is our review of Wake, from back in 2016:
Janie has the weird ability of entering other people’s dreams. This is not as much fun as it sounds, as soon she realizes she is being stalked by a being from a nightmare which has been tracking her whilst she has been dream walking. This is a nasty curse (and is in no way a gift) to have, as when someone falls asleep close to Janie, like on a bus or train, she is pulled into their dream, like it or not. Because of this Janie ends up struggling to cope with school life, and is very withdrawn, in a series which blends drama and the supernatural exceptionally well. Do not expect Janie to go on any sleepovers soon with the sequels nicely develop the original plot.
JEYN ROBERTS
I first came across Jeyn a decade ago with her excellent debut, Dark Inside (2011) about a crazy apocalypse which turns the world upside down, which was expanded into a top-notch trilogy loaded with great characters and a strong whiff of dystopia and other worldly madness. Her other novels have blended fantasy and thriller with traditional horror, The Bodies We Wear (2014) and Wendigo (2017), however, it is her time-slip ghost story When They Fade (2016) which is my personal favourite and was deservedly nominated for the YA Bram Stoker Award. Jeyn has not published anything for a while and I hope she returns with some new YA fiction soon.
Here is our review of When They Fade which GNOH ranked as the 28th best YA horror novel of the last decade in a 2020 feature.
When they Fade is a complex and gripping supernatural thriller story told through two convincing and distinct voices, firstly, Tatum, who is having serious problems at school. Her ex-best friend Claudette was having an affair with a teacher and having concerns for her, reports the dalliance to their guidance councillor. When confronted Claudette and her boyfriend teacher turn the tables on Tatum and nobody believes her. Her life becomes a misery as she is outed as a tattletale and much of this back story is told via flashback. The second character the narrative follows is Molly, a ghost, originally murdered in 1970 by a serial killer not long after the Woodstock Music Festival. She repeatedly reappears as a hitchhiker on the stretch of road close to where she originally disappeared. One evening Tatum is out driving and she picks up Molly and when their hands touch the ghost foresees a horrible death for the other girl and their stories begin to connect.
When they Fade is a superb fusion of painful and realistic high school bullying, ghost story, thriller and even a believable romance as Tatum tries to confront her demons. The author does an excellent job of creating a gripping ghost story with convincing characters, both alive and dead.
Here is our review of When They Fade which GNOH ranked as the 28th best YA horror novel of the last decade in a 2020 feature.
When they Fade is a complex and gripping supernatural thriller story told through two convincing and distinct voices, firstly, Tatum, who is having serious problems at school. Her ex-best friend Claudette was having an affair with a teacher and having concerns for her, reports the dalliance to their guidance councillor. When confronted Claudette and her boyfriend teacher turn the tables on Tatum and nobody believes her. Her life becomes a misery as she is outed as a tattletale and much of this back story is told via flashback. The second character the narrative follows is Molly, a ghost, originally murdered in 1970 by a serial killer not long after the Woodstock Music Festival. She repeatedly reappears as a hitchhiker on the stretch of road close to where she originally disappeared. One evening Tatum is out driving and she picks up Molly and when their hands touch the ghost foresees a horrible death for the other girl and their stories begin to connect.
When they Fade is a superb fusion of painful and realistic high school bullying, ghost story, thriller and even a believable romance as Tatum tries to confront her demons. The author does an excellent job of creating a gripping ghost story with convincing characters, both alive and dead.
MADELEINE ROUX
Madeleine was first published back in 2011 with an adult zombie duology Allison Hewitt is Trapped before making her major YA splash with the excellent Asylum (2013) which is reviewed below. Two sequels and other novellas followed before Madeleine started dabbling in other genres. The House of Furies (2017) trilogy blended fantasy with the supernatural, with the author then writing fiction connected to both the Dungeon and Dragons and Warcraft franchises. Most recently Madeleine has turned to science fiction with Parasite (2019) and Reclaimed, which is published later this year.
Here is our review of Asylum which GNOH ranked as the 36th best YA horror novel of the last decade in a 2020 feature.
2013 saw the arrival of Madeleine Roux on the American horror scene with Ayslum, which has since spawned two sequels and several novellas. The novel utilises atmospheric black and white photography which adds both tension and ambiguity to a fast-paced thriller set in an old building which was once a mental asylum before being converted for summer college courses. It has not been modernised too much and some of the old trappings of the original hospital are still visible, including vintage photographs which have the habit of turning up in odd places. This was quite a cinematic book, and although it never quite strays into slasher territory, it has many of the hallmarks of the genre. I am surprised it has not become given the cinema treatment.
Sixteen-year-old Dan Crawford has been accepted for the summer program at the New Hampshire College Prep and is looking forward to spending time with other intellectually minded kids. He quickly makes friends with Abby and Jordan, but a weird photo left in his bedside table throws him off his game and snoops into the murky history of the asylum, uncovering the startling fact that it was once the last stop for the criminally insane. For the most part the story is quite restrained and slowly they realise that they all have connections to the hospital and the action picks up pace. It is a relatively easy and undemanding read with Dan and his friends being good company and some decent twists and turns in the final third.
Here is our review of Asylum which GNOH ranked as the 36th best YA horror novel of the last decade in a 2020 feature.
2013 saw the arrival of Madeleine Roux on the American horror scene with Ayslum, which has since spawned two sequels and several novellas. The novel utilises atmospheric black and white photography which adds both tension and ambiguity to a fast-paced thriller set in an old building which was once a mental asylum before being converted for summer college courses. It has not been modernised too much and some of the old trappings of the original hospital are still visible, including vintage photographs which have the habit of turning up in odd places. This was quite a cinematic book, and although it never quite strays into slasher territory, it has many of the hallmarks of the genre. I am surprised it has not become given the cinema treatment.
Sixteen-year-old Dan Crawford has been accepted for the summer program at the New Hampshire College Prep and is looking forward to spending time with other intellectually minded kids. He quickly makes friends with Abby and Jordan, but a weird photo left in his bedside table throws him off his game and snoops into the murky history of the asylum, uncovering the startling fact that it was once the last stop for the criminally insane. For the most part the story is quite restrained and slowly they realise that they all have connections to the hospital and the action picks up pace. It is a relatively easy and undemanding read with Dan and his friends being good company and some decent twists and turns in the final third.
FEMALE POINT HORROR AUTHORS
Although RL Stine will always be the author most closely connected to the legendary Point Horror novels of the early nineties, there are a number of female authors who also made significant contributions to the series. Many were highly prolific and published a massive number of other titles beyond Point Horror. One could argue that the Point Horror series has not aged particularly well, and YA horror has significantly more depth than it did back in its ninety’s pomp. However, they are of their time and many of these trashy pulp classics are remembered with great nostalgia by adult readers of today as the perfect gateway to adult horror, which was most certainly true. Ladies of Point Horror we salute you!
D E Athkins, who wrote several Point Horror novels, was a pseudonym for Nola Thacker, who also wrote as Tom B Stone. The latter name was responsible for the Goosebump inspired series, Graveyard School, which ran for 28 books between 1994-98. When not writing light romantic books about ice skating Athkins authored these Point Horror tales: Blood Kiss, Sister Dearest, The Cemetery, Mirror and The Bride.
Caroline Cooney is still going strong, and since her 1979 debut has authored a massive number of thrillers, romance and horror stories. Her most famous Point Horror novels are The Cheerleader, Freeze Tag, Perfume, Return of the Vampire and Twins.
Since her 1986 debut Carol Ellis has authored over thirty novels, including several Goosebump collaborations with RL Stine and many other books aimed at younger children. Her best-known Point Horror entries are My Secret Admirer, Camp Fear, Silent Witness, The Body, The Stalker, The Doll and The Window.
After RL Stine, Diana Hoh was one of the most successful Point Horror authors and between 1989 and 2011 she published an impressive fifty books, many of which were horror. Between 1993-95 her Nightmare Hall series had an incredible 29 books in the series, which was a lesser successful Point Horror off-shoot. Her most famous Point Horror novels were Funhouse, Dedicated to the One I Love, The Accident, The Invitation, The Fever, The Train, Funhouse and Prom Date.
D E Athkins, who wrote several Point Horror novels, was a pseudonym for Nola Thacker, who also wrote as Tom B Stone. The latter name was responsible for the Goosebump inspired series, Graveyard School, which ran for 28 books between 1994-98. When not writing light romantic books about ice skating Athkins authored these Point Horror tales: Blood Kiss, Sister Dearest, The Cemetery, Mirror and The Bride.
Caroline Cooney is still going strong, and since her 1979 debut has authored a massive number of thrillers, romance and horror stories. Her most famous Point Horror novels are The Cheerleader, Freeze Tag, Perfume, Return of the Vampire and Twins.
Since her 1986 debut Carol Ellis has authored over thirty novels, including several Goosebump collaborations with RL Stine and many other books aimed at younger children. Her best-known Point Horror entries are My Secret Admirer, Camp Fear, Silent Witness, The Body, The Stalker, The Doll and The Window.
After RL Stine, Diana Hoh was one of the most successful Point Horror authors and between 1989 and 2011 she published an impressive fifty books, many of which were horror. Between 1993-95 her Nightmare Hall series had an incredible 29 books in the series, which was a lesser successful Point Horror off-shoot. Her most famous Point Horror novels were Funhouse, Dedicated to the One I Love, The Accident, The Invitation, The Fever, The Train, Funhouse and Prom Date.
SARAH PINBOROUGH
Sarah may well be the most versatile author on this list, expertly moving between YA fantasy/horror and adult horror, into very successful mainstream thrillers. Between 2010-12 she wrote the fantasy trilogy Nowhere Chronicles and in 2013 rewrote several fairy tales with her Tales From the Kingdoms trilogy. Amongst numerous adult horror novels Sarah wrote two superb (exceptionally dark) teen thrillers The Death House (2015) and 13 Minutes (2016), the former being one of my favourite dystopian thrillers of recent years. Since then, Sarah has published three very successful adult thrillers, including Behind Her Eyes (2017) which has just dropped on Netflix. So, I doubt she will be returning to YA horror anytime soon! But we can always hope.
Here is our review of The Death House which GNOH ranked as the 5th best YA horror novel of the last decade in a 2020 feature.
When I recommend books to teenagers, I am always on the lookout for titles which the readers can make strong emotional connections with, there are few better examples than The Death House. Over the many years I have been recommending this amazing dystopian thriller I always tell the kids to watch out for the stunning ending and if I enquire how they got on, more than a few admit to crying at the very sad end. Some readers believe the ending is unnecessarily downbeat, I am not sure though, but it is amazing that it encourages such debate amongst teenagers. One thing is for sure: there are a lot of teenagers out there who are truly passionate about this knockout of a novel.
You might argue The Death House is not strictly a horror story, but it is so good I add it to just about any book list I can. It has a haunting mix of dystopia, where everything is kept enticingly vague, and has been justifiably compared to classics such as Lord of the Flies. Children who are infected with a virus, which they have been told is deadly, are shipped to a remote orphanage on an island which they call ‘Death Houses’ because the survival rate is zero. What follows is a quite beautiful and haunting look at the teens who live there, waiting to die, whilst trying to live. The story is seen from the point of view of Toby, who has been in the Death House longer than everybody else (who are all dead) and what changes when a couple of girls arrive amongst the latest bunch of inmates. YA writing has never been better as young love begins to blossom on the island. An absolute stunner and I loved it more than you can ever imagine.
Here is our review of The Death House which GNOH ranked as the 5th best YA horror novel of the last decade in a 2020 feature.
When I recommend books to teenagers, I am always on the lookout for titles which the readers can make strong emotional connections with, there are few better examples than The Death House. Over the many years I have been recommending this amazing dystopian thriller I always tell the kids to watch out for the stunning ending and if I enquire how they got on, more than a few admit to crying at the very sad end. Some readers believe the ending is unnecessarily downbeat, I am not sure though, but it is amazing that it encourages such debate amongst teenagers. One thing is for sure: there are a lot of teenagers out there who are truly passionate about this knockout of a novel.
You might argue The Death House is not strictly a horror story, but it is so good I add it to just about any book list I can. It has a haunting mix of dystopia, where everything is kept enticingly vague, and has been justifiably compared to classics such as Lord of the Flies. Children who are infected with a virus, which they have been told is deadly, are shipped to a remote orphanage on an island which they call ‘Death Houses’ because the survival rate is zero. What follows is a quite beautiful and haunting look at the teens who live there, waiting to die, whilst trying to live. The story is seen from the point of view of Toby, who has been in the Death House longer than everybody else (who are all dead) and what changes when a couple of girls arrive amongst the latest bunch of inmates. YA writing has never been better as young love begins to blossom on the island. An absolute stunner and I loved it more than you can ever imagine.
AMY PLUM
I first came across Amy with her debut Die For Me (2011) which was an engaging blend of supernatural, romance and mythology which spawned two sequels and accompanying novellas. Amy followed this with a duology, After the End (2014) which had elements of thriller, fantasy and apocalyptic fiction. However, my favourites novels of Amy’s are undoubtedly Dream Fall (2017) and Neverwake (2018) which are highly entertaining spins of the classic horror film, A Nightmare on Elm Street. Amy has been quiet recently and I hope she returns with some new fiction soon.
Here is our review of Dream Fall which GNOH ranked as the 87th best YA horror novel of the last decade in a 2020 feature.
I thoroughly enjoyed Dream Fall and its sequel Never Wake which were both outstanding page-turners which hit the ground running and keep the pace pumped up all the way. Seven teenagers which have various types of serious sleep disorders are the test cases in a new technology called ‘Dream Fall’ in which the kids are put into a deep sleep and the technology is supposed to eradicate their nightmares and problems over the next few hours. However, something goes wrong and all seven teens, who spend virtually the whole novel asleep, start sharing each other’s nightmares. This was pretty cool, as the group then have to stick together to beat the nasty stuff which starts stalking them.
Of course, to an adult reader this concept is highly reminiscent to A Nightmare on Elm Street: Dream Warriors but it worked well and is an engaging and readable spin on shared dreaming and the horrors of where nightmares might take us. The story is told from the point of view of a couple of the teens and an intern helping with the experiment. This was terrific stuff, with all sorts of monsters, nightmares and nasty stuff going on, creating a fun and engaging horror thriller.
Here is our review of Dream Fall which GNOH ranked as the 87th best YA horror novel of the last decade in a 2020 feature.
I thoroughly enjoyed Dream Fall and its sequel Never Wake which were both outstanding page-turners which hit the ground running and keep the pace pumped up all the way. Seven teenagers which have various types of serious sleep disorders are the test cases in a new technology called ‘Dream Fall’ in which the kids are put into a deep sleep and the technology is supposed to eradicate their nightmares and problems over the next few hours. However, something goes wrong and all seven teens, who spend virtually the whole novel asleep, start sharing each other’s nightmares. This was pretty cool, as the group then have to stick together to beat the nasty stuff which starts stalking them.
Of course, to an adult reader this concept is highly reminiscent to A Nightmare on Elm Street: Dream Warriors but it worked well and is an engaging and readable spin on shared dreaming and the horrors of where nightmares might take us. The story is told from the point of view of a couple of the teens and an intern helping with the experiment. This was terrific stuff, with all sorts of monsters, nightmares and nasty stuff going on, creating a fun and engaging horror thriller.
EE RICHARDSON
Is EE Richardson the most enigmatic author on this list? Most definitely. Even though I first read her back in 2005 I still don’t know what ‘EE’ stands for… Over the years, EEs debut The Devil’s Footsteps (2005) has consistently been one of my top recommendation, which was followed by the equally terrific Intruders (2006) and The Summoning (2007). At this stage I thought EE was on her way to super-stardom, instead she wrote several books for the publisher Barringstoke Stoke, which specialises in books for kids which have dyslexia and an adult urban fantasy crime trilogy Ritual Crime Unit (2013-16). Somewhere after her third novel her momentum in the world of YA stalled slightly and although other novels followed, they never had the impact of her those published between 2005-07. Later titles to check out include The Soul Trade (2009), Black Bones (2010) and The Curse Box (2012). EE has not published in a few years, please get in touch and reveal what those elusive initials stand for and we can do an interview for Ginger Nuts of Horror.
Here is a short review we published back in 2016 of The Devil’s Footsteps:
A few years ago, this author really intrigued me, in her early twenties wrote three terrific horrors on the bounce, which started with this terrific bogeyman story, inspired by horror films similar to like A Nightmare on Elm Street and when she had the YA horror world at her feet failed to capitalise. I love horror novels which have creepy rhymes and there are none better to “13 steps to the Dark Man’s door” which are on the first page of The Devil’s Footsteps. A dare goes horribly wrong after Bryan’s younger brother it taken by the creature called the Dark Man after the skipping rhyme brings the creature. The story is picked up five years later and Brian will go to any lengths to find his brother. Most believe the Dark Man as a dumb old legend, but he knows better. What a fantastic horror novel. EE, wherever you are, take great pride in the fact that I have recommended this novel to hundreds of kids in the years since I first read it and have bought countless copies for my school library.
Here is a short review we published back in 2016 of The Devil’s Footsteps:
A few years ago, this author really intrigued me, in her early twenties wrote three terrific horrors on the bounce, which started with this terrific bogeyman story, inspired by horror films similar to like A Nightmare on Elm Street and when she had the YA horror world at her feet failed to capitalise. I love horror novels which have creepy rhymes and there are none better to “13 steps to the Dark Man’s door” which are on the first page of The Devil’s Footsteps. A dare goes horribly wrong after Bryan’s younger brother it taken by the creature called the Dark Man after the skipping rhyme brings the creature. The story is picked up five years later and Brian will go to any lengths to find his brother. Most believe the Dark Man as a dumb old legend, but he knows better. What a fantastic horror novel. EE, wherever you are, take great pride in the fact that I have recommended this novel to hundreds of kids in the years since I first read it and have bought countless copies for my school library.
DANIELLE ROLLINS A.K.A. DANIELLE VEGA
Danielle Rollins also writes YA as Danielle Vega and I enjoy both incarnations. As Rollins my favourite novel is the excellent Burning (2016) a cool teen spin on the Stephen King Firestarter story which has a loose sequel Breaking (2017). Under this name Danielle has also written the time-travel trilogy Dark Stars (2019). The fiction published under the name of Vega is equally impressive, with The Haunted (2019) reviewed below, which had a sequel The Unleashed in 2020. Other fiction includes The Merciless Quartet (2014) and the entertaining monster novel Survive the Night (2015).
Here is our review of The Haunted:
The Haunted follows the story of a girl called Hendricks Becker-O’Malley whose family moves into a new town because of an unsettling incident lurking in her past. She settles quickly and makes new friends, but soon she finds out that the house she lives in is where a young girl was brutally murdered. To make things worse, the brother of the dead girl now lives next door. It doesn’t take long before strange, creepy things begin to occur to Hendricks with her past also coming home to roost.
I very much enjoyed this book because it was a perfect blend of Mean Girls, Heathers and The Exorcist. It captures the realistic (American) teenage slice of life, meaning it creates stereotypes but then added convincing extra depth to the characters. The book contains numerous scary, gory and disturbing scenes, for example when you learn about Hendricks past, the spiritual ritual she and Eddie the boy next door performs together. Interestingly, and this worked well, nobody else seems to see the ghosts and a scene in the bathroom was another effectively shocking moment. But my favourite was when a kid had his mouth stapled shut by a ghost. That really made me wince. Ouch.
Here is our review of The Haunted:
The Haunted follows the story of a girl called Hendricks Becker-O’Malley whose family moves into a new town because of an unsettling incident lurking in her past. She settles quickly and makes new friends, but soon she finds out that the house she lives in is where a young girl was brutally murdered. To make things worse, the brother of the dead girl now lives next door. It doesn’t take long before strange, creepy things begin to occur to Hendricks with her past also coming home to roost.
I very much enjoyed this book because it was a perfect blend of Mean Girls, Heathers and The Exorcist. It captures the realistic (American) teenage slice of life, meaning it creates stereotypes but then added convincing extra depth to the characters. The book contains numerous scary, gory and disturbing scenes, for example when you learn about Hendricks past, the spiritual ritual she and Eddie the boy next door performs together. Interestingly, and this worked well, nobody else seems to see the ghosts and a scene in the bathroom was another effectively shocking moment. But my favourite was when a kid had his mouth stapled shut by a ghost. That really made me wince. Ouch.
CAT WINTERS
Between 2013-19 Cat has written seven novels which cleverly blend horror, the supernatural, thriller with predominately historical settings, the period between the World Wars features in several novels. Her most horror-based stories are In the Shadow of Blackbirds (2013), The Cure for Dreaming (2014), The Uninvited (2015) and Odd and True (2017) which is reviewed below.
Here is our review of Odd and True:
I was a huge fan of the very cool Odd and True, which was a refreshing mix of historical fiction, family drama, folklore and the supernatural set in Oregon around 1910. I’m not sure if the cover does the book too much justice, it seems to imply the two teenagers are ass-kicking predecessors of Buffy the Vampire Slayer but it’s much more thoughtful and character driven than a crash bang wallop story. The story alternates between the two sisters and the reader gets to see the past through Od's eyes and the present through Tru's, although the two sequences are only a few years apart.
When Trudchen was a little girl her sister Odette used to tell her stories of monster slayings and ferocious creatures, perhaps to disguise the humdrum nature of their lives on a remote Oregon farm, living with their aunt and uncle, but harbouring dreams of their real mother and their exotic family heritage in Europe. The chapters by Tru happen in the present take us on an adventure across America where well face dangers, hunt monsters, and uncover family secrets. Od's chapters tell us about the past; how the two sisters grew up, the truth about their family history and what happened to Od when she was sent away from home and her sister. I really liked both sisters, their different struggles, and the simple fact that the supernatural element did not dominate what I found to be a very charming novel. And I was blown away by what was a totally terrific final chapter.
Here is our review of Odd and True:
I was a huge fan of the very cool Odd and True, which was a refreshing mix of historical fiction, family drama, folklore and the supernatural set in Oregon around 1910. I’m not sure if the cover does the book too much justice, it seems to imply the two teenagers are ass-kicking predecessors of Buffy the Vampire Slayer but it’s much more thoughtful and character driven than a crash bang wallop story. The story alternates between the two sisters and the reader gets to see the past through Od's eyes and the present through Tru's, although the two sequences are only a few years apart.
When Trudchen was a little girl her sister Odette used to tell her stories of monster slayings and ferocious creatures, perhaps to disguise the humdrum nature of their lives on a remote Oregon farm, living with their aunt and uncle, but harbouring dreams of their real mother and their exotic family heritage in Europe. The chapters by Tru happen in the present take us on an adventure across America where well face dangers, hunt monsters, and uncover family secrets. Od's chapters tell us about the past; how the two sisters grew up, the truth about their family history and what happened to Od when she was sent away from home and her sister. I really liked both sisters, their different struggles, and the simple fact that the supernatural element did not dominate what I found to be a very charming novel. And I was blown away by what was a totally terrific final chapter.
Archives
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
April 2022
February 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
June 2018
May 2018
March 2018
September 2017
June 2017
April 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
RSS Feed
|
|