The Young Adult Bram Stoker Award:some British alternative selections

No other  website in the world give as much coverage to YA horror as Ginger Nuts and for the last few years we have reviewed all the books featured on the HWA Bram Stoker YA shortlist. One thing (irrespective of whether they’re good or crap novels) they always have in common is the fact that they are almost always American. Perhaps it is time the HWA rebrand their prize the ‘American Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel’ as nobody else ever gets a sniff. At least this year we have Puerto Rican and Canadian involvement, but sadly, zero involvement from UK authors.  
 
These are how we reviewed the books on the current shortlist a few months ago:
 
Liana Gardner – Speak No Evil (9/10)
Amelinda Bérubé – Here There Are Monsters (8.5/10)
Ann Dávila Cardinal – Five Midnights (8/10)
Kate Alice Marshall – Rules for Vanishing (7/10)
Peter Adam Salomon – Eight Minutes, Thirty-Two Seconds (5/10)
Nzondi – Oware Mosaic (3/10)
 
If you missed the original review of the preliminary list you can catch up here, some amazing titles were cut:
 
https://gingernutsofhorror.com/young-blood/ginger-nuts-of-horrordissect-the-novels-on-the-ya-stoker-preliminary-list
 
Let’s hope neither of the bottom two win as they will contribute zero to the reputation of the HWA with library professionals or parents looking for a recommendation for a book hungry teen. Those who have a passing or casual interest in horror and dark fiction will undoubtedly wonder why only Americans ever get nominated? The reasons are too complicated and long-winded to go into here.
 
Alternatively, the Ginger Nuts of Horror is proud to present a ‘Best of British and Ireland YA Selection’ of some of our favourite books published in 2019 from authors of these fair shores. Britain has an outstanding range of teen horror writers and since the HWA was supposed to be meeting in Scarborough this year, it was a shame we were presented with an all-American short-list.
 
They are listed in alphabetical order and a few would probably be graded Middle Grade in the USA, rather than YA.

​Kirsty Applebaum – The Middler

Although Kirsty Applebaum’s The Middler is not a horror novel it has a very dark centre built around the town where  the action takes place, Fennis Wick, which has very strict rules and boundaries which nobody is allowed to venture beyond. Maggie is a “middler” a middle child, which are generally ignored, this is because at the age of fourteen the eldest child of every family is sent away to fight in “The Quiet War” which has been rumbling on in the background for years. The children never return and are treated like heroes when they are sent to camp for their training when they come of age. The story is seen from the point of view of Maggie, who is too inquisitive for her own good and whilst out exploring meets a “wanderer” another child not from their town, who has a sick father. On a deeper level the story has much to say on how we treat refugees, tolerance, and asylum seekers. It also, very cleverly, tackles brainwashing and what it means to be a hero with a very spunky little girl putting the adults to shame.

Early in the novel we realise Maggie’s elder brother Jed is just about to turn fourteen and the book counts down his final week before departure. Maggie has other ideas though and as she digs into the developing mystery, realises the town has a dirty secret at its heart. Little Maggie is a terrific leading character and the author genuinely conveys the frustration a ‘middler’ might truly feel. Any competent reader over the age of nine might love this book and it gives off a heartening message; no matter how small or insignificant you feel you can make a difference. This cumulates in an outstanding ending and I’m sure kids will love the way it concludes. Expect, also, to see this book appear on book prize shortlists. It probably will not be regarded as a dystopian novel, but if parents are looking to find an accessible novel for younger kids in that area then this lovely book ticks every box.   AGE 10+

Laura Bates – The Burning
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If you’re on the hunt for a YA novel which effortlessly blends the horrors of teenage social media with the tale of a 400-year-old witch trial, then look no further. This was a superb read which carries a powerful message about the dangers of posting the wrong stuff and peer pressure, delivering it in a naturalistic style, which never becomes heavy handed or preachy. In no time at all you will be rooting for the teenage protagonist Anna who is dragged through a horrific emotional wringer. The Burning is horror with a light touch, the pain and long-term repercussions of one naive decision becomes scarier than any supernatural bogeyman. The fallout was severe, and The Burning opens with Anna and her mother leaving their old life in Birmingham behind to live in a small coastal village near Saint Andrews on the east side of Scotland.
 
Starting any new school is difficult and Laura Bates completely nails the awkwardness of this transition, but before long she becomes friends with local girls, but bullying is never far away and soon her past catches up with her. The Burning has a second main story which nudges it into the horror genre, beyond the horrors of everyday teenage life. As part of a school history project everyone researches a topic of local interest and after Anna discovers an obscure reference to someone who was suspected of being a witch centuries earlier. As she uncovers the story, the plight of Maggie, she realises the ‘witch’ has many startling similarities to her own story and starts to feel a strong connection to the long-dead young woman, part of which whose story is told in flashback. In my experience in YA fiction kids generally avoid books which obviously have a heavy-handed message, The Burning works because its warning are very subtle with a top-notch story, believable story and a convincing dose of history. AGE 13+

​Rachel Burge – The Twisted Tree

Hot Key Press have regularly impressed me with consistently strong releases which straddle many different genres and Rachel Burge adds another fine example with The Twisted Tree which mixes horror, fantasy and Norse mythology. Since seventeen-year-old Martha fell out of a tree whilst visiting her Norwegian grandmother she experiences weird feelings when she touches the clothes of other people, effectively the touch reveals how the other person is feeling and she has a glimpse into their lives. This is not something she wants as it has a draining effect on her and is tough to shake off. Also, the accident damaged her sight, leaving her blind in one eye, and in her own opinion stunningly ugly as she cannot control the movement of the eye. The story opens with Martha returning to the small Norwegian village only to find her grandmother dead and a strange boy, Stig, squatting in her house. Odds things are going on in the local village and Martha is soon to find out that her gift is much more complex than she thought.

Most of the novel is set in Norway and only features a few characters, but I enjoyed the company of Stig and Martha. Although it was slow, and took its time introducing the supernatural elements, it was a very thoughtful character driven book which children who are interested in mythology might like. Bestselling author Rick Riordan has certainly made mythology attractive to a lot of children, Rachel Burge explores more local Norse myths and avoids the bombastic approach Riordan uses in his fiction and The Twisted Tree is all the better for it. Even though monstrous creatures do appear I found it quite a gentle book and would happily recommend it to younger kids. AGE 10+ ​

Gabriel Dylan - Whiteout
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A huge snowstorm is brewing whilst a group of British sixth form school pupils retire to their hotel after a hard day of skiing, in the remote mountains of Austria. The hotel is weirdly short of staff and all the locals have abandoned their shops. In the middle of the night one of the girls screams after blood is found and the pupils soon discover some of their teachers have also disappeared. They quickly realise something horrible is outside and once a ski instructor is ripped out of the door and they are under attack. This all happens incredibly quickly and soon the group are attempting to hide and wait it out but with the storm raging they realise there is no help coming anytime soon.

Whiteout is an outstanding addition to the Red Eye series. It was a very gripping book that wasted no time introducing the horror elements and was unrelenting once it got going. I say this because the deaths start mounting up as early as page sixty.  This very violent opening section gives the reader terror, action and humour revolving around the time the enemy makes its first bloody appearance. I would recommend this novel to anyone who reads the Red Eye series or who enjoys action and horror novels. Overall, it was a great page turner and an easy, quick and undemanding read that will leave you satisfied. AGE 12+

​Frances Hardinge - Deeplight

Hardinge’s last three novels have mixed the supernatural and historical fiction, Deeplight is set on a sprawling archipelago called the Myriad. There are hundreds of tiny islands which trade with each other for survival and the action begins on the Island of Lady’s Crave where two fourteen-year-old street urchins Hark and his best friend Jelt scrape a living. You could be forgiven for thinking an adventure story with two orphans sounds slightly familiar, however, it is the setting and the world-building which marks this book apart from the competition. Myriad is a superb creation and if you’re after a location to fire the minds and imaginations of young teenagers then look no further than Deeplight, as the backdrop is something special and positively brimming with clever ideas.
 
For centuries the islanders lived in awe and dread of the grotesque and terrible gods that lurked in the deep seas, which were effectively giant sea-monsters who could attack boats and ships at a moment’s notice. However, thirty years before the novel begins there was a cataclysmic event where all the god-monsters unexpectedly killed each other. In the three decades since the monster gods died, fisherman and travellers have discovered fragments of the dead creatures whilst out fishing or swimming. These finds supposedly have exciting and useful properties, so a diving and submersible salvage and scavenger culture has emerged all over the Myriad. Ultimately finding valuable ‘godware’ can make your fortune, but much of it is fake and the two teenagers get sucked into this world when they find a very strange piece of godware, which is most definitely not fake. Children novels which allow youngsters to forget technology and escape to faraway places are vitally important as we all need to dream of these places. Lands which are drawn so vividly they become real enough to touch are truly special and Frances Hardinge has created such a place in Deeplight.  AGE 12+

Kiran Millwood Hargrave - The Deathless Girls
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There seems to be a never-ending supply of books, particularly in YA, with new stories being spun out of classic fiction. The Deathless Girls is a fine YA version of one of these and builds a story out of minor female vampire characters in Stoker's Dracula. In fact, they are so small I think they only featured in a few background scenes as his brides. So, it's an interesting, but very inevitable story, as readers of Dracula will know what is going to happen in the end. You do not have to have read Dracula to enjoy this though, the Count is barely in the book until the latter stages, but his mystique and reputation pre-empts his eventual appearance and he is nicely foreshadowed.  

The story is told through twins, Lil and Kizzy, who see their home burned and their family slaughtered, with them being sold as slaves. Much of the novel is about their unfortunate progression to eventually end up in the clutches of Dracula. Teen readers may find this a tad slow, but it is worth sticking with, both girls were engaging lead characters, with Lil narrating the story. Her sister always being the more outgoing and popular of the two and was greatly admired by Lil. The book puts much focus on the origins of the girls, who are gypsies and are looked down upon most of the others and culturally much information is provided on their background and Lil follows her sister who is taken to Dracula's castle first. This was an engaging historical fiction novel which wisely spent more time on the girls, their history family and culture, than on the vampire. Although I would not necessarily call it a horror novel, it will probably have more appeal to girls than boys and has much to say about how women and gypsies were treated in earlier centuries. AGE 13+

​Dawn Kurtagich – Teeth in the Mist

I am a huge fan of Dawn Kurtagich and we have featured both her previous novels The Dead House and Creeper Man on Ginger Nuts. Her latest novel Teeth in the Mist is perhaps even more ambitious and is a complex story, set in a huge mansion in rural Wales, split over three narratives in the present day, 1851 and 1583 with a strong supernatural theme permeating through the story. It was a very chunky book, with different fonts and voices and took a bit of time to get into the flow but it is worthy sticking with. This was the case with both her previous two novels, let us hope teenage readers give it a chance as it is not an easy read and may overwhelm many.

Sixteen-year-old photography buff Zoey ends up at Medwyn Mill House and is fascinated with the ruin and after spending the night there with her friend Poulton and is sure they are not alone.  Jumping back to 1851 seventeen-year-old Roan arrives at Mill House as a ward and soon realises she is connected to an ancient secret and must try and escape the house, but that is not as easy as it might sound. However, there is something connecting the three young women, which also includes Hermoine who relocates with her husband to the same area in 1583.  This was a very strong blend of mystery, horror and dark fantasy, resulting in another highly original read. AGE 13+

​Paula Rawsthorne – The New Boy

​I am a huge fan of Paula Rawsthorne and although she does not write horror fiction her thrillers always have a very dark edge to them and her back-catalogue of The Truth about Celia Frost, Blood Tracks and Shell are well worth investigating. Her latest offering, The New Boy, is another very solid thriller convincingly set in the hustle and bustle of a Sixth Form College. Zoe starts college and her best friends from her previous school, Jodie, Sonja and Ethan are also there, soon they meet Jack who becomes incredibly popular, very quickly. Although this novel has a lot to hold the attention, adult readers will find it a tad predictable, teen readers should get more out of it though.

There was much to admire in Zoe, one of the few students to shun social media and The New Boy made many clever observations on this. Jack is amazing at everything and soon unites the college across the varied friendship groups and gangs and because he is attracted to Zoe friction begins to appear in her network, especially with her oldest friend Ethan. As the story moves on there are more clues and suspicions as it flitted from drama to thriller. An easy, but hopefully not too predictable read, for kids starting secondary school.   AGE 11+

​Deirdrie Sullivan – Perfectly Preventable Deaths

Over the last few years there have been some excellent YA horror novels set in Ireland, including Peadar O'Guilin magnificent The Call duology and Mary Watson’s The Wren Hunt and Deirdrie Sullivan’s Perfectly Preventable Deaths is another fine addition to the canon. I wouldn’t exactly call it a page-turner, but it has its charms and has much to offer older teenagers taking in first love, folklore, superstition, and dark magic. Sixteen-year-old wins Madeline and Catlin move from Cork City to the mountainous and very rural village of Ballyfrann, in the Galway area of the Republic of Ireland. Their mother has remarried after the death of their father and their new home is a ramshackled castle. Never far away, perhaps too close for comfort, is a distant cousin of their stepfather who is apparently a witch. Nobody really talks about what she is capable of, but in the background lurks a sinister story of the disappearance and murder of many teenage girls from the local area. This bothers Maddie much more than her more outgoing sister Catlin.

On one level Perfectly Preventable Deaths is a story of two very different teenage girls whom for the most part support each other. Narrated by the reserved Maddie, who makes friends with a local girl who is believed to be gay, with her sister setting her sights on one of the local boys whom Maddie does not particular trust. Teenagers reading this will need to be patient, it takes its time introducing elements of witchcraft, earthy magic and folk horror, none of which particularly dominates the story, but this rather odd book is well worth staying the course for. Sadly, sometimes YA novels are enjoyed more by adults than their intended audiences and this might be one of those examples.  Recommended for teenagers who enjoy a thoughtful read of dark magic and teen life.  AGE 13+

​Mary Watson – Wickerlight (The Wren Hunt series)

We featured Mary Watson’s The Wren Hunt a while back on Ginger Nuts and Wickerlight is set in the same dark version of Ireland. Like its predecessor it is more fantasy than horror, but fans of the latter will happily cross genres with a highly impressive novel which cleverly integrates Irish mythology into a skewered version of the country. It is top heavy with magic, superstition and very weird goings on and I would highly recommend reading The Wren Hunt before Wickerlight, even though this follow on is not strictly a sequel. It is partly written from the point of view of David, who was one of the characters from the previous novel and both stories are connected by the ancient supernatural feud which is the backbone of the action.

If you’ve read The Wren Hunt locations will be familiar and characters pop-up from the other book. But the core of the story is fresh and features new girl Zara, whose family have moved to Kilshamble, however, the mysterious death of her sister knocks the family for six. The chapters alternate between David and Zara who begins to investigate into the death of Laila, soon realising nothing in Kilshamble is what it seems, and the place is top-heavy with unspoken secrets and is not particularly welcome to newcomers. This was another complex read, which strong teen readers will appreciate, and I would not recommend it to kids who struggle to concentrate on books. It’s quite slow, atmospheric and challenging YA fiction, but once you figure out how this alternative version of Ireland works is well worth investing the time into. AGE 14+