Scary Stories

One need not be a chamber to be haunted;
One need not be a house;
The brain has corridors surpassing
Material place.

-Emily Dickinson

What is a "scary" book for you?  Here are few outside the world of vampires and werewolves that I thought looked like creepy good reads! 

Possessed

By Katie Cann

Published as Possessing Rayne in the UK

Marlborough Public Library

Sixteen year old Rayne is looking to escape inner city London and a possessive older boyfriend when she responds to an employment ad at a secluded country estate.  Morton’s Keep, promises a beautiful, bucolic country landscape while at the same time harboring a mysterious and possibly ghoulish past.  Rayne befriends a group of local teenagers who share a fascination with  the history and happenings of Morton’s Keep.  Lots of twists and turns will have you guessing what is really going on at the mansion-or is anything going on at all?  I chose this book for its setting—a beautiful but creepy manor in the English country side, combined with modern day details and contemporary teen issues.  More gothic horror awaits in the sequel Fire and Rayne. 

Beautiful Dead; Jonas: Book 1

By Eden Maguire

Marlborough Public Library

The “Beautiful Dead” are four Ellerton High School students who have all been killed within one year.  Each has been brought back from the beyond and given one year to find answers to questions surrounding their death.   Grief stricken Darina, girlfriend of the most recently deceased student, begins to have visions of the deceased and sets out to find answers to their questions which will allow them to transition fully into the afterlife.  Her quest for zombie justice  begins with Jonah, who died in a motor cycle crash leaving behind a severely injured girlfriend.  This book is the first in a four book series which will cover each of the students.  I chose this book for its intriguing twist on the concept of the existence of “undead”.   It has elements of a “Twilight”-type romance with a mystery to solve.

Blue is for Nightmares

By Laurie Faria Stolarz

Marlborough Public Library

“My nightmares make me dread sleep”.  Such is the dark secret life of Stacey, a  junior at boarding school.  In the past, Stacey’s nightmares predicted the death of a young girl.  The terrifying dreams return, now involving Stacey’s best friend Drea and are accompanied by disturbing real-world communications.  When a classmate turns up dead, Stacey is forced to call upon her Wiccan folk magic to try and protect her friend.  This book is equal parts fantasy, mystery and thriller.  I chose this book because I was interested in finding out more about local author Laurie Faria Stolarz.  It is not her latest novel, but the first in a  color themed series about Stacey and her powers.

Book Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qSuyeHq1RI

Science Fiction and Fantasy

Here's where we SUSPEND OUR DISBELIEF!!!

I am the first to admit, I am not well-read in either of these categories but...I might actually  like an escape to another realm or a foray into the future once in a while.  Here's what intrigued me this week:

The City in the Lake

By Rachel Neumeir

Northborough Public Library

This book has many of the typical elements of a fantasy or fairytale; a kingdom in trouble; enchanted forests, mages and elves, to name a few.    When the prince of the magical city mysteriously disappears the kingdom is thrown into turmoil.   Far across the kingdom, Timou is a teen daughter of a mage who sets out to right what has gone wrong.   A battle for the throne and displays of courage all take place in this story which is written with beautiful descriptions.  I chose this book for the descriptive text which can make you almost feel like you are there!

 

Claim to Fame

Margaret Peterson Haddix

Northborough Public Library

Lindsay Scott is a former child star with a secret.  She disappears from the public eye, only to be brought into the limelight years later with rumors of being held captive by her father.  After being “kidnapped” by well-meaning rescuers, we learn the true reason for her being housebound…Lindsay has special powers. 

 “I would call it hidden talent, but talents are supposed to be happy possessions…..At any given moment I can hear anything anybody says about me. Anywhere in the world.” 

 I chose this book for its blend of a current day pop-culture theme with a thought provoking look at friendships, family and spirituality.  Kind of like Mary Kate and Ashley meet Ralph Waldo Emerson.

The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp

By Rick Yancey

Northborough Public Library

Alfred is a shy, awkward teenage boy who prefers to be alone.  When he reluctantly agrees to help out his uncle in yet another “get-rich-quick” scheme he finds out that he has actually become an accomplice in the theft of Excalibur.  This book is a great combination of modern day teen life and the legendary tales of King Arthur.  I chose this book because it is a classic example of an often neglected underdog rising to a challenge, with lots of humor along the way…oh and who wouldn't love the image of a knight riding in a Ferrari.

Spacer and Rat

By Margaret Bechard

Northborough Public Library

In a future world, Earthies and Spacies co-exist on Freedom Station.  This story revolves around Jack, who has lived on the space colony all his life, and Kit who changes his beliefs in the “us against them” mentality of the Earthies vs. Spacies . I chose this book because it seems to go against the dystopian model of science fiction.  It tells of how things in the future can be, with positive outcomes among the challenges. 

Ahhh...teenage romance novels

Why love if losing hurts so much? We love to know that we are not alone.
-C.S. Lewis

ROMANCE NOVELS – GOTTA LOVE THEM! 

I think after this week’s foray into Young Adult romance novels, they have more appeal to me than adult romance novels (sorry Harlequin, although in all honesty, I’ve never been a huge fan of the traditional adult romance novel involving a raven-haired green-eyed lass, yet unaware of her true beauty).     Two of the selections I have chosen blend in a fair amount of humor which I think is essential in dealing with romance in the teen years.

Swoon at Your Own Risk

By Sydney Salter

Located at the Marlborough Public Library.

Polly has sworn off all boys after a junior year of dating disasters.  Having a less than perfect teenage dating life is even more difficult when your grandmother, yes grandmother, is a syndicated advice columnist for the teenage lovelorn.   Polly’s plans to take a summer to recuperate from her romance dramas doesn’t quite work out as she had planned when she takes a job at the local water park.  As it turns out, her ex’s turn up at the theme park quite a bit.  I chose this book because I love a good summer time romance..especially when you add in eccentric family members.   

The Secret Life of Prince Charming

By Deb Caletti

Nashoba Regional High School Library

Despite the cover illustration, this book isn’t so much about a particular teen dating experience, but more about how the main character, Quinn, learns about relationships.  Due to the misdeeds of her father, the women in Quinn’s life decide to enlighten her in the ways of relationships, in part by embarking on a journey to return articles to Dad’s past loves. I chose this book because it is unique in that it is not a specific plot about one teen’s specific girlfriend/boyfriend relationship but more an over-all study on relationships and how complicated they can be.

To Catch a Pirate

By Jade Parker

From Nashoba Regional High School Library

This book is a romance novel for those readers who may want something different than the contemporary fiction romance novels.  It’s a little bit Pirates of the Caribbean, a little bit Historical Fiction with a fair amount of romance and adventure thrown in.   The story takes place in 1720, when Analisa Townsend’s ship from England is attacked by pirates.  Throughout her adventures, she finds a soft spot in her heart for her pirate captor.  I chose this book for its appeal to a different reader base.  It has the elements of a traditional star-crossed lover romance with adventure and intrigue. 

LOL-----What's funny to a YA reader?

Well here are some books that were funny (among other things) to me…..

My Almost Epic Summer

By Adel Griffin

Selected from the Marlborough Public Library

Irene thinks she is going to have the most boring summer of all time when she is forced to take a babysitting job after being fired from her own mother’s hair salon.  She manages to use her creativity and wit to make the most of her babysitting responsibilities and at the same time befriends the diva lifeguard in town.  One thing I really liked about this book is that the character Irene loves literature and there are literary references throughout the story.  Irene’s future goals including opening a hair salon where she will create hairstyles of famous literary characters!  It’s a light entertaining read with humor throughout, while also delivering a message of staying true to one’s self.   

Dairy Queen

By Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Selected from Marlborough Public Library

C’mon look at the cover…how could this book not be funny? Although I may be the only one who thought this way as the cover was eventually changed to the cover on the left which reflects aspects of the story beyond the humor.   This story centers around D.J. Shwenk and her family, whose life growing up in Red Bend, Wisconsin can be summed up in two words: football and cows.  Enter a football star from the next town over who comes to help out on the farm and DJ’s summer changes dramatically.  Through her evolving relationship with this “lazy, stuck-up, spoiled quarterback”, DJ. learns to speak up for herself and pursue her own dream of playing football.  Those who know me may think I chose this book solely because I’m a huge fan of the DQ blizzard (kit kat flavored please).  Not entirely true.   I chose to share this book in part because of the character’s wry sense of humor and how she uses it to sort things out.   Secondly, the story is hopeful and inspirational.   Despite a number of family issues and self doubt, D.J. shows determination and teaches us that there is more than one definition of “being cool”.

Confessions of a Closet Catholic

By Sarah Darer Littman

Selected from Marlborough Public Library

I know what you’re thinking…a book about religion…how boring.  This book is so much more!  It’s a short, but memorable chapter in the life of Justine Silver who has just moved from New Rochelle, NY to Greenwich, CT.   Although this move is not a big leap geographically, it represents many changes in Jussy’s life; new house (bigger than before), new friends, new social structure.  Given all these changes Jussy decides she just might like to try on a new religion as well; to be Catholic instead of Jewish.  While dealing with the day-to-day drama of siblings, boys and school in a hilarious manner, the story also tackles the theme of loss.  I chose this book not only because it made me laugh (particularly the image of Jussy holding confession in her closet to Father Ted, her enormous teddy bear), but it really makes you understand what it’s like to be a young teen.  I think everyone goes through a stage where you may want to change some part of your life whether it’s your religion, your appearance your family, etc.  In a lot of Jussy’s inner dialogues, you can find things you may have said to yourself at one time.

Have you ever...

...been so engrossed in a book that dinner burned on the stove?

..volunteered to walk the dog...just so you could read your book..and then...

..had your arm ripped out of your socket because above mentioned dog saw a chipmunk that he just HAD to chase and you didn't notice because you just HAD to finish the chapter?

..or better yet....twisted your ankle because you like to walk and read?

If you are guilty of any of the above or something similar (please share) WELCOME!

WELCOME TO ALL READERS!