There’s no reason to wait ’til Halloween to break out the spooky titles! Just scary enough for a shiver, but not enough to keep anyone awake all night, these tales make for perfect read-alouds around the campfire.
WALSH, Pat. The Crowfield Demon. Scholastic/Chicken House. 2012. ISBN 9780545317696. JLG Level: C+: Advanced Readers (Grades 6-9)
In this sequel to The Crowfield Curse (Scholastic, 2010), readers follow young servant William deep into a mystery involving the Dark King. William’s ability to see into the spirit world puts him squarely in the middle of a battle of good versus evil, complete with a fallen angel who wants to steal his soul. Walsh’s highly descriptive language creates memorable scenes and characters in a tightly wound plot.
VANDE VELDE, Vivian. Deadly Pink. HMH. July 2012. ISBN 9780547738505. JLG Level: C+: Advanced Readers (Grades 6-9)
Grace’s sister won’t leave the princess-filled virtual game she’s created. If the teen doesn’t find a way to get her sibling out in 72 hours, Emily will die. Vande Velde combines contemporary themes with a fantasy world that will get readers thinking about their own responsibilities and family relationships. Not just for gamers.
FLEMING, Candace. On the Day I Died: Stories from the Grave. Random/Schwartz & Wade Bks. July 2012. ISBN 9780375967818. JLG Level: C: Advanced Readers (Grades 6-9)
After picking up an unusual hitchhiker, Mike finds himself in a cemetery surrounded by teens—all dead teens—who tell him the stories of their deaths. Set in an actual cemetery outside of Chicago, Fleming weaves in some history with the shivery tales, ranging from the late 19th century to current day. A great collection of ghost stories and a good choice for reluctant readers.
ANDERSON, M.T. Zombie Mommy: A Pals in Peril Tale. Bk. 5. S & S/Beach Lane Bks. 2011. ISBN 9781416986416. JLG Level: C: Advanced Readers (Grades 6-9)
Zombie Mommy continues the clever, loopy and satirical “Pals in Peril” series with the story of Lily’s mom seeking self-preservation—it seems to her that the mothers of book characters tend to get rubbed out in kids’ fiction. This hilarious self-aware parody of genre conventions is a fast and fun read that just might hook readers into going back to the first book to read the whole series.
Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.
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About Dodie Ownes
