Spooky Scary Storylines... Annotations!

1) Squad: A Graphic Novel by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Lisa Sterle (2021)

Becca moves to a new town and chooses to turn into a werewolf in order to fit in with the popular girls at school. Swarmy boys who don't understand consent are the werewolf pack's target, but like all teen girls, life can get complicated. I found this book on the blog Hey, I'm Reading after googling graphic novels similar to Into the Woods. It's on this list because it's a graphic novel, has werewolves, but also touches on the horrors of being a young girl.

 

2) She is a Haunting by Trang Tranh Tran (2023)

A young girl spends five weeks with her father in Vietnam while he restores an old house. There is a lot Jade must hide about herself in order for her family to function and keep their status quo, which becomes difficult when she begins to be haunted by the house. This book came up in a few searches for YA horror, but then it was at the top of the GoodReads list, so I finally decided to read the synopsis and I'm hooked. It made it to this list because I'm personally always trying to read more books that take place outside of the U.S. 

 3) The Haunted Lighthouse: Tales of the Lost and Found by Shana Gorian (2023)

This is the story of a haunted lighthouse with a mystery and the three kids on vacation to Maine that must solve it. I discovered it on GoodReads after searching for ghost stories for a middle grade audience to balance this list out more. Reviewers described it as a Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys type of tale and I think the mystery element adds variety to the horror genre. 

4) Man Made Monsters by Andrea Rogers (2022)

This book is a collection of linked short stories about one Cherokee family that spans centuries. There are monsters. But there is also colonialism and genocide. This was on a book display at one of the public libraries I frequent and I immediately thought of it for this annotated list. I wanted to include a title that dealt with the scary parts of human life. 

 5) A Line in the Dark by Malinda Lo (2017)

I discovered this book on Epic Reads because I wanted to round out this list with a book that is more unsettling, psychological thriller rather than ghosts and ghouls. It being by Malinda Lo caught my eye because I loved Ash so much as a young reader. This is the story of friendship, but one that is challenged when Margot enters Jess and Angie's lives. Margot has secrets and they are a threat to the girls. 

 

 

Nerd Alert! Sci-Fi and Fantasy Annotations

A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim

Truyan Saigas is an art forger who uses her tricks to hustle money to support her mother and sister after her father has been lost out to sea. When that is not enough, she agrees to marry a dragon lord and follow along to his dangerous undersea infiltration. I found this book on the New York Times bestseller list for YA fiction, which happened to have quite a few science fiction and fantasy books on it. This one was chosen for my annotated list because of its mature themes and edge. I think a lot of teens like myself who weren't really into teen drama and YA books at that age will like something with high stakes and grit.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

 

This is a fantastical, futuristic re-imagining of Wu Zetian, the first and only Chinese emperor, and tells the story of avenging the death of her sister. I found this book thanks to TikTok. A lot of people took to the app because they said it was particularly easy for their ADHD brains to read. I don't personally have ADHD, but it reminded me about how a lot of non-readers found themselves chugging through The Hunger Games like crazy when they'd never read a book that fast before. That's why it's made its way to this list.

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

This book is considered Afrofuturism and tells the story of Pet (a monster spawned from a painting), Jam (black trans protagonist), and Redemption (BFF with a dark entity in her house) and their hunt for a monster in a world that does not believe they exist. I discovered this book thanks for a colleague at my academic library who did an Afrofuturism display a few years ago. I chose to annotate the book because it brings a different culture and perspective to speculative fiction; and therefore, a story unlike anything else on this list.

The Jewel by Amy Ewing

The story is about Violet who lives in a dystopia where her fate has always been to be a surrogate for the elite women. Her body no longer belongs to her. This book was recommended to me over ten years ago by a creative writing professor in undergrad. Published in 2014, so a little on the older side, but it made it on this list for its similarities to other favorites like The Handmaid's Tale or Kiera Cass' The Selection. I could see it landing on a "If You Liked This, Try This" list to get teens reading beyond what's currently popular.

A Treachery of Swans by A.B. Poranek

Odile turns Marie into a swan to assume her identity in the castle and steal the king's crown (a plan devised by her father). These plans are quickly squashed when Odile's brother is accused of murder and her feelings for the Marie turn from hatred to passion. I also found this title on the New York Times bestseller list and it stood out for its lesbian romance. It's on this list for anyone wants to read a queer romance, but then immediately gets bored by the lack of story line... well this one has some plot.

A Summer Filled With Books (LBS 803)

 This blog is now being used for Survey of Children's Literature K-12. Yay! I'm excited to switch from discussing technology to my other love... books!