Windsor Library’s All Booked Up Newsletter October 2020 for Readers

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No, But I Read the Book

Annihilation(, Part 1) by Jeff Vandermeer

Annihilation was made into a movie starring Natalie Portman, , and Tess Thompson in 2018. Area X has claimed the lives of members of eleven expeditions. The twelfth expedition consisting of four women hopes to map the terrain and collect specimens; to record all their observations, scientific and otherwise, of their surroundings and of one another; and, above all, to avoid being contaminated by Area X itself.

Listen Up

Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo- Xiomara Batista has plenty to say about her life and the changes she's experiencing and writes it all down in a treasured notebook. Narrated by the author, this audiobook will have you walking the streets of Xiomara's neighborhood and the halls of her school as she learns to give voice to her feelings.

The Poet X Written by Elizabeth Acevedo Narrated by the author Length: 3.5 hours Forgotten Favorite

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton Susan Eloise Hinton wrote this classic coming-of-age book in 1967 when she was a teenager. She used her initials to avoid gender bias. The booked transformed young adult fiction. S.E. Hinton, was and still is, one of the most popular and best known writers of young adult fiction. Her books have been taught in some schools, and banned from others. Her novels changed the way people look at young adult literature. (goodreads.com)

Read All Booked Up from home! Sign up for our email newsletter at windsorlibrary.com. Spotlight on: Young Adult Books

Good YA horror stories are surprisingly rare. In a world dominated by realistic fiction and otherworldly fantasies, at times it can be surprisingly difficult for a teen horror fan to find a book that speaks to them (or sends shivers down their spine). Halloween is right around the corner, so here’s a selection of dark, diverse, and delightful horror stories for young adults. To quote the legendary R.L. Stine, “Readers beware - You’re in for a scare!”

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely In this New York Times bestselling novel, two teens—one black, one white—grapple with the repercussions of a single violent act that leaves their school, their community, and, ultimately, the country bitterly divided by racial tension. Written in tandem by two award-winning authors, this book shares the alternating perspectives of Rashad and Quinn as the complications from that single violent moment, the type taken directly from today’s headlines, unfold and reverberate to highlight an unwelcome truth.

Clown in a Cornfieldby Adam Cesare They say to never judge a book by its cover, but the cover of Adam Caesar’s brand new YA horror novel, Clown in a Cornfield, will instantly seize the attention of young horror fans. Creepy clown? Check. Font stylized to look like that of a classic Stephen King novel? Double check. An adoring quote from horror/ fantasy master Clive Barker? Check, check, and check! If you’re into Slasher movies, scary Stephen King stories, and shows like Stranger Things, or if you’re just looking for a spectacularly gory story to enjoy during the Halloween season; look no further than, Clown in a Cornfield! Horror fans won’t be disappointed. Dread Nation: Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland Ireland’s duology expertly blends historical fiction and horror together by creating an alternate history of the American Civil War and injecting it with juicy zombie mayhem. Jane McKeene is the strong, African American heroine at the center of the story, and she skewers as many ghouls as she does historical injustices. The results are fresh, frenzied, and utterly fantastic! These books explore and redefine an ugly period in American history, feature and celebrate racially diverse and LGBTQIA+ characters, and have enough gory undead action to satisfy any horror fanatic. Personally, I cannot wait for the third book to come out!

Here There Are Monsters by Amelinda Berube This spine-tingling tale of two sisters will resonate with teens who understand sibling rivalries and will fascinate anyone wondering about what might be lurking out in the deepest, darkest parts of the woods. Skye has always had to take care of her obnoxious sister, Deirdre. Skye is popular, and Deirdre is the girl everyone at school thinks is “weird.” When Deirdre disappears into the creepy forest behind their new house, it’s up to Skye to get her back from the fearsome creatures that took her. But what if Deirdre doesn’t want to come home? What if Skye can’t tell what’s real and what’s all in her head?

Small Spaces: Dead Voices by Katherine Arden Katherine Arden is probably best-known for her beautifully written Winternight trilogy that began with The Bear and the Nightingale, but her YA work is equally fantastic! Small Spaces (a 2021 Nutmeg selection) and its sequel Dead Voices, are smart, spooky, sensational, and perfect for kids, teens, and adults. Readers will join eleven-year-old Ollie and her friends as they face the likes of sinister scarecrows, supernatural specters, and more. If you were a kid or parent that liked Goosebumps or Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, you will absolutely adore Arden’s work.

Rottersby Daniel Kraus Grave-robbing. What kind of monster would do such a thing? It's true that Leonardo da Vinci did it, Shakespeare wrote about it, and the resurrection men of nineteenth-century Scotland practically made it an art. Daniel Kraus's masterful plotting and unforgettable characters make Rotters a moving, terrifying, and unconventional epic about fathers and sons, complex family ties, taboos, and the ever-present specter of mortality.

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