Mission: READ

A warning: If you have a weak stomach, a delicate constitution, or still sleep with a nightlight on, please click [back]; these books are not for you.

Whenever anyone comes in to the IMC and asks me for a Stephen King book, I must tell them “Alas, we have none, you must wait until you get to the high school.” Then I tell them about The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray by Chris Wooding. Imagine London in the time of Jack the Ripper–when Jack is far, far from the worst thing out there. Thaniel is a wych-hunter like his father before him. He seeks out and stops the nasty things that live in the Old Quarter of London–things like Cradlejacks that steal newborn babies, things like Devil-boys, things like Rat Kings. On one hunt, Thaniel meets Alaizabel Cray, disheveled, possibly mad, but completely beautiful. Thaniel cares not that she is probably possessed and puts himself at great risk to try to help her.  When Alaizbel wakes up in the middle of the night looking and sounding twisted and old and calling herself “Thatch,” Thaniel suspects he might be in for more than he bargained for. And when she starts talking about a secret society called the Fraternity that’s bent on unleashing an ancient evil, Thaniel knows it!

The latest horror book that has just blown me away is Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. Several people told me to read it and that even thought it was 480+ pages, I would love it, breeze through it, and want a sequel (fortunately New Moon is already available). What an understatement! When Bella moves to Forks, Oregon to live with her father after her mother’s remarriage, she doubts she will find a friend in the small town where everyone knows each other. On her first day, she’s not only feeling lonely, but she is shocked and frightened by Edward Cullen, her lab partner, who gives her a look that could kill if there ever was one. When Bella asks about Edward’s family, a local Native America boy hints that they are vampires. It is not long before Bella becomes obsessed with Edward, and he with her. Edward admits that while the vampire part of him finds her irresistible in one way, the human part of him does in another and every moment he spends with her is a test of his will. It has been a long time since I read a book with so much tension in it–the kind of tension in an old-school horror movie where you just KNOW the killer is around every corner, and then he isn’t….And what beautiful writing. Definitely the best book I’ve read this school year…Here’s Stephanie Meyer’s site

Why is it that so many scary stories start with someone moving to an unfamiliar place? Fear of the unknown?  In The Dreaming by Queenie Chan twin sisters Amber and Jeanie are moving to Greenwich Private College where their Aunt is the headmistress. Their excitement about living at the prestigious boarding school is soon replaced by uneasiness, when their aunt tells them to pretend they aren’t twins because there have been some “rumors” about twins in the school’s past. Their uneasiness turns to dread when they meet the creepy vice-principal who seems to have it our for them, when they hear frightening stories of girls disappearing in the woods–never to return, and when the girls start sharing the same disturbing dreams. This manga has gripping pictures to match the story and ends on a cliff-hanger–volume two is coming soon. See when on Queenie Chan’s blog.

Another creepy graphic novel is Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things by Ted Naifeh. Courtney’s parents are up to their eyeballs in credit card debts and jump at the chance to move the family in with Uncle Aloysius who is getting on in years and needs looking after. Full of angst, Courtney hates her new mansion, her new school, and, well, pretty much life in general. Things start to get interesting when some “night things” appear in her room and she finds that Uncle Aloysius’ private study is full of books with cool spells to try (but sometimes the results are disastrous for Courtney). This book makes you laugh as well–like the part where Courtney captures a goblin with a Scottish accent and makes it do her bidding. Great, dark artwork complements the feel of the book very well. Check out more about Courtney at The Night Things Site.

DARE YOU TO READ THESE!

Mission: Accomplished