Which Team Are YOU On?

If you keep up with teen books at all, you've probably at least heard murmurings about Zombies vs Unicorns, a short story collection edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier. These two ladies are HUGE in teen lit, particularly fantasy, and they've managed to pull together a great group of authors. The book is playfully arranged, too, with zombie and unicorn pictures in the corners of the pages so you can tell which camp the story falls into, and smack-talking introductions from the editors. It's clear that Black and Larbalestier want you to choose a team, although I thought I was going to like each side. As it turns out, though, I'm Team Zombie. Who knew??!?!??

Worth More Than a Passing Mention

Last year, while talking about books that had online components, I mentioned this second in the Skeleton Creek series by Patrick Carman. However, I just finished reading Ghost in the Machine, and realized that it was good enough to deserve its own post. The reader alternates reading chapters of the book with watching online videos, all of which advance the plot instead of being an afterthought. The videos, which are tense and spooky and kind of creep me out (even though I'm an adult and should be much braver), are an integral part of the story. This suspenseful series is good for any kid who likes to be scared.

If You Don't Mind a Bit of Weirdness . . .

I've already admitted that I sometimes fall in love with books that are difficult to recommend because they sound so strange when briefly described. Well, it's happened again with Horns, a wonderful new book by Joe Hill. When Ig Perrish wakes up after a night of drunken debauchery, he finds that he has horns growing out of his head and the ability to make people tell him their deepest, darkest, most devilish thoughts. Instead of moping about, he decides to use his new powers to find out who killed his girlfriend a year previous. Part murder mystery, part horror story, and part philosophical musing on religion, this book is altogether fascinating. And it would appear that Joe Hill is the son of Stephen King. Who knew??!?

Goose Bumps on a Hot Summer Day

Something you may not know about me: I love a good zombie movie. I realize that the slow-moving zombies are kind of silly, but there's something about the idea of regular people that you know and love becoming your greatest enemies that I find both chilling and sad. David Moody has a new book, Hater, which is a highly addictive, modern-day "zombie" tale. While not the traditional brain-eating monsters you might be used to, the "zombies" in this tale find themselves filled with a sudden fear of those around them, and the need to kill or be killed. Moody does an excellent job of building tension, and showing how easily the main characters can shrug off the growing violence. This is one of those books that plunged me directly into the action, and creeped me out more than once. The plot goes in an unexpected direction about 2/3 of the way through, and I believe I've heard that a sequel is already written.