"Zoe, in THE SILVER KISS, is the shy young teenager I was who found
it hard to make friends, and took long walks alone and wrote poetry.
"Simon, the vampire in that same book, is the side of me that felt alienated and angry because of loneliness."
— Annette
Curtis Klause,
Young Adult Author
AS IF: Authors Supporting Intellectual Freedom
Thrills, chills, dark and dangerous... These titles reflect some of the best books for teen and 'tween readers.
For our purposes, gothic fantasy characterizes the make-believe (as opposed to "horror," which features real-life possibility), and suspense stories are those that take us to the edge and leave us there.
THE AFTERLIFE by Gary Soto (Harcourt, 2003). In this sometimes funny, sometimes bittersweet story, Chuy is murdered, stabbed with a knife only to find…not an end, but a new beginning. As a ghostly being, he visits family and friends. He finds the young man he could've been and maybe even true love. This isn't a story of "too late." It's one of "just in time." Ages 12-up. (Gothic fantasy.)
BEATING HEART: A GHOST STORY by A.M. Jenkins (HarperCollins, 2006). An alternating point of view—in prose for a living boy and poems for a ghost girl—story of mystery and romance. Ages 14-up. Read The Story Behind The Story from A.M. Jenkins. (Gothic fantasy.)
BEING DEAD by Vivian Vande Velde (Harcourt, 2001). Sometimes touching, sometimes really scary, sometimes just on the creepy side stories of the dead by Vivian Van Velde. "Drop by Drop" is guaranteed to keep you up at night (and checking under your car). "October Chill" is affecting, emotionally haunting--the kind of story that leaves its readers imagining what does or doesn't happen next. Ages 10-up. This enormously talented author is the creator of several books for children and young adults, including: MAGIC CAN BE MURDER; THERE'S A DEAD PERSON FOLLOWING MY SISTER AROUND; NEVER TRUST A DEAD MAN; THE RUMPLESTILTSKIN PROBLEM; and TALES FROM THE BROTHERS GRIMM AND THE SISTERS WEIRD. Read The Story Behind The Story from Vivian Vande Velde. (Gothic fantasy.)
BLOOD
AND CHOCOLATE by Annette Curtis Klause (Delacorte, 1997). A sensual
exploration of Vivian's longing for a calm life beyond her wolf pack. She
falls in love with a human, what her people call a "meat boy," but she wonders
whether he will accept her for what she is. Though her wolf nature is explored
in all its bloodiness, at times she could be any teenager who's not sure
who she is or where she fits. More fantasy than horror; one sexy werewolf
story. One of my favorite YA books of all time! Ages 12-up. HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION. (Gothic fantasy.)
THE BLOODING by Patricia Windsor (Scholastic, 1996). When Maris decides she's had enough of her mother's constant picking, a summer au pair job seems like a perfect escape. But she quickly finds that the Forrest house isn't as peaceful as it seems. Maris begins to wonder about the unknown beast in the woods, whether Barb Forrest is insane, and why Derek Forrest inspires such conflicting emotions. As much of a psychological study as a horror novel. Starts slowly but engagingly enough. Of interest to anyone who has felt alone and wanted an escape or a transformation. Ages 12-up. (Gothic fantasy.)
COMPANIONS
OF THE NIGHT by Vivian Vande Velde (Harcourt, 1995). Thinking she's
stumbled into a crime scene, Kerry, 16, helps Ethan escape from the seemingly
crazy men who claim he is a vampire. But soon after her family is kidnapped,
Kerry realizes that maybe they weren't so crazy after. Worse, she can't
think of anyone better to help her find vampires than a vampire himself.
But will Ethan turn into the love of her life or the creature who takes
it? Ages 12-up, but content is more innocent than, say, Klause's (probably
okay for 10-up). Read The Story Behind The Story from Vivian Vande Velde. (Gothic fantasy.)
THE CREEK by Jennifer L. Holm (HarperCollins, 2003). Penny Carson and the rest of the neighborhood kids just want to build their treehouse above the creek and have a fun summer. But the infamous Caleb Devlin - who was sent away after terrorizing the town - has returned. A realistic and suspenseful thriller. Ages 12-up. Recommendation by Greg Leitich Smith. (Suspense.)
DAEMON HALL by Andrew Nance (Henry Holt, 2007. Thriller novelist Ian Tremblin is sponsoring a short-story contest, and five finalists receive the opportunity to spent the night with the horror king at infamous Daemon Hall. The winner's story will be published, but is a contest worth dying for? At times seriously scary, Daemon Hall is a fearsome mind bender from a debut YA author to watch. Ages 12-up. (Gothic fantasy.)
THE GHOST SITTER by Peni R. Griffin (Dutton Children's Books, 2001). Susie's been dead for fifty years, but doesn't know —she's been waiting for her family and her younger sister to return to their home in a San Antonio subdivision. Then, a new family arrives, including Charlotte and her brother Brandon. Charlotte's suspicious when Brandon's suddenly much better behaved. But, a ghost? A new novel by the critically acclaimed author of SWITCHING WELL and HOBKIN. Ages 9-up. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. (Gothic fantasy.)
GOTHIC! TEN ORIGINAL DARK TALES edited by Deborah Noyes (Candlewick, 2004). Features stories by Joan Aiken, M.T. Anderson, Neil Gaiman, Caitlin R. Kiernan, Gregory Maguire, Garth Nix, Celia Rees, Janni Lee Simner, Vivian Vande Velde, and Barry Yourgrau. Worth the price of the book for the introduction, though the collection itself is wickedly outstanding. Ages 14-up. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Don't miss the companion book, THE RESTLESS DEAD (Candlewick, 2007). (Gothic fantasy.)
A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY by Libba Bray (Delacorte,
2003). Sensuality chafes against Victorian restrictions in this
lush and thoughtful tale of boarding school friends who find their own
power and powers. Ages 12-up. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Read An
Excerpt from Teenreads.com. Read The
Story Behind The Story from
Libba Bray. Don't miss the other two books in the trilogy, REBEL ANGELS (Delacorte, 2005) and THE FAR, SWEET THING (Delacorte, 2007). (Gothic fantasy.)
THE KILLER'S COUSIN by Nancy Werlin (Delacorte, 1998). Having been acquitted of murdering his girlfriend, David, 17, becomes withdrawn from guilt, fear, and mourning. At his parents' prompting, he moves in with his aunt, uncle, and eleven-year-old cousin Lily to escape media attention and start anew. But this new beginning heightens family tensions, rekindles feelings of another loss, and triggers more than one kind of haunting. Fully realized characters. Convincingly contemporary in voice and setting. Suspenseful and brilliant. Winner of the Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Mystery. Ages 12-up. HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION. (Suspense.)
LOCKED
INSIDE by Nancy Werlin (Delacorte, 2000). Marnie Skyedottir, 16,
sees an online game, Paliopolis, as an escape from her exclusive boarding
school and identity as a deceased icon's daughter. As the Sorceress Llewellyne,
her rival is the quick-thinking Elf. As Marnie her grades are tumbling
and interpersonal relations suffering. Then her attraction and uncertainty
both rise when Elf finds out personal information about Marnie's real
life, but when she is kidnapped by a psychotic, it's Elf who attempts
rescue. His failure leaves him with a gunshot wound and both of them in
locked inside the basement of a dangerous and delusional captor. Smart,
and romantic in a non-clichéd way. This is a must-read for suspense
fans and a refreshing portrayal of the strengths of characters who may
not fit the norm. Ages 12-up. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. (Suspense.)
note: author Nancy Werlin has written a number of suspense novels for young adult readers; they are all highly recommended. Read a chatlog from the YA Authors Cafe of a chat with Nancy Werlin.
LILY'S
GHOSTS by Laura Ruby (HarperCollins, 2003). Since Lily's mother has broken
up with her boyfriend, they're broke and, therefore, have to move into Lily's
uncle's summer house in Cape May, NJ. Only problem, there are ghosts there...
Ages 9-up. Read The Story Behind The Story from Laura Ruby. (Gothic fantasy.)
LOOK FOR ME BY MOONLIGHT by Mary Downing Hahn (Clarion, 1995). Cynda's fight with her mother and new stepfather over moving to Italy results in Cynda being shipped off to live with her father, pregnant stepmother, and five-year-old half brother at their historic inn in Maine. Cynda, 16, is fascinated first by rumors that the inn is haunted and then by Will, the grandson of the cleaning woman. But then appears a guest, Vincent — an older, sophisticated, and attentive man who seems to be the only one who really understands the displacement Cynda is feeling in her family life. Apparent sympathy grows into apparent romance, but it quickly turns more bitter than sweet. Ages 12-up. (Gothic fantasy.)
MISSING ABBY by Lee Weatherly (David Fickling, 2004). Emma and Abby used to be best friends and share their love of fantasy and sci fi, but that was back when Karen Sipp called Emma a "freak." A new school offered a new chance to start over, to be cool, and so Emma left Abby and their friendship behind. Then one day Emma sees Abby on a bus, and the next she knows, no one may ever see Abby again. Ages 10-up. (Suspense.)
NIGHT WORLD by L.J. Smith (Pocket Books, 1996-). NIGHT WORLD is actually a series of young adult novels. They center around the idea that the Night World exists in conjunction with the human world and is made up of shape shifters, werewolves, witches, vampires, and others that humans currently dismiss as mythological. The laws are simple: playing or killing humans is allowed but revealing the Night World to a human or following in love with him or her is strictly forbidden. Essentially, this series is about love stories of characters from two worlds who have broken the Night World law and must face both each other and the consequences. In addition, it features a grander, more encompassing conflict as Circle Daybreak strives to bring the worlds together in peace. I'm not generally a big fan of series, but these books are an exception. Quick reads, but multilayered and offering plenty for the reader to ponder. Ages 12-up. (Gothic fantasy.)
OVER AND OVER YOU by Amy McAuley (Roaring Brook,
2005). Penny is haunted by vivid dreams that feel so real, almost
as if they...were? After being tipped off by a psychic, she's starting
to consider extreme possibilities, destinies, and even true love. Penny's
voice is engaging, her plight compelling, and her command of historical
factoids inspirational. A wonderful choice for romantics, fantasy fans,
and those who appreciate psychic (and psychological) puzzles. Ages 12-up.
More on this title from Spookycyn; read The Story Behind The Story from Amy McCauley. (Gothic fantasy.)
THE SILENCED by James DeVita (Laura Geringer/HarperCollins, 2007). Reading is outlawed. Writing is outlawed. Individual identity? Irrelevant. Diversity? Suspect, inferior. Defiance? Punished by death or worse. The Zero Tolerance Party is listening everywhere, and it's tough to know whom to trust. What happens when Marena forms her own resistance movement, the White Rose? Ages 12-up. (Alternate society.)
THE SILVER KISS by Annette Curtis Klause (Delacorte, 1990). A haunting story of love between Zoe and Simon, a vampire. She wrestles with the impending death of her mother while he seeks to avenge the murder of his. A look at love and death with no easy answers or conveniently happy endings. Recommended to fans of hopeless romance. Ages 12-up. (Gothic fantasy.)
SKIN HUNGER by Kathleen Duey (A Resurrection of Magic, Book One)(Atheneum, 2007). Once, true magic existed, but long ago magicians were hunted down and killed by jealous kings. Now, with magic outlawed, there are only charlatans and frauds wearing black robes and taking advantage of the credulous or desperate. One such fraud, called in to aid Sadima's mother with her birthing, steals the family's few valuables, and leaves Sadima dying and her mother dead. Sadima survives and discovers she has an ability to communicate with animals. At seventeen, she leaves home to seek out two young men who are determined to resurrect magic so that it can once more be used to help mankind. She's drawn to Franklin, but can't understand what binds him to Somiss, whose obsession with restoring magic does little, in her mind, to excuse barely restrained anger and cruelty. Years later, magic has been restored and is taught at a mysterious Academy, where fewer than one in ten succeeds to become a magician, and where boys are left by their parents for fates unknown: to either become magicians or disappear forever. Hahp, second son of a wealthy merchant, is sent there because his father decided to get rid of him. Garrard, a peasant boy, is assigned as his roommate. The only thing that binds them is the consequences of failure and their fear of working together, which has been proscribed. And the latter may be their only chance to avoid the former... Told in chapters that alternate between Sadima's story and Hahp's, SKIN HUNGER is a darkly engrossing read. Duey skillfully uses Sadima's story to illuminate Hahp's, creating characters that are expertly drawn and a fantasy world that is textured and real. Ages 12-up. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Recommendation by Greg Leitich Smith. Read The Story Behind the Story from Kathleen Duey. (Gothic fantasy.)
THE SKULL OF TRUTH by Bruce Coville, illustrated by Gary A. Lippincott (Harcourt, 1997). Our favorite of the successful Magic Shop Books that began with JEREMY THATCHER, DRAGON HATCHER. Just couldn't resist sneaking in this middle-grade title. Ages 8-up. (Gothic fantasy.)
TANTALIZE by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Candlewick, 2007). Quincie Morris has never felt more alone. Her hybrid-werewolf first love threatens to embark on a rite of passage that will separate them forever. And just as she and her uncle are about to debut Austin’s red hot vampire-themed restaurant, a brutal murder leaves them scrambling for a chef. Can Quincie transform the new hire into a culinary dark lord before opening night? Will Henry Johnson be able to wow the crowd in fake fangs, a cheap cape, and red contact lenses? Or is there more to this earnest fresh face than meets the eye? As human and preternatural forces clash, a deadly love triangle forms and the line between predator and prey begins to blur. Who’s playing whom? And how long can Quincie play along before she loses everything? Ages 14-up. (Gothic fantasy.)
THIRSTY by M. T. Anderson (Candlewick, 1997). In a world where everybody knows vampires really exist, Chris finds himself becoming one. It's hard enough dealing with his family, the growing distance between him and his friends, and the enigmatic quality of the girl his likes. Then an entity calling himself "Chet" ask Chris to help save humanity. But it's not clear if Chet is really on the side of good or evil, and with each passing day, Chris finds himself growing more thirsty. A must-read for vampire comedy fans. Ages 12-up. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. (Gothic fantasy.)
TITHE: A MODERN FAEIRE TALE by Holly Black (Simon
& Schuster, 2002). Kaye Fierch has been passing through life
as a blond Asian, connecting with fairies but not counting herself among
them...until now. Excellent juxtaposition of the fantasy elements against
the New Jersey setting. Some readers may be familiar with Black from the
Spiderwick Chronicle Series (for the younger set). Ages 12-up. Read The
Story Behind The Story from Holly Black. Don't miss the two companion boosk, VALIANT: A MODERN TALE OF FAERIE (Simon & Schuster, 2005) and IRONSIDE: A MODERN TALE OF FAERIE (Simon & Schuster, 2007). (Gothic fantasy.)
VAMPIRE HIGH by Douglas Rees (Delacorte, 2003), darling concept with a plotline that is an exploration of a fresh, funny, farcical world. Ages 12-up. Read The Story Behind The Story from Douglas Rees. (Gothic fantasy.)
VAMPIRE KISSES by Ellen Schreiber (HarperCollins,
2003). Raven, 16, a self-styled Goth girl has always wanted to be
a vampire, but by cruel fate finds herself being raised, trapped, plagued
by the banality that is Dullsville. Still, with her quick wit and resourcefulness,
she more than fends off her lock-step critics and perhaps even finds
true love with the mysterious boy from the mansion on the hill. A horromedy
with more laughs than bite; light, entertaining, and although it's marked
for ages twelve and up, I'd say... Ages 10-up. See also VAMPIRE KISSES:
KISSING
COFFINS (HarperCollins, 2005), VAMPIRE KISSES: VAMPIREVILLE, VAMPIRE KISSES: DANCING WITH A VAMPIRE. A graphic novel version of the series also is available; look for: VAMPIRE KISSES: BLOOD RELATIVES, illustrated by Rem. (Paranormal romance.)
RUNNING OUT OF TIME by Margaret Peterson Haddix (Simon & Schuster, 1995). Jessie has always thought that she lived in a small frontier town. She always thought she knew what year it was. In this realism suspense thriller, Jessie finds out she was wrong. Children's lives are at risk as she runs to find help in a time and place very different than the world she thought she was growing up in. Compelling, high interest story. Ages 8-up. (Suspense.)
THIS SIDE OF PARADISE by Steven L. Layne (Pelican, 2002). Jack Barrett's perfectionist dad has finally taken things too far — expecting his family to leave their whole lives behind and move to a corporate-owned town called Paradise, one ruled by Dad's obsessive CEO, Mr. Eden. But that's just the beginning. Paradise may be "perfect," but that perfection comes at the ultimate price. A fast-paced, fascinating read by a first-rate plotter. (See author site link in sidebar for reviews, awards, study guide, etc.) Ages 10-up. (Suspense.)
Marly's Ghost by David Levithan
Featured Titles
(Gothic fantasy, paranormal romance, resource, suspense)
Books That “Suck” from The Compulsive Reader: To clarify: "No," CR says, "I am not going to spend an entire month on books to avoid. Instead, this month is going to be devoted to an ever growing genre of YA — Vampire books."
Follow the links below for my complete background bibliographies on:
Still more on the genre: