Tag Archives: Halloween

Review: A Bite Above the Rest by Christine Virnig

Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , , ,
A Bite Above the Rest by Christine Virnig

A Bite Above the Rest
Christine Virnig
Aladdin
Published August 6, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About A Bite Above the Rest

A boy moves to a Halloween-themed town only to realize there may be more to the tourist trap than meets the eye in this fast-paced romp of a middle grade novel perfect for fans of The Last Kids on Earth and Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library !

When Caleb’s mom decides they are moving to her childhood home in Wisconsin, Caleb is not thrilled. Moving schools, states, and time zones would be bad enough, but Mom’s hometown is Samhain, a small and ridiculously kitschy place where every day is Halloween.

Caleb is not a fan of Halloween when it only happens once a year, so Halloween-obsessed Samhain is really not the place for him. How is he supposed to cope with kids wearing costumes to school every single day ? And how about the fact that the mayor is so committed to the bit that City Hall is only open from sundown to sunup to accommodate his so-called vampirism? Sure enough, Caleb becomes an outcast at school for refusing to play along with the spooky tradition like the other sixth graders. Luckily, he manages to find a friend in fellow misfit Tai, and just in time, because things are getting weird in Samhain…or make that weird er .

But there’s no way the mayor is an actual vampire, and their teacher absolutely cannot really be a werewolf—right? Caleb discovers Samhain is so much stranger than he ever could have imagined. As one of the only people who realizes what’s happening, can he save a town that doesn’t want saving?

My Review

I had a lot of fun reading this book. It has a great voice– it reminded me of the tone of spoofy 80s movies (Like The ‘Burbs with Tom Hanks). Caleb and Tai are great characters, too. They each had different approaches to what was happening. I liked the way they helped one another out and the strong connection of their friendship.

It’s about 300 pages long, but several passages contain large illustrations. The short chapters also make this one a pretty quick read.

Even though it’s a little early, this Halloween-centric story made me want to curl up with a cup of tea and a bowl of candy. After this fabulous, goofy adventure, I can’t wait to see what Christine Virnig writes next.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Tai is Jamaican and Asian American.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Some characters appear to have supernatural abilities or powers.

References to witch trials. Halloween celebrations.

Violent Content
23 women were murdered by drowning in the town’s history during witch trials. After this, the townspeople executed 23 religious and political leaders for their roles in the murders. (None of that happens on scene.)

Tai and Caleb experience situations of peril.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Secrets Never Die by Vincent Ralph

Book Review and Content, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , ,

Secrets Never Die
Vincent Ralph
Wednesday Books
Published August 29, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Secrets Never Die

We call it the Dark Place. I don’t know who built it or when but, for us, it’s special.

Every year Sam Hall and his friends hold funerals for their secrets in an abandoned hut in the woods that they call the Dark Place. But this year, their secrets are coming back from the dead…to terrorize them.

Sam is a former child star whose career went up in flames – literally. And no one, not even his best friend knows why. His friends each hold a secret pertaining to the night. A secret they would all like buried.

Now someone from the past is blackmailing them with their dangerous secrets. Sam isn’t sure who he can trust, who’s watching him – or how far he’s willing to go to bury the past once and for all.

When you’re alone in the dark, some things won’t stay hidden.

My Review

This isn’t my favorite genre, but I feel like I’m growing to appreciate it more through books like YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DIE TONIGHT and ONE OF US IS NEXT.

I liked that SECRETS NEVER DIE starts with a close-knit friend group, in which everyone hides a secret. I definitely didn’t predict the direction that some of those secrets took the story. There were a few things that I did successfully predict. They were pretty minor, though, so mostly, that made it satisfying that I was right.

One particular plot bend shifted the focus of the story away from the main characters. I found some of the things that happened at that juncture to be a little less engaging. By that point, though, the stakes of the story were so high, and it seemed like whoever had it out for Sam and his friends was closing in on them.

In one scene, Sam and his girlfriend need to make up after a fight. She sits at her desk reading her favorite book, THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER. Sam wants to talk to her, but he says she makes him wait until she gets to the end of the chapter she’s reading. I thought that was funny because PERKS only has four chapters in the whole book, and they’re like 40-60 pages. That’s a LONG wait, unless she happened to be near the end of one already.

On the whole, I think the book does a great job in the way the story builds tension. I liked the characters, and I kept finding reasons to sneak another chapter in so I could keep reading.

I think readers who enjoy suspense/thriller stories will want to check this one out.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
One minor character is gay.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Extreme profanity used somewhat frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl. Kissing between two boys. Brief reference to who’s had sex and who hasn’t within Sam’s group.

Spiritual Content
Sam and his friends have a yearly ritual in which they each go into a hut to speak their darkest secrets, to release themselves from guilt over their pasts.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. More than one person faces danger from a fire. One character survives a suicide attempt. Characters receive threatening messages and creepy items. Two characters are in a car accident. Someone attacks others with a knife. In one scene, a child appears to be in danger.

Drug Content
Teens drink alcohol at a Halloween party.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support this blog. I received a free copy of SECRETS NEVER DIE in exchange for my honest review.

15 Perfect Books for Spooky Season

Lists, Middle Grade 8-12, News and Fun, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , ,

I don’t usually post anything specifically about Spooky Season. Halloween wasn’t an important holiday in my house. Though I was raised in a conservative Christian home, I think the real reason we weren’t big Halloween celebrators is that my dad is generally against holidays which revolve around candy. Ha! So I never really got into the spirit of the holiday, I guess. My mom sews and loves costumes, so we always had costumes and created reasons to dress up around our house. Maybe that’s another reason I didn’t look forward to the holiday specifically for an excuse to dress up?

In any case, I also happen to be a pretty tense reader, so I don’t usually chase down a lot of spooky-ish reads. Somehow this year I’ve ended up with a reading list full of books that I’d call at least mildly spooky. These are spooky but not terrifying.

Here are my best suggestions for a book to curl up with under your blanket while you sip your pumpkin spice beverage as you celebrate this spooky season.

5 Perfect MG Books for Spooky Season

I’ve listed these books in order from least to most spooky. That way, if you’re like me, you’ll have a better chance of finding a book at your personal spooky comfort level.

Trex by Christyne Morrell

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: An anxious girl with spy skills, a boy with a mysterious brain implant, and a person watching them both. Lots of fun to read!

Release Date: August 30, 2022 | My Review

Naomi Teitelbaum Ends the World by Samara Shanker

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Jewish folklore. Best friends. A real-live golem on the loose with instructions to save the world. What could possibly go wrong? This was a super fun read.

Release Date: September 6, 2022 | Author Q&A | My Review

The Vanquishers by Kalynn Bayron

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Inspired by BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and THE WATCHMEN. Vampires were supposed to be vanquished decades ago… but it looks like they’re back. Looks fantastic.

Release Date: September 20, 2022

Ravenfall by Kalyn Josephson

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: From Goodreads: One magical inn, two kids with supernatural powers, and an ancient Celtic creature trying to destroy their world by Halloween night…

One of my favorite books this year!

Release Date: August 30, 2022 | Author Q&A | My Review

The Plentiful Darkness by Heather Kassner

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: I read this book earlier in the year, and can’t stop thinking about it. It’s got some spooky magic, unforgettable characters, and possibly the best exploration of grief I’ve ever seen in a novel.

Release Date: August 3, 2021

10 Perfect YA Books for Spooky Season

Just like the middle grade section, these spooky reads are arranged in order from what I found to be least to most spooky.

Before Takeoff by Adi Alsaid

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: This one pretty much had me at “THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR meets JUMANJI.” More weird than truly spooky, but a great fall read.

Release Date: June 7, 2022 | My Review

Three Kisses, One Midnight Roshani Chokshi, Sandhya Menon and Evelyn Skye

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Three friends will use art, science, and the magic of a powerful legend to seek the perfect romance. I haven’t read anything by Evelyn Skye, but I love the books by Sandhya Menon and Roshani Chokshi that I’ve read, so this one looks like a sure win to me.

Release Date: August 30, 2022 | My Review

The Killing Code by Ellie Marney

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: 1943 Virginia. After a string of murders, four codebreaker girls team up to find the killer so they can stop him before he strikes again. I couldn’t stop reading. F/F romance.

Release Date: September 20, 2022 | My Review

We Made It All Up by Margot Harrison

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A town full of secrets. A love-story fan-fic written by two unlikely friends. A murder: the boy they’ve written about. Twisty and suspenseful. Perfect for fans of WE WERE LIARS.

Release Date: July 12, 2022 | My Review

The Ghosts of Rose Hill by R. M. Romero

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A Latine Jewish violinist banished to Prague. The ghostly boy she falls in love with. The dark force that feeds on him. A beautiful, haunting novel-in-verse.

Release Date: May 10, 2022 | My Review

Shades of Rust and Ruin by A. G. Howard

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Twin sisters. A family curse. An incredible boy who should be off-limits. Inspired by “Goblin Market” by Christina Rosetti. I am hooked on this one.

Release Date: September 6, 2022 | My Review

Direwood by Catherine Yu

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A small town plagued by missing teens. A nest of vampires and bloodsucking butterflies. One girl determined to destroy them and find her sister. I liked the unique spin on vampires in this one.

Release Date: September 20, 2022 | My Review

Dark Room Etiquette by Robin Roe

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A kidnapped boy. A role his abductor has created for him. Can he escape before he loses himself? This one could be on the edge of what I can handle, but I loved A LIST OF CAGES, so I really want to try it.

Release Date: October 11, 2022

The Honeys by Ryan LaSala

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A twin’s sister dies under horrific circumstances, and he will do whatever it takes to find out why. I’m not usually brave enough to read horror, but this is RYAN LASALA. I feel like I have to give it a try after the way I adored REVERIE.

Release Date: August 2, 2022

It Looks Like Us by Allison Ames

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A high school team visiting an Antarctic research station. An unknown, shapeshifting infection pursuing them one by one. Scary books aren’t my usual go-to, but I couldn’t put this one down. Ace main character.

Release Date: September 13, 2022 | My Review

Are you planning to read anything creepy, crawly, or scary this spooky season?

Do you celebrate Halloween? What are your favorite books for spooky season? Let me know in the comments.

Review: An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , ,

An Enchantment of Ravens
Margaret Rogerson
Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published September 26th, 2017

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

About An Enchantment of Ravens

Isobel is a prodigy portrait artist with a dangerous set of clients: the sinister fair folk, immortal creatures who cannot bake bread, weave cloth, or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and Isobel’s paintings are highly prized among them. But when she receives her first royal patron—Rook, the autumn prince—she makes a terrible mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes – a weakness that could cost him his life.

Furious and devastated, Rook spirits her away to the autumnlands to stand trial for her crime. Waylaid by the Wild Hunt’s ghostly hounds, the tainted influence of the Alder King, and hideous monsters risen from barrow mounds, Isobel and Rook depend on one another for survival. Their alliance blossoms into trust, then love, violating the fair folks’ ruthless Good Law. There’s only one way to save both their lives, Isobel must drink from the Green Well, whose water will transform her into a fair one—at the cost of her Craft, for immortality is as stagnant as it is timeless.

Isobel has a choice: she can sacrifice her art for a future, or arm herself with paint and canvas against the ancient power of the fairy courts. Because secretly, her Craft represents a threat the fair folk have never faced in all the millennia of their unchanging lives: for the first time, her portraits have the power to make them feel.

My Review

I was incredibly excited to get to read this new release! Faeries, and painting, and the autumn prince…this was the perfect fall read. It was a lot darker/creepier than I was expecting, and the romance got a little extreme at times, but other than that, I loved it. This would make a great book to read for Halloween.

The book is written in first person perspective, which means that we get to hear directly from Isobel herself. It was neat hearing the story through her voice, though it did feel limited at times. I was hoping to see more of the scope of the faerie world, and how it worked, but instead the book just skimmed the surface. I feel like there is so much more that could be explored here–definitely series material, though at this point it’s just a standalone.

The parts of Whimsy and the faerie courts we did see, however, were captivating. The setting reminded me a lot of Goldstone Woods, from Anne Elisabeth Stengl’s books, both in its complexity and its dark, mysterious feel. The intricacies of the fair folk, and their customs were fascinating.

The plot itself kept me guessing at every corner, especially towards the end. It surprised me again and again, and I wasn’t sure how everything was going to work out in the end. You’ll just have to read for yourself to find out what happens!

In the end, I’m rating An Enchantment of Ravens 4 stars out of 5 (-1 for content). It’s the perfect creepy fall read for fans of Heather Dixon and Anne Elisabeth Stengl.


Recommended for Ages 16 up.

Cultural Elements
All of the human characters are described as white. Some of the fair folk are darker shades, and some are lighter (depending on what court they are from).

Profanity/Crude Language Content
A few bad words and crude language here and there.

Romance/Sexual Content
Some heavy kissing/touching. Sex is brought up, but doesn’t happen. Isobel is naked more than once near/in sight of Rook. She peeks at him washing.

Spiritual Content
Faerie courts and magic.

Violent Content
Characters are in mortal peril often, and sometimes close to death. Some wounds are described.

Drug Content
Characters drink wine. 

Save