It’s time to start planning Summer Reading already – I know, right? – and there are some great themes available: there is the Oceans of Possibilities theme, and there’s the Read Beyond the Beaten Path. For those readers that like the spookier side of life, I’m very excited that the Horror Writers Association is back with Summer Scares!
I don’t use Summer Scares as the sole Summer Reading program at my library, but I do promote it to give me that little extra, to reach all my readers at the library, because I have quite a few spooky/horror fans here (including me). This year’s Summer Scares Middle Grade offerings are fantastic:
Source: RA For All, Summer Scares FAQ and Resources, 3/1/2022
- The Forgotten Girl by India Hill Brown [Scholastic Press, 2019]
- Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker [Henry Holt and Co., 2019]
- Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne [Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2020]
I’ve only read one of the YA offerings, Clown in a Cornfield, which I LOVED (and which is getting a sequel in August!); I’m looking forward to diving into these other selections:
- Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare [HarperTeen, 2020]
- The Companion by Katie Alender [G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 2020]
- Agnes at the End of the World by Kelly McWilliams [Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2020]
Source: RA For All, Summer Scares FAQ and Resources, 3/1/2022
Info and resources are available on the RA for All: Horror blog, which is updated pretty regularly by Becky Spratford, who also writes the excellent RA for All blog. These are excellent Readers Advisory blogs that you should be subscribed to; Becky Spratford has great insights and puts up plenty of links for professional development.
Mom Read It 