I know we’re all getting our paleontological/archaeological books ready for Summer Reading (if you’re part of CSLP, that is), but don’t forget about Summer Scares!
If you have readers who like life on the spooky side, Summer Scares is for them (and you, if you enjoy that sort of thing. I do). This year’s picks are phenomenal:
For the grown-ups:
A Botanical Daughter, by Noah Medlock (Titan, 2024)
Never Whistle at Night, ed. Shane Hawk & Theodore C. Van Alst (Vintage, 2023)
Maeve Fly, by CJ Leede (Tor Nightfire, 2023)
For the teens:
What We Harvest, by Ann Fraistat (Delacorte Press, 2022)
Gorgeous Gruesome Faces, by Linda Cheng (Roaring Brook Press, 2023)
Our Shadows Have Claws, ed. Yamile Saied Méndez & Amparo Ortiz (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2022)
For the tweens:
Garlic and the Vampire, by Bree Paulsen (Harper, 2021)
It Came from the Trees, by Ally Russell (Delacorte Press, 2023)
This Appearing House, by Ally Malinenko (Harper, 2022)
The guide will be up on the site by March 1, and there will be a series of free webinars with featured authors speaking with committee members throughout March. Who’s excited?
I was considering adding a “Summer Spookies” element for the littles, just so they’re not feeling left out. What do you think? Here are the books I was thinking of:
Poesy the Monster Slayer, by Cory Doctorow/Illustrated by Matt Rockefeller (First Second, 2020)
Take a Breath, Big Red Monster!, by Ed Emberley (LB Kids, 2025)
How I Met My Monster, by Amanda Noll/Illustrated by Howard McWilliam (Flashlight Press, 2019)
What are some of your Summer Scare suggestions? Let’s create virtual displays together!
Mom Read It 