Slasher Girls & Monster Boys
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that the 14 stories in Slasher Girls & Monster Boys take their inspiration from modern and classic horror novels and films. Selected by April Genevieve Tucholke, the stories feature a wide range of horror trappings: serial killers, zombies, ghosts, revenge plots, and monsters. Not surprisingly, each story contains violent scenes, some more graphic than others. Strong language is varied and fairly frequent, including "f--k" and "s--t." A handful of stories involve underage drinking. Two stories feature scenes of teens about to make love, but few details are provided.
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What's the Story?
The 14 stories selected for this anthology all are inspired by classic and modern tales of horror. They range from a twisted take on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, which includes a homicidal March Hare, to a fateful supernatural encounter with reanimated corpses on California's I-5 freeway. All feature teen protagonists, some of whom come to bad ends while others prevail against incredible odds. Contributors include Danielle Paige, Marie Lu, and Jonathan Maberry.
Is It Any Good?
A horror anthology can be a hit-or-miss proposition, but this collection serves up a majority of creepy winners. Most of the contributors find something new to do with such familiar trappings as serial killers, zombies, ghosts, and monsters. Highlights include "Hide-and-Seek" by Megan Shepherd, about a contest with Death itself, and "Stitches" by A.G. Howard, an intense tale about transplanted body parts. All in all, horror fans will find many spooky pleasures in this well-curated volume.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why horror stories are so popular and appear in so many different forms. Why do readers enjoy reading about vampires, zombies, serial killers, and monsters?
Does seeking revenge ever have positive results? What kinds of things happen when people seek vengeance against others?
Do you believe in the occult or the supernatural? Why are some people attracted to ideas of magic and fantasy?
Book Details
- Author: April Genevieve Tucholke
- Genre: Horror
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Dial Books
- Publication date: August 18, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 17
- Number of pages: 400
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
Our Editors Recommend
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The Twelve-Fingered Boy
Exciting, creepy horror adventure tweaks superheroics.
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The Forest of Hands and Teeth
Cool heroine makes this for more than zombie horror fans.
For kids who love horror stories
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