by G.Kirchmyer Halloween can be a tricky holiday (no pun intended). Some people just dont like horror, zombies, and psycho-thrillers. But there's a new kid in town. Well, not really. Actually Gothic Literature is pretty darn old, but your readers will love it, and if they're kids, it might be new to them! So, what is Gothic Literature? Basically, the main characteristics are that it "typically involves people, as well as ghosts and other paranormal phenomena, who become involved in complex and oftentimes evil schemes, usually against an innocent and helpless victim." From the earliest classic, The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole that began the movement in the 18th century, these fiction tales combine mystery, horror, and romance, leaving readers with a chilling tale. The movement continued with Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and Bram Stoker’s Dracula and "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe. The Bronte sisters capitalized on the romance piece in their classic works Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. What's important to notice is that reading a holiday themed book doesn't have to mean gore and blood. Librarians & teachers want to get something into the hands of every young reader, so use this resource to help you as you decide on some titles this year! | This extensive list of some popular & current gothic reads was personally shared with me by author Sonia Gensler. The list is divided by Classics, Young Adult (YA) for grades 9-12, Middle Grades(MG) for grades 6-8, & for little ones the list contains some picture books and early readers. Popular titles include The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron, the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer, Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, and The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey. Looking for a graphic novel for your reluctant reader, try Miss Peregrines’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs is fun! A favorite modern gothic_ author, Sonia Gensler has written The Revenant, The Dark Between, and Ghostlight. Not into gothic fiction? Maybe you’d like crime fiction, one of the fastest growing genres of literature. A Chattanooga local author, George Hudson, professor at Chatt State just released his second novel, New Moon Murders (edited by yours truly). His books (the first is titled Purple Haze) can be ordered on Amazon! Whatever the interest, there is sure to be something for everyone, but a nice GOTHIC LITERATURE section can display something that can appeal to anyone! Bibliography
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AuthorWith 20 years in education, a member of her district Library Leadership Team and a National Board Certified Teacher, Ginger Kirchmyer is dedicated to creating change in her school district and helping librarians to be positive change agents for their school community. Archives
January 2016
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