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Five Faves: Spooky Books for Tweens

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I love reading spooky books during October, and I especially love books where monsters are actually heroes. There are werewolves, vampires, ghosts, and more in the books below. These books are perfect to get you in the mood for Halloween, and there's a great variety between fiction and comics, as well as some diverse authors with new perspectives!

The Accursed Vampire
By Madeline McGrane
New York: Quill Tree Books/Harper Alley, imprints of Harper Collins Publishers, 2021. Comics. 169 pages.

Dragoslava was cursed centuries ago by a witch, and now he must complete each of her tasks in order to avoid magical torture. On a quest with his best friends, Quintus and Eztli, he sets out to retrieve a magical grimoire. As the trio begins their journey, they encounter other strange and magical creatures, and learn the importance of friendship, family, and belonging. Filled with plenty of moments of fun and laughter, this graphic novel is an excellent addition to any tween's October reading.

Ghost Book
By Remy Lai
New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2023. Comics. 313 pages.

July Chen can see ghosts, and she hides her ability from everyone, including her dad. After July saves a ghost boy, William, they discover that he's not actually a ghost, but rather a being bordering on life and death. July and William race throughout the underworld in order to return William to his body in this graphic novel filled with Chinese mythology. But July and William are more entangled than they thought, and their very fates are intertwined...for better or for worse. 

The Supernatural Society
By Rex Ogle
Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Inkyard Press, 2022. Fiction. 279 pages.

Will is not a fan of his life at the moment. His parents got divorced, he doesn't have any friends (minus his dog, Fitz), and he just moved to a new town where he feels completely alone. But his new town is more dangerous than he thought, and all the pets go missing. Will discovers that he can see monstrous creatures that others can't, and he must rely on his new friends, tough Ivy and smart Linus, in order to save his new home. 

The Werewolf's Tale
By Laura Suárez
London: Flying Eye Books, 2023. Comics. 59 pages.

Lowell thinks he's a normal twelve-year-old boy, albeit a little different than his peers. When he transforms into a werewolf, he joins the Monster Support Group to try and grapple with his new hairy self. As Lowell searches for a cure, he also learns more about the origins of werewolves. His fellow students in the Monster Support Group become a found family for Lowell, and the cute, cartoonish illustrations in this graphic novel make it a perfect, light-hearted, spooky themed read for fall. 


How Not to Be a Vampire Slayer
By Katy Birchall
New York: Scholastic Paperbacks, 2023. Fiction. 263 pages.

When a vampire and vampire slayer meet and become friends, chaos is sure to ensue. Maggie, a descendant from a long line of vampire slayers, is determined to find peace with her new friend, Sharptooth Shadow, a vegetarian vampire who is intrigued by humans. As the two struggle to maintain their friendship amongst conflicting forces, they must rely on each other in order to not only save each other, but the whole forest.
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