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from SIMPLYkc Magazine October 2022

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A Not-So-Ordinary Book Discussion BY TIFFANY KILLOREN

“QUOTH THE RAVEN, ‘NEVERMORE!’”

Full disclosure—I love Halloween season. I love the cooler temperatures, post-summer slowdown, and any excuse to buy a flavored coffee while strolling through my favorite bookstores. I’m also guilty of loving a good jump scare, although you’ll never find me making my way through the haunted houses in the West Bottoms. Not everyone loves the spooky-vibe thing, but chances are the kids in your life love all that the season has to offer.

There is a way to embrace a bit of the dark without looking for Pennywise in your sewer drains (Stephen King IT fans will understand this reference). Below are a few reading ideas for all ages that won’t cause nightmares.

Goosebumps Series (R.L. Stine) Recommended for ages 8-12, this classic series is a much-loved collection of semi-creepy stories featuring the stuff of kids’ imaginations, including an irritated mummy and Slappy, a ventriloquist doll dealing with some serious anger issues. Now expanded into additional series for graphic novel lovers, readers who love the movies and an entire selection devoted to Slappy himself, these books can be found at school book fairs and on the Scholastic Kids website. They are a perfect pre-Halloween surprise because they are short, fun, and a way to bring a little spook without the scare.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (Alvin Schwartz, 1981) You might know the movie based on some of these stories, but Schwartz’s collection of spooky tales is a favorite for elementary-middle schoolers (recommended for third grade and above), and they provide a little humor among fun fear moments with short stories perfect for the campfire. The three-book series includes the original Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and More Tales to Chill Your Bones. If you’re not quite sure that your kiddo is ready for the slightly spooky stuff, devote an evening to stealing from your candy stash and reading the stories together.

The Edgar Allan Poe Collection (~1840s) For older kids (I suggest high school age) you can never go wrong with Poe. An assigned read in some schools, The TellTale Heart is a classic macabre tale that incites interesting discussion regarding whether it is based on the protagonist’s descent into madness or depicts an actual ghostly presence among the floorboards. The Raven, The Pit and the Pendulum and The Fall of the House of Usher are stories that have stood the test of time. For a gradual introduction to Poe’s work, the Coterie Theater is putting on a Tell-Tale Electric Poe Production in late October.

The Witches: Salem, 1692 (Stacy Schiff, 2015) For history lovers, one of the darkest times in our country’s history was the Salem witch trials of the 1690s. If we weren’t all aware of its sad truth, the story would read like something out of a horror novel with an ending too tragic to comprehend. Schiff’s book is incredibly well-researched with trial transcripts and records referred to as much as possible. While Hocus Pocus may be airing on repeat these days, it’s important to remember there were real people accused of being such, and their stories are worth being told.

Tiffany Killorenis a local author and lover of the written word. Her novel, GOOD WILL, was released in 2020 and she is always thinking

of new stories to tell. Follow her at @readandthreads on Instagram for book and life musings as she tries to balance career, family and

her passion for writing one step - or word - at a time.

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