Categories
Anthologies book discussions Book Reviews Horror YA

Cornered: 14 Stories of Bullying and Defiance

 ‘It does not necessarily take a fist to create a punch in the gut.’

12661669

‘This fourteen-story YA fiction anthology delves into the experience of being bullied—socially, emotionally, physically, psychologically, and sexually. The school hallways, walks home, and house walls are no longer the boundaries for intimidation and harassment. With the rapid-fire response time of social media and smartphones, bullying has lost all limits, and the lines among truth, lies, and real accountability have become blurred.’

Cornered includes works from

Rhoda Belleza, Kirsten Miller, Mayra Lazara Dole, Matthue Roth, Sheba Karim, Kate Ellison, Jennifer Brown,Brendan Halpin, Jamie Adoff, Elizabeth Miles, David Yoo, James Lecesne, Josh Berk, Lish McBride, Zetta Elliott

I originally had this shelved on Goodreads as ‘ya-general’, but I had to add it to my ‘ya-horror’ shelf as well. ‘Cornered’ is pretty far out of my genre comfort zone, but it horrified me on a different level.

I’ve read a lot of (IMHO) outstanding fictional books about bullying –
THE 8th by Matt Shaw, JEREMY by Matt Hickman, MY BEAUTIFUL SUICIDE by Atty Eve,  RAGE by Stephen King, and most recently RAGE by Kimberly A. Bettes. (just to name a few). I think ‘Cornered’ hurt a little deeper because the stories lacked the gratifyingly bloody revenge from the victim(s).

I have the outline prepared, so BOLO for full review & author info. 

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

I came across an article I posted in 2013 when I searched for keyword word ‘bully’, and I want to share it again now. Please check it out when you have the time.

stop-bullying-source

Categories
Book Reviews coming soon Horror Humor

THE GREATEST ZOMBIE MOVIE EVER by Jeff Strand

No gerbils were harmed during the writing of this book.

cover.greatest-zombie-movie-ever

The Greatest Zombie Movie Ever is so bad, it could wake the dead…

 

What happens when three buddies decide to make an epic zombie movie with no money, no script, and a one month shooting deadline? Possibly THE WORST ZOMBIE MOVIE EVER!

Imagine the Farrelly brothers while they were growing up, and making YouTube movies. That’s how I picture Justin and his friends – brainstorming, conflicting ideas, bickering, casting, cheese fries, and the kind of teasing you can only do with your best friends.

Struggling with location issues, actor demands, and sleep deprivation, everyone’s tempers shorten, and things escalate quickly.  If the movie ever does get made, it might be at the cost of their friendship!

As usual, Jeff Strand had me audibly laughing from the beginning! No, not the beginning of the story… the beginning of the book. The preface. The ‘before you read this book WARNING’.  Parts of the story reminded me of IF CHINS COULD KILL: CONFESSIONS OF A B MOVIE ACTOR by Bruce Campbell. A fond remembering of the grueling schedule, agonizing FX, and Murphy’s Laws of film making – but when you’re passionate, and with your friends… it’s worth every minute!

THE GREATEST ZOMBIE MOVIE EVER will be released by Sourcebooks Fire on March 1’st, 2016. I read an advanced copy through NetGalley. Like I’ve said to you many times before – don’t let the Teens & YA classification scare you off!

Visit Jeff Strand on Gleefully Macabre, Facebook,   Twitter, and check out his books on Goodreads & Amazon.

 

Categories
Book Reviews Humor YA

ELROD MCBUGLE ON THE LOOSE by Jeff Strand

Elrod Mc Bugle is just trying to stay out if trouble, and survive his first year at Greenwater Junior High. Too bad LIFE keeps getting in the way.

A comedy for kids . . . and adults who were warped as kids!

ElrodMcB.Cover Pic

This needs to be a movie. No, wait… a SERIES of movies, like the one’s based off of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, but funny 😉 (only kidding).
Movies or books – the world needs more Elrod McBugle.

Elrod McBugle is a normal kid, with a normal family, and normal friends. Things just have a tendency to get weird when he’s involved.
It’s not his fault – it’s just harmless shenanigans gone awry. Like when he does his own science project on a science project, (along with that one friend who will lick just about anything), and it becomes a delicious, money-making [mis]adventure. Or when he interviews a teacher to investigate rumours about her being an axe murderer, and gets way more information than he ever wanted.
There’s also friendship, first-love, a bully, and insane squirrels.

I’m a horror junkie – we all know this. But, I am really enjoying Jeff Strand’s young adult books! Like I’ve said before – it’s up to us to help raise the next generation of horror lovers correctly. Introduce your spawn to Jeff’s writing now, and soon the day will come…
That perfect moment…
You present your child with your original copy of Dead Clown BBQ…
…and they smile.

Elrod McBugle on the LooseAmazon, Goodreads, and Gleefully Macabre

Categories
book discussions Book Reviews YA

I HAVE A BAD FEELING ABOUT THIS by Jeff Strand

Henry Lambert, a self-proclaimed geek, but definitely not a wuss, sits and watches the worst You-Tube video ever produced. His dad, on the other hand, thinks the exact opposite.
Two weeks at Strongwoods Survival Camp could be a life changing experience for his son. But Harry… he has a very bad feeling about it.

Bad Feeling.Cover

This book has all the snark of Jeff Strand, without the swearing, horror, or blood. That’s because it’s one of the YA titles available from this author, but don’t let that scare you away. I recommend it to everyone, regardless of age.

His previous novel for young adults was A BAD DAY FOR VOODOO, which was called “The greatest book ever written in the entire history of human existence,” by somebody, somewhere.

I think it would have been a neat concept if this adventure were experienced by a young Andrew Mayhem! Two weeks at survival camp with his best friend Roger, and a love-at-first-sight meeting with a girl named Helen from a neighboring camp – tell me that wouldn’t be awesome!

Even in a witty YA book about some very indoorsy kids spending two weeks at a survivalist camp, the author had to throw in an emotional smack upside my head. I swear, at one point during every single book of Jeff’s that I read – I put the book down on my lap, look at my husband (sometimes with tears, sometimes just pouting), an tell him that I’ll be sending a very strongly worded e-mail to Jeff. Then he says “who’s Jeff?”, followed by our favorite tv commercial quote…“he sounds hideous.”

Don't just survive - SurThrive!
Don’t just survive – SurThrive!

25 WILDERNESS SURVIVAL TIPS! are included throughout the book. Helpful hints to not just survive the deep, dark woods – but to sur-thrive!
OK, no. Not really.
25 tips to help make you less of a wuss before you die?
Yeah, let’s go with that.

WARNING
I will also be using the following quote whenever I need to sound like a bad-ass, (or in any event when conversation lags for more than 37 seconds).
“I killed a man just to finger-paint a picture of a duck with his blood.”
Suck-it Johnny Cash, this is WAY tougher. (Just kidding! Love me some JC ❤ )

I Have a Bad Feeling About This on Amazon
I Have a Bad Feeling About This on Goodreads
I Have a Bad Feeling About This on Gleefully Macabre

Categories
Book Reviews Horror Short Story YA

YA HORROR, Stories by Marissa Wood (updated)

 

I recently picked up 4 stories written by Marissa Wood. I caught them on sale, but they are regularly priced at only 99¢ – a great deal for Kindle shorts. I didn’t have horror like this available when I was reading YA novels as a YA. I’d like to be able to get the word out, so we can raise our next generation of horror lovers! Let your kids know that there is more out there than just GOOSEBUMPS and Darren Shan… (don’t get me wrong, I loved GOOSEBUMPS, and read Darren Shan books as an adult!) But, there is more out there! ( I just remembered, there was another Darren Shan series that I wanted to read!)
* See notes at the end for important Darren Shan info!

(Click each title photo to go directly to it’s Amazon page)

 

A RASH OF KILLINGS:

This is a YA short story, I want to make sure you realize that before you pick it up just by my five star rating. I usually stick with the dark & bloody, 17+, horror stories. But, I gotta say, this was a great short, no matter what age you are! The Amazon synopsis reads -Life isn’t easy for Dale. Kids at school are dropping like flies. The girl he likes turned him down for the prom, and his sister is as irritating as always. He didn’t get his scholarship, and with all of the murders in town, his mom is completely overprotective. How’s a teenager supposed to make it in a world of curfews, blood, and irritating parents?Besides a couple sentences geared directly towards a younger person, I’d have never known this was classified as YA. It is a really good story, with a smack in the face twist! I’m going to be on the lookout for more from this author!

A STRANGER AT THE CABIN:

 

Have you ever heard a story about a cabin that didn’t end in horror? From A Cabin In The Woods to Evil Dead… all bad. Even The Three Bears turned out bad for one little blonde haired girl, so don’t let A STRANGER AT THE CABIN’s ‘young adult’ category fool you! Actually, I was surprised at how gory and tense this was. I wish Marissa Wood had been around when I was stuck reading Sweet Valley High YA stories, but, maybe she was stuck reading those, too! Maybe that’s what inspired her to write these YA horror stories. Hmm.. The Amazon synopsis reads -When his mother is called back to work for an urgent errand, Jonathon doesn’t mind. He’s watched his sister before and there’s no problem this time. When the power goes out, though…and the phone lines, too…he knows he’s in for a long night. It isn’t until a strange man shows up at his door that he learns the long night will be filled with terror!Warning: This ebook has very dark and disturbing images, and adults should read carefully before allowing a child in their care to read this story.Whatever your age, this is a great book. I’m not one to impose reading restrictions on kids, so, if you have any worries about whether these are appropriate, I suggest reading them for yourself first.Bloody fun for all ages!

 

THE PEEPER:

Amazon synopsis – Jack has some friends over while he’s laid up with a broken leg. They want to watch some horror movies, but he’s more interested in spying on his sexy teacher a few houses down the road! With the telescope, he hopes to see something exciting, but he never expected a psycho killer punching and stabbing everyone!Warning: This ebook has very dark and disturbing images and adults should read carefully prior to allowing a child in their care to read this story.

Jack is bored to tears since breaking his leg & being confined to a boring life indoors. He’s watched every movie, and can’t play another video game! His mom suggests he take out the telescope his grandfather got him a couple years ago, to see if he can find some solace in the stars. He finds more than that when he witnesses a brutal murder at his teachers house!
PEEPER is another great horror story written for the YA audience. It is a modern version of Alfred Hitchcock’s REAR WINDOW, only a lot bloodier, and a lot more brutal! Like the other titles, I suggest you read this first if you’re purchasing for your kids. You know your children better than me 3:)
 

MAX IS MAD:

Amazon synopsis -Max lives in a little room. Max wears a strait-jacket. Max eats insects. Max gets lobotomies and electric shocks. What the doctors don’t know is that the shocks and the cutting aren’t making him dull and quiet but increasing his intelligence…and his rage. The scariest part of all is that Max has a plan.Warning: This ebook contains very dark, bloody, and disturbing imagery, and adults should read very carefully before allowing a child in their care to read this story.

Max is a genius. He lived with his mom, his dad died before Max was born. He graduated high-school, and began college, by the age of 15. It was also at age 15 when the men broke into their house & started to hurt his mom. Max did not let that happen. As a result of that, Max’s mom ends up on death row, and Max himself lands in the mental hospital. He vows revenge for what is done to his mother & himself…and, revenge is what he gets!
This is an extremely bloody & violent book. It’s very good, I love it, but if you’re purchasing for your kids, please take the time to read it first. You will know if your son or daughter can handle it 3:)
Stay involved in your children’s lives, it’s up to us to raise the next generation of horror aficionados!!

**************************************************************************
This is the only one I haven’t read yet, but, I will update you as soon as I do. I fully plan on buying it, not only to round out the group – but because I have enjoyed the previous ones!
I am trying to find the author, Marissa Wood. So far, no luck. But, my best “private eye” is on it! Haha! Suzanne has a knack for tracking down authors, so, it’s only a matter of time. Contact me if you know her, or have an address for her. (Email, not post. I’m not a full on stalker!)

THE WITCH HOST:


(available for 99¢)

Amazon synopsis -Kayla is bored at the thought of school until a field trip to a historic graveyard peaks her interest. As far as she can tell, an innocent girl was tortured and burned as a witch and the grave is in this place! With the help of her friends, she’s determined to raise the ghost of the witch so it can have its revenge. Of course, she has no idea that the ghost might not be grateful.Warning: This ebook contains very dark, bloody, disturbing images. Adults should review carefully before allowing a child in their care to read this story.
**********************************************************
Or, you can pick up all five shorts in one book!

SICK REVENGE

offers all five stories for only $2.99!

SICK REVENGE is the horrifying and suspenseful new collection of short stories from Young Adult Millennial Press by author Marissa Wood. In this collection you get all 5 full length stories. What’s happening to the teens in a small town? Is there any escape from a madman killer? Are crazy people really as crazy as we think? What might a peeping Tom really see through a sexy teacher’s window? Can an innocent spirit really help the living? Revenge has never been so sickeningly sweet!Warning: This ebook contains very dark, bloody, and disturbing imagery, and adults should read very carefully before allowing a child in their care to read this story.
***********************************************************
So, Darren Shan…If you never read any of his stuff (it’s YA, too), I was researching to give you the series I already read (CIRQUE DU FREAK), the series I wanted to read (DEMONATA), and anything new, when I found this new vampire series, book one is available for free download!

The rest of the books, surprisingly, a rip-off at eight bucks per story in Kindle format! I’m all for getting today’s youth into the horror genre, but, this pisses me off! Because it’s still a small niche (excluding sparkly vampires), I think it’s awful to raise your prices because you know parents will be willing to pay any amount to get their kids to love reading! Criminal.
SUPPORT INDIE!

 

 

 

 

Categories
Horror

HARRY POTTER – THE MOST BANNED BOOK IN AMERICA

Soon you may find me, in a dark alley behind a bookstore or a library, wearing a trench-coat and sunglasses, whispering to passers-by… “psst.. hey man, yeah, you…. ‘mere… wanna read a book?”


2012-09-07-Potter_400x300
YES, you read that correctly.
According to the American Library Association, the Harry Potter series has now not just joined the ranks of such classics as as The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, & 1984, by George Orwell, but has passed them all to become The Most Banned Book in America. That puts J.K. Rowling arm in arm with Mark Twain, Harper Lee, and Maya Angelou!
How messed up is that?
“It is undeniable that themes of death and resurrection abound in the stories, as well as detailed depictions of potions and other hocus pocus. But while there are Christians who decry the celebration of witchcraft, there are other Christians who consider Harry’s journey an edifying allegory for Jesus Christ.” (O.o What!?)
I’m a filthy, dirty, hellbound pagan, and loved these books – not because I learned to point a tree branch and fix my glasses, or because they were a covert way to teach my son about my religious beliefs. But, for the same reason I enjoyed any other fictional book, for the characters I fell in love with, for the stories I got lost in, for the joy of reading a phenomenal story!
As much as I want to rant & rave about the people who believe that these books are anything other than fictional novels, I’m trying to hold my tongue. But, they’re the same people who banned Captain Underpants.
CAPTAIN BANNED!

“That is another problem with banning books: it obscures the diversity of viewpoints within its potential readership.” Once they’re banned, the only people who discuss their viewpoints – are the narrow-minded one-way thinkers.
Thankfully at least 450 million copies have been sold, so there is little danger that an eager reader will not be able to drudge up a copy. But, this wasn’t always the case!
::RANT::
Yet me ask you this, with fanatics such as Fred Phelps (for example), who twist around the words in that all holy book to fit their way of bigotry and hatred… why hasn’t The Holy Bible been banned every hotel in America?
::/END RANT::
About a decade ago, PEN joined with the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression to support an initiative called KidSpeak, a website designed to encourage kids to debate free expression issues and, at least initially, to debate whether J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series should be censored. The conversation had been prompted by a number of religious groups that claimed the fantasy series about young wizards promoted occultism and paganism, thereby undermining Christian values. Here is a response from a fifth grader: “I think the Harry Potter case is just crazy. I have an idea that kids seven and under need a permission slip to see if it’s okay for seven and under to read Harry Potter books. If parents of kids eight and older complain, the principal should just talk to them and tell them that it’s just fantasy.”
How are kids so intelligent & well spoken?
OH! That’s right…
THEY READ!
What stands out about this student’s response, and the response from the rest of the elementary school classroom, is not just her indignation at the idea of censoring the Potter books — she crafted a policy that would protect younger children. The discussion prompted the student to think about free expression and also to develop her own creative solutions to address the concerns of others who held views different from her own.
Since the publication of The Sorcerer’s Stone in 1997, kids have discussed, dissected and debated the books with a critical eye. Anyone who has listened to Mugglecast, a podcast for Harry Potter lovers, must acknowledge the close textual reading of every single chapter of the series, and fan fiction sites abound in an efflorescence of, albeit channeled, creativity. These books have taught children to read, to think, to write and to criticize, all hallmarks of free expression! How can that be a bad thing?
It’s these kids, the ones who learned to think critically & write creatively, who will soon be flooding the literary world with their ideas. These are also the ones who will probably be on a banned list of their own. And, that, is what gives me hope.
forbidden

DISCUSSION?
What has been your favorite book that has ended up on the BANNED LIST?
What do you think is the craziest book to end up in the BANNED LIST has been?