#Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker

[ivanatwotails]

Some Scary Stories for Young Foxes sketches I made! They are very choppy cause they are just sketches, sooo.

Gonna do these digitally at some point, and do fanart for the second book once I'm finished with it

[booksinmythorax]

Thorax Does the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge 2024 - #3: Read a middle grade horror novel + #9: Read a book recommended by a librarian

Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker

My only previous exposures to middle grade horror were Goosebumps books and Neil Gaiman's Coraline, but I wanted to read something a little newer for this challenge. A colleague of mine at the library recommended this one to me*, which was a fun way to (in keeping with some of the themes of this book) kill two birds with one stone.

Scary Stories for Young Foxes is scary even if you are not young or a fox. A human historical figure shows up as a surprise villain (I certainly didn't see her coming). Themes of ableism, betrayal, and abuse are dealt with in a sophisticated, utterly terrifying way. And everyone's a fox. I will definitely be picking up the sequel, The City.

*Note: Technically any book you read about on this blog counts as a book recommended by a librarian for this challenge!

[fyrefrostanimus]

Anyone who was watching me post remember that little meme I made about making a FNaF crossover AU because I noticed some characters were similar? Yeah that wasn't a joke, I actually have a bit of a plan now.

I feel like the first thing I should really do is quickly explain the other inspiration of the crossover. It's called Scary Stories for Young Foxes, written by Christian McKay Heidicker. To avoid spoilers if anyone wants to read it first, I'll place this below a cut. There's also a basic rundown of the AU story later which doesn't include detailed descriptions of gore, but is pretty dark as far as I've gotten.

Scary Stories for Young Foxes is a collection of interconnected stories in the same universe of sentient foxes, with small sections in-between where the storyteller (who is indeed a character) finishes a story and sees that one of the kits she is telling the stories to has run away in fear. She tells tales about rabies, a story that somehow turns Beatrix Potter writing things like Peter Rabbit into a horrifying situation, and, suspiciously enough, a nigh-unkillable and murderous father figure trying to end his son's life.

So you see why I chose the fox book of all things now, right?

The only things I could see as needing a TW are

The main character of the AU is Evan (Crying Child if you don't know that's one of the fanon names of his), and it pretty much starts out like normal FNaF minus the fact that everyone's a fox person. Yes, the fox person aspect is important and you'll see why later. Michael sets up some prank involving an animatronic like what caused the Bite, but it's not Fredbear and it's not involving its mouth. I have no idea what/who the animatronic would be, or what exactly happens in the way the prank was planned, but let's just say Mike realized at the last second this could actually kill Evan and takes the blow for him instead (death by bleeding out, represented by a snake on the drawing as the death swap was inspired by an event in one of the stories in the book). He's left shaken from this, partially because his brother nearly killed him, and partially because Mike died instead.

What really confuses him is his father's lack of reaction to Michael's death. Despite how much Evan was devastated, nothing much changed at home. Elizabeth (who you may note is 7 years old) hasn't changed at all. It's like he's the only one who misses Michael in the whole house. Something doesn't seem right about not getting scared from around corners.

It stays like that for a few months until Elizabeth starts acting odd. Evan starts locking his door as soon as she begins glaring at him, and he refused to open his door for anyone if Elizabeth was nearby. He's tried to bring it up to his father, but he's not doing anything about it. Not even when she starts getting aggressive.

That's right folks, Elizabeth got rabies.

This ends up being too much for Evan, and he starts running off to stat with Henry and Charlie, where he actually feels safe. Henry sends him back home the first few times, until he realizes Evan is actively in danger back at home and lets him stay. At least until Elizabeth dies from her sickness and it's safe again.

William is absolutely disgusted with the fact that Evan refused to stay home and be with Elizabeth when she had a fatal disease, even if that disease could be passed on to him if he stayed home. Upon finding out that Henry was letting him stay with them, Charlie gets murdered, kicking off William's child murder spree. The others happen when he begins experimenting to bring Elizabeth back.

From this point on I don't have much on the AU, but I'll try to think about this.

[book-reviewer-2000]

Scary Stories for Young Foxes

Christian McKay Heidicker

Illustrated by Junyi Wu

One autumn evening, seven little foxes ask for scarier stories than their mother has told them yet. Although they beg and whine, she tells them that she has no more scary stories, but there is an old storyteller who has terrible stories that would scare the white into their tails. They find themselves at the den of this old storyteller, who tells them stories of two fox kits, each on harrowing journeys through danger and the unknown. Mia and her mother flee a deadly illness that takes the rest of their family and come face-to-face with humans. Uly, the runt of the litter with a forepaw that doesn’t work, has to flee from his father who wants to kill him. The pair meet when Uly helps Mia escape the humans. The two have to stick together to make it through a swamp with dangerous creatures, Uly’s sinister father, and the bitter cold of winter. After each story, one of the kits turns tail, too scared to listen any longer. Which kit has the bravery to listen to all of the stories? What happens to the two kits struggling through adventure after adventure? It’s up to an intrepid and insightful reader to find out. Mia and Uly deal with loss and grief in an eloquent way, uniting from their shared familial issues. While the stories are about fictional foxes, readers may see themselves in the characters and their tales. This book fills the imagination with its descriptive word choice and haunting illustrations of each anecdote. The scary stories bring elements of the supernatural, natural, and even human-created terror. But fear not- there’s a kind ending for these little foxes. This book may not be the best choice for easily frightened readers, but lovers of spooky fairytales will enjoy this original concept.

BIBLIO: 2019, Henry Holt and Company/ Macmillan Publishing Group, Age 9-12, $16.99 and $22.99.

REVIEWER: Rebekah Ehrhart

FORMAT:  Middle Reader

ISBN: 9781250181428

[marsdetective]

10, 11, 17, 20 & 25 for the books ask!!!

thank you sophie!!

10. What was your favorite new release of the year?

Ooohhh this is so hard! I think mayhaps Babel by RF Kuang? Literally RF Kuang is queen of examining colonialism and history through a fascinating fantasy lens and also ripping your heart out at the same time. 10/10.

11. What was your favorite book that has been out for a while, but you just now read?

Okay I thought this one would also be hard but then I realized that there is an obvious answer for me and it's Parable of the Sower by Octavia E Butler. Believe it or not, I've never read a book by her before and now she's already one of my favorite writers. Like, god. it was so heavy to read but I flew through it. She did a great job of balancing the dystopia aspects with hope and resiliency. the development of the world and characters was so good, and the "god is change" stuff was genuinely really cool to think of.

Like, I was a teenager in 2010-2013 and I never thought I'd willingly read a dystopia again bc of that Experience.... but here I am, thinking this is probably in my top 10 books of the year.

Also, shout out to Beloved by Toni Morrison, Mythology by Edith Hamilton, The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker and Uprooted by Naomi Novik - other backlist books that I really, really loved.

17. Did any books surprise you with how good they were?

I read a middle grade horror book called Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker and it was reeeeally good. i will never look at beatrix potter the same way again skskfjfjjskdfkf iykyk.

Another book I was surprised by was Far Sector by NK Jemisin and Jamal Campbell. well. surprised is the wrong word since I picked it up bc NK Jemisin wrote it and it won a Hugo for best graphic novel. But after checking it out I realized it was a green lantern comic, which I could not care less about lol. BUT. It was actually really good once I gave it a shot - it's a stand alone space mystery political adventure! very fun!

And one more I was blown away by was An Invitation from a Crab by panpanya. It's a indie manga that my coworker lent me and it's incredibly surreal and dreamlike and weird, but I kinda am obsessed with it.

25. What reading goals do you have for next year?

For some reason I like to wait till that like, 1 week period between Christmas and New Years to fully define my reading goals, but I have thought about it a little! I always read at least 2 classics I never got to in high school/college, so I was thinking maybe Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf and Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston, since I own both of those. I'd also like to read a Russian classic too since I've never tried one of those.

I've never read any true crime and I think it'd be fun to branch out and read a couple from that genre next year!

This isn't a goal per se, but I'd also love to read all of Samantha Shannon's The Bone Season series next year, bc I love her writing a ton!

[90secondnewbery]

Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker

2020 Newbery Honor Book

Adapted by Sophia Li of Colony Meadows Elementary (2024)

From Sugar Land, TX

Judges' Remarks: Wow, this was amazing! I loved the detailed, action-packed animation in this movie. The expressive faces of the foxes were particularly well done. The background music gave just the right whimsical-but-tense feeling, and the relentless countdown of how many foxes are left alive gave an effective-if-morbid structure to the movie. The drawings were beatiful, and fluidly and creatively animated: the twitch of an ear, the quirking of an eyebrow, the trembling of a tail, the eyes filling with tears . . . all of these were quite impressive! I also liked the subtle movement of the grass, the way the fox leapt at and caught the butterfly, and the part where the fox fell into the river. This movie zipped through the story at top speed, hitting many of the iconic moments of the book with style!

Permalink

[honey-deerling-reads]

Scary Stories For Young Foxes

tw for this book: rabies, abuse, manipulation, animal death, animal cruelty, mild gore, parental abuse, ableism, narcissism, child death, incorrect animal dynamics

rating: ☆☆☆☆

so i just recently finished 'Scary Stories For Young Foxes' by Christian McKay Heidicker and i just gotta say, i love kid's horror. i think the genre is so fun and so important, and this book is great example of why. the story is completely told through the pov of various fox characters, and for that it is extremely immersive. several times while reading this book, i became so immersed in the world that these characters live in, that i lowkey forgot that i myself am not a fox. the characters are relatable and very easy to empathise with, making the emotional beats of the story hit even harder.

the story begins with a group of fox kits, all unnamed, asking their mother to tell them a scary story. she can't provide one scary enough for the kits, but warns them not to visit an older fox who lives deep in the forest, known for telling stories that are too scary for kits. the kits, of course, sneak out to visit the storyteller anyways. when they find her, the storyteller advises that, while stories may be scary, you can find lessons in them if you stay to the end. and that begins the real plot. the book is broken into different segments, almost like mini arcs, and each is a different scary story. they start off seeming like they're separate stories, but by the third or fourth section, they begin to meld into one long epic. each segment is interspersed with snippets of the kits from the beginning of the novel, as they react to the horror of the story they're being told. one by one they flee, until only one is left. will the littlest one flee or stay to the end?

i really enjoyed this book, so much so that i will be purchasing the sequel when i get a chance. this book does deal with heavy subject matter, as is referenced in the tw list above, so understand that this book is not for extremely young or sensistive readers. i definitely recommend it for kids about 8-9+, as well as adults because honestly this book was so fun. the characters slap, the plot slaps, and even as a veteran horror fan, it had me STRESSED at times because i truly did not know whether the characters would make it out alive or not. reading about rabies from the persepective of a fox was truly haunting and i don't think i'll ever be able to truly look at Beatrix Potter the same way ever again. i do absolutely recommend this book for kids though. kid's horror is such an important genre, imo, because it allows kids to experience fear and empathy in a safe, controlled environment. i strongly believe that all kids should experience consensual, supervised fear. it's a good way for them to identify, gauge, and learn from their instincts before they're thrust into a world that is truly and unpredictably terrifying. it also allows the opportunity for parents/guardians/adults to step in and have discussions about how to handle fear in a healthy way.

all in all, the biggest beef i have with this book is the improper animal dynamics. as far as i'm aware, foxes do not follow the alpha/beta hierarchy, but this book does include that hierarchy. that's an easily ignorable ick though. it was a fun, light read with some legitimately upsetting moments, and i highly recommend it to all horror buffs, no matter the age range.

[marshmyers]

In this second action-packed and hilarious Weirdwood adventure by William Shivering and Newbery Honor winner Christian McKay Heidicker (Scary Stories for Young Foxes), two thieves and their ghost friend wage a battle against a shadowy magical organization intent on opening a Rift between the worlds of the living and the dead.

"[W]ill delight and satiate those besotted with Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Artemis Fowl, Miss Peregrine, the Spiderwicks." --New York Times Book Review on Thieves of Weirdwood

Fresh off of heroically saving their city from nightmarish monsters, 12-year-old reformed thieves Arthur and Wally are determined to join the Wardens of Weirdwood--defenders of the border between the Real and Imaginary worlds. 

Their mission: defeat the Order of Eldar, a shadowy group that exploits the creatures of the Fae for their own gain. When the Order opens what seems to be a Rift between the worlds of the living and the dead, they set up a menagerie of ghosts to make money off those grieving for their lost loved ones. 

As spirits begin to cross over into Kingsport, Arthur, Wally, and their ghost companion, Breeth, will have to return a fleet of dead souls to the other side of the Veil. 

Perfect for fans of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky and Keeper of the Lost Cities.

PURCHASE

[grackle-crackle-books]

Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker

Genre/category: Texas Bluebonnet Award Masterlist 2021-2022, Newbery Honor Award Honoree 2020, Horror, Novel

Targeted Age: 3rd to 6th graders

Quick plot synopsis: Seven young foxes want seriously scary stories from the Storyteller. Only one kit is brave enough to hear the whole tale of Mia and Uly, who face rabid foxes, human hunters, hungry alligators, and domestic violence.

Why I chose Scary Stories for Young Foxes: Heidicker’s novel appears on the Texas Bluebonnet Award Masterlist 2021-22, in addition to being a 2020 Newbery Honoree. Included with the story are illustrations by Junyi Wu. Scary Stories for Young Foxes is organized as interconnected short stories, each separated by updates on the seven little foxes listening to Mia and Uly’s adventures.

Evaluation:

First and foremost, the visual design of Scary Stories for Young Foxes is impeccable. The interludes between stories are printed with white text on black paper to distinguish them from Mia and Uly’s stories. The final page is also black, reads “Sleep tight, little foxes.”, and is juxtaposed with bright red endpapers (Heidicker, 2019). Along with the design, Junyi Wu’s illustrations add to the scary mood of the novel. Each piece of artwork appears to be done in charcoal pencil, with ample texture created via hatching technique. Each story is headed by a full page illustration, and smaller pieces appear throughout as well. Wu’s artwork shows long shadows, frightening foxes, and fearful young kits. These support the moods of the novel, as well as the fact that it is a horror book.

Both the main characters, Mia and Uly, are dynamic and go through considerable growth during the story. Mia, who is separated from her family first by illness and then by a human, is forced to learn that the world is not always comforting. Uly, who grew up with cruel sisters and only three legs, learns to face his abusive father and conquer his numerous fears. Their stories begin separately, but intertwine as the plot develops. Together, Mia and Uly help each other face their own struggles, past and present. The villains and dangers they face feel realistic, from Uly’s father to hungry alligators. There is possibly one exception: the human enemy that Mia faces is Beatrix Potter. The beloved children’s author’s presence feels a little inexplicable. But, she is truly horrifying through Mia’s eyes and fits into the story.

Of course, when talking about horror it’s important to talk about tension. Good horror stories require good tension, and Scary Stories for Young Foxes does the job. It maintains tension throughout, without becoming tiring. This is achieved through the pacing of frightening events. When Uly is swimming for shore, Mia’s increasingly frantic encouragements heighten the fear of the scene. This climaxes in Uly getting grabbed by an alligator and making a daring escape (Heidicker, 2019). In between horrors, the readers are given respites in the form of happier scenes and the interludes. The little foxes in the breaks help with the tension as well, constantly needing the Storyteller to remind them to be patient.

Do I recommend it?: Definitely! Scary Stories for Young Foxes is the perfect middle grade horror novel, and it is probably my favorite book I’ve reviewed for this blog so far. Kids who read this novel will find that it is satisfying and has a hopeful ending.

Citations:

Heidicker, C. M. (2019). Scary Stories for Young Foxes (J. Wu, Illus.). Henry Holt and Co. (BYR).

[roesolo]

Spooooktastic middle grade: SCARY STORIES FOR YOUNG FOXES

Spooooktastic middle grade: SCARY STORIES FOR YOUNG FOXES @mackidsbooks

I can’t believe Halloween is THIS WEEKEND. I’ve been booktalking all the spooky books I’ve been reading year-round, in anticipation of this moment! Scary Stories for Young Foxes, by Christian McKay Heidicker/Illustated by Junyi Wu, (July 2019, Henry Holt & Co.), $16.99, ISBN: 9781250181428 Ages 9-14 A Newbery Honor-winning collection of interconnected stories, Scary Stories for Young Foxes stole…

[bookcoversonly]

Title: Scary Stories for Young Foxes | Author: Christian McKay Heidicker | Publisher: Henry Holt and Company (2019)

[kryptonkaleidoscopes]

“Scary Stories for Young Foxes” review is up!

https://robyntocker.weebly.com/scary-stories-for-young-foxes.html

[blogthefiresidechats]

"Scary Stories for Young Foxes" by Christian McKay Heidicker

“Scary Stories for Young Foxes” by Christian McKay Heidicker

I’ve been reading this book lately and decided to share. It’s a series of scary short stories, however, each story is connect in some form or fashion. This book is also designed for kids so this would be something to read with your kids if they aren’t easily scared. Rumor has it that Peephole Productions and Boat Rocker Studios are suppose to co-produce a mini series based on this book. I might…

[mssarahmorgan]

Book 93 of 2021: Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker, illustrated by Junyi Wu

I don't know why I found this surprising, but this book really does exactly what it says on the tin. It's an interconnected series of scary stories told to a group of young foxes. And some of the stories are genuinely scary! An unsettling, spooky, unusual, original, totally compelling read. Give it to the bravest middle grade reader you know...or read it yourself, if you're feeling brave.

What to read next: Plain Kate, by Erin Bow, for another compelling, unusual read with a fairy-tale atmosphere and a very animal-like animal character.

[earlymodernlesbian]

Middle Grade Books Holiday Present Masterpost

Hello!  Is there a young person in your life to whom you would like to gift a book as a present this holiday season?  Is this the sort of young person to whom you might have gifted Harry Potter once upon a time, but obviously no longer feel inclined to do so, but are at a loss for a suitable replacement?  Never fear!  Your local middle school English teacher is here to save the day (under the cut)!

For Harry Potter lovers...

The Chronicles of Chrestomanci by Diana Wynne Jones

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer

The Lost Years of Merlin series by T. A. Barron

The Song of the Lioness series by Tamora Pierce

The Witch’s Boy by Kelly Barnhill

For Percy Jackson lovers...

Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee

Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch

The Storm Runner by J. C. Cervantes

Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

(Almost all of these are from the Rick Riordan Presents collection, which features own-voices stories about myths and traditions from cultures around the world presented in a similar approach as the Percy Jackson books take to Greek mythology.  They are wonderful and huge hits with my students!)

For Warriors lovers...

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

Pax by Sara Pennypacker

Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

Varjak Paw by S. F. Said

Swordbird by Nancy Yi Fan

For mystery lovers...

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett

Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

The Harlem Charade by Natasha Tarpley

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass

For graphic novel lovers...

The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag

Stargazing by Jen Wang

Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

For historical fiction lovers...

Front Desk by Kelly Yang

Ahimsa by Supriya Kelkar

How High the Moon by Karyn Parsons

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan

The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Hopefully these lists gave you some good ideas!  If there is something more specific that you want to find, go ahead and message me and tell me a little bit about who you’re looking for, and I’ll try my very best to match you with the perfect book selection!

Happy holidays and happy reading!  xo

[goddamnelsa]

Liz’s Top Books of 2020

blatantly stolen from @alamorn but also i wanted to feel accomplished that i did in fact read published books this year before descending entirely into mdzs/the untamed fanfiction :) :) :) :)

In two parts! Books I read that actually came out in 2020, and then honorable mentions of books I read in 2020 that were published in previous years. Enjoy!

Top Books Published in 2020 (which are not in any kind of order because I can’t like rank stuff, I’m not that kind of person)

The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin

What can I say except it’s N.K. Jemisin who wrote my favorite high fantasy series (The Inheritance Trilogy), won three consecutive Hugo Awards for her The Broken Earth trilogy, and she’s writing urban fantasy with Lovecraftian and superhero team flavor. I mean....obviously I was at the top of the wait list for this once my library ordered it. And it lived up to the hype!! Because of course!! It’s fabulously fast-paced with amazingly smart and interesting characters of diverse backgrounds. I kept thinking one of them was my favorite, and then another would have a great line and I would change my mind. It’s fine, they’re all technically one entity with several parts, so I can love them all and not choose (but it’s probably Bronca, let’s be real). And it’s the first of a series! And I’m counting down the days til there is more!

Axiom’s End by Lindsay Ellis

I definitely picked this up simply because Lindsay Ellis, one of my favorite video essayists, wrote it, and then ended up loving everything about it. I’m not usually one for First Contact stories, but I appreciate the very human-focused approach here, sticking solely to an ordinary girl’s perspective as she navigates being the person first in contact with a very alien alien. Cora’s attempts to humanize Ampersand are relatable, but I appreciate Ellis reminding us at almost every turn that Ampersand is super Not Human, no matter how much Cora reads into his actions. Ellis doesn’t gloss over the Science part either, especially when it comes to the race of aliens Ampersand belongs to. Again, the first of a series, and you will absolutely be screaming for the next book when this one is over.

You Had Me At Hola by Alexis Daria

Insert my obligatory “I don’t usually read romances blah blah blah.” Though, during lockdown, I attempted to branch out beyond my usual genres when I was attending a ton of publisher webinars about upcoming books. This one stood out to me because of its Latinx cast and the whole behind-the-scenes of a Jane The Virgin-esque show, based on a telenovela (of course). It is fantastic, a quick read with instantly likable and fun characters. And the tropes! We’re playing love interests but we have insane chemistry! A sensitive, traumatized male lead who learns to open up again! A sassy but insecure female lead who learns to let loose and love again! Hooking up, but we have to keep on the DL or else scandal! And of course, the extended families add to every scene they are in--I loved every interaction Ashton and Jasmine had with their families, it was the cherry on top of a fantastic read. Also the sex scenes are steamy. 

Beetle and the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne

I got this graphic novel as an advanced reader copy well before it came out, and after reading it, I was sCREAMING because I couldn’t tell all my graphic novel, queer coming-of-age-with-magic loving friends to immediately pick up a copy!! So thankfully, it’s out now, so I can scream to the heavens to please read this!!! It is such a sweet story with beautiful full-color art and fantastic world-building. It has the same silly, referential humor you see in a lot of kids/YA graphic novels these days, but Beetle packs in a lot of heart as well. 

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

Like many people in May/June of this year, I was reading, reading, reading a lot of books about racism from as many Black authors as I could get my hands on. There were many not published this year that should definitely be read (So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo being among the top), but this book really stuck with me because it is written specifically for a younger audience, and Jason Reynolds knows how to talk to kids about tough subjects. Stamped gets across difficult concepts like assimilationists and segregationists in an easy-to-understand, conversational style that doesn’t take away from any of the important history and nuance. This certainly is not The Book of antiracism studies, but it is a good starting point if you are daunted by lengthy title lists and aren’t sure where to begin. I highly recommend the audiobook as well, read by Reynolds himself.

(Side note: I watched this keynote address with Reynolds and Kendi which is an excellent primer into the background of how this book came to be. Reynolds is also just very interesting to listen to)

Honorable Mentions aka Books I read in 2020 that were published in previous years again, not ranked because I CAN’T, OKAY

White Is For Witching by Helen Oyeyemi

I read this book and then wanted to go back and read it immediately again, not necessarily because it was so amazing, but because I felt like I would get it even more if I did. This is a haunting little book that took turns I was not expecting, even with the book synopsis I read. It is disturbing and features descriptions of an eating disorder, so proceed with caution. However, if you like Gothic tales of haunted houses and the trauma inflicted on us by those who came before, I can’t recommend this one enough.

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

My last book club read before the pandemic D: We didn’t actually get to meet to discuss this book, but my club (all librarians) were working at our emergency call center at the same time and all reading it, so we KINDA got to discuss it, if not in a formal book club setting. ANYWAY, it’s a thrilling jaunt through 1920s Mexico, following a fantastic Cinderella-esque heroine who makes a deal with a Mayan god to retrieve his body. If you are a fan of the Percy Jackson-brand of mythological adventures, this is definitely one to add to your list, especially if you are looking for something a little bit more Adult.

Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker

Okay, I know it’s a young readers/middle grade book, but HEAR ME OUT. This is whimsical and haunting tale about seven little fox kits who set out to scare themselves shitless by hearing scary tales. Only one kit will remain when the night is over, but the one who does will get to hear a surprisingly sweet, and well-earned, happy ending. If you are a Neil Gaiman-esque horror fan, I recommend picking this up. Its scares are fairly scary, especially for its audience, but it’s an engaging story about the lengths we will go for the ones we love.

Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse

Did someone say Navajo monster-hunting heroine with magic powers navigating a post-apocalyptic world, oh and also saving it??? Look, Maggie is My Kind of Hero, in that she’s damaged, she drinks too much, she’s surly, but she has a seriously gooey heart of gold underneath all that armor. Navajo mythology is woven into this tale of monster-hunting, surviving. If you’re in Supernatural-disappointment-land, maybe give this a try! It has that Western-y, road trip feel to it, and again, I love the lead character. (It also has a currently published sequel and a soon-to-be-released third book as well!)

This is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

This was rec’ed to me by a librarian friend, with the words, “Oh, Liz, you’ll really like this.” And she was RIGHT. Red and Blue are on opposite sides of a war waged across time and decide to send letters to each other, at first, to taunt, but then, to understand, to learn, and to love. The details of the war don’t matter much, but what does matter is the achingly beautiful poetry with which Red and Blue reveal themselves to each other. I was told to listen to this one, but I’m glad I read it myself instead. The prose is very purple at times, and I appreciated being able to go back to passages to reread again and again. Oh, and it’s queer (Red and Blue are both female), and SPOILERS SPOILERS has a happy ending. 

(also there is a wangxian remix for my mdzs buds. and also a semi-officially sanctioned fanfic sequel???? at least amal el-mohtar linked it from goodreads so whoo! also also it’s very funny)

And that’s my Year in Books 2020! Seeing it laid out like this, I had a surprisingly good year for book reading even though I felt like I barely read anything. For awhile, reading was Hard, and I just wanted to consume fluffy, sweet fanfiction, but I’m getting back into it. Oh, and please let me know if you check any of these out!

Here’s to a good year for books in 2021! ✨