Kirkus Star
THE KIRKUS STAR
Awarded to Books of Exceptional Merit

BROWSE BOOK REVIEWS




YA's Gory Horror Stories


Cover art for ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2011

"Abundantly original, marvelously inventive and enormous fun, this can stand alongside the best horror fiction out there. We demand sequels. (Paranormal adventure. 12 & up)"
Life can get tough for a boy who kills ghosts. Read full book review >
Cover art for ZOMBIES VS. UNICORNS
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 21, 2010

"Readers, of course! (Fantasy/horror/short stories. 14 & up)"
Forget vampires vs. werewolves; the hottest feud is between fans of the fiercely magical horses and the shambling, brain-eating undead. Read full book review >
Cover art for ROT & RUIN
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 14, 2010

"The result is an action-packed, thought-provoking look at life—and death—as readers determine the true enemy. (Science fiction. 13 & up)"
It's been 14 years since First Night, when a zombie apocalypse turned America into the Rot and Ruin wasteland and war-torn survivors formed a new community behind a protective fence and away from "Godless behaviors." Read full book review >
Cover art for THE THIN EXECUTIONER
CHILDREN'S
Released: Aug. 1, 2010

"Heads roll at the start, but by the end, Shan reaches for the heartstrings. (Fantasy/horror. 10-14)"
When his father publicly shames him, Jebel Rum takes the brand of quester and seeks the blessing of the fire god to obtain strength and invincibility. Read full book review >
Cover art for HALF WORLD
CHILDREN'S
Released: April 1, 2010
by Hiromi Goto, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki

"Hopeful and beautifully strange. (Fantasy. 11-13)"
Fat, poor and intellectually slow, Melanie Tamaki's days are divided between torment at school and her alcoholic mother at home. Read full book review >
Cover art for A BANQUET FOR HUNGRY GHOSTS
CHILDREN'S
Released: Nov. 1, 2009

"This will whet the appetites of a certain type of ghost gourmet with a sophisticated palate; those with weak stomachs should stay away. (recipes) (Short stories/horror. 12-16)"
Eight grisly horror stories are arranged to feed the hungry imaginations of readers fascinated with blood, gore, murders and ghosts, who, like their Western counterparts, want to avenge their deaths and have the things they had in life, especially their favorite foods. Read full book review >