Night of the Living Queers

July 15, 2023
Queer, racially diverse teens face the uncanny and macabre in this Halloween-themed anthology. The introduction by editors Page and Brown points out the harm done by the lack of positive representation of queer people and people of color in the horror genre, something these narratives hope to help change. Each tale shares a common setting--Halloween during a blue moon--but beyond that there is considerable variety in subject matter and focus, including grief, romance in the face of imminent peril, and Halloween's relationship to queerness. Writing styles and tones vary from modern gothic (in Vanessa Montalban's "Welcome to the Hotel Paranoia") to campy (in Sara Farizan's "A Brief Intermission") to melancholy (in Kosoko Jackson's "Rocky Road With Caramel Drizzle"). Though the subtitle promises "terror," most of the stories are milder takes on the genre, welcoming more sensitive readers but not likely to keep die-hard horror fans up at night. Some spine-chilling standouts include "Guested" by Rebecca Kim Wells, written in the second person, in which "you," the protagonist, investigate a strange party where guests become "someone else for one night only," and "Nine Stops" by Trang Thanh Tran, which follows a Vietnamese American girl who finds herself captivated by an unnerving viral video. The most successful entries are those that deeply explore the human experiences of conquering fear and facing darkness in both the wider world and oneself. A spooky and inclusive Halloween grab bag. (contributor bios) (Horror anthology. 13-18)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from July 31, 2023
Thirteen authors, including Kalynn Bayron, Vanessa Montalban, and editors Brown (Damned If You Do) and Page, center queer teens navigating harrowing experiences in this Halloween-set horror anthology. Rebecca Kim Wells’s spine-tingling “Guested,” told in the second person, follows Korean American high schooler Nina as she investigates secret costume parties from which guests depart with fundamentally different personalities. In Ryan Douglass’s eerie “Knickknack,” Black teen Noah races against time to save his younger brother from the ghost of a sinister clown. Some stories skew more humorous than frightening, such as Tara Sim’s “Hey There, Demons,” in which an Indian American protagonist summons a demon to help with a poltergeist problem. Others still eschew one-note scares for a narrative that is both delightfully creepy and touching, as in Em X. Liu’s “In You to Burn,” in which a Chinese American pyrokinetic teen is irresistibly drawn to her nemesis. Via a wide range of intersecting identities and tones, the creators cultivate a fun and refreshing read brimming with a variety of chilling scenarios perfect for an All Hallows’ Eve offering. Ages 13–up. Agent: (for Page) Rebecca Podos, Rees Literary; (for Brown) Amy Elizabeth, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret.

August 1, 2023
Grades 8-12 Opening with a quote from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, this short-story collection's spine-chilling tone is set: "I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other." These 13 macabre tales feature love and loss, rage and revenge, plus ghosts and poltergeists and (hot) demons (oh my)! There are stories of haunted houses, dead clowns terrorizing small towns, and young people filled with pain, who are given the chance to torment their tormentors. Each author takes a horror-driven approach to the everyday experiences of many queer and trans youth--some good, some amazing, some bad, and some outright traumatic--giving readers space to explore worlds where dreams and nightmares can come true. A beautifully diverse cast of protagonists ensures readers will find characters and experiences to connect with, no matter their gender, sexuality, or race. This is a fascinating collection any horror fan can sink their teeth into.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.