March is Reading Month: Horror books frighten, intrigue readers
Horror is genre that gives readers a good scare and intrigues those who like to be frightened.
Horror keeps you on your feet and makes you want to know what is going to happen next. Horror authors bring your worst nightmares to life with creativity and, although you’re terrified, you want to keep reading because you just have to know what is going to happen next.
Stephen King’s “It” and Neil Gaiman’s “Coraline” are two horror novels that’ll keep you on your feet.
“It” by Stephen King
On Sept. 15, 1986, King’s legendary horror novel “It” was published.
The book “It” is about a shape-shifting creature that feeds off children’s fear.
“It’s” most popular form is Pennywise the dancing clown who has a rather frightening appearance.
The scary part is that the children’s parents never realize this figure is haunting their children because adults can’t see this creature, only children can.
The novel takes place in Derry, a small town in Maine.
“It” taunts the children by telling them they can never hide from him and cannot tell their parents because they will just think their child is insane or just messing with them.
Sophomore Jonny Conway enjoyed the novel so much that he has read it multiple times.
“I have read the book three times,” Connway said. “It’s unique. It’s got a different sort of writing style, where he goes in and out of times (between the children and the adults).
“It gives you tense moments, chills, it even makes you want to throw up sometimes.”
Freshman Hailey Lopez likes how the book gave her a good scare.
“It was like you were on the edge of your seat the entire book,” Lopez said. “It’s more of a psychological horror. It gets to your emotions and frightens you. ‘It’ makes you anticipate what’s going to happen next.”
“Coraline” by Neil Gaiman
On July 2, 2002, Gaiman’s children’s horror novel was published.
Although a children’s book, the story line of “Coraline” is actually pretty creepy.
“Coraline” is about a young girl who moves into a new home, hoping to start a new life. Little does she know an alternate universe lies behind a secret door in the home.
Coraline gets lost in the alternate universe and the new world she ventures into has everyone she cares about.
But there is one twist — her family isn’t really her family.
The thing about this new universe is Coraline’s “parents” have time to spend with her, and they pretend they love her when, really, they are trying to trap her in their universe forever so she can never see her real friends and family again.
Freshman April Whitworth likes how “Coraline” has a creepy plot unlike many other children’s novels.
“What I like about ‘Coraline’ is it’s different,” Whitworth said. “It’s something new and original, and I love how creepy and weird it is.
“It’s new because kid’s book’s are all nice and happy unlike ‘Coraline.’ ‘Coraline’ has a dark plot.”
Other Horror Novels:
- “I Am Legend” by Richard Matheson
- “Pet Semetary” by Stephen King
- “Alice in Zombieland” by Gena Showalter
- “World War Z” by Max Brooks
Birthday: Dec. 28, 2002
Hobbies/Interests: Student Council, Pokémon GO.
Favorite Quote: "Let no man pull you low enough to hate him." -...
