“Read, or I veel EET YOU!!”
Hey everybody! It’s Teen Read Week (Oct. 14-20). And you know what that means . . . a whole week of encouraging teens to read “just for the fun of it!” According to the YALSA website, ”Teen Read Week is a time to . . . encourage teens to take advantage of reading in all its forms—books and magazines, e-books, audiobooks and more—and become regular library users.”
Oh, and on October 17 (today!) you can tweet your YA reading recommendations and other thoughts by adding this hashtag: #TRW12. Go here for more details on tweeting Teen Read Week.
This year’s Teen Read Week sub-theme is “It Came from the Library.” So with that (and Halloween) in mind, here are some creepy books for teens and adults. And one at the end for little kids. 
My Teen Read Week 2012 books
Dracula, by Bram Stoker. The Original Vampire Book. Of course, there were vampire stories before Dracula, but Stoker really is ”the man who started it all.” Give it to your reading teen so they can say they experienced it.
Actually, um, I remember reading this (on my own) in high school . . . and not liking it much. Fair warning: read with a 20th/21st century mind, it’s misogynistic, xenophobic, and repetitive. So yeah, you’ve got sexism, racism, and probably a few other “isms” I’ve forgotten.
Still, points to Stoker for turning the vampire from a dirty, mindless drone into a moneyed, romantic figure . . . most of the time 
And I do remember thinking the book was worth reading for Van Helsing alone. Gotta love that fiery, red-headed Dutchman!
The Complete Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Tell your reading teen that coming to the end of Holmes’ stories is like a death in the family. The only antidote for this grief is to immediately re-read and begin the adventure all over again.
The Encyclopedia of Hell, by Miriam van Scott. Good inspiration for your darker works (if you’re a writer) or your darker moods (if you’re a reader). You know what struck me most? How everyone’s version of hell is different. Mine involves illiteracy and underfunded libraries. *shudders*
And one “creepy” story for teeny-boppers (I estimate 6-9 year-olds):
Fing, by Papa G. What do you do if you’re a rich orphan boy named Ulrich with no knees, and your aunt wants to murder you for your money? Turn to your monster, Fing, of course! A delightful and deliciously creepy book–very reminiscent of Roald Dahl.
My only complaint is that I wish it were longer. More backstory on Fing, more adventures with Ulrich. Perhaps the author will grace us with additional books about this loveable (and highly unusual) pair. And a terrific find for only 99 cents!
What about you, dear readers? What are your picks for this year’s Teen Read Week?
(Top image by Enokson)