Brain Camp

 Brain Camp (Kim, Susan and Klavan, Laurence; 2010; 160 p., ISBN 9781596433663)

Summer camp takes a scary spin in this tale of Lucas and Jenna, two kids from different backgrounds who are invited to the exalted Camp Fielding--although neither Lucas nor Jenna is considered an especially great student.  They expect to roast marshmallows with the smart kids, but instead find themselves in the middle of a horror story!

Montage of graphics from the book is here.

(Ages 10+) 

Cirque Du Freak: A Living Nightmare

Cirque Du Freak: A Living Nightmare (Shan, Darren; Little, Brown and Company, 2001; 257 pages; ISBN 0-316-60510-7)

Darren Shan is a nice boy from a nice family.  He likes to hang out with his friends, play soccer, and oh yes, he has a fascination with spiders.  That fascination lures him to do something dangerous while visiting a freak show (in itself, a dangerous feat), and before long, Darren finds himself making a deal with a vampire to shuffle off his mortal coil and assist the creepy Mr. Crepsley as a half-vampire for the rest of his days.

Shan presents this story—the first in a series of 12 installments—as a first person account told from the perspective of a protagonist who shares his name with the author.  Are these true tales?  Shan hopes you will wonder, and surely many young readers will enjoy asking themselves if this premise could ever possibly play out.  These books predate the wildly popular Twilight series, but many young readers will discover and enjoy them in the current wave of vampire popularity.  Shan’s writing is fast-paced and entertaining.  The language is accessible for the middle and upper ranges of this age group.  As a nice bonus, he sneaks in opportunities to build vocabulary frequently (“Sir, what’s malformed mean?”).  He presents dialogue between tween-aged characters in a way that is realistic, not simplistic. 

Shan—the author—knows how to lure in a reader and keep him intrigued.  Darren—the character—is likable and layered—a good son and good friend who is truly conflicted when he must decide how to rectify a horrible situation for which he feels responsible.

Author's website

Coraline

Coraline [Motion picture] 2009, ISBN 0061660167

This 2009 film adaptation of the popular 2002 novel of the same title is a creative, fascinating version of a compelling story.  Coraline is a 12-year-old girl in a new town and a new house waiting to begin a new school year.  With no playmates yet, she turns to her parents for company, but they are buried in their respective jobs.  Coraline is left to explore their new neighbors—none of whom are of her generation—and her new home.  She gives in to temptation and explores a strange doorway that leads her to an alternate world with an “other mother” and “other father” who are utterly appealing in some ways (all the time and attention in the world!  whatever food Coraline would like!) and utterly freaky in others (buttons for eyes?  strange insect snacks?).  Coraline wants to return home to her preoccupied parents, but finds that is no longer an option.

Equal parts creepy and creative, this stop-motion animated film will engage young viewers and the adults who may watch it with them.  The lessons of the book—appreciating family, finding self-confidence in the face of fear, standing up for what is right—are conveyed as effectively in this film version as they are in the beloved book.  The subject matter is scary enough to keep older tweens entertained, but not so much so that younger viewers should not watch.  The title role is voiced by Dakota Fanning, an endearing portrayal of a curious, memorable character.

See a trailer here.