How can underwhelming novels win prestigious international gongs? In mainstream YA and MG awards, such as the Newbery (USA) and Carnegie (UK) Medals, this is just not possible. What makes the Stoker different is that the voting members of the HWA decide who win, the majority of which clearly know … The 2024 Bram Stoker Award: A depressing night for quality children’s fictionRead more
THE YOUNG BLOOD LIBRARY
YA and Middle Grade Horror Picks for May/June 2024
May/June YA and Middle Grade horror roundup Our latest YA and Middle Grade roundup has a mixed bag of bangers and duds. My absolute favourite here was Mar Romasco-Moore’s Deadstream which is a terrific YA tale which will put you off livestreaming for life. My top pick from the Middle … YA and Middle Grade Horror Picks for May/June 2024Read more
Top 8 YA and Middle Grade Horror Books of March/April
Top YA and Middle Grade Horror Books of March/April We have eight books in our latest Middle Grade and YA roundup and open with the junior category. Lindsay Currie returns with another enjoyable romp, with an engaging historical slant, with It’s Watching, whilst Gabriel Dylan delivers the fourth entry in … Top 8 YA and Middle Grade Horror Books of March/AprilRead more
Bram Stoker Award Breakdown: Middle Grade Horror Guide
For the last decade or so I have reviewed all the books on the YA category for the Bram Stoker Award and you can find my thoughts on the current Preliminary and Final Ballots here: Ginger Nuts of Horror breaks down the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a … Bram Stoker Award Breakdown: Middle Grade Horror GuideRead more
2024 YA Bram Stoker Award: The Ultimate Ballot Breakdown
Ginger Nuts of Horror breaks down the Preliminary Ballot list of the 2024 YA Bram Stoker Award. For the last number of years Young Blood, the YA section of Ginger Nuts of Horror, traditionally reviews all the books on the YA Bram Stoker Preliminary Ballot. Four of the ten for … 2024 YA Bram Stoker Award: The Ultimate Ballot BreakdownRead more
Jan/Feb Essential YA and Middle Grade Horror
January/February Essential YA and Middle Grade Horror Essential Life commitments have restricted my reading of YA and Middle Grade horror over the early part of 2025, so I am delighted to be back on track with the first of my roundups. There are many familiar names in the mix here, … Jan/Feb Essential YA and Middle Grade HorrorRead more
Top YA Survival Horror Picks for Teens
Survival Horror Tony’s top YA picks for making it through the night Cinematically, sticking a bunch of dumb, good-looking teens in the middle of nowhere to get picked off by hillbilly cannibals is as old as the hills, but remains incredibly rare as a storyline or trope in a teen … Top YA Survival Horror Picks for TeensRead more
Best of 2024: Middle Grade Horror and Dark Fiction
Best of 2024: Middle Grade Horror and Dark Fiction Here are my top ticks for 2024, featuring my favourite Middle Grade horror and dark fiction titles. Due to my own YA Horror 400 almanac being published last June I read and reviewed less than in most other years. Nevertheless, there … Best of 2024: Middle Grade Horror and Dark FictionRead more
Young Adult Horror and Dark Fiction The Best of 2024
Young Adult Horror and Dark Fiction The Best of 2024 Introduction to the Best YA Horror Books of 2024 As the world of Young Adult literature continues to evolve, the genre of horror remains a powerful and captivating force. In 2024, a remarkable collection of YA horror books has emerged, … Young Adult Horror and Dark Fiction The Best of 2024Read more
YA Horror Roundup November 2024
YA Horror Roundup November 2024 Our latest roundup has ten books for you, a mixed bag of sequels, familiar authors and titles which drift into thriller and dark fantasy territory. I rarely review graphic novels but was captivated by Rosie Talbot and Sarah Maxwell’s Phantom Hearts, an LGBTQIA+ supernatural thriller … YA Horror Roundup November 2024Read more
YA dystopian fiction: The lurking horror within YA dystopian fiction
The lurking horror within YA dystopian fiction: some top tips from ‘The YA Horror 400’ almanac Since Katniss Everdeen first picked up her bow and arrow back in 2008 she helped hustle both the zombie and paranormal romance crazes into the literary dustbin. In the period since, dystopian fiction has … YA dystopian fiction: The lurking horror within YA dystopian fictionRead more
Haunted Houses, Tony’s top YA picks for Halloween
Haunted Houses Tony’s top YA picks for Halloween Halloween is the perfect time to take a closer look at some of my favourite YA horror novels featuring haunted houses or other spooky locations and buildings. Since Shirley Jackson wrote The Haunting of Hill House (1959) this popular sub-genre exploded and … Haunted Houses, Tony’s top YA picks for Halloween Read more
August 2024 YA Horror Roundup: Engaging Teenage Fiction
August 2024 YA Horror Roundup: Engaging Teenage Fiction Our latest YA roundup has a fine range of engaging teenage fiction, four of the nine authors featured in my own almanac, The YA Horror 400, which was published last June. If you want to take an ultra-deep dive into the world … August 2024 YA Horror Roundup: Engaging Teenage FictionRead more
Closer Still by Richard Farren Barber, a YA Horror 400 Almanac Recomendation.
The YA Horror 400 almanac strongly recommends Richard Farren Barber’s recently reissued Closer Still Back in 2019, I reviewed Richard Farren Barber’s striking novella Closer Still, which Black Shuck originally published in their Signature Novellas series. The 115-page story sold terribly and was quickly forgotten. Few in the horror world gave it any press whatsoever except … Closer Still by Richard Farren Barber, a YA Horror 400 Almanac Recomendation.Read more
July 2024 YA Horror Roundup
YA Horror Roundup, July 2024 This latest YA horror roundup is the first since my book The YA Horror 400: an almanac of 400 teen horror reviews published between 2008-2024was published (in June). So moving forward, when new books reviewed have connections to The YA Horror 400 I will highlight … July 2024 YA Horror RoundupRead more