‘Carrie’ by Stephen King.
“Carrie” written by Stephen King, follows Carrie’s journey to prom. In King’s blood-soaked novel he shows the good and (mostly) the bad of high school. The book is told from varying perspectives. Through those lenses, the reader learns about Carrie’s telekinetic powers and her overprotective religious mother. Carrie, a sheltered teenager shoved into the modern world, explodes.
It can be argued that there are many themes of importance in Carrie, but the most important is religion and the idea of womanhood. The teasing, the gore, and the multiple deaths in “Carrie” make King’s work a Halloween classic. I would not recommend that you read ‘Carrie’ to a young audience — “Carrie” is for a mature reader. It will make you question: is this how men really see women? It will instill a new appreciation for the saying, “treat others how you want to be treated.” You never know they might be telekinesis with the taste for blood.
“Carrie” is Stephen King’s first novel, published in 1974. There have since been multiple film adaptations.
‘Small Spaces’ by Katherine Arden.
“Small Spaces” is a middle-grade novel, but don’t let that dissuade you. Arden’s novel is a devilish suspenseful novel that follows 11year old Ollie and her journey to save her class. One day she spies on a crazy lady screaming at a book. Possessed scarecrows, a cult leader, and a long night are the best ingredients for any good Halloween classic. Ollie recently lost her mother, which she struggles with throughout the novel. Amid the terror, Ollie still manages to make two friends and comes to term her mother’s death. Going through her adventure, Ollie realizes that her mother isn’t all gone, for she is watching over her.
“Small Spaces” is a story with strong family and friendship values, for they will get you through scary times. Arden is best known for the Winternight series, but “Small Spaces” is just as good if not better.
