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Teen Halloween
By Hilary Williamson
October, 2003

'By the pricking of my thumbs, / Something wicked this way comes.'
(William Shakespeare, Macbeth)

And it makes great reading, whether in Shakespeare's Macbeth or in modern tales by authors like Neil Gaiman and J. K. Rowling. I scoured our Shelves for the latest in fantastic, spooky stories, suitable for teen Halloween reading. Here are thirteen of the best of 2003:

Abhorsen by Garth Nix
A fight against evil in lands adjoining old magic and modern technology.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Coraline and a black cat in a true fairy tale that hovers on the edge of horror.

The Crystal Cave: Book One of the Arthurian Saga by Mary Stewart
Follows Merlin from a Welsh childhood to orchestration of Arthur's birth.

The Curse of the Raven Mocker by Marly Youmans
Adanta must find the Hidden People and defeat the Raven Mocker's curse.

The Eternity Code : Artemis Fowl, Book 3 by Eoin Colfer
With fairy civilization at risk, Artemis executes the mother of all stings.

The Goblin Wood by Hilari Bell
Makenna becomes the goblins' General and fights against humankind.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling
Harry and friends form Dumbledore's Army against Lord Voldemort.

The Merlin Conspiracy by Diana Wynne Jones
A conspiracy could damage the magical balance across the multiverse.

The Scream by Joan Aiken
A world where magic is real ... the small ragged, stained version.

The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black & Tony DiTerlizzi
A haunted house, a boggart, vicious goblins and a sinister troll.

The Tears of the Salamander by Peter Dickinson
In Sicily, Alfredo is drawn into horror through his own heritage.

The Vampire Prince by Darren Shan
Darren and wolves defend Vampire Mountain against the vampaneze.

The Wee Free Men : A Story of Discworld by Terry Pratchett
Tiffany does what is needed, as dreams and nightmares come to life.

Enjoy these spooky reads, pay attention to the pricking of your thumbs, and have a very happy and safe Halloween!
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