Underground Bookshelf

"The Casket Girls" is based on a spooky tale of young women sent by the king of France to settle in New Orleans. They arrived in the dead of night, ill and washed ashore. Although some of these women became wives, mothers, and important members of their communities, around the time of their arrival, strange stories arose of vampire girls with blood-tinged lips who slept by day and wreaked havoc by night...

In Black Ice, Oscar Lewis suddenly wakes up with ice powers and an uncontrollable urge to travel towards an untamed wildfire. During his travel, he notices that he can see a spirit world filled with black wispy creatures.

Q: Please introduce yourself! Share your name, pronouns, and something fun, interesting, curious, or important (take your pick) about yourself that you would like your audience to know.

Content Warning: abuse, corporal punishment, death

From across the roomYou catch her eye, your Mommy.A smile splits your face.Her face mirrors yours.You kick your feet with such glee,Joyful Mommy’s home.Your excitement bringsHer such happiness. Rarely,Does she smile like this.With such love and peaceAcross her face, it’s clear, youComplete the puzzle.You grin. You’re ready.She tosses you overhead,Air fills with laughter.When the game is done,Mommy pulls you to her heart.You lay your head down.Your grin says “kidding!”A giggle bursts forth. You jump.Mommy shakes her head.Still, she smiles softly,Taking you into her arms,Holding you aloft.

It's spooky season, so this month's submissions call is for short stories and poems that cross into the genres of horror, thriller, supernatural, paranormal, or otherwise spooky. You're welcome to mix other genres into your tale (paranormal romance is a popular genre blend, for example) or to stay strictly in the horror lane.

This resource is part three of a three-part collection of books for middle grade readers that focus on protest, activism, and politics of the past, present, and near future. Both fiction and nonfiction are represented here. Across the collection, you'll find books that discuss Civil Rights, feminism, voting rights, LGBTQIA+ issues, freedom of speech, equality in education, and more. In case you're looking for resources to help you talk to your child/ren or classroom about activism, politics, and social justice, the links below might come in handy. Scroll past the photo to find the list of books for middle grade readers.

Read this poem in English here.

Lee este poema en español aquí.

Never meet your heroes. Especially the ones you’ve written.

Throughout the universes,