Perfect Autumn Reads
It’s that time of year again, when days get shorter, and nights get longer. Conkers are everywhere. Leaves are turning wonderful shades of orange and red. It’s autumn! Now, for many of you, autumn is the start of a new school year, a time when summer’s frivolities are in the past. But that doesn’t mean autumn is dark and dull. No, it certainly isn’t. It is a great season for many reasons, one of which is curling up with a good book (or two!) to while away the long evenings.
Pumpkinheads
As I type this, it is National Poetry Day – a day that is recognised for celebrating all that is great about poetry. So, if you are looking for something to dip in and out of, then poetry is a good place to start. However, for this particular blog, I am more interested in autumn fiction. And there’s no better book to start with than Rainbow Rowell’s Pumpkinheads.
Rowell is a well-known, and much-loved, YA writer – and if you haven’t yet discovered her, it’s about time you did! Pumpkinheads is a graphic novel about Deja and Josiah, two ‘seasonal’ friends who work at a pumpkin patch together every autumn (or, as this is set in Nebraska, USA, every fall). Not only is this book written in an innovative and engaging form, but it is perfect for some light relief during the colder evenings. And – it’s about adventure and friendship, too.
Truly Devious
Some of you might have discovered Maureen Johnson’s Truly Devious trilogy – a gripping set of books located at Ellingham Academy in Vermont. This writer fantastically captures fictional life at a private school with all the Gothic tropes we love – think twisty corridors and dark corners. At the heart of this writer’s work is someone trying to get to the bottom of an age-old mystery. What more could you want?
Harrow Lake
Kat Ellis’ Harrow Lake is about a girl, Lola Nox, who is sent off to live in a town where her film director father made his most famous horror. Lola is stuck in the town, being stalked by someone, or something – a perfect, albeit creepy, read for the autumn season. Can you solve the puzzle before something awful happens to Lola?
So – the next time you are looking for a gripping read to get lost in, you could start with one of these suggestions. Don’t forget to keep the light on!
