David Goff

Dr. Mary Warner

Eng‑1 12B 12/3/08

Annotated Bibliography

 

 

Things that go bump in the Night

 

According to Donelson in Literature for Today's Young Adults "We delight in chambers of horrors, tunnels of terror, and haunted houses. We claim to be rational beings, yet we read astrology charts. We mock the superstitions of others yet hold as pets one or two of our own, joking all the time while we toss salt over our shoulder, avoid walking under ladders, and knock on wood. We follow customs without wondering why they came about." (192‑193)

Stories give and show people there emotions. They can make us sad or happy, angry or nice. Stories are also a way of communication. When there was no such thing as a telephone or computers, most relied on stories to help spread the news of current event in the area. Scary stories at this time were not meant to only scare little children from wandering off too far, but to try to label the unexplainable. There are many natural phenomena that, to this day, cannot be explained, and the only way to do so is to make up a reason it happens. I have compiled a list of compilations of short stories that are all about the supernatural and the unexplainable.

 

Annotated bibliography

Adams, James D.. Creepy Campfire Tales Volume One Halloween Camp Out Owl Creek Media Ltd. April 1, 2008. 136 pages.

During Halloween many strange things happen. Creature of the night assemble and tool with the minds of mortal humans; especially in New England and Ohio state parks. These 11 short stories are ideal to tell around the campfire at night. The stories deal with vampires and zombies, but also hidden creatures that stay hidden in the woods waiting for foolish campers to stray too close to their lairs.

 

Cropper, D.W.. Bonechillers 13 Twisted Tales of Terror. Llewellyn Publications. August 1, 2005. 264 pages.

There are thirteen spine‑ tingling adventures in Cropper's collection of scary stories concerning itself with witches and wolves, vampires and ghouls, and baby swapping hags and seven headed beasts. If you want a book that will mix the supernatural with fantastical creatures and stories this is defiantly the book for you!

 

Meyer, Stephanie. Twilight Little, Brown Young Readers; Standard edition. October 5, 2005.

17‑year‑old Bella leaves her mother's home in Florida to live with her father in the very gloomy and dark state of Washington. There, she meets a boy named Edward Cullen, and they become friends. Edward reveals to Bella that he is in fact a vampire, but only hunts wildlife for food. Bella falls in love with him and thus begins her journey living amongst the vampires.

 

Moser, Barry and Peter Glassman. Scary Stories Chronicle Books. August 17, 2006.

This is a group of previously published stories to tell in the dark. Some of the authors of these sort stories include: Stephen King and H.P. Lovecraft. The stories in here are more creepy than gory. A good way to leave a lasting impression.

 

Russell, Jean. Supernatural Stories 13 Tales of the Unexpected Orchard Books. 1987.

Do you like The Twilight Zone Then you'll love this book! Filled with strange and the unexplainable; you will be worried. For example, Sweet old Auntie Avril who runs the doll hospital. Is she really stealing the parts of the dolls she fixes? Why on earth would she? You will find out by reading this book.

 

Starkey, Dinah. Pienkowski, Jan. Ghost and BogIes Good Reading Ltd. 1978.

A gathering of old British folk tales that have been long forgotten. The book consists of Trolls who will eat small boys; ghosts that will forever roam the graveyard nights; and witches who boil and toil some trouble each and every night.

 

Schwartz, Alvin. In a Dark Dark Room and Other Scary Stories Harper Collins. October 2, 1985.

These stories are meant to be told in a dark room. If you want to read about ghostly pirates or lively corpses then this is the book for you; just don't too attached to the headless horseman!

 

Schwartz, Alvin. More Scary Stories to Tell In The Dark Harper Collins. September 25, 1986.

Is it possible to die and not know about it? Or, what if a person is buried too soon? Schwartz does it again in his collection of even more scary stories to tell in the dark. Don't read these alone.

 

Schwartz, Alvin. Scary Stories 3 More Tales to Chill Your Bones Harper Collins. 1st edition. September 13, 1991. 128 pages.

Ghost stories, urban legends, the walking dead and yes, sewer rats being mistaken for dogs. If you want to hear about friends suddenly vanishing or indefinable creatures that go bump in the night. This like all of Schwartzs' books are for you!

 

Stine, R.L. The Haunting Hour Chills in the Dead of Night Parachute, publishing. 2001

R.L. Stine is at it again, and this time he brings ten new stories to riddle your bones and keep you up late at night. Some of the stories include: My Name Is Evil and Shadow Girl

 

 

Works Cited

Donelson, Kenneth L., Alleen Pace NHsen. Literature for Today's Young Adults. 7th Ed. Boston: Pearson Education, 2005.