Sabrina Sabuktagin

Dr. Warner

English 112B

25 November 2011

An Annotated Bibliography: The Supernatural Genre

There has been much discussion on whether or not the paranormal or supernatural genre

should be taught in most classes. Most parents and teachers may think that the supernatural

would not be appropriate because it may give teens bad ideas or may scare the kids or give them

nightmares. Although some parents and teachers may think it�s wrong to teach the supernatural

in the classroom, there might actually be some advantages to teaching supernatural literature in

the classroom. Students get to learn about mythical creatures such as vampires, werewolves and

ghosts. In most stories of the supernatural there is usually some sort of mystery that has to be

figured out. Most of the stories have a surprising ending which keeps you in suspense and there

is some action in these types of stories.

Most young adults can relate to these stories because there is usually a plot that involves

a high school student who is usually different from everyone else and then their life becomes

more exciting because they befriend a vampire, werewolf or ghost. For example, in Stephanie

Meyers, Twilight Saga the main character Bella is in high school and she has to deal with normal

teen problems, such as her parents getting a divorce or separation and she has to moves out to

Forks, Washington to live with her dad. She is practically a loner until she meets Edward

Cullen who is a vampire, later on he becomes her love interest. As the stories progress students

will get a taste of other supernatural creatures which is why this would be a great book for

adolescent and readers.

Another reason why I chose to do my annotated bibliography on the supernatural genre is

because I have always been fascinated with ghost stories and used to make up my own with my

Grandmother. As teen I always thought that the idea of becoming friends with a vampire or

werewolf was cool and used to which that that could really happen. When reading these types of

stories you are allowed to go on your own adventure and step out of reality into a fantasy world,

Even if it�s only for a few hours.

Through the following books, the audience will hopefully get a view of how modern,

young adult literature can help develop a teens mind and curiosity. It will give them valuable

information on how the supernatural being taught in the classroom might actually be helpful.

Students will develop an idea of what different cultures are like and how Europeans view

vampires werewolves, and other supernatural creatures. Most of these stories are derived from

Europe. Reading stories for this genre will allow students to open their mind to new cultures and

enhance their reading experience.

Annotated Sources

Smith, L.J. The Vampire Diaries Series: The Hunters) Vol. 1. New York: HarperCollins, 2011. Print.

This book is about a girl named Elena Gilbert and her friends saved Fell�s Church from

evil spirits bent on destroying it, but the town�s freedom came at a price: Damon Salvatore�s life.

Damon�s death changes everything. He and his Vampire brother are locked in a vicious battle for

Elena�s heart. Elena gets involved with the wrong guy who�s only goal is to kill Elena and

everyone she loves.

One reason I chose this novel is because this novel has been made into a popular

television series which is still currently running. Elena suffers the loss of her friend and shows

how she copes with that. I find that this story explores the life of a teenage girl who is in high

school and has two guys that are after her. This novel seems to deal with normal teen issues but

has a nice twist to it when it comes to the supernatural by having the two guys who are her love

interest be vampires.

Meyer, Stephanie. Twilight. New York: Hachette Book Group, 2006. Print.

In this book Isabella Swan moves to Forks a small town in Washington that rains all the

time. This could have been the most boring move ever made, but she meets the mysteries and

alluring Edward Cullen. Isabella life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward

has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now

nobody is safe, especially Isabella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find

themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife -- between desire and danger.

This is a great story to give to a young adult because it is a popular saga that has been

made into movies. Currently the last series of the saga Breaking Dawn is in theaters. This is a

thrilling story that deals with a teen girl who had to move to a new town and a new school and

had to make all new friends and try and fit in, until she meets her vampire lover. This novel

shows that life can be hard for teens.

Interview with the Vampire Dir. Neil Jordan, Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Antonio Banderas, Kirsten Dunst Warner Home Video, 2000. DVD.

A vampire named Lestat takes a liking to Louis and offers him the chance to become a

creature of the night: a vampire. Louis accepts, and Lestat drains Louis' mortal blood and then

replaces it with his own, turning Louis into a vampire. Louis must learn from Lestat the ways of

the vampire.

I find this movie to be a good movie for teens because the girl in the movie is a teen and

most teenagers can relate to her. The main themes in this movie deal with love, betrayal,

loneliness and hunger. The girl in this movie is also trying to get to know who she is.

Fitzpatrick, Becca. Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush Saga #1).New York: Simon and Schuster, 2010. Print.

To Nora Grey, Patch seems like the completely unexpected, picture-perfect guy;

handsome, friendly, attentive. But perhaps he's too perfect, too attentive, trespassing over the line

between would-be boyfriend and stalker. At first confused and then frightened, Nora eventually

discovers that both she and her ever-watchful companion are enmeshed in a primordial battle for

souls. Hush, Hush is a debut novel that has raised a feverish buzz.

This is a novel that teens can relate to because it seems to show how Nora is confused

about which side she wants to be in the immortal side or the fallen side. This shows the struggle

teens go through in finding themselves and who they want to be. Also her love interest is a fallen

angel which makes things even more complicated.

Kate, Lauren. Fallen (Lauren Kates Fallen Series # 1). New York: Random House Inc., 2009. Print.

Beautiful Lucinda (Luce) Price is banished from everything she knows after a mysterious

fire leaves her friend Trevor dead and Luce shouldering the blame. She is forced to board at a

decrepit reform school where students are under the constant watch of cameras and must go

without cell phones or Internet access. Grief-stricken by Trevor's death and horrified by her new

surroundings.

This is a story about a lost and confused teenage girl who goes through a hard time

because she loses a good friend of hers. I chose this novel because I thought this was a good

novel that teens could relate to on being in love and how one copes with the death of a friend.

Gaiman, Neil. The Grave Yard Book. New York: HarperCollins, 2008. Print.

Nobody Owens, known as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he

didn't live in a graveyard, being raised by ghosts, with a guardian who belongs to neither the

world of the living nor the dead. There are adventures in the graveyard for a boy—an ancient

Indigo Man, a gateway to the abandoned city of ghouls, the strange and terrible Sleer. But if Bod

leaves the graveyard, he will be in danger from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod's

family.

I chose this book because this is about a boy who is becoming a teenager and he has to

face the loss of his family members. He is being raised by ghosts and a guardian who is neither

living or dead. He gets to go on many adventures in this book. He gets to experience a world

with ghosts, vampires, and other supernatural creatures. I think any teenage boy would love to

get lost in this book.

Stiefvater, Maggie. Shiver (Wolves of Mercy Falls Series #1). New York: Scholastic Press, 2009. Print.

Grace and Sam share a kinship so close they could be lovers or siblings. But they also

share a problem. When the temperature slips towards freezing, Sam reverts to his wolf identity

and must retreat into the woods to protect his pack. He worries that eventually his human side

will fade away and he be will left howling alone at the lonely moon. A stirring supernatural teen

romance.

I thought this would be a great novel for teens to read because it explores the close

friendship and love between Grace and Sam. It is also an adventurous story about a teen who

becomes a wolf and has a responsibility to protect his pack. It is a great love story too.

Noel, Alyson. Evermore (Alyson Noel�s Immortals Series#1. New York: St. Martin�s Press, 2009. Print.

This book is about a girl who survives a horrible car accident and it claimed the lives of

her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people�s thoughts, and know a person�s life

story by touch. Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her

abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school.

I chose this book because this story shows the themes of loneliness and how some kids in

high school treat other students badly because they are different. The girl in this story is already

going through a rough time in life because of the loss of her family and she doesn�t need to be

ridiculed by other kids in high school. This story shows just how hard being a teen can be.

Patterson, James. The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride Series #1). New York: Little Brown and Company, 2005. Print.

This story is about a boy named Max that after the mutant Erasers abduct the youngest

member of their group, the "birdkids," who are the result of genetic experimentation, take off in

pursuit and find themselves struggling to understand their own origins and purpose.

I chose this book because this story is about a fourteen year old boy who lives a fantasy

life that most teenagers wish they can live. This story shows that these kids have vivid

imaginations and that even though they are different from everyone else and have wings and can

fly they don�t care what other people think about them and that shows courage.

Patterson, James. Witch and Wizard �Book One.� New York: Hachette Book Group, 2009. Print.

This story is about a fifteen year old girl named Wisty and her older brother Whit, life

turns upside down when they are torn from their parents one night and slammed into a secret

prison for no reason they can comprehend. The New Order, as it is known, is clearly trying to

suppress Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Being a Normal Teenager. But while trapped in this

totalitarian nightmare, Wisty and Whit discover they have incredible powers they'd never

dreamed of. Can this newly minted witch and wizard master their skills in time to save

themselves and their parents?

I thought this book would be a good book for teens because it shows how a teen girl and

her brother have to learn to survive on their own when they get kidnapped and put in a secret

prison. They are forced to grow up and take charge of each others lives. This book has mystery

and magic and of coarse the supernatural part of this book is the witch and wizard that Wisty and

Whit become. This a great adventure story that teens must read.

Lubar, David. �Pulling Up Stakes� First Crossing. Cambridge: Candlewick Press, 2004. Print. 95-109

This story is about a boy who is an immigrant from Romania and he has to move to

Alaska he didn�t really want to move but his parents had decided to move there. He started

attending High school and everyone made fun of him because he was different. In this story there

was a little comedy thrown in because when the boy told his class mated he was from

Transylvania everyone started to see him as a vampire and started asking him weird questions.

I chose this story because I really enjoyed reading it and I loved the twist of comedy that

the author threw in to show the stereotype of what someone might be like if they came from

Transylvania. It�s basically saying that anyone from there might be a vampire. I think a teen

would enjoy reading this short story because it show what it�s like for a teen who comse to the

United States to start a new life whether or not they wanted too. Also everything they have t go

through being new to this country. He also deals with other students not accepting him for who

he is.

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. New York: Scholastic Inc. 1999. Print.

This book is about a boy named Harry who during his third year of school at Hogwarts

for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry had to confront the devious and dangerous wizard

responsible for his parents deaths.

I thought this would be a great book to teach teens because it deals with a boy who is

coming of age and has to deal with his parent�s deaths. Living with family members that he

doesn�t even like. He has to find out who he is and he has a lot of responsibility for a boy his age.

He goes to school like any other teenager and loves hanging out with Hermione and Ron. They

get into trouble. Go poking around in places they are not supposed to go.I also can�t forget about

the fact that there are ghost in this book witches, dragons, minotaur, spiders, unicorns, and many

other mythical creatures.