It’s that time of the year. The weather is cooling off dramatically, and we’ve pulled out our jackets and boots and fuzzy socks. So get cozy with a cup of apple cider and take a second to curl up with a good book. Here are some of my personal suggestions:
1. “Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story” by Mary Downing Hahn
I first read this book as a tiny little fifth grader getting ready for Halloween, but the book has stuck with me even as a sophomore in college. It’s October, which means that no book list would be complete without an eerie ghost story, and this one is sure to do the trick. Molly and Michael’s step-sister Heather, previously lost her mother in a fire and almost died herself. She begins talking to a ghost who had a similar fate and well, things get exciting from there. This is a quick and easy read, and even if the story itself doesn’t scare you, Helen the Ghost just might.
2. “Flutter: The Story of Four Sisters and an Incredible Journey” by Erin E. Moulton
This book is as heart-warming as the title sounds, and if you’re partial to your baby sister like I am, it might very well bring a few tears to your eyes. The three sisters are excited to have their new baby sister, but when Lily is born with a weak heart, the sisters decide to do everything they can to help. Set in the autumn season, the older sister’s name just happens to be Maple (how fall-ish is that?). Trek through the wilderness with the sisters as they embark on a journey to find the “Wise Woman” on a mission to save their new baby sister.
3.“Dracula” by Bram Stoker
It really wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t include the classic story of our infamous vampire, Count Dracula. Jonathan Harker travels to Transylvania on a business trip, and soon becomes a prisoner of the Count. His fiance, Mina, is corresponding with her friend Lucy, who ultimately becomes a vampire herself. The book is packed full of shipwrecks, wolves, stakes, garlic, and of course, vampire-slaying. Personally, I can’t think of a more ‘October-worthy’ book.
4.“We Were Liars,” by E. Lockhart
This Young Adult book is becoming a popular page-turner to pick up at Barnes & Noble, and for good reason. Although the story is set over a series of summers, the ending of the book is so wildly jarring and spooky that you’ll understand why it’s a perfect fit for the Halloween season. Cadence Sinclair has endured an accident where all she can remember is waking up on the beach without any of her other cousins. As she learns the truth about the accident and the ugly truth hiding behind the family’s wealth, Cadence learns a valuable lesson and is exposed to a devastating reality.
I know studying usually keeps us busy during the fall semester, but it would be a shame if you let the best season of all pass you by before enjoying a good book. So, pick up one of these books, or read one of those books that you’ve been meaning to get to.
Story by: Elizabeth Armstrong
accent@suunews.net
