Book displays. Every librarian has created one, with good reason. They work. It’s just like the candy, gum and other small impulse items located next to the check out. You’ didn’t’ know you needed that package of wet wipes until you saw it. The same can be said of a great display of books. It’s marketing genius, and it’ doesn’t’ cost you a dime.
With Teen Read Week just around the corner it’s time to create those awesome book displays that will highlight this year’s theme – It Came From the Library, featuring both horror and mystery genres. Below is a list of’ Gothic’ titles ‘ sure to entice the most discerning patrons.
Texas Gothic‘ by Rosemary Clement-Moore – In this novel the heroine uses her wit, charm and family heritage of kitchen-witchery to solve a mystery on the family farm. It’s rife with ghosts, laughs and fun.
Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause – A girl that lives in both human and wolf form must learn to live without her father while trying to find her own place in the world, while battling her pack and falling in love.
Beautiful Creatures‘ by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl – This hauntingly beautiful book features a hero that’s drawn to a cursed girl who is struggling with her power and what her future holds.
This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel – In this re-telling of Frankenstein our hero struggles with morality’ while trying to save his brother with the Elixir of Life.
Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell – A ghostly tale that takes place in Louisiana that revolves around a coming of age story, a mystery and a missing boy.
Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith – A dark and gritty novel that follows a young girl after the loss of her parents in which she learns to navigates life while taming vampires and falling for a hybrid-werewolf.
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray – This lush book set in the Victorian era is replete with a creepy castle like boarding school, colorful cast and a mystery and ending that defines the term gothic.
Ruined by Paula Morris – A great New Orleans ghost tale filled with voodoo mystery and a heroine who is in the center of it all.
The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey – This gothic adventure has a monster hunting hero who must help save the world from a monster invasion.
Stacy Vandever-Wells, Teen Read Week 2012 Committee
