The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig

 

The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig - 400 pages

Five high school friends are bonded by an oath to protect one another no matter what.

Then, on a camping trip in the middle of the forest, they find something a mysterious staircase to nowhere.

One friend walks up—and never comes back down. Then the staircase disappears.

Twenty years later, the staircase has reappeared. Now the group returns to find the lost boy—and what lies beyond the staircase in the woods. . . .

This was a little of a slow burn in the beginning, but it soon became unputdownable.   A creative idea and a bit creepy.  A great read for fans of horror.

Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell - 306 pages

A romantic cabin getaway doesn’t go exactly as planned. High up on the windswept cliffs of Pale Peak, Faye and Felix celebrate their new engagement. But soon, a chorus of ghastly noises erupts from the nearby the screams of animals, the cries of children, and the mad babble of a hundred mournful voices. A dark figure looms near the windows in the dead of night, whispering to Faye. As the weather turns deadly, Felix discovers that his terrified fiancée isn’t just mumbling in her sleep – she’s whispering back. Originally a contest-winning story on reddit.com’s horror community NoSleep , Stolen Tongues has received widespread acclaim and is now being adapted into a feature film.

If you are a fan of horror this is a must read.  I normally don't get creepy vibes from horror books but this one did just that.  The thought of something out in the dark woods mimicking loved ones trying to lure you out gave me the willies.  When I finished this book, initially I was let down by the ending.  Thinking on it now I don't think it was terrible, it did end well, just not how I expected it to.

The Beast from the East (Goosebumps #43) by R.L. Stine

The Beast from the East (Goosebumps #43) by R.L. Stine-118 pages

Ginger and her identical twin brothers, Nat and Pat, go on a camping trip with their parents. However, they get separated from their parents and get lost in the nearby woods. Soon after, big, blue, furry beasts find them and one of them named Fleg tags Ginger and says she's It. She's the Beast from the East, who is the loser. She has until sundown to tag one of the several beasts or she will be eaten because that's what happens to the Beast from the East. Will Ginger tag one of the beasts before it's too late or will she and her brothers get eaten? This one has another abrupt, signature Goosebumps ending. I have enjoyed reading Goosebumps this month.

The Child Finder by Rene Denfeld

The Child Finder by Rene Denfeld - 288 pages

A young girl disappears from a forested trail while on a trip to find and cut down a Christmas tree with her parents.  Three years later her parents still haven't given up hope that Madison Culver could still be found.  They hire Naomi, a private investigator, who has a gift for finding the lost and the missing.  Naomi's search takes her deep into the Oregon forests and also into her own past when she was one of the lost as well.  This very suspenseful story alternates between Naomi and the perspective of an extremely imaginative child.  This novel is a compelling look at redemption, the extraordinary resilience of the human mind, and the will to survive

The Berenstain Bears and the Ghost of the Forest by Stan & Jan Berenstain

The Berenstain Bears and the Ghost of the Forest by Stan & Jan Berenstain-32 pages

Sister and Brother Bear and their cousin are going on a scout camping trip in the forest. Papa Bear tells them stories of ghosts and spooks in the forest to scare the cubs. Mama Bear and their Scout leader assure them that ghosts aren't real. However, Papa Bear is planning to dress up as a ghost and scare the cubs.

The Doll Funeral by Kate Hamer

The Doll Funeral by Kate Hamer - 320 pages

13 year old Ruby has long felt unloved and unwelcome in her home.  Her only solace is her "friend" Shadow and the time she spends out in the forest.  Ruby's world is turned upside down by a revelation and she soon discovers the truth behind her family and that what she sees isn't always there for everyone else.  She finds out that true family isn't necessarily blood, rather it's the people who see you for who you truly are and still love you for it. 

Hamer's books are very lyrical and the countryside is almost another character.  This book is a meditation on the nature of family and what it really means to belong with a side chaser of the supernatural. 

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill - 388 pages

Once a year, the youngest baby in the Protectorate is taken and left in the woods for the witch.  The witch steals the baby and eats it . . . .

Once a year, a witch finds an abandoned baby in the woods and rescues it.  She takes it to a loving family on the other side of the forest . . . .

One year, Xan the witch discovers a baby girl that steals her heart.  That year, Xan falls in love with the baby and feeds it moonlight enmagicking her.  This is the year that everything starts to change . . . for Xan, for the baby, for the forest, for the Protectorate, for the world.


I have loved all of Kelly Barnhill's books.  They are very sophisticated original fairy tales for children.  So I was looking forward to reading her latest.  Then it was declared the winner of the Newbery Award and I immediately checked it out.  I absolutely loved this book.  It's probably my favorite Newbery winner since The Invention of Hugo Cabret.  The characters capture your interest while the plot twists keep you reading.  This is a great read for all children and teens.

Messenger by Lois Lowry

Messenger by Lois Lowry - 169 pages
The Giver series - book 3

The third book of The Giver series focuses on Matt.  He was the fierce young boy in Gathering Blue who made his way to the other village, a peaceful place guided by Leader (Jonas from The Giver).  Matt is now living in the Village with Seer, the blind father of Kira from Gathering Blue.  He takes messages around town and to the other settlements.  Unfortunately, he now has to take the awful message that the Village is closing its walls and accepting no new citizens.  He also has to lead Kira to Village to live with her father before it is too late.

I enjoyed the audio version of this book.  It was narrated by David Morse and his calm, peaceful voice was perfect.  I didn't remember as much of the story of this book as I thought I would.  It was a lot sadder of a book than I remembered.

Messenger by Lois Lowry

Messenger by Lois Lowry - 169 pages

Matty has lived in Village six years ever since he left his community.  He's now the messenger both in town and to the other nearby communities.  He is one of the few able to go through the Forest.  But now the Forest is starting to worry him and the Village has decided to close and not allow any more new refugees in.  It is up to Matty to let the other communities know and to travel back to his original home to bring back his friend Kira before the town's wall closes forever.  He didn't realize that the Forest would attack them and not let them back.  It will take Kira's gift, the Leader's gift, and most importantly his gift to save the Forest and Village.
This is the obvious sequel to Gathering Blue and third book in The Giver series.  While no names are given, it is obvious that characters from The Giver are in Messenger.  I really liked this book.  It was a good sequel to Gathering Blue.  In my opinion the books in the series are becoming more traditional fantasy with each new book.  This book deals mainly with "gifts" and the fight between good and evil - both very traditional fantasy elements.

Messenger by Lois Lowry

"Messenger" by Lois Lowry - 169 pages

The third and final book of the trilogy. Have a box of kleenex handy because this book will make you cry. Matty was introduced in the second book, "Gathering Blue". In "Messenger", Matty is enjoying his new life in Village delivering messages to the surrounding towns. He is the only one in the community that is able to go into Forest. Forest gives warnings to those who dare to enter without "permission" such as a sharp prick with a twig, etc. Matty must traverse the dangers of Forest one last time when he is sent to bring back Kira. Will Forest welcome him this time? Or not? Read now to find out.