Twisted: Tales to Rot Your Brain Vol. 1 Book Review

 Author: Nora Thompson. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Hairy Eyeballs Press. ISBN: 9780983669913.

Annotation: This macabre collection of short stories, poems and illustrations ranges from the musings of corpses to the pitfalls of having a pet tarantula.   

Personal thoughts: I don’t often read collections of short stories and poems, but when I heard about this one (and saw the cover) I decided to give it a try. I have to admit that, in general, I am really not a fan of poetry/lyrical writing in book form, but I actually enjoyed this collection. It is definitely creepy and more than a little gross, but I thought many of the chapters were really clever. I hope that Nora Thompson decides to publish a second volume, or perhaps write an entire novel in the same vein as this book, because I think she has a lot of originality to bring to the genre.  

Plot summary: This macabre collection of short stories, poems and illustrations ranges from the musings of corpses to the pitfalls of having a pet tarantula. Chapters run the gamut of literary styles including straight narrative style, disjointed poetry, and comic strip.

Review: Nora Thompson, the illustrator behind the-rots.com, creates her first book of flash fiction with Twisted Tales to Rot Your Brain Vol. 1. The collection is a very quick read, easy to finish in one sitting, with chapters ranging in length from one to several pages. While the entire book is, in a word, strange, the author does a good job of creating something creepy and, of course, twisted that is appropriate for the young adult audience. Readers who are familiar with the Scary Stories series or the poetry of Shel Silverstein or Jack Prelutsky will find this collection comes across as a combination of the two. Some of the most enjoyable chapters in the book are “Hairy Eyeballs,” where the narrator must contend with a bristly hair inexplicably growing from the back of his throat, “Headache,” where it feels like something is trying to claw its way out of the narrator’s skull (and it just might be), and “Chula,” a story that will make anyone think twice about keeping a pet tarantula. Overall, any teen reader who is okay with the grossout/twisted nature of the book will find something that they enjoy in Nora Thompson’s collection. Funny, clever, and unique, the world of young adult literature has something to look forward to in Nora Thompson’s creations.

Genre:  Short Stories/Poetry/Horror

Reading level: Grade 7+

Similar titles: Scary Stories series by Alvin Schwartz, Weenies series by David Lubar.

Themes:  Black comedy, macabre, death, irony, humor.  

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus.

Series Information: N/A

Discussion questions:

-        What was your favorite chapter in this collection? Why?

-     How did the author’s use of illustrations add to the book? Do you like her artistic style?

-     Did you find any of the chapters in the collection funny? Creepy? Gross?
-       Describe the different writing styles Nora Thompson used in the book. Which do you like the best? The least? Why?

Attack of the Vampire Weenies Book Review

Author: David Lubar. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Tor Books. ISBN: 9780765323453.

Annotation:  Prepare to be creeped out with this collection of spooky (and funny) tales.

Personal thoughts:  This is my first experience with the "Weenies" books, but I am now officially a fan! The stories were all very clever, and could easily be read aloud in a classroom, or enjoyed individually by tweens, teens and adults alike. I look forward to picking up more of Lubar's creations!

Plot summary: This installment of Lubar’s popular “Weenies” collection features 33 short stories. Many of the stories have to do with vampires, but most of them feature simple plots that are clever, creepy and, at times, hilarious. Some of the stories include “Not Another Word,” featuring a mime who has a particular reason for donning that white face paint, “The Ride of a Lifetime,” about a rollercoaster that seems to have a life of its own, and “Cooties,” which explains what really happens when someone says “no returns.” Most of the stories are only 2-3 pages long, with only a few over 5-10 pages.

Review: Lubar’s “Weenies” collection has sold, according to his website, over 1.7 million copies worldwide, and it is obvious why after reading Attack of the Vampire Weenies, the latest installment. Although the stories are quite short, they are full of clever, creepy and funny characters, plots and situations that will keep tweens, and adults, reading. Some of the real stand out stories include “Not Another Word,” “It’s Only a Game,” “Rapt Punzel,” “Cooties” and “The Cure for the Uncommon Vampire.” All of the stories are very entertaining, however, and readers of all ages are sure to enjoy experiencing their favorites again and again.

Genre: Short Stories/Scary Stories

Reading level: Grade 5+

Similar titles: Other titles in David Lubar’s “Weenies” collection, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz.

Themes:  Short stories, scary stories, irony, humor, vampires.  

Awards/Reviews:  Positive review from Booklist, School Library Journal, San Francisco Chronicle and Detroit Free Press.

Series Information: Part of “Weenies” collection by David Lubar. Other titles include In the Land of the Lawn Weenies, Invasion of the Road Weenies, The Curse of the Campfire Weenies and The Battle of the Red Hot Pepper Weenies.

Discussion questions:

- Write your own weenie tale.

- Which of the stories in Attack of the Vampire Weenies was your favorite? Why?

- What do you think is important to include in a collection of short stories? What elements make the stories enjoyable?

- Have you read any other of the Weenies books? Which ones? How do they compare to Attack of the Vampire Weenies?