When it comes to literature, teaching the classics is important. But it's a good idea to add contemporary titles to your curriculum, too, especially if your students sometimes have trouble connecting with older texts.
That’s why we created the Discovering Literature collection, a curated selection of noteworthy books that are capturing the attention of teachers and students across the country.
This month’s Discovering Literature Digest features stories of horror, both real and imagined. From mysterious tales of the supernatural to historical accounts of humanity’s darkest days, these books are sure to captivate your students.
Dark Sky Rising
In this nonfiction work for middle-grade readers, Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. explores the turbulent history of America during and after Reconstruction, from the end of the Civil War to the rise of segregation laws. Told through real-life accounts, illustrations, photographs, and other primary sources, Dark Sky Rising humanizes the people and events of Reconstruction’s democratic experiment, its tragic undermining, and the drawing of a new “color line” in the Jim Crow era that followed.
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The Bone Houses
In the remote village of Colbren, Ryn and her family work as gravediggers, a tough job given that in Colbren, the dead don’t always stay dead. Called “bone houses,” the risen corpses are a result of a curse put on the land. After a mapmaker named Ellis arrives in town, the bone houses start attacking the village each night. To find a way to break the curse, Ryn and Ellis must travel into the wilderness outside of the village, unsure of what they will find. Students who love the horror genre will be captivated by this chilling tale of terror.
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Heroine
In this work of realistic fiction, author Mindy McGinnis presents a powerful glimpse into America’s opioid crisis through one teen’s struggle with addiction. Just before softball season, Mickey is injured in a car crash. Determined to stay on the team, Mickey turns to prescription painkillers to help her push through her injuries. But she discovers the painkillers do something more; they make her feel good. The more Mickey uses the pills, the more her need increases, pushing her closer and closer to spiraling out of control.
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Catherine House
This atmospheric novel follows Ines, a new student at Catherine House, a reputable boarding school from which the brightest minds emerge. Those lucky enough to be accepted may attend for free, with one caveat: For all three years of enrollment, they must completely remove themselves from the outside world. Ines, eager to escape a troubled past, is quick to accept these terms and dive into academic challenges. But as her time at the school progresses, Ines suspects dark forces are at work behind the school’s experimental curriculum.
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Find even more exciting books in the Discovering Literature collection!