Hide and Don’t Seek and Other Very Scary Stories by Anica Mrose Rissi. Art by Carolina Godina
Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins Publishers
Publication Date: August 3, 2021
ISBN: 978-0063026957
This collection of “all types of” short stories includes twenty short texts ranging from one to eighteen pages in length. Text message exchanges, letters, a script, poetry, and traditional prose comprise this eclectic collection of scary stories geared towards younger teens, but enjoyed by all readers.
The creepy cover art and font evoke a creator in the attic trying to escape and will entice teens to select this collection with little to no persuasion. From the start, the introductory letter from the author to the reader sets the tone for the chilling tales as it dares the reader into its creepily fantastic stories of suspicious summer camps, cruel cats, secret skeletons, inhuman imaginary friends, and wayward wishes (to name a few). The very different characters and plot lines featured in each story and the clearly-defined transitions between them will keep readers easily moving through the shifting tales.
Fans of Stranger Things, Goosebumps, and the horror genre in general, will enjoy these well-written and fast-paced spooky stories.
–Jennifer Sutton
Other Nominated Titles
- The Missing Passenger by Jack Heath (August 17, 2021)
- The Lost Girl: A Vampire Revenge Story (September 14, 2021)
The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the Title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.
Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten. The previous years’ lists are available on The Hub.
