In the last recommendations for 2024, it was commented that the chosen theme had been changed to another, because the last days of December called for celebration. But already immersed in the holidays, with more time to read, the next recommendations will be for longer books, to share a story or a daily chapter or for boys and girls to read alone.
In today’s installment the protagonist is terrora genre that seems to captivate children and adults. Maybe because it goes beyond fear; because it is linked to the inexplicable, which becomes, at some point, captivating. And because, as a famous phrase goes, reality is stranger than fictionergo, why should we really fear what is simply a product of fantasy – no matter how realistic it may be?
And here it is worth making a reservation. Those of us who lived our childhood in the 80s and 90s read the well-known Socorroof Elsa Bornemanna book of stories that had the particularity of introducing for the first time into local children’s literature the most psychological fear, that linked to the realistic, to the known, to the close. The one that was scary because it clouded the vision, because it confused the senses and even the reason a little. Until then, only The amazing storiesof Steven Spielberg They had allowed themselves that. But a book is never the same as audiovisual material. Words have the power to get inside you. And you are alone or alone with that.
To this day many still remember the story. Manosone of the twelve of that volume that is still preserved in more than one school or family library and that, if not, can still be acquired published by loqueeo.
It is striking the number of books written for boys and girls that have the terror as a theme, as a genre or that, in some way, border on it. Maybe because the adventure shakes hands with him a little or because it generates curiosity or, as was said at the beginning of this note, because fear, fear, cause other things.
In today’s selection (there is a lot, a lot, so another installment comes out later), three volumes of short stories and a short novel were chosen. Of the first three, it is worth saying that two are very attractive not only because of what captivates the genre itself, but because they also have as a distinctive feature a subtheme that links them, a city in common, in one case, and technology in the other. other.
Never turn off the light and other horror stories (Open court, 2020), from Luciana Murziwith illustrations by Mauro Vargas. The title of the book transcends reality and becomes the darkest of the four volumes in this selection. It is accompanied by the black cover and monochrome illustrations.
In sixteen stories there is no shortage of mystery and anguish, but also revenge, guilt and certain social and period reflections. Envious companions; characters that remember the man with the bag, but who hide in children’s cultural consumption; cell phone games that children co-opt are just some of the scenarios that hide behind the darkness of never turn off the light.
One of those books to share with friends, family or read on a camp stove.
Sinister nights in Mar del Plata (I speak, 2024), de Mario Mendezwith illustrations by Kundo Krunchhas two peculiarities, on the one hand, all the stories are set in Mar del Plata, and on the other, it plays with the effect of the punchline.
The atmosphere builds little by little, it even flirts with other sensations, such as tenderness, love, a pinch of humor, and terror is more of a lurking discomfort.
All of this makes you not want to put the book down and, in many cases, be surprised by the ending. Meanwhile, an invisible map traces different points in Mar del Plata and its surroundings where ghosts, murderers, madmen, and the living dead gather.
Technohorror: 13 tales of technology and horror (Aique, 2024), de Hernan Galdames. Perhaps the specimen that may be most familiar to those boys and girls who have seen amazing stories, Tales from de Crypt, With goosebumps and, hidden from the adults, Black Mirror.
The stories range from a holographic mother to a son “living” in a parallel dimension; a lurking technician, among others whose narrative conflict is crossed by new technologies and their power.
A book that shows, with or without intention, the prevailing reality to which we are exposed. Which is probably the scariest thing.
The last trip (AZ, Serie del boleto, 2020), de Fabian Sevillawith illustrations by Fernando Falcone. The only novel of the four chosen captivates from the first pages, because of the tone, because it doses mystery and fear, by playing with the possibility provided by a longer text that can be divided into chapters.
Thiago embarks on a journey after fulfilling a request from his father, and from then on nothing will be the same again.
He will meet characters who have little in common, except for a small habit, and he must choose what to do and how to continue his journey in order to return home.
With very well written prose, The last trip It is a very good choice to start venturing into reading novels.
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These are just a few recommendations from the plethora of literature that exists for boys and girls. The important thing is to discover what the preferred readings may be. The important thing is to read.
