These mini book reviews appeared in Little Shop of Stories’ 2012 Summer Reading Guide.
Growing up in a town with a rich history of witchcraft (think Salem witch trials) isn’t easy for an 11-year-old boy who can talk to ghosts. Everyone thinks Norman is just plain weird, but when a town tall tale about a witch’s curse actually turns out to be true, Norman must use his paranormal abilities to save the town from pilgrim zombies! (This was released as a movie last fall.)
ParaNorman, by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel, $15.99, Little, Brown. Recommended for ages 8-12.
Juniper and Giles are two friends with a shared problem: The more famous their celebrity parents get, the more distant and scary they become. Juniper and Giles discover the answer to their parents’ strange behavior can be found in the woods behind Juniper’s house. A modern-day fairytale, Juniper Berry is creepy and disturbing in that Coraline “other mother” kind of way.
Juniper Berry: A Tale of Terror and Temptation, by M.P. Kozlowsky, $5.99, Harper Collins. Recommended for ages 8-12.
Both titles available at the Little Shop of Stories, 133A East Court Square, Decatur, 404-373-6300, www.littleshopofstories.com.
