Literary Coffee

It’s close to Halloween! It’s time for some spooky middle-grade books! As a middle school librarian, I have been reading spooky books like it’s my job! Well, it is. This past week I focused on the author K. R. Alexander. This author practically has their own shelf in my library, and the kids love them!

First up, Speak For Me

Three out of Five Magical Coffee Cups:

Naomi is not a fan of dolls.  Never has been.  Understandable. Her best friend tricks her into stealing the newest tech creation.  A doll that links up with your phone.  Picture an Alexa inside of a doll.  You can have the doll text or call anyone and even video chat using the doll.  The problem? Naomi’s doll seems to have some extra features. Her doll has started to speak before she even types anything into her phone. Her doll wants to be her friend, her only friend.  Creepy!  Creepy because of the dolls, creepy because of the technology, and creepy because of what Namoi is going through.  I would never buy this doll, and I am also happy that I do not have an Alexa or an Echo.  I’m unsure if this was robots trying to take over or ghosts possessing things.  Either way, I’m out! 

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Follow Me

Four out of Five Magical Coffee Cups:

MC has just moved into a huge house in a new town.  I’m going to start by stating the obvious. If you can get a massive house cheaply, it is either falling apart or haunted. Guess where we are headed? While playing hide and seek, MC sees something in a mirror.  It’s a little girl with a teddy bear.  He tries to ignore it, but soon after, his new friends tell him the legends of his new house.  The story says a little girl is seen around, and if you start to see her, you are the next to go missing. Is there a ghost stealing kids in his house, or are these stories just to explain away a few runaways? But how did MC see the girl before he knew about the story? He now needs to figure this out before it’s too late! 

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Last Laugh

Three of Five Magical Coffee Cups:

“What’s scarier than a collection of clown dolls in a secret locked room? How about… those clown dolls coming to life? And hunting you down.”  

I have never really had an issue with dolls, but there have been a lot of stories about creepy dolls lately.  I don’t like it.  I very much don’t appreciate dolls that can run around on their own. Not cool! Also, a secret locked room? Why are we going into the locked room? This could also be a tale to teach kids to do as they are asked.  Don’t sneak around where you don’t belong, or you will have creepy dolls hunting you down! 

I will say that this isn’t this author’s best work, but it is still a book that could make you uneasy the next time you see a little doll sitting on a shelf.