Actually, it’s a series of graphic novels (I’ve read the first three in the past week), and it’s one of the best things I’ve read in a long time. It’s about a family with three kids that moves into a haunted house, where they discover keys that open different magical doors – doors that change your gender, doors that turn you into a ghost, etc. The first book was TERRIFYING, in a really good way. Oh, and I recently learned that Joe Hill, the writer of this series, is Stephen King’s son, so I guess it makes sense that he would be a talented horror author.

So one of the things that I didn’t get a chance to mention in class is that I hope that you will read over the winter break. Choose something you like and get lost in it. I have about 10 books I’m meaning to plow through.

And just because a number of you mentioned that you like horror and were looking for something scary to read, this is probably my #1 horror book:

The Passage is about a bioweaponry experiment gone wrong – the test subjects (all convicted murders sentenced to death row) are turned into vampire-like-creatures (but not Twilight/Dracula vampires, gross/disgusting vampires), and human beings have to live in tiny colonies to survive. I lost hours and hours of sleep to this book (and its sequel), and that hasn’t happened in years.

On a lighter note, this guy is probably my favorite author:

His books will make you snort out loud in a public place and embarrass yourself. Pretty much everything he writes is briliant and hilarious, but my favorites (in order) are: Lamb, Fluke, Sacre Bleu, Fool. And then he has about six others. Also apparently one called The Stupidest Angel, which I have not read, but I which I think has something to do with the holiday season.

Just be forewarned that all of these have varying degrees of mature content, so talk with your parents about what you would like to read.

Okay, a few more recommendations –

If you have not yet read Ender’s Game, run out the door and immediately get a copy. Seriously, you will not be disappointed. I waited until I was 22 to read this book – I had heard about it for years, and never thought it was for me – and boy, I wish I had read it sooner. It’s one of those books that is totally absorbing and will change the way that you think about the world.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a classic of sci-fi and humor, and is so much better than the move. If you have any aspirations towards nerdery whatsoever, you need to have read this book. If you tell me that you are a nerd and you have not read HGG, I will not believe you.