...gothy reads for young readers...

In her recent post “Reader Mail: Advice for Goth Kids?”, Mary Rose, The Everyday Goth, responds to a reader’s question about becoming goth (as a 10-year-old kid) without her parents actually noticing it.

Among other things, Mary Rose suggested that this goth-ling “read a lot of good books”… it struck me that this kid might not know what this means. I was getting ready to make a comment when I realized that I would be doing a great deal of listing and should probably just write a post and leave my URL instead.

Nearly a decade before this blog, I began blogging as a researcher of adolescent literature (I even teach an adolescent literature course to college English majors).

Here are a few off the top of my head…

While it may seem a little young since it is a picture book, I assure you that

The Spider and the Fly is one of the best books you’ll ever read! Artist Tony DiTerlizzi’s drawing are gothically gorgeous and evoke the classic Hollywood horror movies of the 1920s. You don’t get any goth-er than this, kids!

Skip the movie! Neil Gaiman’s Coraline is terrifying for all ages! The “other mother” with the button eyes?!? *shivers*

How about Amphigorey, a collection of haunting stories and verses by Edward Gorey! How can a goth go wrong with Edward Gorey???

The Vampire Kisses series (Vampire Kisses, Kissing Coffins, Vampireville, The Coffin Club, Dance with a Vampire, Royal Blood) by Ellen Schreiber is one of my favorite vampire series because main character Raven is a goth girl who loves vampires (SPOILER ALERT—she finds a few :p ). Raven is a strong, independent 16-year-old who gets herself in trouble and gets herself out of trouble without the help of any male characters!

If you like the vampire theme and you’re a strong reader, you may also enjoy

Kimberly Pauley’s Sucks to Be Me: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire (maybe) about a young girl with *gasp* vampires for parents! Because she has to make a choice about whether or not to become a vampire herself, she’s stuck attending vampire training night school. The book has a great sarcastic character. It’s funny and includes myths about vampires along with literary references.

There is also Chris Riddell’s series Goth Girl Book Series which includes the Goth Girl: and the Ghost of a Mouse. Again, this series which includes adventure stories/ ghost stories is chocked full of literary references and humor.  

Happy Reading!