Monster Books: Episode 6 - Middle Grade Ghost Stories

Anatomy of a Scream Pod Squad

Today’s episode is all about middle grade ghost stories! Jessica returns to her favorite age range and subgenre to look at two very different graphic novels: Camp Midnight by Steven T. Seagle and Jason Adam Katzenstein, and Sheets by Brenna Thummler.

She discusses why ghost stories are so popular, what kids’ books can teach adults about grief, and why you don’t have to go to a Scottish castle to find a basilisk.

Topics include: after-school specials, the importance of finding your true voice, the value of sad horror stories, and finding beauty in the world after the loss of a loved one.

Highlights

• 00:19 Introduction and discussion of why there are so many ghost stories in middle grade fiction
• 04:02 Camp Midnight synopsis and discussion of horror and social isolation
• 12:00 Sheets synopsis and discussion of grief as a horror story
• 23:38 Wrap-up

Follow Monster Books Podcast and your host Jessica Scott on Twitter @MonsterBooksPod, @WeWhoWalkHere, and @SpookyKidLit. If you like the podcast, please rate, review, and subscribe!

Thanks to Drew Pidgeon for the amazing music and Lily Todorov for the incredible cover art!

Discover more fabulously spooky Anatomy of a Scream Pod Squad shows at anatomyofascream.com and follow the network on Twitter and Instagram @aoas_xx!

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.