We’re devoting this last kids’ post in 2017 to talking about our favorite books we read this year. Some were published this year, others have been around for a while. Regardless, they caught and held our attention, causing us to laugh, to groan, to giggle, and everything in between. The only thing to keep in mind is that this list also includes a few fantasy books. It’s not strictly relegated to sci-fi and horror (though it mostly is.) Oh, and covers link to Goodreads.
Top Kids Reads of 2017
First off, I want to talk about the kids books published in 2017 that I read. These were all great books, and one of them will take home the title for Best Kids Novel in our January 2nd Golden Coolthulhus Awards, so stay tuned!
Katie Slivensky, author of The Countdown Conspiracy, was featured just recently here on Sci-Fi & Scary for the #17DABash. The Countdown Conspiracy was a great, fun read that I totally enjoyed, even if I somehow never actually managed to get around to writing a review for it before I had to return it the library – oops! Emily and the Spellstone was filled with punny fun and completely worth the read. Michael F. Stewart’s Keep in a Cold, Dark Place is good for kids and adults (and will help adults remember how much they loved Gremlins!) The Quantum Ghost by Jonathan Ballagh, follow up to his novel The Quantum Door, was a fantastic follow-up and totally worth checking out! And, of course, this list wouldn’t have been complete without mentioning Robot Revolution by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein!
These books have been around for a bit longer than just this year, but they were new to us, and we loved them! (Some we loved so much we’ve already read twice!)
The 2017 Young Explorer’s Adventure Guide, published in December of 2016, has the distinction of being one of the few sci-fi anthologies I’ve ever read, and I got through it with absolutely no problems. I think maybe sticking to anthologies for kids is the way I need to go! The Grimm House by Karen McQuestion was surprisingly creepy! Fortunately, The Milk had us in stitches! Princeless gave us a fun graphic novel that featured a female lead that was also not white! So Yay! And I can’t say enough good things about Alabaster Shadows! Absolutely fantastic graphic novel for both kids and adults!
Lilyn G is the founder of Sci-Fi & Scary, and leader of the Coolthulhu Crew. She does book and film reviews for both genres the site focuses on. Her tastes run towards creature features, hard science fiction, and lots and lots of action. She also has a soft spot for middle-grade fiction that rears its head frequently.
Though no longer involved with Ladies of Horror Fiction due to other responsibilities and a too-full plate, she was one of the original 4 co-founders.
Feel free to chat her up on Twitter as long as you aren’t hitting her up to review your book.
The only one I’ve read is Keep In A Cold Dark Place. That was fun and the ending leaves me hopeful there will be another book. Thanks for sharing these. I’m always loking for new ones for my Kid’s Korner feature!
Michael Stewart did a great job, didn’t he?
Hey! Thanks so much, it means a lot to me, Lilyn and Laura! I’ll see you in 2018 with more. (But not very scary books, I’m afraid. 🙂 )
Well, let us know when you release something else regardless!
The Haunted Forest Tour makes it to my Top of the year :p
That’s not a kids book! Lol