Heads Up, Summerween is coming!

Last year at nearly the last minute, I got bit by the Summerween bug. In the midst of a creative downturn, I saw a few reels and online chatter about the concept of Summerween-a way to incorporate spooky vibes into the summer season-and got hella' inspired. I hosted a month long online book club, created artwork specifically for the occasion, made a playlist, and put everything online so people could participate with me if they wanted to. That post was on May 27th. I hadn't really given people much time to prepare-I wasn't prepared myself but I couldn't let the muse just pass me by!

This year, I'm doing it again! Except this go 'round I figured it might be a good idea to give you guys a heads up before I just spring it on you, although flying by the seat of my pants is usually my M.O. The main thing I want to do is to release the title of the four graphic novels I'll be reading each week in the month of June and let you guys know what the overall theme is for this year's Summerween.

I don't think I formally announced a "theme" for last year's Summerween, but the overall vibe I was going for was couched in the 1980's and the books we read took place during summertime. I tried to give everything a 80's slasher film feel. This was most prominent in the Summerween logo I designed for last year, the sticker sheet, and the Spotify playlist. This year I'm moving up to one of the greatest decades to ever exist: the 1990's, and with a general theme of aliens! No, not the xenomorphs of the Alien movie franchise, I'm talking little green men, big eyes, flying saucers, space invaders, you get the idea. And I've tried to curate four graphic novels that fit at least one or more of the following criteria:

• takes place during the summer

• is in the horror genre, or at least is spooky or creepy

• features aliens, or at least creatures from outer space

Without further ado, here's the book list for this year's Summerween Book Club:

WEEK ONE: In Utero by Chris Gooch

Twelve years after a disastrous explosion, young Hailey is dropped off by her mum at a holiday camp in a dilapidated shopping mall. Alienated from the other kids, she connects with an eerie older teen named Jen… but soon dark horrors awaken, and the two new friends are caught up in a cataclysmic battle between two terrifying creatures who have been lying dormant all this time.One of Australia’s most acclaimed young graphic novelists, Chris Gooch expertly crafts a taut and intimate thriller about mothers and daughters, the monstrous and the mundane, and the power of friendship in the midst of catastrophe.

WEEK TWO: Skeeters by Bob Frantz and Kevin Cuffe

When giant mosquito-like alien creatures invade a rural seaside community, a frustrated sheriff and two oddball exterminators end up being the town’s only hope for survival. A comedic and gruesome story for fans of Slither, Arachnophobia, and other classic creature-features!

WEEK THREE: Proctor Valley Road by Grant Morrison and Alex Child

August, Rylee, Cora & Jennie have organized a “Spook Tour” with their classmates on the most haunted, demon-infested stretch of road in America to fund attending the concert of their dreams. But when their visit turns deadly, these four friends race to rescue the missing students… before the town tears them limb from limb. Now they must slay the evils roaming Proctor Valley Road… along with the monsters lurking in the hearts of 1970s America.

WEEK FOUR: All the Lovely Bad Ones adapted into graphic novel by Scott Peterson, Naomi Franquiz and Brittany Peer. Original novel written by Mary Downing Hahn 

Travis and his sister, Corey, can't resist a good trick. When they learn that their grandmother's quiet Vermont inn, where they're spending the summer, has a history of ghost sightings, they decide to do a little "haunting" of their own. Before long, their supernatural pranks have tourists flocking to the inn, and business booms.

But Travis and Corey soon find out that theirs aren't the only ghosts at Fox Hill Inn. Their thoughtless games have awakened something dangerous, something that should have stayed asleep. Can these siblings lay to rest the restless spirits they’ve disturbed?

Note: This book is actually one I had on the list from last year but never got around to reading, so tacking it on this year. Also, Mary Downing Hahn has several other books that have been adapted into a graphic novel format so if this one's any good, there will be more to explore later!

So how are we feeling about this year's Summerween Book Club! Excited? A month's notice should give everyone time to hunt these guys down if you want to participate. The most economical method that I would suggest is to see if you can't find these lurking around your local library. I know I've already found In Utero and All the Lovely Bad Ones in mine. If you don't mind reading digitally, check out the Libby app which partners with your local library to deliver books via e-reader, etc. Of course you can purchase them at several retail spots, Amazon has all of these in stock, but I'd recommend buying used first. Www.bookshop.org sells books at a discounted rate and a portion of their proceeds goes towards independent bookstores. You can even choose a local bookstore that you want to support that is in your area, so you'll be buying cool books and supporting local business owners. Look for the "choose a bookstore" link in the top right hand corner of their website if you visit.

Until next time!

~b

P.S. Summerween is open to everyone. Everything Summerween will be free for everyone across all platforms. I hope you follow along!