Gwendolyn N. Nix's 3 favorite reads in 2023

I’ve grown tired of retellings. So, when I picked up this gothic reimagining of The Fall of the House of Usher, I expected the same unsatisfied letdown when I turned to the first page.

Instead, I was sucked straight into the protagonist’s point of view, delightfully shuddering at the grotesque imagery of wildlife puppeteered by an ecological nightmare and how the shift in language can allow for other non-human sentient creatures to communicate with us.

My burnout on story retellings lifted, reminding me that an old tale can still hold surprises and about the importance of stories handed down, re-molded, and shaped from generation to generation.

I enjoy surprises. Jump scares? Eh, they’re okay. But what I really seek out are tales that evoke the sensation of being semi-lost in a dark forest, with a flickering flashlight, squinting around the brambles to understand what lies beyond. 

I want to discover monsters beyond run-of-the-mill demons, vampires, or werewolves. So, when I dug into this weird, surreal book, I was quickly mesmerized by its quiet horror, depicting a woman deeply betrayed by her partner and yet still caring for him during a strange metamorphosis while enduring his stark, hurtful confessions.

When she ultimately embraces a metamorphosis of her own, I had to sit back, eyes open wide, surprised, and delighted at the strange story I had just consumed.

At some point, as a very tired parent of a very active toddler, I realized I needed a book beyond my usual four hundred-page-plus doorstoppers, and I quickly discovered this gem. Brevity defines this book, and due to its length, I expected something easily consumable. But I was pleased to find out that I still had to pay attention!

The subtle hints and clever structure set up the rich machinations of an empire, along with a clever monarch looking to secure her legacy and throne – without relying solely on brawn.

Political intrigue was but one facet of this condensed story. Ghosts, talking birds, and fortune tellers wove in and out of the narrative with enigmatic grace. I was hooked from the first page.

My son loves trucks, buses, and anything construction. So, while we have read most of the Little Blue Truck books ad nauseam, this one quickly surpassed the others because of the big yellow bus that takes the woodland creatures to school each day.

And, since he enjoys running up hiking trails almost as fast as The Flash, he enjoyed the “off the beaten path” the Little Blue Truck takes to save the day and help his friends get to school on time. 

This children’s book has just the right amount of spookiness for the Halloween season for a budding Halloween-loving kiddo.

A ghost floats above the excited pumpkins as the words bounce across the page. He enjoys pointing at the witches and pretending he can blow the jack lanterns’ lights out like the ghost. 

For a kid who hates going to bed, my little one certainly loves this story.

Little Llama’s facial expressions make him laugh, and the range of emotions he experiences matches up with Little Llama’s perilous experience of having to go to bed exactly.

My son enjoys pointing out Little Llama’s stuffie that he sleeps with and shows me his in turn. And I, as a parent, feel Mama Llama’s desire to get the kiddo to bed, finish those chores up, and maybe go to sleep herself quite keenly.