I am one of many Kelsi Corns who participated in her Killer Corn Readathon from 01 June – 11 June. Who exactly are Kelsi Corns? We are patrons of her YouTube channel, Slime and Slashers, and we receive bonus content for supporting her creative endeavors. For participating in Kelsi’s mini slasher readathon and completing 8 prompts, I received two killer cartoon corns (a candy corn and a corn on the cob) and earned accessories for both of them. While the theme was slashers, participants did not have to read slasher stories to earn their corns. Additionally, Kelsi allowed books to be used for multiple prompts.
Prompts
- Read a book ending in an even # of pages.
- Read a book ending in an odd # of pages.
- Read a book set at summer camp or at a carnival.
- Read a book written by a woman.
- Read a book published before 2020.
- Watch a Slasher Movie.
- Read a book with only 1 word OR with more than 3 words in the title.
- Read a book without red on the cover.
I read a middle-grade book about a dangerous summer camp, a slasher novel, and two supernatural novellas to earn my candy corn witch and my kitty cat corn on the cob.
In addition, I attended the watch party on Kelsi’s discord to watch the slasher movie, Hello, Mary Lou: Prom Night 2, with friends. I gave it a 1/2 star because it was awful and not at all connected to the original Prom Night, starring the fabulous Jamie Lee Curtis.
Welcome to Camp Nightmare by R.L. Stine is a delightfully dark middle-grade horror book and the 9th book in the original iconic Goosebumps series. It is about a young boy named Billy who is shipped off to Camp Nightmoon for his first summer camp experience. Even before arriving at Camp Nightmoon, Billy and his new friends encounter some strange situations. Welcome to Camp Nightmare was a fast, suspenseful read. This tale kept you guessing until the very end with plenty of mystery, frightening moments, and twists and turns that lead up to a VERY surprising and satisfying ending. This was my first 5-star Goosebumps.
Dolly by Susan Black is a supernatural story surrounding a damaged doll that mysteriously manifests itself through the transgressions of those who possess it. Timid Edward and his haughty cousin Leonora spend one summer as children at Iyot House in the English countryside with their Aunt Kestrel. Their time together is spent amicably enough until Aunt Kestrel presents Leonora with a large baby doll made of china for her birthday. Leonora’s reaction to the doll changes their lives forever. 4-star read for me.
The Man in the Picture by Susan Hill is a haunting story that involves a mesmerizing painting with a precarious secret. Oliver travels to Cambridge to visit his former professor, Theo Parmitter, who happens to be an art collector. One evening, Theo shares an unbelievably strange story with Oliver concerning a painting of masked partygoers at a Venetian carnival that he aquired many years ago. 4.5 star read for me.
My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones is an homage to slasher films. High school senior, Jade Daniels, is complicated and a hardcore fan of slasher movies from the 80s. A new community is being built across the lake from her small town in the national forest that triggers bad feelings amongst the townpeople, conjures up the urban legend surrounding Camp Blood, and sets off a chain of events right out of a slasher movie. This novel starts off at a slow pace but quickly picks up speed, and Jones keeps you guessing until the bittersweet end with plenty of twists and turns. 4-stars for a slashery good time.
If you want to hear more about my thoughts on this book or the other books I read for the Killer Corn Readathon, please check out my Killer Corn Readathon Vlog. I had a great deal of fun with this readathon.
The Killer Corn Readathon kicked off my reading for June; however, I read plenty of other amazing books during the first month of the summer which I will hopefully be sharing with you soon, dear reader. Do you participate in readathons or reading challenges? Please let me know in the comments below. I love reading about the reading adventures of fellow bibliophiles. To see my current book reviews or books I have read in the past, follow me on Goodreads at Katherine Loyacano. Happiness!
“Can’t I just like horror because it’s great? Does there have to be some big explanation?” My Heart Is a Chainsaw
The Kat Files 