Rainbow Reads discusses Thirteens by Alice Kate Marshall, Oct. 11
“She has this way of saying things that sound cheerful but they make me feel like I’m some kind of gross bug. Except bugs are actually cool and tragically misunderstood, so something worse than that. Like kale chips.”
Thirteens
It’s time to break out the pumpkins and carving knives, and pick up this month’s Rainbow Reads book! Thirteens is a graphic novel by Alice Kate Marshall set in the sleepy Oregon town of Eden Eld, where main character Eleanor has just relocated.
As she tries to find her place in a new school and new town, she is confronted by mysterious supernatural omens which no one else can apparently see…or if they do, they do not acknowledge them. That is, until Eleanor meets Otto and Pip, who advise her to not let the “wrong things” know she can see them, and never discuss the “wrong things,” with any of the town’s residents.
Despite her desire to “just be normal,” Eleanor finds herself drawn into the supernatural history of the town with her new friends, Otto and Pip, and they uncover a shocking curse: every thirteenth Halloween, 3 children are taken by the elusive being known as Mr. January, and never seen again. Can the trio break the curse in time for Eden Eld’s thirteenth Halloween anniversary? Or will they be Mr. January’s next victims? Pick up Thirteens at the downtown Eugene Public Library to find out, and join Rainbow Reads on Oct. 11 to revel in this terrific, terrifying story!
Thirteens
“Aren’t you going to say everything’s going to be okay, or something?” Pip asked.
“No,” Eleanor said. “People say that a lot to me and it never helps. It just makes me mad. Because everything isn’t okay. Even if it turns out better in the end, it’ll never be okay that this happened.”
For those new to Rainbow Reads: Rainbow Reads is a young adult LGBTQIA2S+ book group for teens hosted by Ben Lilley and Becca Hawkins at the Eugene Public Library. The group meets monthly to discuss young adult literature for queer teens, by queer authors, and/or about queer teens. All teen readers across the gender and sexuality spectrum are welcome.
Readers can pick up a copy of each month’s book at the teen reception desk in the Eugene Public Library. If the library runs out of physical copies, there are ebooks and digital versions available which can be accessed by filling out this form.
WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 11, 4:30-6:00 PM
WHERE: Eugene Public Library, Downtown, 100 W 10th Ave, Eugene OR, 97401
COST: Free