His Hideous Heart edited by Dahlia Adler

 

Yesterday, I finished reading His Hideous Heart edited by Dahlia Adler. This story collection reimagines thirteen tales originally written by Edgar Allan Poe, including "The Pit and the Pendulum", "The Tell-Tale Heart", and "The Raven".  Although Poe's works are over a hundred and fifty years, they have themes that are similar to those found in today's young adult literature. Thirteen popular YA authors put their own spin on Poe's works, telling stories that are mysterious, thrilling, and horrifying.

I read a collection of Poe's works when I was in eighth grade and this story collection by current YA authors based on some of his short stories and poems did not disappoint. I thought it was absolutely fantastic because I love creepy and mysterious stories. Some of my favorites were "She Rode a Horse of Fire" by Kendare Blake, "It's Carnival!" by Tiffany D. Jackson, "The Glittering Death" by Caleb Roehrig, "A Drop of Stolen Ink" by Emily Lloyd-Jones, "The Oval Filter" by Lamar Giles, "Red" by Hillary Monahan, "Lygia" by Dahlia Adler, and "The Fall of the Bank of Usher" by Fran Wilde. I really enjoyed how many of these stories incorporated diverse main characters whether they were girls, people of color, or LGBTQ+. All of the stories were unique whether they took place in the past, the present, or the future. Overall, His Hideous Heart is an amazing choice for teens who enjoys mystery, suspense, horror, or Edgar Allan Poe.