The White Guy Dies First

April 29, 2024
Benton-Walker (Blood Justice) crafts a trope-bending horror anthology, collecting 13 loosely linked tales by authors such as Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, Chloe Gong, and Mark Oshiro. Centering protagonists of various body types, genders, and racial and ethnic backgrounds, each story dismantles racist tropes and casts “the white guy” as the first kill. Kendare Blake addresses East Asian stereotypes in “The Golden Dragon,” which centers a Chinese-restaurant-owning Korean American family and a Japanese ghost that avenges rape survivors. Meanwhile, “Gray Grove” by Alexis Henderson grapples with monstrous malevolence on a former slave plantation. Contributions showcase powerful storytelling through unreliable narrators (as in Tiffany Jackson’s “Everything’s Coming Up Roses”) and skilled foreshadowing (in Lamar Giles’s “The Protégé”). Scares are plentiful but always impactful: cannibalism becomes a metaphor for cultural appropriation in H.E. Edgmon’s “Best Served Cold,” told by a two-spirit narrator, and “Break Through Our Skin” by Naseem Jamnia conceptualizes the transgender experience through depictions of body horror. Pair this intense, riveting collection with The Black Girl Survives in This One and The Blonde Dies First for a deep dive into subversive contemporary horror. Ages 13–up. Agent: Patricia Caldwell, New Leaf Literary.

May 1, 2024
A delightfully creepy collection of 13 short stories that explores the human elements of ghouls, phantoms, vengeful spirits, and sadistic demons. In his opening note, editor and contributor Benton-Walker highlights the horror genre's ability to "deliver terror that's most often intertwined with a deeper message." Embracing the gruesome fatalities of horror film veteran Eli Roth's cinematic bloodbaths in combination with the unsettling imagery of the Creepshow franchise, these tales include Kendare Blake's "The Golden Dragon," which centers on a Korean American high schooler who uncovers her sister's powerful connection to a local ghost story; Chloe Gong's "Docile Girls," a harrowing teen slasher that acerbically critiques the model minority myth; and Tiffany D. Jackson's "Everything's Coming Up Roses," a creative take on the found-footage narrative starring an 18-year-old Black girl whose back garden hides a dark, disturbing secret. Others, such as Naseem Jamnia's "Break Through Our Skin," artfully use body horror to explore the nuances of gender identity, enhancing corporeal anxiety in ways reminiscent of director David Cronenberg's work. Benton-Walker closes with "The Road to Hell," a spine-tingling story from the point of view of an anthropomorphized haunted house. This anthology skillfully pushes the boundaries of the genre, featuring flawed heroes and villains who inspire lasting fear and dread. The protagonists represent marginalized, underrepresented communities encompassing diverse cultures, ethnicities, races, and religions. A memorable offering of imaginative frights that's not for the faint of heart or those with weak stomachs. (Horror anthology. 14-18)

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June 1, 2024

Gr 8 Up-An undying love for all things creepy leads an online community of horror fans to discover 13 unread short stories surrounded by mystery. But how much is just a story, and how much is inspired by real life? This collection, all by authors of color, are tales where the white guy, finally, dies first. Benton-Walker compiles a horror collection that may not always unsettle readers but will certainly encourage them to reflect on societal expectations and stereotypes. If the title doesn't intrigue, the initial world establishment will tantalize and delightfully prepare readers for the ghastly tales. Blatant racism, corrupt governments, and struggles with mental health abound in this compilation that successfully tackles hurdles many people face daily. All the stories undeniably classify as horror; however, some weaker narratives in the collection fail to produce that shuddering creep factor or stop short of the base prompt on page. A few standout tales include H.E. Edgmon's "Best Served Cold," Chloe Gong's "Docile Girls," Tiffany D. Jackson's "Everything's Coming Up Roses," and Benton-Walker's "The Road to Hell." These stories excel at playing with perspective, familiar tropes, and twists on murderous intent creating unique moments that reveal a bigger picture. Characters in the collection are diverse. VERDICT Each reader will have a favorite tale in this solid horror short story collection that complements novels like Trang Thanh Tran's She Is a Haunting, Vincent Tirado's Burn Down, Rise Up, and Liselle Sambury's Delicious Monsters.-Emily Walker

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