Emma Alice Johnson – författare

Thirteen-year-old Asta has Crouzon syndrome, a condition that stopped her skull from growing as it should. Bullied for her looks, Asta has struggled to feel like she belongs. When her doctor suggests yet another surgery with no guarantee that she’ll look normal after it’s done, Asta feels more discouraged than ever. Then Asta spots some girls from school lifting weights, and she can’t help but be interested. The girls look strong and confident–exactly how Asta wants to feel. When they invite her to join their group, Asta gathers her courage and accepts. Lifting weights helps her appreciate the strength in her body. Even better, the girls who invited her start to feel like friends. But when one of her bullies confronts her and she’s forced to defend herself, her new strength gets her in trouble. Asta is suspended from school, and her mom forbids her from lifting. Will Asta be able to convince her mom that her lifting is worth supporting? Characterized by exciting, fast-paced plots and age-appropriate themes, Harbor’s Hi-Lo books are both engaging and easy to read. Short chapters, simple sentence structures, and an accessible format make these books perfect for tween reluctant readers. Harbor books are written at a 2nd- to 3rd-grade reading level with an interest level of ages 10 and up.

Thirteen-year-old Asta has Crouzon syndrome, a condition that stopped her skull from growing as it should. Bullied for her looks, Asta has struggled to feel like she belongs. When her doctor suggests yet another surgery with no guarantee that she’ll look normal after it’s done, Asta feels more discouraged than ever. Then Asta spots some girls from school lifting weights, and she can’t help but be interested. The girls look strong and confident–exactly how Asta wants to feel. When they invite her to join their group, Asta gathers her courage and accepts. Lifting weights helps her appreciate the strength in her body. Even better, the girls who invited her start to feel like friends. But when one of her bullies confronts her and she’s forced to defend herself, her new strength gets her in trouble. Asta is suspended from school, and her mom forbids her from lifting. Will Asta be able to convince her mom that her lifting is worth supporting? Characterized by exciting, fast-paced plots and age-appropriate themes, Harbor’s Hi-Lo books are both engaging and easy to read. Short chapters, simple sentence structures, and an accessible format make these books perfect for tween reluctant readers. Harbor books are written at a 2nd- to 3rd-grade reading level with an interest level of ages 10 and up.

From vampires and werethings to zombettes and killer puppets, some of the scariest monsters of the cinema have been females. Author and horror critic Emma Alice Johnson analyzes the most well-known and shines a light on ones that have been hiding in the shadows. From The Bride of Frankenstein in 1935 and The She-Creature of 1956 to Demi Moore's portrayal of Monstro Elisasue in 2024's allegory The Substance, every page contains a fascinating story, including giant killer animals, nazis, espionage, medical experimentation on black-market corpses, and murder. Some of the most monstrous tales happen off-screen, with life imitating art in disturbing ways. Along the way, Johnson explores how cultural standards of 'pretty' and 'ugly' fuel the concept of the monster in differing ways depending on gender, and how some horror films adhere to these standards while others twist them around. She confronts the feminine beauty ideal and the burden on women to be conventionally pretty, even when playing the monster, and how the simple act of a woman playing a gross, slimy ghoul is an attack on the patriarchy. Kick back, get some popcorn, and enjoy these new perspectives on your favourite horror films and add to your to-watch list.