Dark Reads

To celebrate the launch of Dark Reads we are giving away the complete set of 8 titles, each one signed by its author!

Many of our Dark Reads are based on great classics or famous monsters - from a modern day Dorian Gray to a Zombie attack on a cruise ship! We've worked hard to ensure that our readers do not feel patronised by the low word counts and simple language in these books; rather that they are gripped by the tense plotlines and chilled by the eerie events appropriate for their age group.

To further grab the interest of reluctant readers, each title has the look and feel of a 'real' book, accompanied by exciting two-tone illustrations - much like a graphic novel. Read our blog posts below for illustrative sneak previews and plot outlines!

For a chance to win this signed series visit our Competitions page and simply fill out your details. Competition now closed.

Liam woke. Someone was by his bed.

He opened one eye... "Woah!"

It looked like Aunty Joan who he was staying with.

But it wasn't.

In Straw Men, inanimate objects come to life in the style and setting of a classic sci-fi/horror story. Ann Evans uses a simple concept to full effect and creates a disturbing tale complete with an even darker twist at the end.

The plot is punchy and escalates rapidly, ensuring that this short story is jam-packed with as much content as possible, but remains paced at a reading age of 6-7.

The text is accompanied by striking full-page illustrations; eerie blocks of yellow and thick black lines combine to achieve a sinister graphic-style edge – perfect to grab and hold the interest of teenagers right to the end.

I hated my new house. I hated my new school. And I hated that I had to move away from all my friends.

Then I made a new friend in the most unexpected place.

Inside my bedroom wall...

This mournful tale touches on classically teenage themes of loneliness and isolation, whilst throwing in a bit of gruesome horror for good measure; a tried and tested combination which should enthral any reluctant reader.

Author Tommy Donbavand took inspiration for this story by imagining "what you might find in a new home if not all the residents had left. At least, not completely..."

Despite being just 600 words, this ghostly tale successfully taps into our human capacity for irrational fear, and we bet you'll never look at your bedroom wall in the same way again...

There's something very intriguing about the unknown and the unexplained and being scared by a spooky film or tale is an experience human beings have long enjoyed!

Megan pointed to the dusty mirror. 'That's where the ghost lives,' she said.

'She died falling down the stairs. They say she appears all white except for her piercing black eyes.'

Look in the mirror and blink three times...

Tim Collins' gripping ghost story plays on our emotions and desire for fear in order to lure in and ultimately hold the interest of a reluctant reader. Loosely based on the legend of a similar phantom, repeatedly chronicled at Cannock Chase in Staffordshire, this tale is not one for the light-hearted.

Condensed into 600 words and together with impressive graphic-style illustrations, The Black-Eyed Girl is perfectly paced to tempt teenagers with a reading age of 6-7 years... if they dare!

Edwina was the girl who always lost her seat in class, was picked last in games. She was the girl who had her lunch stolen, and who had never kissed a boy. But all of that was about to change...

Packing a story into 600 words might seem like a challenge for some, but certainly not for award-winning author Tony Lee! Tackling the ever prevalent subject of bullying in school, intertwined with elements of Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, this Dark Read is a real treat for teens.

By creating situations that teenagers can relate to and mixing them with a cool injection of fictional horror with unexpected twists, Tony has created the perfect recipe to keep reluctant readers interested right up until the last page has been turned. Powerful green, black and white illustrations also accompany the simple text to further entice readers with a low reading age.

We're confident that struggling readers will be touched and engaged by this

London detective Matt Blake recounts his last case: it all began with a strange theft...

Barbara Catchpole uses a first-person narrative to really put her readers in the shoes of her main character. She uses short, punchy sentences and packs her story full of action, just like a classic detective tale, but all condensed into 600 words!

The bold illustrations really complement this story, highlighted with blocks of red for a graphic-novel look and feel. These will certainly help to hold the interest of very reluctant readers, coupled with text at a manageable reading age of 6-7.

Barbara's story utilises the classic 'werewolf' concept but with a clinical twist, and plays on the horror not just of the monster, but of becoming the monster.

We feel this is perfect for teenage readers with a low reading age. We hope you do too.

A literary cocktail of peer pressure, friendship, guilt and a deep, dark secret pulse through Tommy Donbavand's Dark Read, perfect for attracting and holding the interest of struggling teen readers! Tommy is no stranger to crafting spooky and captivating stories for children and teenagers and this latest offering has cleverly brought the haunting beat of The Tell-Tale Heart, a paranormal classic by Edgar Allen Poe, into a contemporary and relatable setting.

Ben and Darren are best friends who do everything together. But when a dare goes horribly wrong, Darren is left haunted by his final decision. What will it take to make it right?

Black, white and yellow are the sole colours used in this story and this simple, partial colour usage is designed to draw attention to certain characters and objects in the story in order to deliver maximum impact. This is a popular technique used in graphic novels such as Sin City.

The short chapters and low word count, together with

Zombie passengers and crew staggered towards them, teeth bared, arms outstretched...

Join Zac, Seth and Callie as they battle the terrors of the living dead – on water! This tale sees these three teenagers trapped on a cruise ship with no-one to help them as the zombies close in.

Alex Woolf, one of our new authors, has woven a story based around the mythical walking corpses known as zombies. Though slow-moving, they are relentless, and Alex has cleverly placed them on a cruise ship, isolating our heroes and escalating the suspense in order to pack this punchy story into such a small word count.

Ship of the Dead features bold illustrations with thick black lines and blue highlights running throughout – much like a graphic novel. The full-page illustrations sit opposite a page of text averaging less than 50 words.

With a reading age of 6-7 years and an interest age of 12-15 years, this is an ideal story to grab and engage the most reluctant of reluctant rea

Ann Evans cleverly crafts a thrilling tale, loosely based on the story of Dorian Gray, in her first Dark Read; a new series aimed at teens with a reading age of 6-7 years and an interest age of 12-15 years.

Nick Gray is a petty crook and he's rather good at it. His thieving starts off small but after he gets away with an expensive oil painting, his lust for looting grows, the risks increase and he starts to use intimidation to get what he wants. However, a strange presence torments him at home, something he just can't shake off. Will he really get away with all his crimes and is he truly in control of his own fate?

This short story of 500-600 words will appeal to reluctant readers with its gripping plotline and powerful illustrations, specifically designed to be popular with teens who live in such a visual world!

Reading Age 6-7, Interest Age 12-15, Word Count 500-600

Due to be published Spring 2015

We are delighted to announce a brand new horror series for teenagers called Dark Reads! We've listened to lots of teachers regarding the needs of their students, and therefore, by popular request, these bite-sized tales are aimed specifically at teenagers with a very low reading age.

We know that reading can be a daunting activity for some, and it is our aim that this series makes reading an accessible and enjoyable experience – not merely a task to be completed.

We've also worked hard to ensure that our readers do not feel patronised by the low word counts and simple language in these books; rather that they are gripped by the tense plotlines and chilled by the eerie events appropriate for their age group. To further grab the interest of reluctant readers, each title has the look and feel of a 'real' book, accompanied by exciting two-tone illustrations - much like a g