 Ellie Keppel | Welcome to the second Weekend Picks for November! This pick is brought to us by North Dakota State University student Ellie Keppel. Ellie Keppel is a senior at North Dakota State University studying English, with a minor in psychology and a certificate in publishing. She is graduating in December 2025 and will be moving on to a job in publishing. This job will take her back to the Minneapolis area, where she is from, every few weeks. Ellie is a member of Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship and Sigma Tau Delta English Honors Society on the NDSU campus. When Ellie isn't reading for school, you will find her reading historical nonfiction books, leading a small group through Chi Alpha, or spending quality time with her loved ones. Ellie is looking forward to indulging in her favorite book genre again after graduation. Thanks for your great YAL recommendation, Ellie! |
Man Made Monsters by Andrea L. Rogers
 Andrea L. Rogers | Man Made Monsters, written by Andrea L. Rogers (Cherokee), contains a series of stories about monster encounters, all of which involve one long Cherokee family line between the years 1839 and 2039. While the revelation of the familial ties is sometimes hard to find, they are in each and every chapter of this book. The monster stories aren’t always necessarily related, as most of them tell tales of different monsters interacting with different people. One specific character, Ama, appears frequently throughout. She is the narrator of the first chapter and plays a part in many chapters thereafter. This thread of family horror engages readers, leaving them to wonder how each story might be related and what the outcome will be. |
| This book involves some fairly mature themes but makes these topics accessible for young readers. Descriptions aren’t too vivid or vulgar, allowing readers to explore these topics without feeling overwhelmed. I found myself completely engulfed in this book. I couldn’t put it down. I was intrigued by each connection and each monster. No two stories were identical. They were all new and exciting, but beautifully intertwined. I would most definitely recommend this book for middle and high schoolers. It’s a fantastic introduction to the author’s incredible writing style, to new cultures, to familial connections, to mild horror, and to life throughout history. You can find more about Andrea L. Rogers here and you can purchase a copy of your own here. |  |
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