Horror and Adolescence
Horror and adolescence go hand in hand for many reasons,
which explains why teens tend to thrive on horror films and books more than any
other demographic.
Adolescence
is a time of great change for kids – a transitional period between childhood
and adulthood. No, teens are not young adults until they reach the age of
eighteen (despite the media obsessively referring to 11 year olds as “young
men” or “young women”), but their brains and bodies are changing at such a
rapid pace that these years teeter between exhilarating and terrifying on a
daily basis. The adolescent brain has one foot firmly planted on the
accelerator while the other foot struggles to find the brake. Teens seek out
thrilling experiences that pump the adrenalin and pound the heart. Hence the
love of amusement park thrill rides, fast driving, and the heart-pounding
experience of a good horror film or book.
But the “thrill gene,” as it’s been
loosely dubbed, in teens isn’t the only correlation to horror, or the only
reason teens love the genre. Fear is a HUGE part of adolescence, and teens
stress over how best to manage that fear. What fears do teens face on a daily
basis? Depends on where they live and go to school. For many, the fear is
physical. Will they make it through the school day without getting bullied?
Will they make it home without getting jumped? Will they fail yet another class
and have to take it over? Will dad be drunk again tonight? Will mom tell them
they’re losers? Will there be any food for dinner or will they have to go
hungry until school the following day? These are but a few of the real fears no
kid should have to live with, but far too many in America do.
But, above and beyond these issues,
every adolescent is afraid to be
different, to stand out from their peers, to not fit in. This is a palpable fear that guides almost every
decision teenagers make. While some parents may encourage kids to embrace their
differentness, most want their kids to be “mini-me’s” and conform to the
“accepted societal norms” so they (the parents) don’t look bad in the eyes of
other adults for having “that weird kid.” Such parents are embarrassed to have
a disabled child, or one who isn’t good at sports, or who doesn’t get all A’s
in school or who’s LGBT. By the time the adolescent brain kicks in, the wiring
is geared toward socialization and social acceptance, so teens squelch their innate
differentness in order to fit in. They live in fear every day that the mask they
wear will be knocked off, the real “them” will shine through, and they will be
ostracized as a result. So they dress the same, talk the same and act the same
as their peers out of fear that their real selves will be rejected.
How does this fear relate to
horror? Look at the huge number of horror stories that feature a kid who’s odd
or different or possessed or threatened by nightmares that expose his secrets
to the world. Look at how many feature a damaged character that hides behind a
literal mask. Horror often features the outsider kid, the one nobody likes
because he or she is “different” as the hero, the one who saves the day when
his or her “conforming” peers are getting knocked off one by one. The plethora
of possession stories speak to teen fears of having someone inside themselves,
i.e. the real human being, revealing itself to the world and not being
accepted. For LGBT youth, this fear is profound because they know how society
consistently rejects kids like them for being born “different.” I supervised
the GSA at my high school and, sadly, most of those kids were more afraid of
their parents than their peers. Many kids wanted to attend meetings or
functions, they’d tell me in private, but were afraid other kids would turn
against them or, worse yet, inform their parents.
Special Education (SPED) kids
harbor a similar fear. As a teacher to disabled students, I know from
experience that their greatest fear is for peers to find out they’re SPED. I
know the fear – I’ve lived with hearing impairment my whole life and there was
not a single kid like me at any grade level up through and including graduate
school. I never told peers that I couldn’t hear clearly. I just laughed if
other kids did, even though I didn’t hear the punch line, or I stayed silent
and nodded if I didn’t clearly understand something. I shied away from group
sports or dances or activities that were loud and had many kids talking at once
because I was afraid I’d have to admit my weakness and then get mocked for it.
So it’s no surprise that even as a child I loved horror films and books. For
me, seeing people manage fears that were greater than mine helped me deal with
my own. These stories also raced my heart and fueled my imagination and
inspired me to be a writer when I grew up. Horror is a thrill ride teens hope they
never have to live through in real life, but they thrive on the adrenaline rush
of being chased by the guy with the chainsaw, or having an exorcism performed
on them, or having a guy with blades for fingers reach out of their dreams to
try and kill them. Their hearts pound, blood rushes, and then they get to walk
away unharmed.
For these very reasons, the best
horror stories feature teen protagonists. Teens are always more willing to take
risks that adults won’t – like opening that cellar door to see what’s down
below, or sneaking into a graveyard to dig up graves or playing with that Ouija
board that they know from countless films will lead to disaster. Teens are
risk-takers, and horror stories are about managing fear while taking extreme
risks, the kind that can often be deadly.
Spinner
features a cast of teen characters with disabilities who have to solve a
centuries-old mystery, as well as a string of murders quite possibly committed
by one of them, all without the ability to read or write or, in Alex’s case,
walk. Like gay kids and bullied kids, these characters face real fear every day
just by going to school where they know they’ll be mocked and ridiculed for
being “different.” But being different doesn’t stop them from bonding together
and risking their lives for each other. At the heart of any good horror story
is friendship between characters who have to make life and death choices that
the viewing audience, or the reader, hopes never to have to make in the real
world. Horror teaches kids valuable lessons without being dogmatic or preachy.
Some lessons are complex, like how the smallest choices can have the biggest
consequences, while others are minor – like don’t go into a dark basement alone
when you hear sounds down there.
Being a teen today shouldn’t be the
equivalent of a horror film, but it sadly often is; reading a novel or watching
a film can be cathartic and help kids survive by reminding them that the
different one, the “odd kid out,” the bullied kid, the kid who thinks outside
the box will be the last man standing. Within these fictional forays into
terror, kids see how their true selves, the ones they hide from the world, are the
ones that ultimately survive and save others along the way. In teen horror,
“different” is the new “normal.”
About the Book
Spinner
Michael J. Bowler
Fifteen-year-old Alex is a “spinner.” His friends
are “dummies.” Two clandestine groups of humans want his power. And an ancient
evil is stalking him. If people weren’t being murdered, Alex might laugh at how
his life turned into a horror movie overnight.
In a wheelchair since birth, his freakish ability
has gotten him kicked out of ten foster homes since the age of four. Now
saddled with a sadistic housemother who uses his spinning to heal the kids she
physically abuses, Alex and his misfit group of learning disabled classmates
are the only ones who can solve the mystery of his birth before more people
meet a gruesome end.
They need to find out who murdered their beloved
teacher, and why the hot young substitute acts like she’s flirting with them.
Then there’s the mysterious medallion that seems to have unleashed something
malevolent, and an ancient prophecy suggesting Alex has the power to destroy the
human race.
The boys break into homes, dig up graves, elude
kidnappers, fight for their lives against feral cats, and ultimately confront an
evil as old as humanity. Friendships are tested, secrets uncovered, love
spoken, and destiny revealed.
The kid who’s always been a loner will finally
learn the value of friends, family, and loyalty.
If he survives…
Spinner Buy links
Spinner by Michael J Bowler was a fantastic suspense-thriller. It is not the type of book I would normally pick up and read but I found myself unable to put it down and here’s why. First the main character and his friends are all in Special Ed. As a Special Ed teacher this makes me giddy. I have worked with “these” boys. The mannerisms, bonds of friendship and the emotions of each kid is spot on. I felt like each boy I had worked with at one point in my career. Spinner is in a wheelchair and has the ability to heal people. Because of this people are after him, wanting to use his abilities for evil. He also has nightmares which become reality. Reason two is the subtle religious tones in the book. Spinner feels the one man he can confide in is the Catholic priest at the local church. Even he has some changes of the heart as he helps Spinner and his friends solve the mystery of how Spinner came to be. Another is the amazing way the characters deal with one of the boys being “different”. I don’t want to give spoilers so I will just say that the young boy did not need to be afraid to open and share his life. Lastly, and I think the biggest message in the story, is that even though bad things happen to you or in your life does not make you bad. We all have the choice to choose between the light and dark sides, good vs. evil; however you want to label it. Each sub story in here was intriguing. I wanted to know more about each of the boys that helped him and called him friend. There are so many great moments in this book that to share would spoil it for you. If this were a movie I would be hiding under a blanket holding my bestie’s hand and a tissue in the other. One moment I was scared, next saddened, and followed by a wash of relief. There are happy and funny moments too, so don’t worry, but have your blanket and tissue close and a mug of hot tea. I will read on, I want to know what happens to Spinner and his friends. 5 stars
Spinner by Michael J. Bowler is an exceptional roller coaster of a book. It’s been a while since I’ve read any YA, but this book was fantastic.
Our hero is a boy named Alex. He has spina bifida, is in Special Ed and has to live in a foster home run by an evil hag. He is extraordinary. Bowler has given him the angst and fears of any teenager, but a charming depth and poise we all hope our children will have. He is surrounded by his friends, an eclectic group of boys also in the Special Education program at his school. Each one is different and exceptional.
I really enjoyed the paranormal and religious mythology of this book. It took and original concept and wove it intricately through a variety of well-known religions. I loved that the boys had limitations, not just Alex’s spina bifida, but their mental restrictions, and still managed to find a way to understand. Not just one another, but whatever was thrust at them.
This is a YA book, but it is gritty and real and not for the faint of heart. There is danger, adventure and evil… real evil. The characters are fantastic, and the relationships intense.
I couldn’t put this book down. I read it in about 12 hours, and had to force myself to go to sleep. If you are looking for a adventure, mystery full of depth and originality, this is the book for you. 5 stars! Can’t wait to find out how the journey continues!
The Dream Cast of the Movie
Author Bio:
Michael
J. Bowler is an award-winning author who grew up in Northern California. He
taught high school in Hawthorne, California for twenty-five years, both in
general education and to students with disabilities. He’s made low-budget horror films, written stage
plays, and coached strength training at YMCA’s. He loves volunteering as a youth mentor with the Big
Brothers Big Sisters program and within the juvenile justice system in Los
Angeles. He is a passionate advocate for the fair treatment of children and
teens in California, and hopes his books can show young people they are not
alone in their struggles
Website: http://michaeljbowler.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradleyWallaceM
Instagram:https://instagram.com/stuntshark/
Pinterest:https://www.pinterest.com/michaelbowler/
