Before we jump into sharing info about this month’s book, we’re here to remind you that we’re also currently raising money to fund book-hiding in 2025! We would be forever grateful if you’re willing to help us meet our $10K goal for 2025 ❤ You can donate at the link below:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/hiding-books-in-2025

AND NOW, for what you’ve been waiting for: all about this month’s hidden book!

About the book, from Penguin Random House:

“Many Indigenous people believe that one should never whistle at night. This belief takes many forms: for instance, Native Hawaiians believe it summons the Hukai’po, the spirits of ancient warriors, and Native Mexicans say it calls Lechuza, a witch that can transform into an owl. But what all these legends hold in common is the certainty that whistling at night can cause evil spirits to appear—and even follow you home.

These wholly original and shiver-inducing tales introduce readers to ghosts, curses, hauntings, monstrous creatures, complex family legacies, desperate deeds, and chilling acts of revenge. Introduced and contextualized by bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones, these stories are a celebration of Indigenous peoples’ survival and imagination, and a glorious reveling in all the things an ill-advised whistle might summon.”

About the Editors:

“SHANE HAWK (enrolled Cheyenne-Arapaho, Hidatsa and Potawatomi descent) is a history teacher by day and a horror writer by night. Hawk is the author of Anoka: A Collection of Indigenous Horror and other short fiction featured in numerous anthologies. He lives in San Diego with his beautiful wife, Tori. Learn more by visiting shanehawk.com.

THEODORE C. VAN ALST, JR. (enrolled member, Mackinac Bands of Chippewa and Ottawa Indians) is the author of Tillie Olsen Award Winning Sacred Smokes (2018, now in its third printing) and Electa Quinney Award Winning Sacred City (2021) as well as the editor of The Faster Redder Road: The Best UnAmerican Stories of Stephen Graham Jones (2015), all from the University of New Mexico Press. His work has been published in Southwest Review, The Rumpus, Red Earth Review, The Journal of Working-Class Studies, Chicago Review, Electric Literature, and Indian Country Today, among others.”

Why I selected Never Whistle at Night for the November 2024 Giveaway:

• For November, in recognition of National Native American Heritage Month, this gnome wanted to select a book written by Indigenous authors AND celebrate the season of long nights, colder weather, and scary stories. This book fits the bill and is a fabulous sampling of stories by Indigenous authors – some of whom you’ll likely want to explore further!
• The title itself provides its own warning to readers, but this gnome’s advice is to never read this collection of dark fiction alone at night…
• This is a unique compilation in that it includes a full variety of horror, so you can move around in the collection to find stories that will appeal to you – everything from jump scares to slow build horror.
• This quote sums this book up well and was too good not to share: “Mining rich strata of poisoned history and blood-soaked land, the writers summon an exhaustive array of ghosts, wolves, Wendigo spirits, human eaters, conjure women, and petroglyphs willing to exact revenge if you scratch them with your car keys. Throughout the 26 stories, contemporary American life is a threadbare bandage soaked through with the gore of the wound it never truly covers or heals.” (Alan Scherstuhl, Scientific American).
• Finally, if it’s not apparent, some of these stories are truly disturbing and horrific, in some cases with people doing horrible things to each other – – – so read with caution and perhaps explore trigger warnings if you need to.