“Cherokee speakers view the world as a large room … in this room there are all the things that have happened, will happen, or could ever happen … behaviors that people engage in today are witnessed by their ancestors … the events that affected their ancestors are also visible in this room.” (Introduction) A collection of short stories set across 200 years and multiple generations of two connected families begins in 1839. Ama Wilson is fleeing with her family and other Tsalagi people, pursued for being Native, hoping to reach Indian Territory before the Texas Rangers catch up with them. Slowed by her little brother’s fever, Ama and her family stop to give him a chance to recover. A strange man speaking German sets up camp nearby and attacks the family in the middle of the night, killing Ama’s mother and “feeding” from Ama, setting her on the path to becoming a vampire. This hair-raising opener sets the stage for stories that follow. Ama makes appearances throughout, a benevolent but powerful monster among a cast of humans and monsters, some supernatural, including zombies and werewolves (some, like Ama, using their powers for righteous good), others humans with monstrous intentions and actions. Each story is firmly grounded in specifics of time, sometimes referencing characters from earlier stories and generations. Beautiful book design also graces this volume, which includes striking illustrations incorporating the Cherokee syllabary (the author is Cherokee) and two family trees. (Age 14 and older)

18 illustrated horror stories follow one Cherokee family through the atrocities — supernatural and manmade — each generation encounters — ALSO AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK!

Imagine a chilling horror collection that weaves classic monsters like werewolves and vampires with the true horrors of colonialism, domestic violence, and displacement. Andrea Rogers delivers.

Follow a Cherokee family across centuries, from their ancestral lands in 1830s Georgia to the battlefields of World War I and Vietnam, and beyond. Each story offers a chilling glimpse into a different era, revealing how history's monsters intertwine with the supernatural.

Man Made Monsters is a powerful exploration of identity and the enduring legacy of colonization. Rogers masterfully blends Cherokee legends with chilling horror, creating unforgettable characters and monsters.

Each story is accompanied by haunting illustrations from Cherokee artist Jeff Edwards, incorporating the Cherokee syllabary for a truly immersive experience.

Don't miss out on this masterpiece! Man Made Monsters will stay with you long after the last page.


P R A I S E

★ “These stories sound as if they were passed down as family histories. It may read like speculative fiction, but it feels like the truth.” —Horn Book (starred)

★ “Stunning...follows a Cherokee family through two centuries, beginning with something akin to a vampire attack and ending with zombies.” —BCCB (starred)

★ “Spine-tingling...A simultaneously frightening and enthralling read.” —Publishers Weekly (starred)

★ “Chilling… Exquisite… A creepy and artful exploration of a haunting heritage.” —Kirkus (starred)

★ “Startling…Will leave readers—adults as well as teens—unsettled, feeling like they have caught a glimpse into a larger world.” —Booklist (starred)

W I N N E R

Walter Dean Myers Award

American Indian Library Association Youth Literature Honor

International Literacy Association Award

Whippoorwill Award

Reading The West Book Awards Shortlist

NEA Read Across America Recommended Title


B E S T · O F · T H E · Y E A R

Washington Post · Booklist · Publishers Weekly · Horn Book · New York Public Library