The Sound of Children Screaming

2023 short story by Rachael K. Jones

"The Sound of Children Screaming" is a 2023 fantasy/horror short story by Rachael K. Jones. It was first published in Nightmare.

Synopsis

During a school shooting, fourth-grade teacher Michelle Dalton and eight of her students find themselves in a magical world — which may be more dangerous than the one they just fled.

Reception

"The Sound of Children Screaming" is a finalist for the Nebula Award for Best Short Story in 2023,^[1] the 2024 Hugo Award for Best Short Story,^[2] and the 2023 Bram Stoker Award for Short Fiction.^[3] It was included on Locus's recommended reading list for 2023.^[4]

Tangent Online called it "scary and thought-provoking" and "definitely worth reading".^[5] A. C. Wise considered it to be one of the top ten stories of 2023.^[6]

References

^ The Sound of Children Screaming, at Science Fiction Writers of America; retrieved March 29, 2024
^ 2024 Hugo Finalists, by Mike Glyer; at File 770; published March 29, 2024; retrieved March 29, 2024
^ Here Are the Nominees for the 2023 Bram Stoker Awards; by Molly Templeton; in Reactor; published February 22, 2024; retrieved March 29, 2024
^ Welcome to the annual Locus Recommended Reading List!, published February 1, 2024; retrieved March 29, 2024
^ Nightmare #133, October 2023, reviewed by László Szegedi; at Tangent Online; published October 20, 2023; retrieved March 29, 2024
^ The Year in Review 2023, by A. C. Wise; in Locus; published February 10, 2024; retrieved March 29, 2024