Today I started a new novel with Ayden, Dracula by Bram Stoker. My goal was to introduce a new genre, the Gothic novel. I began by explaining the concept of the Gothic novel. Dracula is set in Transylvania, in Eastern Europe. Ayden was unfamiliar with this part of the world, so we looked up the Danube River and the surrounding area. Finally, we co-read chapter one. Unfortunately, the subject matter and the archaic language did not resonate with Ayden. Upon discussion, he admitted that he dislikes horror stories or anything scary. I reassured him that I would not "make" him read a book that he actively disliked. There are too many good books in the world! We spent the remainder of the session discussing books that he had enjoyed and disliked in the past. My goal is to find an appropriate book for the next session.