Spooky Books for all ages.
Are you ready for spooky season? Whether you’re a kid who loves a good ghost story, a teen who enjoys a bit of mystery with a side of chills, or an adult looking for a creepy read to curl up with, I’ve got you covered. Fall is the perfect time to dive into a great book that gives you just the right amount of goosebumps—without keeping you up all night (unless that’s what you’re into!). So, grab a blanket, maybe a flashlight, and let’s explore some spine-tingling reads for all ages!
Kids frights.
When picking Halloween books for little ones, it’s all about finding that balance between fun and just a tiny bit of spookiness. Friendly ghosts, cute monsters, and magical adventures that embrace Halloween without being too scary. Books with fun illustrations and simple, engaging stories can introduce kids to the spooky season in a way that’s exciting but still safe and cozy. Interactive elements like lift-the-flap pages or fun rhymes also help keep them entertained while easing any fears they might have about things that go bump in the night!
Monster may think he wants to be in a scary story, but then again . . . A hilarious return by the team that brought us Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise. Our author would like to write a funny story, but his main character — Monster — has a different idea. He wants to be the star of a chilling, petrifying, utterly terrifying SCARY story. But scary stories . . . well, they can be very scary — especially for their characters! Particularly when they involve dark forests and creepy witches and spooky houses . . . Oh yikes and crikes, this is definitely not the scary story Monster had in mind! Maybe he wants to be in a funny story after all!
After viewing scary things that might slither, slice, or slide their way out of a creepy black box, the reader is asked to lift the top to reveal its contents.
A dragon resists the urge to eat the animals that approach his cave.
Middle Grade Nightmares
If you’re on the hunt for Halloween books that will give your middle grader a good dose of spooky fun, you’re in the right place! At this age, kids are all about suspense, mystery, and maybe just a little bit of the supernatural—enough to keep things exciting without being too terrifying. Whether it’s ghostly encounters, creepy adventures, or a mystery that needs solving, there are plenty of books out there that will get them into the Halloween spirit. So, let’s jump into some spine-tingling reads that are perfect for middle graders and guaranteed to keep them hooked!
Nightmare Island by Shakirah Bourne
Twelve-year-old Serenity has a recurring nightmare, but things get real when her parents take her brother, Peace, to Duppy Island for “treatment” and Serenity is confronted by the creepy Dr. Whisper and the faceless douen children who are trapped between the living and the dead
After her home is attacked by shapeshifting vampires, twelve-year-old Serwa Boateng is sent to live with her aunt and cousin in Maryland, but the aspiring vampire hunter discovers that middle school is harder than it appears on television, especially when she has to avoid detention and turn her classmates into warriors before they become vampire food.
School is tough. School is scary. School is EERIE. No one knows this better than Davis and Emily. But they’re not scared of school because of tough tests or merciless vice-principals. No, they’re scared because their teacher wants her students to present the class with the spookiest, most chilling stories they can think of.
Adult Horrors
Choosing the right horror book can be tricky when you’re an adult looking for something that truly gets under your skin. Whether you’re into psychological thrillers, supernatural terrors, or downright gruesome tales, the horror genre has plenty to offer. Here are some genuinely terrifying books and not just filled with cheap jump scares.
The lives of the Barretts, a normal suburban New England family, are torn apart when fourteen-year-old Marjorie begins to display signs of acute schizophrenia.
To her parents’ despair, the doctors are unable to stop Marjorie’s descent into madness. As their stable home devolves into a house of horrors, they reluctantly turn to a local Catholic priest for help. Father Wanderly suggests an exorcism; he believes the vulnerable teenager is the victim of demonic possession. He also contacts a production company that is eager to document the Barretts’ plight.
Once a year, scoutmaster Tim Riggs leads a troop of boys into the Canadian wilderness for a three-day camping trip; a tradition as comforting and reliable as a good ghost story and a roaring bonfire. But when an unexpected intruder — shockingly thin, disturbingly pale, and voraciously hungry — stumbles upon their campsite, Tim and the boys are exposed to something far more frightening than any tale of terror. The human carrier of a bioengineered nightmare. An inexplicable horror that spreads faster than fear. A harrowing struggle for survival that will pit the troop against the elements, the infected … and one another.
Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman
To eight-year-old Bela, her family is her world. There’s Mommy, Daddo, and Grandma Ruth. But there is also Other Mommy, a malevolent entity who asks her every day: “Can I go inside your heart?”
When horrifying incidents around the house signal that Other Mommy is growing tired of asking Bela the same question, over and over . . . Bela understands that unless she says yes, soon her family must pay. Other Mommy is getting restless, stronger, bolder. Only the bonds of family can keep Bela safe but other incidents show cracks in her parents’ marriage. The safety Bela relies on is on the brink of unraveling.
But Other Mommy needs an answer.
Incidents Around the House is a chilling, wholly unique tale of true horror told by the child Bela. A story about a family as haunted as their home.
In conclusion, spooky books offer a thrilling escape for readers of all ages, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re seeking chills and thrills or more whimsical tales, these stories ignite the imagination and foster a love for reading. So, as the nights grow longer and the air turns crisp, cozy up with a good spooky book and let the adventures begin!
Happy reading!
