When I was a kid, some of my favorite fall evenings were spent at my local library, searching for something spooky to bring home. Goosebumps, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, The Ghost of Fossil Glen…each book was so fun and compelling that the ensuing nightmares were worth it. My parents couldn’t complain, either, because they got me reading!
If you’re of a similar mind, or you know a young reader who is, take note and beware! These middle grade horror novels are some of the spookiest published in recent years, from established authors like India Hill Brown and Paul Tremblay to genre newcomers like Stephanie Willing, and enough to keep even an avid horror fan’s to-read list full through Halloween.
Licorice by Kara LaReauRecently rescued from her life as a street cat, Kitty struggles to feel safe indoors. Worse, their home is haunted by their former cat Licorice, who disappeared under strange circumstances. This kid-friendly adaptation of Daphne du Marier’s Rebecca pairs the original’s creepy, gothic atmosphere with an emotional reflection on belonging. |
 Girl from the Ashes by India Hill BrownAfter witnessing books fly from the shelves at their local library, sixth graders Carter John and Gianna begin seeing paranormal phenomena everywhere they go, along with a mysterious girl. Are they being haunted by a ghost, and if so, why? In search of answers, both friends unearth a tragedy and a forgotten crime from their town’s history. |
 Bad Things Happened Here by Monica HossainTwelve-year-old Sam’s mother passed away when he was a baby. So, when his grandmother invites him to visit their family home in Singapore, he jumps at the opportunity to find answers about her past. Instead, the trip raises more questions as he discovers the house is haunted by his mother’s ghost, frozen in time at his exact age. To resolve her unfinished business, Sam must unravel a dangerous cold case while struggling to let her go again. |
 She Came Back Different by Stephanie WillingNeve starts school at the prestigious Stadler Ballet Conservatory not to fulfill her dreams, but in search of answers. By the time her older sister Bex graduated, she’d become a different person, and all Neve could remember was Bex’s warning four years ago to never step foot on the conservatory’s grounds. Neve, and her newfound friend Gemma, are determined to understand what horrors the school unleashes on its upperclassmen before they are victims of it, too. |
 Another by Paul TremblayWhen his mom announces his friend is coming over for a sleepover, Casey is immediately confused. Ever since a sixth-grade bullying incident, he’s struggled to make friends, and his anxiety draws him more inward each day. But this friend, Morel, is different. He cannot speak, and he shapes his expressions with his hands, as if he is made out of clay. While Casey’s happy for the company at first, he soon suspects his parents prefer this strange kid to him, and that Moral wouldn’t mind taking over his life entirely. |
 The Creeps by Tehlor Kay MejiaAfter losing their apartment, 12-year-old Dylan Vega and his mother move into the Good Night Motel. On arrival, Dylan is handed a list of 73 rules and threatened by the receptionist: three strikes, and his family will be evicted. But according to his new neighbor, rule-breakers don’t just lose their room. They disappear. |
For more scary stories to share with young readers, check out 8 of the Best Middle Grade Ghost Stories, including Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh and The Year of Shadows by Claire Legrand.