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Creepy YA reads for a haunting Halloween
Trick or treat? These eerie YA tales deliver both.
Published on October 2, 2023
What the Dead Want
Norah OlsonThe trauma of the Civil War lives on in a haunted mansion in upstate New York, where 16-year-old Gretchen’s mom disappeared several years before. Sending the souls trapped on the property to the afterlife and finding her mom requires Gretchen to engage in supernatural sleuthing in this creepy novel.
The Name of the Star
Maureen JohnsonJust as Louisianan teen Rory Deveaux begins her first year at a London boarding school, a grisly murder spree — where the killings mirror those committed by Jack the Ripper — hits the news. Spookier still, Rory notices a suspicious man that no one else can see. A supernatural crime thriller with a hint of romance, “The Name of the Star” is the first book in Johnson’s “Shades of London” series.
Anna Dressed in Blood
Kendare BlakeIf you’re looking for a highly original spin on horror, “Anna Dressed in Blood” is the book for you. Ghost hunter Cas is on a quest to avenge his father, while ghost girl Anna kills any human who dares to enter the home she continues to haunt. This duology starter has everything: gory twists, romance, and a healthy helping of dark humor.
The Girl from the Well
Rin ChupecoNo, it’s not “The Ring,” but it is based on a Japanese folk tale. Chupeco’s debut tells the creepy story of Okiku, the ghost of a murdered girl who goes around killing murderers in vengeance. Then she encounters Tark, a troubled teen with a demon living inside him that she wants to help expel. Told in wisps from Okiku’s cold perspective, “The Girl from the Well” is chilling to the core.
Asylum
Madeleine RouxWhat’s scarier than a haunted house? An insane asylum-turned-school that houses many secrets from those dark days. Friends Dan, Abby, and Jordan are about to discover the horrors of the past. Accompanied by frightening photos from actual asylums, this book is a perfect Halloween-season read.
Escape from Asylum
Madeleine RouxIf you loved Roux’s “Asylum,” travel back in time with this prequel, set when Brookline was still an active sanatorium. Ricky Desmond is desperate to leave Brookline, knowing he doesn’t belong. And when Warden Crawford takes an interest in him for a “special project,” Ricky knows his time is quickly running out.
The Body Finder
Kimberly DertingDerting’s debut, the first installment in the “Body Finder” series, blends the typical dramas of teenhood with supernatural chills. Violet can sense the departed souls of murder victims. When a serial killer begins wreaking havoc, she must put her gift to use to find the culprit — with help from her best friend, Jay (who may become something more). Mystery and romantic tension collide to keep you feverishly flipping pages.
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Michelle HodkinWhat’s going on in this haunting debut? Can Mara kill people with mere thoughts? How does her sexy love interest play into it all? Discerning what’s real or not is addicting, even if it might scare you out of your wits.
The House With a Clock in Its Walls
John BellairsThis gothic tale is for anybody who’s excited that Halloween is just around the corner. A boy goes to live with his uncle in an old haunted house. It may be for children, but it’s not for the faint of heart. The movie version stars Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, and Owen Vaccaro.
Cemetery Boys
Aiden ThomasOK, this one is more cute than creepy, but it’s got ghosts in it, so we’re including it for those who don’t want their encounters with the supernatural to be scary. “Cemetery Boys” is a queer love story between a gay trans boy and a ghost. Yadriel is determined to prove his gender identity to his Latinx family by exhibiting powers of a brujo rather than a bruja. Yadriel means to summon the ghost of his recently deceased cousin, but instead ends up with the spirit of his school’s late bad boy, Julian Diaz.
You May Now Kill the Bride
R. L. StineThis is the first book in Stine’s reboot of the “Fear Street” series, the grittier, bloodier older sibling of his iconic “Goosebumps” books. Two sets of sisters, Ruth-Ann and Rebecca Fear in the 1920s and Harmony and Marissa Fear in the modern day — separated by decades of time but connected through paranormal powers and a curse — are being torn apart over betrothals, which leads to pain far more frightening than a broken heart.
The Midnight Club
Christopher PikeTerminal teens, all living out their final weeks at a youth hospice, meet every evening to share scary stories. Then, the group makes a pact: Whoever dies first must contact the others from the beyond. The main story is peppered with shorter tales told by each character, delivering a smorgasbord of frights and themes perfect for Halloween (as is the Netflix Original series adaptation).
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Ransom Riggs“Peculiar” is putting it mildly for this hair-raising YA tale that plays with the power of perceptions. Set on a remote island, gothic X-Men-esque characters inhabit what appear to be the ruins of an old orphanage. There’s a very Tim Burton vibe, which is fitting since he adapted it for the big screen.
Harmony House
Nic SheffIn the wake of her mother’s death, Jen’s father becomes even more religiously fanatic and moves them to a run-down manor that used to be a Catholic-run house for unwed mothers. Trapped there, Jen starts seeing visions of the home’s former occupants, whose lives were anything but rosy. With nods to classics like “The Shining” and “The Haunting of Hill House,” this terrifying and dizzying story deals with horrors both spectral and all-too-real.
The Weight of Blood
Tiffany D. JacksonAfter “Allegedly,” “White Smoke,” and other thrillers, Jackson returns with a reimagining of Stephen King’s “Carrie” that focuses on racism and social justice. Maddy Washington is a white-passing biracial teen in the Deep South. Her white father demands total assimilation while her classmates bully her, and Maddy is about to unleash years of pent-up righteous anger on them all.
We Don't Swim Here
Vincent TiradoAward-winning author Tirado delivers a thriller filled with both paranormal and real-world perils. Bronwyn’s family temporarily relocates to the small town of Hillwoods, Arkansas, to care for her dying grandmother. Not only is Hillwoods predominantly white, but it also has eerie superstitions about going near the water. As Bronwyn delves further into urban legends, she has shocking realizations about her own family and the town’s racial history.
White Smoke
Tiffany D. JacksonSupernatural and societal horrors abound when a blended family moves into a renovated, rent-free house in a Detroit-esque town. Everyone in the neighborhood knows the house’s bad rap, but Marigold, who has anxiety and is trying to avoid relapsing into drug abuse, has to learn the hard way about dealing with ghosts. Jackson proves once again why she has become one of YA’s most esteemed voices.
Our Crooked Hearts: A Novel
Melissa AlbertStarting with a naked stranger in the middle of a dark road, 17-year-old Ivy experiences a string of odd and unsettling encounters. In alternating chapters, 16-year-old Dana (Ivy’s mother) becomes entangled with a mysterious girl that changes her life — and by extension Ivy’s — forever. Albert’s dark, tantalizing thriller explores mother-daughter relationships and the lasting effects of choices from our past.
Horrid
Katrina LenoJane and her mother, Ruth, wind up back in Ruth’s dilapidated childhood home after Jane’s dad dies and leaves them nothing but a pile of debt. Are the strange occurrences around the house real, or a figment of Jane’s imagination? Horror elements are used to explore mental illness and intergenerational trauma, creating a chilling atmosphere.
The Dead and the Dark
Courtney GouldDebut author Gould’s agent described “The Dead and the Dark” as “like ‘Riverdale,’ but good”; we say it’s for anyone who likes Courtney Summers’ novels. Welcome to Snakebite, Oregon, where teens are disappearing and the primary suspects are two gay, famous ghost hunters. The book is a sharp paranormal investigation into everyday human hate and phobias.
Blue is for Nightmares
Laurie Faria StolarzStacey may not be an ordinary teenager (she is, in fact, a witch) but she’s dealing with all the typical hassles of boarding school, like worrying about grades, mean girls, and what to do about her crush on her best friend’s ex. When her nightmares become haunted by premonitions of her friend’s murder, Stacey must summon her magic to stop the killer before it’s too late. This spooky YA mystery is full of spells and suspense.
Raven Boys, The (The Raven Cycle, Book 1)
Maggie StiefvaterPsychic powers, a king buried along ley lines, a doomed love story, and a handful of hot guys (one of whom claims to be dead): Stiefvater’s “The Raven Boys” manages to be spooky while keeping the horror fairly light. Despite being titled after the men in the novel, the main character is a teenage girl named Blue who’s trying to navigate her burgeoning powers and feelings.
The River Has Teeth
Erica WatersIt’s an all-too-familiar story: A young woman goes missing, and the police don’t believe her sister, Natasha, when she tells the police she suspects the boyfriend. So Natasha turns to Della, a local witch her age, to help find her sister. A mostly female cast uses their tenacity and supernatural powers to shine a light on the toll of violence perpetrated by men.
All These Bodies
Kendare BlakeThis historical fiction was inspired by true crime books like “In Cold Blood.” In the late 1950s, more than a dozen people are found murdered, then a 15-year-old girl is caught at the scene of a crime, covered in blood. Blake (“Three Dark Crowns”) evokes a spooky, surreal atmosphere as an aspiring journalist tries to figure out the truth behind the killings.
Dread Nation
Justina IrelandWhat if the Civil War ended because the undead came to life? That’s the premise of Ireland’s fresh and compelling alternate history. It’s got twists you won’t expect, making you want to rush immediately to the next book in the series, “Deathless Divide.”
Hollowland (The Hollows #1)
Amanda HockingEver imagined what you would do should the zombie apocalypse happen? You probably wish you would be at least half as cool as Remy, the main character of Hocking’s action-packed zombie novel.
Clown in a Cornfield
Adam CesareWhat’s scarier than a killer clown? A bunch of killer clowns, slaughtering a bunch of teens in a cornfield. If you think this description is coming in hot, then you’re not ready for this gory, high-octane slasher where a small-town full of modern American societal ills becomes the scene of big-time crimes.
Silver Eyes, The: Five Nights at Freddy’s (Original Trilogy Book 1)
Scott CawthonIf the animatronics at places like Chuck E. Cheese ever frightened you, you will deeply love (or perhaps loathe) this book. Based on the bestselling video game series of the same name, “Five Nights at Freddy’s” features animatronics that come to life — so they can kill.
What Big Teeth
Rose SzaboWhy are the Zarrins such a monstrous bunch — and why are they most wary of Eleanor, the one who tried to leave them behind and seems the most “normal”? This is the central mystery behind “What Big Teeth,” which — unlike most horror novels — makes it immediately clear that the Zarrin family is made up of paranormal creatures who prefer indulging in their animalistic instincts instead of human manners. Genre tropes are on full display and hiding slow-burn twists.
The Monstrumologist
Rick YanceySometimes it’s hard to believe this is a teen book, given just how gothic and gory it is. Yancey may be best known for his hit series “The 5th Wave,” but the “Monstrumologist” series is a must-read for any YA horror fans.