15+ Scary Books for Kids
If you have a child who wants to read something scary for Halloween, I have made a list of great options. Pop in your email address below and I’ll send the printable list right to your email.
Every year, especially around Halloween, I get requests for “scary books” for kids.
I understand intellectually that for some people it feels fun to be scared, but I’m actually a huge wimp (and always have been), so scary books for kids is not really my area of expertise.
Happily, I have a big Instagram community of parents with kids who DO love scary books and when I asked for recommendations, they came pouring in!
(As always with crowdsourced book lists, I recommend you do a content check to make sure you’re comfortable handing it to your child – my favorite tool is the What’s in the Book app!).
Scary Books for Kids
Franny K. Stein Books by Jim Benton (early chapter books)
Franny is not your average girl, she’s actually a mad scientist and she is about to embark on her most dangerous experiment ever – trying to fit in!
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwarts
These books full of spooky short stories have been around since I was a kid. They are sure to give spine-tingling scares to middle-grade kids.
Goosebumps by R.L. Stine (series)
When you think of spooky or Halloween books for youth, you might instantly think of Goosebumps (especially if you grew up in the 90s).
Eerie Elementary Series by Jack Chabert
Sam Graves discovers on his first day as a hall monitor that his elementary school is actually ALIVE…and it definitely isn’t friendly! Now Sam and his friends Lucy and Antonio have to figure out how to stop the school before it hurts anyone, all while getting ready for the class play. This series is perfect for kids getting into chapter books, but want something scary.
The Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright, illustrated by Leo Nickolls
I can’t believe I’ve never read this super popular title! Every night Amy hears strange noises coming from the dollhouse and when she wakes up the next morning, the dolls aren’t where she left them. Amy’s great-grandparents were murdered years earlier and it seems that the strange goings-on in the dollhouse might be connected to to that mystery.
The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney
When Janie Johnson spots her own face on the back of a milk carton, she is suddenly faced with the possibility that everything she knows about her family is a lie. She starts digging into her past and finds more questions than answers in this suspenseful mystery. This one is a good pick for tweens and teens who like their books a little darker and more mysterious.
Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn
Molly and her brother already dislike their sneaky younger stepsister Heather, but things take a dark turn when Heather starts claiming she’s been talking to a ghost named Helen – and that Helen is coming for them. This one is a classic ghost story for a reason, and it’s also available as a graphic novel if that is more your teen’s speed.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
This book is definitely spooky! Coraline steps through a door into a world that looks almost identical to her. But there are some key differences too, including versions of her parents who want her to stay on this side of the door. If your child can handle something fairly scary, this is a fun pick for older elementary readers. (Also, check out his Newbery winning book, also narrated by him, The Graveyard Book).
The House on Hackman’s Hill by Joan Lowery Nixon
I’ve heard some people say this was one of the scariest books they ever read in grade school! Cousins Debbie and Jeff get stranded in a mysterious old house during a blizzard, where they discover a hidden mummy. It’s genuinely spooky without being dark or disturbing, making it a great pick for middle-grade readers.
The Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol by Andres Miedoso, illustrated by Victor Rivas (series)
This is a huge emerging reader series, so if your child ends up liking them, they will be entertained for a while. Desmond Cole is an eight-year-old ghost hunter who isn’t afraid of anything, while his best friend Andres is pretty much afraid of everything! Together, they tackle ghosts, monsters, and all kinds of spooky mischief.
Bunnicula by Victor Barber
This is such a perfect Halloween book because it’s just the right amount spooky. Bunnicula is a rabbit that’s found by a family when they go to see a Dracula movie. They bring the little bunny home, but the other pets in the house are convinced that Bunnicula is a vampire rabbit and out to get every other member of the family. My kids have listened to the audio this a million times over the years.
City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab
I loved V.E. Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, but I had no idea she also wrote a spooky middle-grade series! Cass can see and communicate with ghosts, and when her family travels to Edinburgh, she discovers that the city (and the spirits hiding there) are far more dangerous than she expected.
Ghost Hunters by Cornelia Funke
We’ve been Cornelia Funke fans for years and have loved everything we’ve read by her, but somehow we hadn’t discovered this spooky series! In this one, the ghosthunters face a murderous baroness, a body-snatching spirit, and a very inconvenient ghostly crush.
Nightbooks by J.A. White
I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of this middle grade book, especially since it has won and been nominated for so many awards, and it’s now a Netflix movie! Alex is trapped by a witch who demands a new scary story every night, and if he runs out of stories, he may never escape. It sounds like a clever, creepy read that’s especially fun for kids who love scary stories.
Ophie’s Ghosts by Justina Ireland
And another one that’s perfect for October and the spooky season! Ophelia discovered the night that she lost her father that she can see ghosts. Now Ophie works as a maid with her mother in an old manor house. And . . . that manor house is filled with ghosts.
The Girl in the Lake by India Hill Brown
Celeste isn’t thrilled about spending the summer at her grandparents’ lake house, especially since she’s terrified of the water – and then she starts seeing a mysterious girl in the mirror. This eerie, historically inspired ghost story mixes family secrets, nightmares, and a very creepy lake house.
The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes
Rafa loves scary stories…until the ghost he creates one night suddenly comes to life! Now he has to figure out how to stop the terrifying Caretaker before more kids disappear. This one perfect for kids who like their books genuinely spooky.
And if you’d like a printable copy of this list that you can take to your library or screenshot on your phone for easy access, just pop in your email address below and it’ll come right to your inbox!
