Read Them if You Dare

Just in time for Halloween, these spooky stories are sure to frighten our bravest readers! Read them if you dare...

The Seer of Shadows
by Avi

In New York City in 1872, fourteen-year-old Horace, a photographer's apprentice, becomes entangled in a plot to create fraudelent spirit photographs. But, when Horace accidently frees the real ghost of a dead girl bent of revenge, his life takes a frightening turn. A book full of suspense, madness and chills.

 

Something Upstairs: A Tale of Ghosts
by Avi

Another chilling ghost story from Avi, Something Upstairs, follows Kenny, who recently moved from Los Angeles, California, to Providence, Rhode Island. When he discovers that his new house is haunted by the spirit of a slave, Kenny is taken back in time to help prevent the tragic events that led to his death.

 

Cold in Summer
by Tracy Barrett

At the beginning of seventh grade, Ariadne moves to a Tennessee town near the former farming community submerged under a man made lake. When she meets a girl who seems to drift in and out of her life, Ariadne starts to wonder who this mysterious girl really is. 

 

Whisper in the Dark
by Joseph Bruchac

An ancient and terrifying Narragansett legend begins to come true for a teenage long-distance runner.  Maddie tells scary stories to help ease the trauma of her parents death in a terrible accident, Maddie likes to tell scary stories. But, when her friend tells her about The Whisper in the Dark, a vampire-like creature, spooky things start to happen and she fears her aunt might be in danger. A terrifying tale that is sure to keep the reader guessing until the end!

 

Stonewords: A Ghost Story
by Pam Conrad

Zoe discovers that her house is occupied by the ghost of an eleven-year-old girl, who carries her back to the day of her death in 1870 to try and alter a tragic event. Although a chilling ghost story, Stonewords, is also a warming tale of friendship.

 

The Ghost of Fossil Glen
by Cynthia DeFelice

Allie knows it's not her imagination when she hears a voice and sees in her mind's eye the face of a girl who seems to be seeking her help. Allie puts her own life in danger when she tries to find the killer of the unsolved murder. Thrills and mystery make this ghost story hard to put down.

 

The Graveyard Book
by Neil Gaiman

Nobody Owens is a normal boy... except that he is being raised by the ghosts of a graveyard.  After his parents are murdered when Nobody is a baby, the residents of the cemetary take him in to protect him against the killer who won't rest until his job is completed.

 

In a Creepy, Creepy Place and Other Scary Stories
by Judith Gorog

This collection of short stories includes, My Good Angel, The Scary Place, Gar, and more. These bizarre and unpredictable stories are a great introduction to some of America's spookiest legends. 

 

The Crossroads: Book 1, Haunted Mysteries
by Chris Grabenstein

When eleven-year-old Zack Jennings moves to Connecticut with his father and new stepmother, they must deal with the ghosts left behind by a terrible accident, as well as another kind of ghost from Zack's past. The creepy atmosphere adds to the ghost story with plenty of twists and chills.

 

The Doll in the Garden: A Ghost Story
by Mary Downing Hahn

After Ashley and Kristi find an antique doll buried in old Miss Cooper's garden, they discover that they can enter a ghostly turn-of-the-century world by going through a hole in the hedge. Another great ghost story from the spooky author, Mary Downing Hahn.

 

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
by Washington Irving

This classic tale of the teacher in love with a wealthy farmer's daughter and his encounter with the headless horseman is sure to continue scaring readers of all ages.

 

Benjamin Franklinstein Lives!
by Matthew McElligot & Larry Tuxbury

While working on a science fair project, a Philadelphia school boy discovers both a secret labratory in his basement and Benjamin Franklin, who comes to life after receiving a jolt of electricity! With illustrations and humor, Benjamin Franklinstein Lives! is a great monster book for our readers who prefer a lighter read this Halloween season.

 

Crandall's Castle
by Betty Ren Wright

Charli's impulsive uncle, Will Crandall, decides to buy the town's abandoned, possibly haunted castle and fix it up as a bed and breakfast. But Charli and Sophia, a clairvoyant orphan who has come to stay with the Crandall family, know that his plan is somehow dangerous. With alternating chapters chronicling the lives of the two girls, Crandall's Castle is a mysterious and suspensful story.

 

And... don't forget these scary story series...

Goosebumps
by R.L. Stine

 

 

 

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
by Alvin Schwartz

 

 

 

Scooby Doo Mysteries
by James Gelsey