30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (2024)

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30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (1)

//byBrittney Hallmark

Scary stories can be spooky and fun for readers! Learning more about ghost stories, haunted houses, and the supernatural can add a creepy twist to any scary book. These book recommendations are from teachers and will help capture the attention of middle school readers. Add these spooky, scary, horror stories to your list for middle schoolers.

1. Out to Get You

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (2)

With thirteen individual stories with illustrations to match, this book is frightfully fun to read. This is a perfect book pick for students who enjoy reading about the supernatural and ghost stories. Be sure to add this to your classroom shelf so it can have plenty of reads during the spooky seasons!

Learn More:Amazon

2. Hide and Seeker

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (3)

This totally creepy and spooky fiction tale will leave readers spooked and a little scared. When a young boy goes missing and turns up a year later, his group of friends quickly and accidentally figure out where he has been and what has happened to him. This creepy page-turner is sure to add in the element of scare factor.

Learn More:Amazon

3. The Folcroft Ghosts

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (4)

While staying with their grandparents, two youngsters must adapt to their creepy house, as they learn a dark secret. The more they get to know their estranged grandparents, the more family secrets they wonder about while they are staying there. This book is a must-read for any horror fan!

Learn More:Amazon

4. The Cursed

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (5)

Recently released, this horror book is based on the television show Creepshow. It is about a girl who dresses in old clothes and dreams that she lives in the old times as well. But does she?

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5. Small Spaces

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (6)

Ultimately creepy and spooky, this chapter book tells of a girl who reads about ghosts. Not far from her school she discovers the burial sites of the ghosts she has been reading about. When her school bus breaks down, the bus driver has a word of warning, run! And stay in small spaces. Definitely, one of the scary books to add to your bookshelf.

Learn More:Amazon

6. Spirit Hunters

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (7)

This spooky story is full of surprises. When Harper arrives at her new home, she is convinced it is haunted. Now she must face her haunted house story head-on and the bad spirits within the house. This creepy story is one of a series of books.

Learn More:Amazon

7. Bleeding Violet

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (8)

This young adult book is a must-read for those who enjoy the supernatural. Creepy undertones of a paranormal world, guarded by demon hunters pave the way for middle graders to enjoy this scary book. As Hannah sets out to find her mother, she longs to learn more about her family history.

Learn More:Amazon

8. Dread Nation

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (9)

This historical thriller is a great addition to your school library. The book's author paints a picture of Civil War timeframes and segregation during a time when life is bleak. This is a great mix of science fiction, historical fiction, and mystery.

Learn More:Amazon

9. The Girl From the Well

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (10)

A girl who was killed finds superpowers in helping release innocent ghosts and wreaking havoc on those who hurt them. She still cannot find the peace she is looking for, but she soon meets a boy who may be able to help her, and she helps him.

Learn More:Amazon

10. The Ghost Collector

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (11)

Shelley has a special gift, like all the other women in her family. She helps ghosts crossover and finds their new place. Sadly, when Shelley loses someone close to her, she doesn't want to help the ghosts move on anymore. Instead, she wants to keep them.

Learn More:Amazon

11. The Ickabog

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (12)

This odd monster creature is called the Ickabog. He comes out and while everyone believes he is simply a myth, he turns out creating havoc in their kingdom. Will the two children in the story be brave enough to stop him?

Learn More:Amazon

12. Minnesota Hauntings

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (13)

This collection of 21 ghost stories is all said to be totally true. This makes a perfect read-aloud at a campfire. Beware, though, as these stories are said to be true! They will provide a good scare from stories about ghosts, hauntings, and murders.

Learn More:Amazon

13. Ghost Girl

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (14)

In this ghost story, a young girl loves to read about ghost stories! Then, she finds herself in the middle of a ghost story. She learns the value of friendship and trust throughout this book.

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14. This Town is Not All Right

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (15)

Twins move to a new place, very different from the sunny and bright place they've always lived before. They learn quickly that there is something not quite right. When one of the twins finds herself in trouble, her twin sets out to rescue her.

Learn More:Amazon

15. City of Ghosts

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (16)

After drowning, a girl is able to be part of the world of ghosts and part of the world as a human. She is able to separate the two and live in both places. She soon learns that the world of ghosts is dangerous as well.

Learn More:Amazon

16. The Girl in the Locked Room

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (17)

Fear overcomes Jules, a girl who just moved into her new home. She sees a ghostly face in the window and is convinced that a ghost lives in her attic. She sets out to find answers and tried to help the ghostly girl in her attic.

Learn More:Amazon

17. The Ash House

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (18)

The Ash House is a place where a young boy goes to find healing. There are strange things happening in this place. It is difficult to understand exactly what is happening. Then a doctor shows up to help treat their pain. Will this help or hurt them?

Learn More:Amazon

18. The Plentiful Darkness

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (19)

The Plentiful Darkness is full of magic and mystique. Rooney collects moonlight and uses a magic mirror to help her. She always steers clear of a group of boys and the trouble they may bring with them until one gets her magic mirror.

Learn More:Amazon

19. The Dollhouse Murders

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (20)

The Dollhouse Murders bring on the creep and the fright! While Amy leaves the dolls in certain places, she always finds that they have moved. She is creeped out when she sees an odd light filling the dollhouse. What will happen next?

Learn More:Amazon

20. Wait Till Helen Comes

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (21)

This ghost story is real in so many ways. The stepsiblings in a newly blended family aren't getting along and the youngest step-sister warns that the ghost she talks to, Helen, is coming after the other brother and sister.

Learn More:Amazon

21. The Thirteenth Cat

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (22)

This creepy cat book, brought to us by Mary Downing Hahn, is a spooky tale of a girl visiting her aunt and coping with the scary woods next door. The forest is inhabited by tons of black cats and the rumors say the woods are haunted.

Learn More:Amazon

22. Among the Hidden

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (23)

An intriguing novel for middle schoolers, this story tells the tale of a boy who has remained hidden his whole life. Where he is from, only two children are allowed in the home. He is the third child and must stay hidden in order to stay safe. Then, he meets a shadow of a girl, much like himself. What will they decide to do together?

Learn More:Amazon

23. Coraline

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (24)

Imagine how Coraline must have felt when she finds a tiny door and escapes to a brand new world! A world, that in fact looked much like her own. All is well and fun until she wants to leave and realizes the new little family will do whatever it takes to keep her.

Learn More:Amazon

24. Doll Bones

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (25)

This is a wonderful book about friendship. Three friends grow up together and avoid being cursed by the vicious queen ruler with an angry spirit. They all cannot help but wonder if the doll is simply a doll or if the doll is housing an ancient curse and malicious spirit.

Learn More:Amazon

25. The Graveyard Book

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (26)

Could it get any creepier? The young boy in this story lives his entire life in a graveyard! He is being raised by ghosts and spirits. What will happen when he encounters Jack? Jack is the person who killed his family. Will he be next?

Learn More:Amazon

26. There's Someone Inside Your House

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (27)

Best suited for teens and in the upper middle school bracket, this realistic fiction story is sure to bring up some scares! The thrill and suspense in this book will keep the reader on edge and waiting to see what happens next.

Learn More:Amazon

27. The Betrayal

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (28)

The first book in a young adult horror series, The Betrayal is a book about supernatural and curses. The best thing to do in these books is to avoid murder. The paranormal twists enhance the plot and storylines. This book is a good choice for any spooky season.

Learn More:Amazon

28. What Lives in the Woods

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (29)

When a young girl has her entire summer planned out, her world gets shaken up and her plans thrown off course when her father takes the family on a month-long trip for his business. When they arrive at their summer location, they quickly realize there are some sinister things happening around them. There are rumors of demon creatures living in the nearby woods. This is definitely a book for fans of thrillers and scares!

Learn More:Amazon

29. Don't Turn Out The Lights

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (30)

Looking for a different type of horror book for your middle schoolers? Try this one! It is an anthology of different pieces put together to form a collection of 35 short stories. Don't be misled, these are some of the scariest stories you will read in one of the scariest books published for young adults.

Learn More:Amazon

30. The Night Gardener

30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (31)

Irish siblings journey to a new place to become servants. As they arrive there, the night gardener follows them. The siblings soon realize an ancient curse has been set on them. Will they be able to escape in time or will it be too late?

Learn More:Amazon

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30 Horror Books For Middle School: Haunting Tales, Mystery, And Adventures (+ Amazon Links) - Teaching Expertise (2024)

FAQs

Are horror stories appropriate for middle school students? ›

Bringing scary short stories into your classroom can be a great way to engage students during the spooky season – or any time of year! Using suspense is a powerful tool to get students hooked while teaching them about important literary elements along the way.

What do scary stories teach? ›

Scary stories can show children that it is okay to be afraid and that they can use their brains to solve problems, even when they are frightened or use their natural survival instincts to safely escape from dangerous situations.

How many ghost stories did Mr. James write? ›

This body of work, thirty-three supernatural tales in all, was published in one volume as Collected Ghost Stories in 1931.

How many parts of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark are there? ›

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is a series of three collections of short horror stories for children, written by Alvin Schwartz and originally illustrated by Stephen Gammell. In 2011, HarperCollins published editions featuring new art by Brett Helquist, causing mass controversy among fans of Gammell.

Why is horror appropriate for 8th graders? ›

Horror for kids is a necessary and important genre and not one we need to shy away from. Horror teaches kids how to slay pretend monsters so that later in life, when they meet a real one, they'll know what to do. It is a privilege to write horror for kids.

Why is horror not for kids? ›

Dry recommends not introducing them to very young children because of the potential to create long-term anxiety. Around age 4, kids are figuring out how to manage fears that naturally develop in childhood, and layering scary movies on top of that could be overwhelming.

Should horror be taught in schools? ›

And, as an added bonus, scary stories can also teach critical life lessons and help kids learn to confront their fears. When I was little, I was afraid of everything. I feared someone breaking into my house, the house burning down, snakes, monsters, the neighbor's dog, and most importantly, the dark.

Why should kids read scary books? ›

Scary stories aid child development

Imagining the spooky sound or navigating the creepy house lets readers activate their bravery and problem-solving muscles. By following the protagonist through his or her difficulties, they can also consider how they might respond to a similar situation.

Why should you read horror even if it scares you? ›

For some it is the thrill. For some it is the opportunity to be spooked out in the comfort of our own surroundings. For some, it even helps manage our own anxiety or personal situations. For whatever reason, reading horror books is different than reading any other genre.

Did Mr. James ever marry? ›

James never married and women don't feature prominently in his stories. Was he a misogynist? Not really. He had a number of female friends of whom he was very fond, though he probably preferred the company of men.

What is Ghost's real name in the book ghost? ›

That's all Ghost (real name Castle Cranshaw) has ever known. But Ghost has been running for the wrong reasons—it all started with running away from his father, who, when Ghost was a very little boy, chased him and his mother through their apartment, then down the street, with a loaded gun, aiming to kill.

Is ghost book based on a true story? ›

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: In Ghost, a father tries to murder his wife and their 9-year-old son. Where did the idea for this story come from? REYNOLDS: A version of it happened to one of my best friends when he was 6 or 7—it was his mom's boyfriend who tried to kill them.

Is there anything inappropriate in Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark? ›

In addition to the violent scenes mentioned above, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark has some scenes that could scare or disturb children under five years. For example: There is a very creepy scarecrow, whose face is repeatedly shown in close-up.

Can an 11 year old watch scary movie? ›

11-13 year olds may be better equipped to navigate the scary movie scene on some level but each child is different. If your child watches something that they say is not scary to them but then starts coming to you at night wanting to sleep closer to you or is having nightmares let their behavior speak for them.

Who is the pale lady? ›

The Pale Lady is an antagonist from the horror movie, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, based loosely on the book series of the same name (which were in turn retellings of urban legends and folk tales), she is one of the few monsters in the movie who was altered in alignment, becoming a fully villainous creature ( ...

Is American Horror Story ok for 13 year olds? ›

Parents need to know that American Horror Story's content is designed to shock, and you can expect a variety of scary, disturbing, and graphic scenes that include strong language, sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and extreme violence.

Is Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark appropriate for a 13 year old? ›

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is a horror movie based on the series of books by Alvin Schwartz. It's well-made, but it isn't a movie for young viewers. It's better suited to older teenagers. The main messages from this movie are to never give up and to always remember that there is power in stories.

Should I let my 12 year old watch horror movies? ›

Gentle thrills can let kids explore fears in a safe environment. Others movies can be very scary and even violent. Scary movies that contain violence or adult content can have harmful effects on young viewers' behavior and mental health.

What age is appropriate for horror movies? ›

11-13 year olds may be better equipped to navigate the scary movie scene on some level but each child is different. If your child watches something that they say is not scary to them but then starts coming to you at night wanting to sleep closer to you or is having nightmares let their behavior speak for them.

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