Let’s face it -- tweens love to be scared, especially if the chills come in the form of a safe, fictional situation that can allow them to experience fear within the safe confines of their homes. Spooky music, movies, decorations -- they’re all well and good, but nothing beats a good creepy story, in our humble opinion. Below you will find a sampling of entertaining tales for the spooky season. Feel free to drop by the library to check these out, or to explore some of the similar titles that we have on display. There are many great stories eagerly waiting to haunt just the right family!
FICTION:
FICTION ABE
In Eva’s world, a young witch must pass a coming-of-age test before their 13th birthday, or give up their magic forever. For Eva, who has just a pinch of magic, passing her quest and achieving full witch status will take a miracle -- but she will put her heart and soul into conquering her assignment by helping her new town, winning over the townspeople, and saving the entire area from catastrophe! Readers who love Kiki’s Delivery Service or The Worst Witch series should grab a copy of this book.
Small Spaces by Katherine Arden (5th grade & up)
FICTION ARDEN
Perfect for a chilly autumn night, this creepy, fast-paced tale is sure to please. Still trying to come to terms with her mother’s recent death, the only thing that brings Ollie comfort is books -- but there is one special book she comes across that will bring her nothing but trouble, as she begins to realize that the spooky “smiling man” in the book seem to have real connections to her little Vermont town. Eager for more? Try the sequel, Dead Voices.
The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste (4th grade & up)
FICTION BAPTISTE
Jumbies, the focus of this wonderfully creepy fantasy, have their roots in Caribbean folklore and serve as the core of many a scary story. Corinne and her friends have heard tales of the evil spirits who roam the nights looking for children to steal, blood to suck, and lives to ruin, but she never imagined she’d come across one in real life -- or that there would be a tie to her own family. This is the first in a trilogy, each one more exciting than the last!
Monstrous Devices by Damien Love (4th grade & up)
FICTION LOVE
When 12-year-old Alex receives a package from his grandfather, he’s delighted to find an old tin robot with a note that says “this one is special”. Shortly after, strange things begin to occur, and Alex starts to suspect that “special” might not be the right description -- this seemingly harmless toy might actually be dangerous. Deadly adventures soon follow, including a trek across Europe, the discovery of an ancient family feud, and a group of assassins determined to eliminate Alex and his grandfather.
Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh (4th grade & up)
FICTION OH
The moment she sees her family’s new home, Harper Raine knows that there is something wrong, but she never guessed that the house is rumored to be haunted. Even worse, it seems that the malevolent energy is entirely focused on her little brother, who has gone from a sweet child to a boy who gets more violent every day. Harper feels that she has no choice but to tap into her talent for connecting with spirits, a skill that has caused her and her family so much trauma in the past, but she’ll do anything it takes to save her brother.
Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega (4th grade & up)
FICTION ORTEGA
As if worrying about her father’s struggling ghost-tour business and their corresponding financial troubles isn’t enough, now Lucely and her best friend Syd have accidentally cast a spell that’s raised evil spirits who are determined to destroy Lucely’s town and the benevolent ghosts of her ancestors. With the help of Syd’s grandmother and her cat, is there any way they can put things right?
GRAPHIC NOVELS:
The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag (4th grade & up)
GRAPHIC NOVEL OSTERTAG
Aster belongs to a family that is full of magic, and since he feels irresistibly drawn to witchcraft, that should be a good thing, right? Wrong. In Aster’s family only the females become witches, and the males are expected to become trained as shapeshifters. When danger stalks his clan, will Asher be brave enough to defy his entire family and risk exile to be true to himself? First in an exciting trilogy!
The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner (4th grade & up)
GRAPHIC NOVEL STEINKELLNER
When some bullies try to ruin her Halloween fun, Moth discovers that her love of all things witchy goes beyond just a passing interest -- she actually has magical powers! With the help of a feline familiar and her mother’s teenage diary, Moth discovers that she has a lot to learn -- and not a moment to lose -- as drama from her family’s past is affecting Moth’s life now.
Sheets by Brenna Thummler (4th grade & up)
GRAPHIC NOVEL THUMMLER
Trouble at home, trouble with the family business, and trouble at school lead Marj to feel like a ghost; unseen with no one to care. When she meets an actual ghost named Wendell who decides he likes haunting her family’s laundry business, the two slowly discover that they might be able to help each other become a little more visible.
