11 Middle-Grade Scary Stories for Young Horror Fans

We have collected here some of our favorite scary stories for middle grade readers. While these books are not as gory or violent as horror novels for adults, they pull no punches when it comes to real fear because, like adults, plenty of kids love a good scare. Some of these are truly terrifying while others are closer to just having Halloween vibes, but all of them are delightful and frightful in their own right. Middle grade does an excellent job of being both dark and serious while also having plenty of hopeful levity, and that duality is what makes these books so special and memorable. I vividly recall reading some of these as a kid myself, crouched on a bus seat and frightened to step outside lest the monsters in my book be real. I hope some of these books, both old and new, will impart some of that charmingly nostalgic Halloween terror on a new generation of children.

Small Spaces by Katherine Arden

With real stakes and a really sharp group of protagonists to root for, Small Spaces is a spooky, frightening read for any age, but especially for fans of Scooby-Doo and 80s B-horror movies. Starring Ollie, a sixth grader recovering from a family tragedy, as she learn to survive a school trip to a local farm. After saving a book from a crazed woman in the woods, Ollie believes she must heed warnings about “the smiling man” and staying in small spaces after dark. Ollie and her friends must use their specific talents and determination to survive the night—and her own wits must get everyone else out, too. Fast-paced, hair-raising, and enormously fun, Katherine Arden weaves a story you cannot put down. And if you weren’t scared of Scarecrows before, you will be now.

The Witch Boy by Molly Ostertag

An excellent choice for any reluctant reader (but particularly for those who love the Halloween season), the endearing artwork and believable characters make this an unmissable story. In 13-year-old Aster’s world, all girls are witches and all boys become shapeshifters—but in his heart, he knows he is a witch. When an unprecedented threat comes into Aster’s life, he must break the boxes his family and culture try to fit him into—by saving them all as a witch, not a shapeshifter. Deeply charming and ultimately affirming, this contemporary fantasy is wonderful for anyone who struggles to find their place in their community.

The Clackity by Lora Senf

When the worst things you can imagine actually happen, what would you do? Bookseller Jess, my husband, and I devoured this Tim Burton-esque middle-grade horror in which young Evie Von Rathe must plunge into the mist to save her beloved Aunt Desdemona. Set in the delightful and frightful town of Blight Harbor (the 7th most haunted town in America [per capita]) Evie’s tenuous alliance with the crazed monster known as the Clackity will have her facing down her greatest fears in order to catch the ghost of an infamous killer and return Aunt D to the sunshine world. In a strange otherworld filled with hungry witches, a gaping abyss, and penny-eyed ghosts, Evie’s genuine fear loses out to her staunch tenacity and steadfast bravery in this ode to classic creepy fairy tales.

Bunnicula by James & Deborah Howe

I vividly remember reading this for this first time on the bus home from school on a blustery October afternoon, curious, frightened, and delighted by this oddball vampire story. Part mystery, part horror, all fun, this book follows family pets Harold the dog and Chester the cat as they try to find out the truth about the newest family pet. Packing a lot of story into a small amount of pages, this children’s Halloween classic is as much fun today as it was when I read it for the first time decades ago. Amusing and sarcastic, this would be an excellent book for younger horror fans and for people who love a little bit of sarcasm with the monster stories. With a clever premise, a strong narrative voice (thanks to Harold), and a unique viewpoint, this 40th anniversary edition is sure to creep out as well as delight.

The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kabuishi (The Amulet Series)

The first in an unputdownable series, The Stonekeeper invites readers into a charming, but dangerous world of robots, tentacled monsters, and untold dangers. After Em and Navin’s dad dies, they move with their mom into their great-grandfather’s house. Filled with secrets and mysteries, the kids find themselves following their mother through a secret door in the basement after she is taken by a terrifying creature. It’s up to the two kids to save their mom and set things right, no matter what monsters are thrown their way. Beautifully drawn and meticulously told, you won’t be able to stop reading this story about navigating the stormy waters of growing up and how to deal with loss. The stakes feel high and the dangerously real— you won’t be able to wait for to read the rest of the series.

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab

Author of bestsellers like The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue and Gallant, Schwab stuns again with this middle-grade series set in the city of ghosts—Edinburgh, Scotland. Ever since our main character Cass drowned, she found she can pull back the Veil that separates us from the world of the dead and enter the world of spirits herself. When her parents start hosting a TV show about the world’s most haunted places, the family moves to Edinburgh. When Cass meets a girl who has the same strange power she does, she realizes just how much she still has to learn about her talent. But she has to learn fast—the city of ghosts is more dangerous than she ever imagined. For fans of Stranger Things, this fast-paced, hair-raising adventure perfectly blends fear and heart in one of the most storied and atmospheric cities in the world.

What Lives in the Woods by Lindsay Currie

Bookseller Jess loved getting perfectly creeped out by this one, and even as an adult reader, she feels middle-grade readers would think it was legitimately scary. During summer break, all Ginny wanted to do was sleep in, hang out with her friends, and go to a mystery writing workshop. But these plans are thrown to the wayside when her dad moves everyone into a giant, crumbling mansion in Michigan. There are more problems than just restoration can solve, however—like glowing-eyed mutants stalking the woods and campers who regularly disappear. With all the regular trappings of a haunted-house tale—popping light bulbs, creepy stories from locals, and literary jump scares—but with a heaping dose of Currie’s signature scares, Goosebumps and Five Nights at Freddy’s fans will love this ode to Agatha Christie.

The Sleepover by Michael Regina

Suspenseful and thrilling, this graphic novel will send chills down your spine and maybe have you reconsider hiring that new babysitter. Following a group of boys trying to comfort their friend after a tragic loss with a sleepover, the night takes a turn when they find his new nanny might actually be a monster. Though the nanny, Miss Swan, seems like a dream—she lets the boys eat whatever they want and largely leaves them alone—something about her makes Matthew think she might be the child-eating witch of local legend. The story ultimately has a lot of heart and shows that it takes support and community to overcome the monsters in our lives. With a shadowy, perfectly eerie art style, kids and adults alike won’t want to put it down.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The only book to ever win both the Carnegie and Newberry Medals, The Graveyard Book is a childhood classic starring Nobody “Bod” Owens who is adopted and raised by the supernatural inhabitants of a graveyard after his family was brutally killed. Now living in the graveyard, Bod gains certain powers, and he and his spectral family must remain vigilant, lest the man who murdered Bod’s parents come for him, too. Perfect for the soft-hearted, scare-loving kid, Gaiman stuns in this huge-hearted novel. I wish I had read this when I was younger, but was so thankful to discover even as an adult. Anyone is sure to find wonder and wit inside these pages. Soft and compassionate, this scary story warms as it gives you chills.

Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn

The graphic novel adaptation of a classic middle-grade horror book, Helen has haunted me since I first read it as a kid all the way back in 2002. In this creepy scary story slash insightful family drama, kids Molly and Michael’s struggle with their new blended family. Their seven-year-old stepsister Heather has lied, tattled, and sowed tension between their parents and worst of all insists she’s been talking to a ghost named Helen. As Molly tries to keep her little sister safe, she thinks things can’t get worse. Yet they do—when Helen comes. The illustrations in this adaptation add new depth to a classic ghost story, and even as an adult I got chills reading this as it sent me right back to the autumn frights of my childhood. Great for a kid who loves Halloween and anything spooky (and wants to feel a little bit scared)—grab some hot cocoa, a warm blanket, and maybe keep the lights on, just in case Helen comes.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz

Another classic of the kids horror story scene, I vividly remember winning this book as part of a library reading challenge. The illustrations in this are so creepy that I had to buck up the courage to even touch it, and I think the stories inside stick inside your chest, waiting to invade your dreams when you fall asleep. These terrifying stories of revenge, horror, and the supernatural have scared folks throughout the ages, and with Stephen Gammell’s original illustrations, they’re sure to leave an impression. Haunting, spine-chilling, and oh-so fun, I break this book out come October every year and relive the spooks and scares of my childhood—but I make sure to keep the light on…and maybe have an additional flashlight on hand just in case.