Best Scary Books for Kids

Explore a mysterious parallel world with Coraline, as she discovers a house similar to her own but with twisted secrets. An alternate mother and father want her to stay and never let her go, forcing her to use her bravery and smarts to escape their grasp. This classic young reader's book, with a brand-new foreword from the author, celebrates ten years of captivating readers with its haunting story of escape and survival.

Childhood friends Zach, Poppy, and Alice must come together to solve a mystery involving a haunted china doll made from the bones of a murdered girl. When Zach's father throws out all of his toys, he is forced to give up on his vivid imagination and friendships. However, a night of strange occurrences brings the trio back together and sets them off on an adventure to break a terrible curse.

This captivating tale follows the adventures and dangers faced by young Nobody Owens, who lives in a sprawling graveyard and is raised by ghosts. With a guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor the dead, Bod encounters ancient beings, abandoned cities, and terrifying foes. But the real danger comes from the man who killed Bod's family, and who will stop at nothing to find him. A thrilling and imaginative journey through a captivatingly dark world.

This spine-chilling collection of horror, revenge, and supernatural events is not for the faint-hearted. Gathered and retold by a master storyteller, this hardcover edition features classic and original creepy tales that will make your bones chill. Complete with the iconic artwork, it includes the entire series in one volume. Get ready to quiver with Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.

"Get ready to experience bone-chilling scares with seven spooky stories, featuring everything from creaking skeletons to ghostly pirates, in the darkness of a haunted room. Perfect for those seeking a goosebump-inducing read."

In "The Night Gardener" by Jonathan Auxier, two abandoned Irish siblings find work as servants at a spooky English manor house filled with mystery and danger. This Victorian ghost story is also a moral fable about human greed and the power of storytelling. With exquisite language and shades of Washington Irving and Henry James, "The Night Gardener" is sure to become a classic.

Enter the world of spirits with this sweeping, spooky adventure that takes you through graveyards and castles in the city of ghosts. Cass can pull back the Veil that separates the living from the dead, and her best friend is even a ghost. But when her family starts hosting a TV show about the world's most haunted places in Edinburgh, Scotland, things get much stranger. Cass meets a girl who shares her gift and together they navigate through restless phantoms, secret passageways, and danger. Perfect for fans of Stranger Things.

"Scary Stories for Young Foxes" is a haunting and thrilling debut middle-grade novel that draws inspiration from Bram Stoker, H. P. Lovecraft, and Edgar Allan Poe. Set in the Antler Wood during the haunted season, the book follows Mia and Uly, two fox kits who must navigate a dangerous world full of monsters in order to find a den to call home. Featuring gripping tales and beautiful illustrations, this bone-chilling yet heart-warming story is perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman, Jonathan Auxier, and R. L. Stine. A Booklist 2019 Editors' Choice Selection, this must-read book will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

In the finale of a spook-tacular quartet, bestselling author Katherine Arden takes readers on a thrilling journey in Empty Smiles. Ollie has vanished after striking a deal with the mysterious smiling man, leaving her friends Coco, Brian, and Phil desperate to bring her back. As they uncover clues and face terrifying challenges, they realize that this game is more dangerous than ever. With time running out, they must outwit the smiling man before sunrise—or it’s game over for everyone. Get ready for a heart-pounding conclusion to this critically acclaimed series.

Small Spaces is a bewitching middle grade debut from the bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale. Ollie finds comfort in books after experiencing a tragedy. When she steals a strange book and reads about a girl named Beth and a sinister specter known as "the smiling man," she discovers the story may be true. As Ollie and her classmates find themselves stranded near a haunted farm, Ollie's broken wristwatch delivers a terrifying message: RUN. With the bus driver's final piece of advice to avoid large places, a chilling adventure begins in the dark woods.