Scariest Books for Middle Schoolers

Middle Schoolers love books that frighten them; my students are always asking me to recommend something to read and of course I ask, "What kinds of books do you like?" Invariably, the answer is "scary books." So, here is a not-by-any-means comprehensive list of scary books that you can use as a go-to list the next time your students ask for "something scary" to read.

Of course it's Coraline by Neil Gaiman! Every child's nightmare is to wake up and be in his reality that is slightly "off." Neil Gaiman knows how to write a scary book. It's been out long enough where most middle schoolers nowadays aren't that familiar with it. Definitely worth mentioning!

The Graveyard Book is another fantastic, magical, scary book by Neil Gaiman. "Bod" survives the murder of his family when only a toddler and is raised by spirits in the local graveyard. Spooky and macabre~for slightly more mature readers than Coraline.

The Enemy series by Charlie Higson

When the sickness came, all of the grown-ups fell ill. They either died, or they became something akin to zombies. The only ones to survive are kids under 14! Okay, like Coraline, we have a reality where the safe and predictable world changes into something horrifying. Be warned, though, these books contain strong language and violence. 

About fifteen years ago, I read this book aloud to a group of seventh-grade boys; they devoured it (pun intended). After that, the school library could not keep his books on the shelf (thank you Lolita Rawlins). I've not recommended this book in ages, but it's going back on my list. This book is great for 5th and 6th graders also. 

Another must-read by Paul Zindel is Loch. Loch and his younger sister go with their dad hunting for an enormous pre-historic creature in Vermont. Gruesome attacks and enough blood and guts to keep any middle school boy happy!

Visit Zindel's website for a list of all of his action and horror books. There are enough books on this list for even the most reluctant reader.

The Hunt for the Seventh by Christine Morton Shaw

Jim, the protagonist, moves into ancient Minerva Hall and encounters the ghosts of six children. They implore him to find the seventh child and leave him cryptic clues that point to a dark, ancient prophecy that only Jim can stop from being fulfilled. Jim turns to Einstein, a brilliant autistic boy who lives at the Hall. If anyone can help Jim, Einstein can. But the oby, who only speaks in riddles, proves to be as mysterious as the dead children. Time is running out! If Jim doesn't figure otu the clues, innocent people will die.

Once upon a time, fairy tales were awesome! Really, just check out A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz. Here is an excerpt from the first page: "Before I go on, a word of warning: Grimm's stories--the ones that weren't changed for little kids--are violent and bloody. And what you're going to hear now, the one true tale in The Tales of Grimm, is as violent and bloddy as you can get."

If your students like this one, check out the other two in the series In a Glass Grimmly and The Grimm Conclusion.

As a fan of Trixie Belden, I would be remiss in not mentioning any of the suspense books by Joan Lowery Nixon. Here is just a short list of some of her books:

The Specter

Don't Scream

Whispers from the Dead

The Stalker

The Name of the Game was Murder

The Ghosts of Now

The Island of the Dangerous Dreams

A Candidate for Murder

The Other Side of Dark

Nightmare

The Dark and Deadly Pool

Spirit Seeker

Just like any of the books by Joan Lowery Nixon, any of the following books by Mary Downing Hahn are sure to please (just ask one of my middle schoolers!):

Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story

The Doll in the Garden: A Ghost Story

Deep and Dark and Dangerous

All the Lovely Bad Ones

Closed for the Season

The Old Willis Place

The Dead Man in Indian Creek

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall

Like "The Village"? Then give this trilogy by Carrie Ryan a try:

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

The Dead-Tossed Waves

The Dead and Empty World

This is just a very small list, but go ahead, it's a great place to begin.

Melissa Reese Etheridge