Children's Book Suggestions | Horror

Something old, something new...a mix of classic and recent horror novels for readers in Grades 2-7. For more reading ideas, ask a staff member for some suggestions, fill out our Personalized Book Recommendation Form, or check out NoveList for recommended book lists and readalikes.

For younger readers, check out our Halloween Scavenger Hunt book list with 31 not-too-scary titles for ages 3-7!

Updated October 5, 2023
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County) Oregon City Public Library
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Battle of the bad-breath bats
Bowles, David
Paper Book
A new silly and spooky highly illustrated series that's perfect for fans of Eerie Elementary and Notebooks of Doom, featuring art on every page and fun activities at the end of each book. It's a Halloween chapter book treat! Cousins Malia, Ivan, and Dante are visiting...

A trio of cousins accidentally take a wrong turn onto 13th Street and have to work together to defeat the monsters on the way home. Between the action sequences and the boss-style challenges, this is a great read for video game fans. (Bridging Fiction Grades 2-4)

The last kids on Earth
Brallier, Max
Paper Book
The original #1 New York Times bestselling The Last Kids on Earth is now a full-color graphic novel! Ever since the monster apocalypse hit town, average thirteen-year-old Jack Sullivan has been living in his tree house, which he's armed to the teeth with catapults and a...

This illustrated novel about kids surviving a zombie apocalypse is hands-down our most popular kids horror series. With plenty of humor and an emphasis on action, it's great for readers who don't like to be too scared. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

The school is alive!
Chabert, Jack
Paper Book
Eerie Elementary is one scary school!This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence...
A third-grader saves his classmates from their monstrous school in this chapter book for kids who are just ready to move up from easy readers. (Bridging Fiction Grades 2-4)
Rise of the balloon goons
Cummings, Troy.
Paper Book
Monsters + Humor + Fun = THE NOTEBOOK OF DOOM!This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading...

An illustrated diary-style book about a kid who discovers that his new town is literally filled with monsters. This one is definitely more funny than scary, which makes it a great pick for sensitive horror-curious readers. (Bridging Fiction Grades 2-4)

Camp Sylvania
Murphy, Julie
Paper Book
From Julie Murphy, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin', comes a hilarious and creepy middle grade summer camp story that takes a bite out of fat camp and diet culture. Perfect for fans of Spooky Stories and Starfish. Magnolia "Maggie" Hagen is determined to...

By the author of the book behind the beloved Netflix movie, Dumplin', comes a middle grade novel about the horrors of body shaming in a classic summer camp setting. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

The incredibly dead pets of Rex Dexter
Reynolds, Aaron
Paper Book
New York Times best-selling author Aaron Reynolds delivers an "entertainingly spooky romp" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) about Rex Dexter, who is itching to have a dog . . . but ends up with a pet chicken.   One hour and...
A kid who wants a pet dog is cursed by a carnival game and must solve a mystery at the local zoo using his newfound ability to talk to dead animals. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)
Night of the living dummy
Stine, R. L.
Paper Book
Caro s'amuse beaucoup avec son nouveau pantin ventriloque. Jalouse, sa soeur jumelle s'en procure un et le nomme monsieur Méchant-Garçon. C'est alors que des événements étranges se produisent dans la maison des Lafaye. Monsieur Méchant-Garçon est-il aussi inanimé qu'il en a l'air?

Is it too much of a stretch to call R.L. Stine the Shakespeare of children's horror fiction? Maybe, but he's still one of the most recognizable authors in children's literature. A great starting point for elementary readers who are interested in dipping their toes into the genre. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Just beyond. The scare school
Stine, R. L.
Paper Book
Middle grade supernatural horror series takes young readers Just Beyond the reality they know...Just Beyond their normal lives...Just Beyond the real world to an always surprising place of fantasy and fright. Coming Soon to Disney+! Middle school feels like...

A new series from Goosebumps author R.L. Stine using the graphic novel format to reach reluctant readers. (Children's Graphic Novels Grades 3-5)

Truth or dare...
Night, P. J.
Paper Book
During a round of Truth or Dare, Abby Miller confesses her crush on Jake Chilson. The only people who know her secret are her friends at the sleepover--and whoever sent her a text message in the middle of the night warning her to stay away from Jake...or else! But Abby isn't going to stay away...
What starts as a made-up spooky tale becomes all too real as this graphic novel series takes the time-honored tradition of telling scary stories at a sleepover and runs with it! (Young Teen Graphic Novels Grades 5-7)
Bloom
Oppel, Kenneth
Paper Book
The first book in bestselling author Kenneth Oppel's explosive new trilogy It was just rain. But after the downpour, odd black plants begin to shoot up. Suddenly-- They. Are. Everywhere. They take over fields and twine around houses. They bloom and throw off...

Predatory alien plants take over Salt Springs Island in this triology from action-suspense author Oppel. Perfect for kids who are on track to love the Alien movies when they grow up. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

The graveyard book
Gaiman, Neil.
Paper Book
"Wistful, witty, and wise--and creepy. . . . Closer in tone to American Gods than to Coraline, but permeated with Bod's innocence, this needs to be read by anyone who is or has ever been a child." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) By turns macabre, uplifting, sinister, and...

A young boy is rescued by ghosts and raised in a graveyard in this award-winning novel loosely inspired by The Jungle Book. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 3-5)


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