Horror Books for Kids and Teens

Last updated: June 30, 2026

Sometimes a good scare is just the thing. These horror stories are deliciously spooky without being too terrifying -- perfect for a fall night by the fire! But it doesn't need to be Halloween time for kids and teens to enjoy these picks. These gripping tales full of zombies, haunted houses, and other supernatural scares will keep kids turning pages late into the night. And unlike horror movies that often rely on jump scares and gore, these well-written scary books provide all the creepiness without those concerns. So try out one of our favorite horror books, and for more spooky stories, try our Best Ghost Stories for Kids and Teens.

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Trick or Treat on Scary Street book cover: Kids in costumes crossing a spooky street with glowing houses in the background

BOOK

Trick or Treat on Scary Street

age 4+

Beautifully illustrated spooky book is tough to read aloud.

Lance Bass Picture Book (2024)

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Eerie Elementary series Poster Image

BOOK

Eerie Elementary series

age 6+

Spooky tales of kids at a school that's alive and angry.

Jack Chabert Adventure (2014)

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The Skull book cover: Little girl sits in front of a tree holding a skull

BOOK

The Skull

age 6+

Girl befriends talking skull in gently spooky folktale.

Jon Klassen Horror (2023)

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Things in the Basement book cover: A boy with dark hair and tan skin stands at the top of the stairs to a dark basement

BOOK

Things in the Basement, Book 1

age 6+

Touching tale of missing sock and spooky basement adventure.

Ben Hatke Graphic Novel (2023)

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Unsettling Salad book cover: A badger and a possum, in black and white, making sad faces at neon green salad in front of them

BOOK

Unsettling Salad!: Jasper Rabbit's Creepy Tales!, Book 2

age 6+

Funny-spooky story about vegetables' dangers.

Aaron Reynolds Horror (2026)

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Blood City Rollers book cover: White, brown-haired teen girl skates around a neon derby track with vampire teammates and bats

BOOK

Blood City Rollers

age 8+

Sweet, fierce tween paranormal roller derby graphic novel.

V.P. Anderson Graphic Novel (2024)

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Scariest. Book. Ever. book cover: Giant bat with a human skull flies in the moonlight over a scary forest

BOOK

Goosebumps House of Shivers: Scariest. Book. Ever.

age 8+

Fast-paced, scary mystery is full of fantasy and fun.

R. L. Stine Horror (2023)

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Haunted Holiday book cover: Two blond tweens emerging from a nautical-themed gate

BOOK

Haunted Holiday: Sinister Summer, Book 5

age 8+

Exciting series ender has robot, kraken, wild revelations.

Kiersten White Fantasy (2024)

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Jason Strange: The Graveyard Plot Poster Image

BOOK

Jason Strange: The Graveyard Plot

age 8+

Spine-tingling fun for young horror fans.

Jason Strange Horror (2012)

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Mermedusa book cover: Boy and girl peer into mouth of dark, crystal cave where many-tentacled creature lurks in glowing water

BOOK

Mermedusa: Legends of Eerie-on-Sea, Book 5

age 8+

Series finale thrills, chills, and answers questions.

Thomas Taylor Fantasy (2024)

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Nightmares!: Nightmares, Book 1 Poster Image

BOOK

Nightmares!: Nightmares, Book 1

age 8+

Empowering, sweet story about the fears that haunt us.

Jason Segel , Kirsten Miller Horror (2014)

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Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories Poster Image

BOOK

Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories, Book 1

age 8+

Mild scares and laughs for Wimpy Kid fans.

Jeff Kinney Graphic Novel (2021)

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Serafina and the Black Cloak Poster Image

BOOK

Serafina and the Black Cloak

age 8+

Spooky mystery-thriller about supernatural evil.

Robert Beatty Mystery (2015)

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Tales from Cabin 23: The Boo Hag Flex book cover: Black girl and White girl run from a skeletal monster standing in a trailer

BOOK

Tales from Cabin 23: The Boo Hag Flex

age 8+

Spooky, exciting tale of girls tracking a murdering monster.

Justina Ireland Horror (2024)

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The House with a Clock in Its Walls: Lewis Barnavelt, Book 1 Poster Image

BOOK

The House with a Clock in Its Walls: Lewis Barnavelt, Book 1

age 8+

Ten-year-old raises the dead in creepy Gothic classic.

John Bellairs Horror (2004)

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The Last Resort book cover: A girl in the foreground faces away looking at a large, shadowy mansion with a silhouette in one of the windows

BOOK

The Last Resort, Book 1

age 8+

Tweens help ghosts move on in spine-tingling series start.

Erin Entrada Kelly Horror (2025)

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book cover Wretched Waterpark

BOOK

Wretched Waterpark: Sinister Summer, Book 1

age 8+

Fun, spooky summertime romp launches clever tween series.

Kiersten White Mystery (2022)

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Zombie Mommy Poster Image

BOOK

Zombie Mommy

age 8+

Humor and horror mix in fun, fast-paced series installment.

M.T. Anderson Science Fiction (2011)

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Archimancy: Shadow School, Book 1 Poster Image

BOOK

Archimancy: Shadow School, Book 1

age 9+

Heart, suspense abound in spooky middle school ghost story.

J.A. White Fantasy (2019)

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Case File 13: Zombie Kid Poster Image

BOOK

Case File 13: Zombie Kid

age 9+

Goofy horror tale has light scares and lots of body humor.

J. Scott Savage Horror (2012)

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