'Tis the Season for Spooky Books - Middle Grade Chapter Book edition

Creepy chapter books are so much fun! Some of my first memories of being read aloud to by librarians were creepy books - which I will share below. For me, horror for children is important because it is an outlet for exploring things that we don't completely understand when we are young, ways to deal with emotions we might not have felt before, and situations we might not be able to process yet. They are not only appropriate, but are absolutely necessary. Why else would fairy tales exist? Are they not mainly stories we told to explore the world and help keep our children safe?

So here are some children's chapter books that influenced me both as a child and as an adult.

The Ghost Belonged to Me by Richard Peck
This is the book I referred to above. When I was in 3rd or 4th grade, my school librarian read the first chapter of this book aloud to us. Afterwards there was a mad rush to check out every creepy book she had available. I had to wait a bit to check it out, but when I did, I absolutely loved it!

In 1911, Alexander is a typical boy who just happens to see a ghost! Now he's on an adventure with Blossom Culp, who claims that she can see spirits, too. Strangely, I just found out there was a movie made by Disney called Child of Glass. I think I have to watch this now...

Bunnicula by James Howe
Then came the fabulously and cornily awesome Bunnicula series. I mean, come on, who doesn't love a vampire bunny rabbit? And his cat and dog sidekicks are pretty awesome, too. Also, the puniest titles ever for the sequels: Howliday Inn, The Celery Stalks at Midnight, and Bunnicula Meets Edgar Allen Poe just to name a few. So, so funny!



The Witches by Roald Dahl
Witches are real and they will come get you! At least in this story, where the most memorable part for me was when they turn a boy into a mouse. While I like mice (I know, I'm weird) I would not want to spend the rest of my life as one. Strangely, this book has been banned several times as promoting witchcraft. In reality, it very clearly portrays witches as bad people whom you not only don't want to meet, but most definitely do not want to be. either.Of all the books in this post, this one (and Coraline) most clearly hearken back to classic fairy tales and that similarity is used purposely and to perfection.



Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark compiled by Alvin Schwartz; illustrated byStephen Gammell
Schwartz's collection of American folktales of the scary persuasion caused untold outrage when I was a young one, mostly due to the illustrations. Of course, as kids we adored it, terrifying pictures and all. Sadly, if you buy the new editions, the illustrations have been changed and are not nearly as creepy, which is just a shame. Try your hardest to get an original; it is so worth it.


Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Probably one of my favorite creepy stories for children of all time. This one deals with mother and father issues, identity issues, and problems faced after moving to a new place. Even having an unusual name is an issue for young Coraline. In the new old house her family has moved into she finds herself surrounded by strange neighbors and wanders into a seemingly perfect parallel world where her Other Mother gives her everything she could ever want. Perfect, right? Or maybe not. 




Okay so those are mostly from my own childhood. Here are a few published after I became an adult that are totally amazing for middle grade kids.

First a couple of funny/scary...


Zombie Baseball Beatdown by Paolo Bacigalupi
Three boys are practicing baseball near the town meatpacking plant when the zombie apocalypse begins with a zombie cow. So, of course, they have to defend themselves with a baseball bat. Soon the outbreak spreads to the humans in town and the boys begin sneaking around trying to discover what is really going on. ZBB tackles some pretty intense topics (food safety to racism and immigration) but manages to keep the humor in a grisly story.



Half-Minute Horrors compiled by Neil Gaiman
Each author in this collection had to write a short story that lasts 30 seconds when read aloud. There is a wide variety of scary in this one, but all are a good creepy time. I especially like the one that is just an enumerated picture with a key at the bottom. Someone has been killed and it is not very difficult to figure out who did it or why. Great for read-alouds to groups of children--be prepared for both screams and giggles.

Now how about a couple of scary ones...


The Boneshaker by Kate Milford
My first thought on beginning to read this book was "Wow, this is Something Wicked This Way Comes for the elementary set!" I was not disappointed. Set in Missouri in 1914, the story follows Natalie, who loves all things mechanical, as she takes on a strange traveling medicine show and someone who might possibly be the Devil himself. Can Natalie save not only herself, but the whole town? Very, very creepy in only the best ways.

Lockwood & Co: The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
In an alternate version of London, ghost have began to return to attack the living, and the only people who can see or fight them are children. Most agencies are run by adults; however, Lockwood & Co. is a three-person, ghost-fighting team. Part Ghost Hunt, with a dash of Sherlock and Doctor Who, this series has much of the best of all three and is at times extremely scary. 

Don't forget to check out the other 4 volumes of this super creepy fun!

Okay, so that is all for Chapter Books. 

Next up: Young Adult/Teen scariness.