The fall semester is in full swing, the cold weather is (slowly) approaching, and Halloween is right around the corner! There’s no better way to embrace this spooky season while improving your reading skills than by reading a scary novel. Whether you’re a fan of ghost stories, partial to science fiction, or a fan of creatures like zombies, vampires, or aliens—this collection of books to read for Halloween is sure to have a chilling tale right up your alley!
The Best Halloween Books for Younger Readers
If you’re a younger student looking for books to read for Halloween, these have been beloved by elementary and middle grade readers for decades.
Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories
Most elementary readers are well-acquainted with Roald Dahl—from Matilda to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, his works are prolific in the world of children’s literature. Dahl is known for his penchant for the macabre, so it’s only natural we include his book of ghost stories among our recommended Halloween books for kids.
For this anthology, Dahl selected 14 of his favorite spooky stories, written by prominent scary short story writers known for their ghost tales. Students love these thrilling, easy-to-read tales—from a young girl’s “imaginary friend” who has a malevolent influence in Rosemary Timperley’s “Harry”, to Edith Wharton’s “Afterward”, which features a ghost seeking revenge. If you’re looking for a variety of fun paranormal reads this spooky season, this is the perfect Halloween book for you!
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
One of the most unique spooky stories of the 21st century, Coraline is a must-read for anyone looking for a whimsically creepy tale. It follows spunky Coraline Jones who just moved into a new home with her family, encountering a mysterious portal to an alternate dimension. The “other world” is identical to her own, including her “other mother” and “other father”, who shower her with attention and gifts—a contrast to her own parents, who are usually occupied with work.
Coraline is faced with a decision: does she accept her “other” family and become part of the alternate world, where everything seems to be better than her real life? Or, does she investigate this strange realm, uncovering the dark motivations of her strange “other” mother? Even if you’ve seen the beloved animated Coraline film adaptation, this novella from Neil Gaiman is worth a read this spooky season.
The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
Known for his acclaimed science fiction and fantasy writing, Ray Bradbury’s The Halloween Tree has been described as the Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol of the Halloween season. This fast-paced, ghostly tale follows a group of costumed friends as their trick-or-treating is interrupted when their friend is whisked away by a sinister being.
With the help of the mysterious Mr. Moundshroud, the group of friends endeavor on a Halloween adventure to save their friend and discover the true meaning of Hallow’s Eve. Readers love learning about the history of Halloween throughout human history in this expeditious story, perfectly combining elements of reality and eerie fantasy.
Classic Halloween Books
These essential books to read for Halloween are classics in the horror genre. Each novel features thrilling plots, beloved creepy characters, and a spooky ambiance perfect for this time of year.
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
Anne Rice’s debut novel Interview with the Vampire is a monumental work in the genre of vampire literature, spawning a dozen sequels, a movie, comics, and a TV show adaptation. Readers assume the role of the reporter interviewing vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac, who narrates his New Orleans-set life story. Louis takes you on a journey from the day he was turned into a vampire by Lestat de Lioncourt, across their decades-long companionship, and what happens after.
Since Bram Stoker’s Dracula, vampire stories were generally horrors about malicious blood-suckers—until Interview with the Vampire, which presents them in a light that highlights their lingering humanity. Louis grapples with his morality, attempting to show compassion to humans while coexisting with the sinister Lestat. What stands out the most is Rice’s eloquent writing, including rich characterizations, immaculate storytelling, and precise, detailed imagery.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
No collection of Halloween books is complete without a good ghost story (or several!), so we had to feature beloved horror and mystery writer Shirley Jackson’s 1959 novel The Haunting of Hill House—widely known as one of the greatest ghost stories ever written.
You’ll follow four paranormal investigators who arrive at the mysterious Hill House and encounter strange phenomena—and possible peril. Jackson’s descriptions of the enormous manor are magnificently ominous, and the dialogue throughout the novel seamlessly conveys an ever-present eerie suspicion, even when things seem normal. Anyone looking for thrilling frights that masterfully build up over the course of a compelling story will devour The Haunting of Hill House.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers by Jack Finney
Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a short science fiction classic from 1955; in fact, it’s one of the first novels about alien infiltration. Set in Mill Valley, California, Dr. Miles Bennel discovers that alien seeds have drifted into our planet, gradually spawning duplicates of those around him. If they aren’t stopped, these aliens are on-track to parasitically replace all of humanity.
This is a classic science fiction read for Halloween for a reason. For decades, readers have raved about Finney’s conversational style of writing and his expertly-constructed plot. His thematic messaging conveys poignant commentary on human society and civilization, leaving you thinking long after you finish the final page.
The Shining by Stephen King
Like The Haunting of Hill House, Stephen King’s The Shining is another “best of the best” paranormal story set in a monumental mansion, but even more visceral and frightening. We follow Jack Torrence and his family as he starts as the wintertime caretaker of the Overlook Hotel. It turns out, this new job proves to be a steeper task than it initially seems.
While the hotel is bustling and bright in warmer weather, it becomes isolated and foreboding in the winter. Jack, Wendy, and their perceptive son Danny must wrestle with the sinister forces in the hotel—and within their family. King uses his mastery at writing horror to immerse the reader in the terror within the Overlook Hotel. This paranormal story explores the effects of cabin fever and addiction on a family in a truly frightening way.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The Summer of 1816 was unusually cold and rainy. Writers Lord Byron, John William Polidori, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Mary Shelley were rained-in when staying at Byron’s Villa Diodati in Switzerland that summer, so they decided to hold a horror story-writing contest among themselves. From this friendly competition came Mary Shelley’s renowned masterpiece, Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus (known as one of the very first science fiction novels ever written).
You probably know the premise—scientist Dr. Victor Frankenstein becomes obsessed with his new experiment, the Creation. He assembles an amalgamation of human body parts in an attempt to reanimate a living human. Instead, he spawns a creature that no one can look at without being horrified. For two centuries, readers have loved Shelley’s writing in Frankenstein and its themes of friendship, nature, authenticity, and the danger of knowledge.
Modern Books to Read for Halloween
Trying to find Halloween reading for young adults and teens, but you want a more contemporary spooky read? These five modern Halloweeen books are some of the most compelling scary stories of this millennium!
Soul Cutter by Lexa Cain
Those looking for a unique, fast-paced plot with mythological lore and supernatural chills will devour Soul Cutter. When her mother disappears while shooting a film in Egypt, 17-year-old ghost-buster Élan must drop everything and travel halfway across the world to find her.
Élan seems to be well-equipped to face a paranormal threat, but all the ghosts she confronted back home were fakes. She must let her skepticism take a backseat and face malicious paranormal entities to save her mother. If you’re looking for romance books to read for Halloween, Soul Cutter is a strong contender—while there’s plenty of suspense and horror, readers especially love its blossoming romance.
Flesh Eaters by Joe McKinney
After a slew of catastrophic hurricanes devastate the coast of Texas, a more horrifying threat emerges in Flesh Eaters. The streets of Houston are flooded and filled with zombies, which forces survivors to climb to rooftops. As the monsters multiply, Eleanor Norton must protect her family as they make their way into the quarantine zone.
Joe McKinney’s Flesh Eaters is one of the best zombie books to read for Halloween; in fact, it won the 2011 Bram Stoker Award (presented to the best works in horror writing). This book is actually the prequel in McKinney’s Dead World series, so there are more installations to pick up if you enjoy the journey! Readers love his unique twist on the zombie genre throughout the series.
Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova
Horror fiction is known to help people grapple with grief. Death is life-shaping, so a medium that presents fictitious fears of mortality without sugarcoating helps many people confront the death and fear in their own lives. Gerardo Sámano Córdova’s Monstrilio is centered around grief—Magos, inspired by a folktale, saves a piece of her recently-deceased son’s lung to nurture until it gains life.
While the little Monstrilio begins to look like her son Santiago, it also develops a carnivorous appetite and frightening impulses. This one-of-a-kind story draws on classics from Frankenstein to Pet Sematary, producing a monster novel that is heart-wrenching and endearing. The colorful cast of characters, engaging, fast-paced plot, and direct prose will stay with you long after you finish reading.
The Void by Brett J. Talley
It is the year 2169 and mankind is among the stars. Space travel is a breeze now, making it easy to cross light years—but travelers must be asleep for the ride. It’s a simple process, but the dreams brought by stasis are severe and terrifying. No traveler is left unscathed once they reach their destination.
In The Void, we follow space navigator Aiden Connor as he embarks on a routine transport mission, led awry with the discovery of an abandoned spaceship and intensified by the six travelers’ malignant nightmares. Author Brett J. Talley expertly develops a tense, unsettling ambiance in this suspenseful story. Lovers of science fiction and stories set in space will rejoice at this interpretation of space travel, one of the best futuristic Halloween books to read this fall.
Lone Women by Victor Lavalle
For the final entry in this collection of books to read for Halloween, let’s travel back to the past. It’s 1915, and Adelaide Henry is fleeing to Montana after the death of her parents. Within the massive trunk she brings with her everywhere is locked her “secret sin”. This item is a persistent mystery that brings death to those around her, but may help her as she pursues life as a homesteader.
Victor Lavalle’s novel boasts a never-ceasing suspense and a compelling cast of strong women finding their way in the eerie American countryside. The intricate plot of this mysterious horror western unravels gradually, revealing secrets that will blow you away—making for an excellent exercise for your inference skills.
How to Face Your Academic Fears
Maximize your holiday spirit this spooky season by picking up one of these excellent books to read for Halloween! Reading horrors and mysteries will excite you as the cold weather slowly creeps in while strengthening your reading comprehension skills! Scary stories are known to utilize figurative language and rhetorical devices to build mystery and fear, and ghosts or ghouls are usually symbols in authors’ thematic messaging.
If you’re looking for ELA instruction, take a gander at our themed collection of Halloween reading comprehension activities as well as our online ELA courses! Along with test prep for the ACT, ISEE, and Digital SAT, we offer full courses for 5-11th grade Math and English. Each ELA course includes dozens of concept lessons, personalized practice software, and over 100 reading comprehension passages.
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