We all remember where we were when we finished the first book that truly scared us — probably in our old living room or that one library with the stained carpet that comes back to us even now. We’ll never forget that first rush of fear. We’ll also never forget the love for horror that it sparked. Below are some of the scariest middle grade horror books that have haunted us well into adulthood. Reader beware, you’re in for a scare, or a walk down memory lane, which might be worse.
Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Luke has never been to school, and he’s never had a birthday party. Luke has never been a normal kid because he is one of three kids forbidden by the Population Police. He has lived his entire life in hiding, but that changes when a new housing development begins construction next to his family’s farm, and he meets Jen, a shadow child like himself. Luke is then stuck with Jen and her dangerous plan to come out of hiding. Will he join her in the light? Or remain a shadow child forever? A haunting contemplation on the lost lives of children, Among the Hidden is a book that stays with you well into adulthood and makes you rethink peering into the unknown.
Truth or Dare… by P.J. Night
During a round of truth or dare, Abby Miller confesses her crush on Jake Chilson. The only ones who know about her crush are those at the sleepover and whoever keeps texting her phone, warning her to stay away from Jake. As the dance approaches, strange things start happening to Abby. Is it a jealous classmate or a vengeful ghost? A book best read at a childhood sleepover and one that lingers in your subconscious, P.J. Night paints a horrifying tale of ghosts and first crushes.
The Haunted Mask by R.L. Stine
One of R.L. Stine’s most famous Goosebumps novels, The Haunted Mask tells the story of a girl named Carley Beth and the mask that refuses to come off as Halloween winds down. The mask is ugly and forces her to act against her own character. It is a book as claustrophobic as it is nostalgic.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz
Complete with illustrations that remain horrifying even as an adult, Alvin Schwartz’s collection of scary stories is not for the faint of heart. Weaving tales of folklore, haunted houses, and vengeful ghosts, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark works best as your first introduction to true horror. The monstrous art is impossible to peel from the back of your eyelids.
Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn
The narrator and his brother are stuck with their whiny new stepsister in this tale of ghosts and graveyards. Heather always gets them into trouble, but that all changes when she makes a new friend down by the graveyard. A girl named Helen, who died with her family in a fire, is no threat to them, or is she? Apparently, Helen has returned to lure kids into the pond, and their stepsister might be her next victim.
The Hidden Staircase by Carolyn Keene
Beloved child detective Nancy Drew returns in this story of hidden staircases and family secrets. Helen’s Aunt Rosemary has been living with her mother in the family mansion, but not all is well, as strange things keep happening. They keep hearing odd sounds and seeing eerie shadows on the wall. Could the house be haunted? It’s up to Nancy to figure that out. While this might be one of the least creepy books here, it is one that will give you pause when walking into any old house.
Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty
Serafina has no reason to disobey her pa and venture beyond the grounds of the Biltmore estate. There’s plenty to explore in her house, even if she must never be seen. But when the children at the estate start disappearing, Serafina knows she must unmask the culprit, even if that takes her far into the forest she has been taught to fear. A magical tale of missing kids and haunted grounds, Serafina and the Black Cloak leaves you fearing the trees outside your window.
Tales for the Midnight Hour by J.B. Stamper
A collection of 17 terrifying tales that leave you just as uncomfortable as Alvin Schwartz’s illustrations, Tales for the Midnight Hour might make you turn a nightlight on. Are those sounds merely your old house settling, or is something sinister lurking outside your door?
Is She For Real? by P.J. Night
The seventh book in the You’re Invited to a Creepover series, Is She For Real?, might be more haunting than her predecessors. Bethany has just moved to Old Warwick, a quaint town said to be haunted by the ghost of Lady Warwick. Legend says that she was buried alive after dying of a broken heart, and now roams the town, seeking revenge. Bethany doesn’t believe this until strange things start happening. This installment is as atmospheric as it is nightmare fuel.
Nightbooks by J.A. White
One of the more recently published nightmares, J.A. White writes of a boy imprisoned by a witch and forced to become a storyteller. Alex’s hair-raising tales are the only thing keeping the witch happy, but soon he’ll run out of pages and remain trapped forever. There is something horrifying about the role of narrator.
We all remember what book first sparked our love for horror. For some of us, it was an R.L. Stine book checked out from our elementary school library, for others, it was a collection of tales read at a slumber party. They are all horrifying in their own right. Be sure to check these books out and add them to your TBR. Happy reading!
Interested in more books to add to that ever-expanding TBR? Check out some more recommendations here.
Find these titles and more on our Middle Grade Novels bookshelf.
