Is there anything more rewarding than a good, scary read? Books that invite you into a world where danger lurks and things go bump in the night are more thrilling than a roller coaster. These middle grade novels feature ghosts, creepy dolls, and strange worlds. They provide scares at every level, from mild (and even funny) to tense and gripping. Any book on this list of ghost stories would be an ideal choice to curl up with on a gloomy day or just before bed (nightlights recommended).<\/p>\n
no no 9780593109151 Dark Waters<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/623109\/dark-waters-by-katherine-arden\/9780593109151\/?ref=PRH06C9ECE222&aid=randohouseinc22957-20&linkid=PRH06C9ECE222 by Katherine Arden <\/p>\n
In the third book of the Small Spaces<\/i> series (beginning with Small Spaces<\/i><\/a> and Dead Voices<\/i><\/a>), we return to Mount Hemlock Resort, where the ghoulish smiling man left Ollie, Coco, and Brian with a sinister promise. Knowing the man has new games in store for them, the trio tries to be ready for anything. But an ill-fated boat ride leaves them stranded on an island and at the mercy of a terrifying monster. Readers agree that Arden\u2019s tales are as creepy as her writing is beautiful. This is a can\u2019t-miss book that may require kids to sleep with a light on after reading. <\/p>\n 9780593487969 Ghostlight<\/i> by Kenneth Oppel <\/p>\n Gabe doesn\u2019t believe in ghosts \u2014 until he meets the legendary spirit that haunts the island lighthouse. But Rebecca\u2019s appearance brings more trouble to the town than a few spine tingles. She warns Gabe and his friends about the vengeful spirit who killed her and wants to claim more souls. Kids who enjoy this delightfully scary novel will also want to check out Kenneth Oppel\u2019s Bloom series.<\/p>\n 9781368099073 The Last Rhee Witch <\/i> by Jenna Lee-Yun <\/p>\n Ronnie Miller has always relied on her dad and her best friend Jack since her mom passed away when she was five. They might not feel very Korean, but that\u2019s never bothered Ronnie. As long as she has her dad and Jack, she\u2019s sure she can handle anything. But Camp Foster changes everything. New friends, new enemies, and even ghosts with unfinished business turn her world upside down. And the biggest shock of all? Discovering that everything she thought she knew might be wrong.<\/p>\n 9780593117040 Thirteens<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/622627\/thirteens-by-kate-alice-marshall\/9780593117040\/?ref=PRH06C9ECE222&aid=randohouseinc22957-20&linkid=PRH06C9ECE222 by Kate Alice Marshall <\/p>\n Eleanor doesn\u2019t know the creepy history of her new town. But when she sees things no one else can spot, her new friends, Pip and Otto, warn her never to mention the strange sights to anyone. Their community suffers from a curse in which three kids go missing every 13 Halloweens \u2014 and the trio believes they\u2019ll be next. This creepy read with kids at the helm is perfect for Stranger Things<\/i> fans. <\/p>\n 9780593526675 The Ghostkeeper<\/i> by Johanna Taylor <\/p>\n Readers who loved Lockwood & Co.<\/i> and The Haunting of Hill House<\/i>, will be hooked by this thrilling gothic graphic novel. Meet Dorian Leith, a young medium who talks to ghosts. With his ghostly grandmother and a friendly bookshop owner by his side, Dorian helps spirits move on. But when the key to Death\u2019s Door is stolen, trapping ghosts in the living world, Dorian must find it before a ghostly rot consumes them. Can he bring peace to the restless dead, even if it means sacrificing himself? <\/p>\n 9780593570005 Field of Screams <\/i> by Wendy Parris <\/p>\n A haunted farmhouse, family secrets, and a ominous mystery sit at the heart of this hair-raising novel. As Rebecca digs into her late father\u2019s past, she angers the ghost that may have caused his death. The more clues she pieces together, the angrier the spirit becomes, and Rebecca worries she could meet the same fate as her father. <\/p>\n 9781524765989 Sauerkraut<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/554950\/sauerkraut-by-kelly-jones-illustrated-by-paul-davey\/9781524765989\/?ref=PRH06C9ECE222&aid=randohouseinc22957-20&linkid=PRH06C9ECE222 by Kelly Jones, illustrated by Paul Davey <\/p>\n Plenty of ghost stories focus on humor instead of frights, which is the case with this odd and funny book about a boy whose summer plans go awry when his great-great-grandmother\u2019s ghost needs a favor. HD Schenk planned to build his own computer to enter the county fair, but his ancestor also has a title she wants to claim: this fair\u2019s pickle queen. To win the blue ribbon, she needs HD to make her famous sauerkraut \u2014 but how can she succeed when HD is the only one who can see her? Kelly Jones\u2019s silly ghost tale honors family history and the creativity that runs through generations.<\/p>\n 9781536225822 Embassy of the Dead Series by Will Mabbit, illustrated by Taryn Knight <\/p>\n A case of mistaken identity lands 12-year-old Jake Green in possession of a mysterious and dangerous box containing a frighteningly severed finger, marking him as a target of the Embassy of the Dead and their reaper. Jake’s only chance at escaping the Eternal Void is to help a troubled ghost pass on and become an Undoer. Kids who enjoy reading spine-tingling novels with a hefty dose of humor will love this series!<\/p>\n 9780823452675 The Carrefour Curse<\/i> by Dianne K. Salerni <\/p>\n Middle grade readers who can\u2019t get enough of gothic horror stories should pick up this book. It\u2019s about a girl named Garnet who moves in with her estranged relatives in a dilapidated old mansion. The creepy atmosphere and shocking plot twists will keep young readers on the edge of their seats!<\/p>\n 9780593202913 Midnight at the Barclay Hotel<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/625446\/midnight-at-the-barclay-hotel-by-fleur-bradley-illustrated-by-xavier-bonet\/9780593202913\/?ref=PRH06C9ECE222&aid=randohouseinc22957-20&linkid=PRH06C9ECE222 by Fleur Bradley, illustrated by Xavier Bonet <\/p>\n This middle grade novel combines an all-expenses-paid trip to a luxury hotel, ghost hunting, and a murder mystery. When JJ Jacobson\u2019s mother becomes the prime suspect in the hotel owner\u2019s death, he and his friends must clear her name and find the true killer (all while dodging ghosts). This action-packed ghost story is excellent for kids who aren\u2019t ready for more terrifying reads. <\/p>\n 9781984816764 The Hiddenseek<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/617459\/the-hiddenseek-by-nate-cernosek\/9781984816764\/?ref=PRH06C9ECE222&aid=randohouseinc22957-20&linkid=PRH06C9ECE222 by Nate Cernosek <\/p>\n A game of hide-and-seek goes from fun to terrifying when brother and sister Hector and Holly Thorn get trapped in a secret world called the Hiddenseek. To make matters worse, a shape-shifting witch stalks the siblings and the other children caught in the mysterious land. The kids must break the curse that\u2019s keeping them in the Hiddenseek by playing a game that\u2019s anything but harmless. This fast-paced novel will keep Goosebumps<\/i> fans racing through the pages. <\/p>\n 9780525645740 The Ghost in Apartment 2R<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/580148\/the-ghost-in-apartment-2r-by-denis-markell\/9780525645740\/?ref=PRH06C9ECE222&aid=randohouseinc22957-20&linkid=PRH06C9ECE222 by Denis Markell <\/p>\n Some kids look forward to inheriting their older sibling\u2019s room when they depart for college \u2013 unless it\u2019s haunted. Danny teams up with his friends Nat and Gus to learn about spirits, lore, and legends in their diverse Brooklyn neighborhood. But until they can figure out what the ghost wants, Danny won\u2019t be able to help it move on. Markell\u2019s book has laughs, facts, and only mild scares, so it\u2019s the perfect pick for a kid who\u2019s not ready for anything too creepy.<\/p>\n 9780593202067 The Circus of Stolen Dreams<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/624500\/the-circus-of-stolen-dreams-by-lorelei-savaryn\/9780593202067\/?ref=PRH06C9ECE222&aid=randohouseinc22957-20&linkid=PRH06C9ECE222 by Lorelei Savaryn <\/p>\n Desperate to forget her problems after her brother\u2019s disappearance, Andrea doesn\u2019t hesitate to dive into a magical world that promises an escape from reality. At first, her new surroundings are nothing but enchanting. But before long, she realizes that the dream world is a trap \u2013 one that claimed her brother. With her new friend Penny, Andrea must free Francis from the Sandman and his nightmarish world. This inventive and spellbinding tale will hold kids in its thrall. <\/p>\n 9780593117361 The Sleepover<\/i> https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/books\/623326\/the-sleepover-by-michael-regina\/9780593117361\/?ref=PRH06C9ECE222&aid=randohouseinc22957-20&linkid=PRH06C9ECE222 by Michael Regina <\/p>\n Michael Regina\u2019s scary and comical graphic novel is the kind of book that middle graders will fly through \u2013 and then want to read again. When Matthew Russo\u2019s beloved nanny passes away, his three best friends plan a sleepover to take his mind off his grief. Miss Swan, the new nanny, seems<\/i> great \u2013 but Matt can\u2019t tell if she\u2019s a fun babysitter or a witch trying to fatten him up. Pick this one up for kids who like suspense delivered with a heavy dose of comedy. <\/p>\n Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2021 and updated in 2024.<\/small><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" These middle grade novels feature ghosts, creepy dolls, and strange worlds, providing scares at every level, from mild (and even funny) to tense and gripping. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":100571,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[75],"coauthors":[14],"class_list":["post-60910","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-fantasy","ages_stages-tween"],"yoast_head":"\n