No surprise here, but I love Halloween. And especially middle grade books that revolve around Halloween or horror themes. The thing that’s great about these middle grade books is that there’s a wide range of how spooky they get, and if things get too scary, kids can always shut the book.
As much as we all love Goosebumps and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, there’s a lot more to middle grade horror. So, if you’re looking for some great Halloween and horror reads for middle graders (think ages 8-12), you’ve come to the right place! Here’s my list of personal favorites for spooky season, with a mix of both newer reads and old classics.
Grin by D.W. Gillespie
Grin was probably my favorite book of 2025. I can’t recommend it enough, though it would probably be too scary for more sensitive readers. Danny is excited to spend the week at his uncle’s arcade, but his trip takes a dark turn when they get an arcade game that is possessed by a serial killer. This one lays on the creepiness super heavy, and I love the video game references. It pushes just how dark middle grade horror books can get, but in a way that I really enjoyed.
It’s Watching by Lindsay Currie
Lindsay Currie has written lot of great middle grade ghost books that usually blend real places and history, but this one is my personal favorite. After Josie and her friends sneak into a cemetery as part of a school journalism project, they receive haunting messages on their phones with an ominous countdown. This is probably her scariest book, but Currie’s stories always end on a positive/hopeful note, which is great for middle graders.
The Small Spaces Quartet by Katherine Arden
One of the more prominent middle grade horror series of recent years, the Small Spaces series is well worth reading. The four books, each set in a different season, follow Ollie and her friends as they confront the otherworldly entity known as the Smiling Man. Ollie and her friends are written in an appealing way, while the scary moments are sure to give kids chills! This well-written series will probably leave kids wondering why there isn’t a fifth book.
The Alien Survival Guide Series by Kevin Garone
Selfishly, I can’t make this kind of list without giving a shoutout to my own books! I Know What UFO Did Last Summer and Night of the Living Toilet Paper follow alien-obsessed Marv as he takes on spooky shenanigans involving creatures from another dimension. These books lean into more of a sci-fi thriller vibe that combines elements of Stranger Things with some of the humor from Goosebumps. As one reviewer said, “This book legit reads like an 80s/90s adventure flick—fun, fast, and full of heart. It’s the kind of story that makes you wanna grab your flashlight, gather your squad, and go alien-hunting in the woods.”
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
This supernatural take on The Jungle Books tells the story of “Bod” Owens, who is adopted by the denizens of a graveyard after his parents are murdered. Much of the book is presented more as a series of interconnected vignettes that eventually come together for a touching conclusion. With excellent writing and memorable characters, it’s obvious why this book won a Newberry Medal.
The Thickety Series by J.A. White
J.A. White is also the author of the excellent Nightbooks, which is another great Halloween read, but I’m partial to his earlier fantasy horror series. Kara and her family live on the edge of a deadly forest known as The Thickety. Kara’s experiments with witchcraft lead to encounters with all kinds of dark monsters, evil witches, and other threats. These are pretty lengthy books, but the journey of Kara and her brother Taff offers a fun blend of fantasy and horror elements that will keep middle grade readers hooked.
Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty
If you like your horror mixed with a bit of history and folklore, Serafina and the Black Cloak is a great pick. This series starter follows Serafina as she tries to uncover why children at the Biltmore estate are disappearing. The Man in the Black Cloak is a creepy villain, but this is a good Halloween pick for middle graders who prefer something that leans more fantasy than pure horror.
Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn
No list of the best Halloween books for middle grade readers is complete without Mary Downing Hahn. Wait Till Helen Comes was one of my favorite ghost stories as a kid. Molly and her brother Michael are struggling to adapt to their bratty stepsister Heather. But when they move to a house in the countryside, things take a turn for the worse. As mysterious events pile up, Heather gives the ominous warning, “Wait till Helen comes.” This classic ghost story was also recently remade as a graphic novel if you have a reluctant reader who prefers that format.
The Shadow House Series by Dan Poblocki
If you visited a Scholastic Book Fair during the 2010s, you probably had plenty of chances to pick up a middle grade horror book by Dan Poblocki. My pick would be his Shadow House series. A group of children are summoned to a mysterious mansion, but when they arrive, they find things are far from what they seem. Ghostly terrors await in this four-book series that make for quick, chilling reads.
The Clackity by Lora Senf
Another series starter, and another middle grade book featuring the ghost of a serial killer! In the town of Blight Harbor, communicating with ghosts is normal for Evie von Rath and her Aunt Desdemona. But when Desdemona disappears in the town’s abandoned slaughterhouse, Evie is forced to make a deal with the Clackity and explore a haunting otherworld to get her back. This book was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award(R) for Best Middle Grade Novel. Its sequel, The Nighthouse Keeper , won the award.
In reality, this list could go on and on. There are just so many great spooky books out there for middle grade readers! If I missed your favorite, be sure to let me know — I’m always looking for a great new middle grade horror to read.