THE FIVE: Best Books for Halloween

 

Leave the Lights On For These Books!

Halloween is upon us, and you know what that means! Well, besides free candy and dressing up in costumes, the next best way to celebrate this holiday is by reading a great scary book. Here are some books that will get you jumping out of your seat and sleeping with the nightlight on:

5. School Spirits by Michael O. Tunnell
Set in the 1950s, School Spirits is about a boy who moves to a new town when his father takes another job. Life is hard enough when you have to make new friends at a new school, but it gets even tougher when you're visited by a ghost and asked to solve the mystery behind the murder.

 

4. The House on Hackman's Hill by Joan Lowery Nixon
Even the name of this book sounds scary! Get ready to be frightened when Jeff and Debbie are trapped in an old mansion with an evil ancient spirit. The $10,000 reward to find the missing mummy in the mansion sure sounded like a good idea at the time . . .

3. Monster by Christopher Pike (Young Adult)
Though I read this book about 12 years ago, I still remember being terrified. But who wouldn't be after reading a story about monsters taking over a town?! (Warning: May be too scary for anyone under the age of 12.)

2. Dracula by Bram Stoker (Young Adult)
Dracula is one of the original, true classic horror stories and was the start a fascination with vampire and the legends.

Written in the 19th century, this masterwork tells the tale of Count Dracula, a tragic, night-dwelling force who feeds upon the blood of the living. Though this book might be too mature for some young readers, you should definitely read this classic novel during your adult years. Until then, Twilight might be a good place to start.

1. The New Year's Party (Fear Street Series) by R. L. Stine (Young Adult)
How can you have a list of Halloween books without including anything by one of the most popular horror novelists of all time?

R. L. Stine's Fear Street series date back to the 1990s, but it still continues to scare the dickens out of me! The New Year's Party is a thrilling page-turner that you won't want to put down! Basic premise: a practical joke + death + revenge = SUSPENSE!

But keep in mind that the Fear Street series is for teen readers. If you're not into all the high school stuff yet, then R. L. Stine also has a new Goosebumps HorrorLand series about a freaky amusement park with no clear exit. Ordinary kids are being summoned to HorrorLand — but why? You'll just have to read the series to find out...Book 5 (Dr. Maniac vs. Robby Schwartz) is out this month!

What are YOUR favorite scary books?

— Carly M., STACKS Staffer

Comments

[Comment #1]

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

[Comment #2]

I LOVE Goosebumps

[Comment #3]

I was Hermione last year! Except, I used a big black shirt and a lacy
black skirt to create the robe. Also, I had to use a witch's hat which
crumpled over 9 out of 10 times you stuck it on your head. But I
fortunately had a wand, which was very handy. (We found out that if you
point it at a door and say 'Alohomora' someone will come out and give
you candy! It's amazing!) But anyway, I was the Cookie Monster's friend
this year. I looked like Dr. Seuss in my homemade costume! Maybe I
should start buying costumes.

[Comment #4]

Happy Halloween!

[Comment #5]

Have a BLOODful Halloween!

[Comment #6]

Luckily I'm not that bad at planning... because I wouldn't have half
the things for those costumes if I hadn't bought some for my vampire
costume (face paint and a black robe!!!!!!!

[Comment #7]

The Alex Rider Adventures...Adventures? I call it a death wish. These
books aren't really scary, they're just disturbing! I mean, what if you
read that a ton of computers were being distrubited all over the world,
and if you turned one on, it would blow up and everyone around it.
Yeah. I didn't go on MY computer for about two days...