Today’s post is sponsored by Beverly Twomey and The Necromancer’s Apprentice!
Title The Necromancer’s Apprentice
Author Beverly Twomey
Intended Target Audience Middle Grade
Publication Date October 1st 2024 by Snowy Wings Publishing
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Georgie would do anything to help his father – even learn the dying art of necromancy.
Twelve-year-old Georgie works hard to care for his grieving father while keeping his nosy younger cousin out of trouble. But when his father begins to decline even further, Georgie decides to bring back the one person who could do it all, his deceased mother.
The local Necromancer is an awkward and solitary man with an ancient black cat and a literal skeleton in his closet. With a few words, he can cause a dead sparrow to fly, stop an animated skeleton in its place, and even speak to the dead themselves. Georgie is quickly swept away into a world of skeletal horrors, abandoned graves, and wizard duels where woodland creatures arm themselves against the undead. But can he convince the Necromancer to resurrect his mother in time?
Perfect for fans of Diana Wynne Jones and T. Kingfisher, The Necromancer’s Apprentice is a whimsical take on the process of grieving and learning to live again.
I’ve done my best to include books that fall at different places on the spooky spectrum so that every reader can find the right book for them. Got a suggestion you don’t see in the list below? Please leave it in the comments – I’d love to hear from you!
Searching for further thrills and chills this Halloween? Check out these lists I created for Halloween 2019, Halloween 2020, Halloween 2021, Halloween 2022, Halloween 2023 as well as this list of 45 Middle Grade Ghost Stories for even more scary (and not-so-scary) young adult books to choose from in addition to the ones in today’s post!
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Upcoming publication dates listed below may be subject to change.
Publication Date January 2nd 2024 by Scholastic Inc.
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What’s scarier than a collection of clown dolls in a secret locked room?
How about…those clown dolls coming to life. And hunting you down.
Publication Date January 2nd 2024 by Razorbill
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Dark secrets and unnatural magic abound when a twelve-year-old girl ventures into a bog full of monsters to break a mysterious curse.
Nothing about Kess Pedrock’s life is normal. Not her home (she lives in her family’s Unnatural History Museum), not her interests (hunting for megafauna fossils and skeletons), and not her best friend (a talking demon’s head in a jar named Shrunken Jim).
But things get even stranger than usual when Kess meets Lilou Starling, the new girl in town. Lilou comes to Kess for help breaking a mysterious curse — and the only clue she has leads straight into the center of Eelgrass Bog.
Everyone knows the bog is full of witches, demons, and possibly worse, but Kess and Lilou are determined not to let that stop them. As they investigate the mystery and uncover long-buried secrets, Kess begins to realize that the curse might hit closer to home than she’d ever expected, and she’ll have to summon all her courage to find a way to break it before it’s too late.
Publication Date January 16 2024 by Walden Pond Press
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From the award-winning author of The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy comes an unforgettable and deeply personal story of the ghosts that surround us — and the ones we carry inside.
The house seemed to sit apart from the others on Katydid Street, silent and alone, like it didn’t fit among them. For Violet Hart — whose family is about to move into the house on Katydid Street — very little felt like it fit anymore. Like their old home, suddenly too small since her mother remarried and the new baby arrived. Or Violet’s group of friends, which, since they started middle school, isn’t enough for Violet’s best friend, Paige. Everything seemed to be changing at once. But sometimes, Violet tells herself, change is okay.
That is, until Violet sees her new room. The attic bedroom in their new house is shadowy, creaky, and wrapped in old yellow wallpaper covered with a faded tangle of twisting vines and sickly flowers. And then, after moving in, Violet falls ill — and does not get better. As days turn into weeks without any improvement, her family growing more confused and her friends wondering if she’s really sick at all, she finds herself spending more time alone in the room with the yellow wallpaper, the shadows moving in the corners, wrapping themselves around her at night.
And soon, Violet starts to suspect that she might not be alone in the room at all.
Publication Date January 16 2024 by HarperCollins
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Three days in a haunted mansion full of secrets. Two intrepid investigators. And one chance to solve a generations-old mystery. Beloved monster enthusiast Zed Watson returns in this charming new adventure chock-full of illusions, spirits, haunted pasts and heartwarming friendships.
Zed and Gabe are back to their treasure-hunting, literary-sleuthing ways in this spooky new adventure!
After some lacklustre cases involving lost books and a missing pet, the two friends have finally come across a mystery worth their attention: the secrets of Glyndebourne Manor, haunted home of a late, great opera designer. Every twenty-five years, the Manor hosts a challenge. You have three days and two nights to solve the puzzles in each room before the stroke of midnight. If you leave, you forfeit the game. If you solve the puzzles in time, you win a huge pile of money.
Simple enough, thinks Zed. They and Gabe are interested in all things ghoulish. And if they win, they will be able to give their friends Sam and Jo the large wedding they deserve.
There’s only one problem: no one has been able to stay in the house for more than a single night.
Cue a whirlwind of scary ghosts, moving walls and cryptic letters. The two friends are going to need some help. Which means figuring out who the mysterious figure holding a crowbar is. And how to get out of a room with no doors! But thanks to Zed’s fearless enthusiasm and Gabe’s encyclopedic knowledge of theatre, they might be able to survive and maybe even right some past wrongs.
Publication Date January 16 2024 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
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This series of terrifying standalone tales that combine monsters + mysteries is perfect for fans of Goosebumps.
Twins Simon and Jade are thrilled to spend the summer with their grandfather in the beachfront resort town of Skull Rock. They’re especially looking forward to helping out at his spooky cabinet of curiosities museum, full of creepy old relics, taxidermy specimens, and sinister displays. But lately there have been disturbing reports of store break-ins and sightings of a frightening creature in the area, scaring away the town’s much-needed tourists. When the twins hear eerie noises coming from the museum after hours and see strange scratch marks on the door, they decide to investigate.
As the creature attacks mount, Jade and Simon begin to suspect the impossible: Could one of their grandfather’s museum monstrosities be coming to life each night to prowl the boardwalks of Skull Rock?
Publication Date January 23rd 2024 by Yearling
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Giant battle robots! Cotton candy betrayal! Blasts from the past! And the ultimate challenge to stay true to themselves and each other await Theo and Alexander in the final book in the tragic series about the Sinister-Winterbottom twins, who must solve one wretched mystery after the next, brought to you by #1 New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White.
Trapped in Aunt Saffronia’s spectral house, Theo and Alexander must work together to escape, stop their newfound nemesis Essa and her henchman Edgaren’t, save Wil and their friends, find their parents, and maybe, just maybe, get things back to normal.
Following the clues left behind, the twins find themselves at Siren’s Song Seaside Amusement Park. Old faces and new surprises await them in a park that was built to lure in visitors…and their secrets.
As they get closer to answers, the twins are left with the biggest question of all: Who is Essa really, and why is she so determined to find their parents?
Publication Date January 30th 2024 by Zando Young Readers
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What if your favorite scary story was real?
With eerie illustrations and chilling creepypasta interstitials, The Doomsday Archives: The Wandering Hour by Zack Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos is the first in a deliciously creepy series, perfect for readers of Jonathan Stroud, Christian McKay Heidicker, and Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark.
New Rotterdam is no place for a kid ― and that’s what Emrys Houtman likes about it. Emrys obsessively documents his town’s urban legends and cryptid sightings in a Wiki, along with his neighbors and fellow horror fans Hazel and Serena. It’s all in good fun until one day, the trio stumbles upon the Doomsday Archives, a collection of relics with dazzling powers and dangerous consequences.
When a mysterious blood-red hourglass begins appearing around town and children begin to go missing, the trio must band together to stop the horrors plaguing New Rotterdam, or risk losing their home…and possibly their lives. Because after all this time hunting monsters, the kids have realized the monsters are now hunting them back.
Publication Date January 30th 2024 by Feiwel & Friends
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The X-Files meets Scooby-Doo in The Thirteenth Circle, a middle-grade mystery from MarcyKate Connolly and Kathryn Holmes, featuring two unexpected friends, crop circles, science fairs, and Men in Black, perfect for both the highly scientific and cryptid enthusiasts alike.
Cat knows aliens are real, and she’s determined to prove it. By studying the Weston Farm Circles, her town’s legendary crop circle phenomenon, she’ll not only demonstrate the existence of extraterrestrial life, but also win the grand prize in the McMurray Youth Science Competition ― a feat she’s sure will impress her distant NASA scientist father.
Dani most certainly does not believe in aliens. How can she, when they go against every scientific principle she’s been taught? So when Dani is paired with Cat to enter the McMurray Youth Science Competition ― which she has to win to avoid going to her parents’ artsy summer camp ― she knows she’s at a disadvantage. Her solution? Disprove Cat’s theory, of course…without telling her partner her true intentions.
But as the girls bond over science, it becomes clear that there is something strange about the Weston Farm Circles. And when Dani and Cat’s project is threatened by suspicious forces, they’ll have to work together to expose the truth, once and for all.
Publication Date January 30th 2024 by Little Simon
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The only living girl in a ghost town struggles to find her place in the first book in the Spirited graphic novel chapter book series.
Olivia “Liv” Livingston thinks life on the right side of Narrow Bridge is, well, just right! What’s not to love about the perfect town of Pleasant Place? But then her parents pack up and move the family to the left, spooky side of the bridge…right into Gloomsdale.
Liv quickly learns that life is going to be very different, especially in a ghost town…literally. The town looks antique, some students have gleaming fangs, and let’s just say her new house might be haunted. Will Gloomsdale dampen Liv’s spirits? Or can she creep it real and find her place?
Publication Date January 30th 2024 by HarperCollins
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It’s an all-new thrilling adventure about growing up and facing your fears in Monsters Take Manhattan, the second novel in the Monster Club series from the creative minds of Darren Aronofsky, Ari Handel, and Lance Rubin.
Ever since Eric “Doodles” King and his friends saved Coney Island from Crumple Monster and its minions, Eric’s life has been changing faster than he ever expected. His parents’ divorce has gone through, his mom has moved to a deluxe apartment in Manhattan, and now she’s making him start all over at a fancy new private school. Suddenly, Eric’s trapped between two worlds – his old Coney Island friends and the rich, cool kids at his new school who treat him like a celebrity.
At least, Eric thinks, his days of epic monster battles are behind him. But what he doesn’t realize is that the magic mermaid ink that brought his drawings to life hasn’t been destroyed like he thought. Quite the opposite, King Neptune has found a way to take the last remaining drops to create a new class of creatures perfectly designed to put New York City right back where it belongs – underwater.
Now it’s up to Eric to rally Monster Club again and find a way to bring back Brickman, Bellybeast, Skelegurl, DecaSpyder, and RoboKillz so they can stop Neptune before it’s too late.
Monster Club: Monsters Take Manhattan is the second epic, heart-pounding adventure from award-winning screenwriter, director, and author Darren Aronofsky, Ari Handel, and Lance Rubin.
Publication Date February 6th 2024 by Scholastic Inc.
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Master of middle-grade horror Christopher Krovatin returns with the scorching tale of a rift between siblings with awesome, sinister powers.
In this family, pyrokinesis was just the beginning. Now other powers are emerging, including telekinesis – and it will put the siblings at odds like never before.
Publication Date February 6th 2024 by Scholastic Inc.
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From the author of The Ghost of Drowned Meadow comes another haunted tale that’s as touching as it terrifying.
Janessa “Jinx” McCormick loves photography because it’s like real life, except she can make it perfect. Using her late father’s camera, Jinx takes photos for nearly everyone in her small town of Greenbelt, making her something of a local celebrity. But one day as she’s touching up a new photo, Jinx sees…something in the background of the image. A shadow that she’s certain wasn’t in the frame when she captured the shot.
Though it’s too dark and hazy to see exactly what it is, the shadow looks roughly like a figure. And soon Jinx notices something even more unsettling. With each new shot she takes, the figure is always there.
And it’s slowly moving closer to the camera.
Publication Date February 13th 2024 by Delacorte Press
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The Breakfast Club meets Stranger Things in this middle grade horror novel for fans of Goosebumps! Detention turns even scarier when a group of classmates discover dangers lurking in their school.
When classmates Hallie, Angelo, Gustav and Naira are forced to come to school on a Saturday, they think things can’t get much worse. But they’re wrong. Things are about to get seriously scary.
What has dragged their teacher underground? Why do the creepy caretakers keep humming the tune to Itsy Bitsy Spider? And what horrors lurk in the shadows, getting stronger and meaner every minute…? Cut off from help and in danger each time they touch the ground, the gang’s only hope is to work together. But it’s no coincidence that they’re all there on detention. Someone has been watching and plotting and is out for revenge…
Publication Date February 20th 2024 by Delacorte Press
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The creepy middle grade debut from USA Today bestselling author Amalie Howard in which a girl stays with her grandmother in Trinidad for the summer and discovers that she comes from a long line of powerful witches.
Darika “Rika” Lovelace is in trouble. The kind of trouble that sends her to her grandmother’s estate in Trinidad for the whole summer. But something about the island feels…different. As soon as she steps off the plane, strange things start happening!
Rika meets a group of kids called Minders, who seem to have elemental powers. Even worse, she can sense jumbies lurking in the shadows. Needless to say, she wants a ticket home. But when the Minders let slip that her long-lost mom is in danger, she knows she can’t leave.
Thrust into a magical adventure involving bloodcurdling monsters, a supernatural silk cotton tree, and an endless maze, Rika must defeat the fearsome jumbie king to save her family and new friends. But unless she learns to believe in herself, she’ll never beat him or escape his twisted maze.
Publication Date March 5th 2024 by Holiday House
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12-year-old Alice has a hard time making friends. Maybe it’s because she works in a funeral home and receives messages from the dead.
While the kids at school taunt her and call her “Alice in Zombieland,” Alice England finds refuge at her father’s funeral home, where the dead tell her stories. As she arranges the deceased’s personal mementos, an item will hum with meaning – resonance – and Alice will see the story of their life.
When she “meets” George Devenish, a man who died of a rare sunlight allergy, Alice knows George was murdered. Her only leads are George’s niece, “Violet the Vampire,” who shares her uncle’s allergy and a friendly, but secretive boy named Cal.
As a determined Alice investigates, she is surprised to find Violet and Cal become more than just suspects, but allies — maybe even friends. However, Alice soon finds navigating her first real friendships might be harder than solving a murder.
Clever humor and twisty clues abound in this cozy middle grade mystery about a group of misfits finding courage in the truth and friendship in each other. Delightful, dark, and quirky, The Deadly Daylight is perfect for fans of Nancy Drew and Winterhouse.
Publication Date March 5th 2024 by Shadow Mountain
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Strange and terrifying things are suddenly happening in a mysterious town where people are disappearing and changing into characters from the Grimm fairy tales.
Twins Willow and Jake Grimm are not prepared for the bizarre gadgets and scary changes in their new home of New Marburg, the location of the top-secret Think Tank where their parents now have jobs as scientists. In this town, people jetpack to work, robots direct traffic, and senior citizens duel with laser swords.
Yet nothing compares to what happens the day after lightning strikes the twins’ house. Their school building transforms around them, becoming a medieval castle—complete with moat, drawbridge, and a dangerous giant who looks strangely like the school’s overly aggressive hall monitor.
Barely managing to escape before a massive beanstalk lifts the castle above the clouds, Willow and Jake learn that their ancestors, the original Brothers Grimm, were more than storytellers. They were Grimmwalkers, able to travel from our universe to Grimmworld: the universe where all fairy tales are born.
Somehow, Willow and Jake have been transported to Grimmworld as well. But before the twins can figure out how to get back to their own universe, they discover that their best friends, Hank and Pearl, have morphed into the fairy tale characters Hansel and Gretel and been captured by a candy-obsessed witch deep in the Cursed Forest.
Now, aided by a mysterious wizard with shimmering golden eyes and a befuddled, talking naked mole-rat named Chet, the twins must trust in each other, believe in themselves, and find the courage to face their darkest fears in order to save their friends, return to their family, and maybe—just maybe—save the world.
Publication Date March 12th 2024 by Clarion Books
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In this debut spooky adventure, Jerry and her trusty wheelchair move into a creepy motel at the edge of the woods where nothing is as it seems. When her mom disappears, it’s up to Jerry to brave the forest and its demons so she can save what’s left of her family.
Ever since her dad died, 11-year-old Jerry Blum and her mom have bounced around dead-end towns, staying in a series of rundown motels where her mother picks up housekeeping work and Jerry can get around in her wheelchair.
But the Slumbering Giant motel is different. Lights blink on and off in the surrounding trees, a mysterious radio station plays only at midnight, and people disappear into the woods, never to been seen again. Not to mention that Jerry’s mom keeps vanishing to do “special work” that she refuses to discuss. When her mother doesn’t come home one morning, Jerry springs into action.
Luckily, she’s not alone. Paul, a pocket-size imaginary dragon, and Chapel, a new friend with a penchant for the supernatural, join Jerry’s search for her missing mom. But along the way Jerry discovers her mother’s terrible secret: she’s not a housekeeper at all; in fact, she’s been defending the town from demons that have been haunting it for generations.
Armed with nothing but a Ren Faire sword and a backpack, Jerry and her friends venture into the forbidden woods to save Jerry’s mother. But the “demons” hiding there aren’t what they seem, and Jerry must unravel the truth behind the town’s legend, or risk losing what’s left of her family.
Publication Date March 26th 2024 by Little Simon
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Liv tries out for the Gloomsdale Elementary Ghoul Squad in this second book in the Spirited graphic novel chapter book series.
Liv Livingston feels she’s finally found her footing in her new school—even the bat hall monitors at Gloomsdale Elementary don’t screech at her as much! But when Liv’s new friend Vera asks her to try out for the Ghoul Squad with her, she’s not sure it’s her crowd. The members are pretty daunting with their matching uniforms and constant spelling of words — particularly the leader, Astrid, who isn’t very nice. Still, Liv doesn’t want to lose Vera’s friendship. Can she get through tryouts without spelling D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R?
Publication Date April 2nd 2024 by Annick Press
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The secrets of Ravensbarrow have been buried far too long. Now they’re waking up…
For fans of My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish and The Incredibly Dead Pets of Rex Dexter, a laugh-out-loud new series that kicks off in a school infested with brain-eating hamsters.
Starting at a new school is hard enough for an anxious kid like Teddy. But Ravensbarrow Elementary seems extra unsettling. First, there are the zombielike kids and teachers, with their vacant stares and strange, echoey voices. Then there are the hamsters. So. Many. Hamsters. With their scrabbly claws and beady eyes and…wait. Can those hamsters talk?
Teddy must face old fears (making friends) and new ones (evil hamsters!) in this frightening and fast-paced, hilarious, and heartfelt debut.
Publication Date April 2nd 2024 by Sourcebooks Young Readers
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“She glanced over her shoulder. Had the scarecrow moved? It stood there, smile stitched on its face, but now it felt like a smirk.”
Prepare to be scared silly in this creepy middle-grade novel! Twins seek medical help in a remote village after their father is in a canoeing accident…only to discover the scarecrow that stands watch in town may have a stronger hold over the residents than expected. Perfect for fans of R.L. Stine, Dan Poblocki, and Mary Downing Hahn.
Twins Oliver and Trisha love going on adventures with their dad. Canoeing and camping on the Champion River will be their best trip yet! But when they capsize in rapids, their father is knocked unconscious. Alone and without cell phone reception, their only choice is to continue down river for help.
Hours of paddling brings them to an old dock, and a narrow path leads them to a small village. The townspeople are kind and helpful, but strangely focused on the giant scarecrow in the village square. “He watches over us,” the twins are told in whispers. “He keeps us safe.”
An old woman warns the twins not to spend the night in the village. Not if they ever want to leave. But with the sun soon to set and their father not well enough to be moved, how can they escape? More importantly, can they survive?
Publication Date April 23rd 2024 by Greenwillow Books
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The Zombie Chasers meets The Goonies in David Macinnis Gill’s middle grade debut about a group of tweens who ride out the zombie apocalypse on a cobbled-together train. Fans of Ty Drago’s The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses and Max Brallier’s The Last Kids on Earth will lose themselves in this page-turning, spine-chilling, and sometimes goofy survival story.
Wyatt has been riding out the zombie apocalypse on his crew’s cobbled-together train for what feels like forever. It’s a hopeless journey, the train running a loop that covers thousands of miles across the western U.S. But when a mysterious girl arrives with stories of a so-called Nirvana and a potential cure for the zombie parasite, Wyatt must decide between searching for the cure and protecting those entrusted in his care.
David Macinnis Gill’s Zombie Train is a compelling survival story full of action, suspense, and plenty of zombies. Filled with both harrowing and humorous moments, Zombie Train follows an eccentric cast of characters as they contend with a changing world and shifting loyalties and friendships, and as they fight to remain in control—of their lives and of the future.
Publication Date April 30th 2024 by Little Simon
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There’s a witch running the school in this twenty-first haunted adventure in the Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol series!
The principal of Kersville Elementary School is almost definitely a witch. Some witches use their magic for good, but other witches use their magic for casting hexes on unsuspecting people…like elementary school students. Which kind of witch is their principal?
With easy-to-read language and illustrations on every page, the Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol chapter books are perfect for emerging readers.
Publication Date May 7th 2024 by Kokila
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A thrilling follow-up to Felice and the Wailing Woman by Diana López that explores the Texas-Mexico border myth of the Dancing Devil.
The magical town of Tres Leches, home to the figures of Texas–Mexico border lore, has been through a lot. Most recently, the town was released from a curse that kept La Llorona, the wailing woman, haunting the shores of their river. But just when the townsfolk were preparing to return to sunny riverside picnics and barbecues, the children of Tres Leches mysteriously began to go missing. The town suspects another monstruo, the Dancing Devil, is luring kids to El Camarón Dance Hall & Arcade. The Dancing Devil’s son, Rooster, who has a foot in both the human and monster worlds, feels compelled to lead the search for the missing children with the help of his friends, Ava (the daughter of La Lechuza) and Felice (the daughter of La Llorona). Their journey takes them to an old gothic mansion with a twisted family history and a pull so powerful that it’s nearly impossible to resist.
Picking up where Felice and The Wailing Woman left off, Rooster and The Dancing Diablo brims with magic, adventure, and Mexican folklore, and is perfect for fans of fantasy adventure series like Paola Santiago by Tehlor Kay Mejia and the Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste.
Publication Date May 7th 2024 by Simon Spotlight
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The bestselling You’re Invited To A Creepover middle grade series comes to graphic novels with this sixth book about a girl whose new friend may be more sinister than she appears.
Katie Lee is majorly bummed when her BFF moves away. But her hopes soar when the new girl at school, Whitney, befriends her right away and invites her to spend the night at her house for a sleepover. Katie loved sleepovers with her old best friend, so she’s sure she will have a great time. But something is not quite right at Whitney’s house. Whitney seems really, really into her dolls…and later that night, Katie’s convinced that the dolls are threatening her. The next morning, a freaked-out Katie decides that maybe she hasn’t found a new BFF after all. Whitney, however, has made up her mind about Katie — they’re going to be best friends forever…no matter what.
Creepy full-color graphic panels tell the story with the same horror as the original novel! This too-close-for-comfort friendship tale is ranked a 5on the Creep-o-Meter.
Publication Date May 7th 2024 by Holiday House
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Possessed dogs, missing livestock, cloaked figures…CJ Delaney’s summer vacation just got really weird.
When a boring old skatepark opening becomes the scene of a something truly strange, CJ Delaney can’t believe her luck. This is just the kind of big story she’s dreamed of breaking for the town’s local paper.
With best friend Parker in tow, CJ is determined to get to the bottom of everything and save the town from evil. Isn’t this what summer vacation is for? But when all answers point to someone close, CJ stands not only to lose her byline but the scariest thing of all — the people and pet she loves.
With a strong, snappy voice and a warm sense of humor, The Supernatural Files of CJ Delaney is a fast-paced middle grade mystery (with just the right amount of hair-raising thrills) that begs to be read cover-to-cover in one sitting. This debut from Carol Williams shines with love for its characters, college-town setting, and belief in the power of the written word.
Publication Date May 7th 2024 by Holiday House
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Things get squirrely when Jerry discovers that his new town is a sanctuary for were-creatures, humans who turn into animals when the moon is full, in an action-packed romp for younger middle grade readers.
Jerry has serious questions about the town his scientist father drags him to: why did they give up traveling the world to settle down in such a strange spot? Why won’t his dad talk about his mysterious research or explain what happened to his mother, who disappeared years ago? And when he sees his friend Pearl transform into a were-squirrel under the light of the full moon, he needs to know: were exactly has he ended up?
But when criminal mayhem turns Jerry’s town — a safe haven for were-creatures — into a not-so-safe haven, Jerry must uncover a twisty conspiracy and take down the instigators who are trying to tear the place that’s become his home apart.
Packed with twists and turns and filled with vivid black-and-white drawings, Kraken Me Up author Jeffrey Ebbeler’s experience as a comics artist translates into dynamic, visual action sequences that even the most reluctant readers won’t have to fight their way through. Larger-than-life bad guys and slapstick humor meets a heartfelt exploration of what makes a place home in this page-turner that will leave younger middle grade readers howling for more.
Publication Date May 7th 2024 by Scholastic Press
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The next innovation in the book and gaming space is here: Zombie Season! Read the book. Play the game. Fight the undead.
With Redwood destroyed, the survivors are doing their best to adjust to their new reality. But a new threat is lurking in the shadows – an enemy that no one believed existed. One that was just waiting for the right moment to strike…
Play the game on Roblox! After they finish the book, readers will be able to join the fight against the zombies by protecting defenses, designing traps, and uncovering top-secret information about where the zombies came from and how to stop them.
Publication Date May 14th 2024 by Random House Graphic
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What happens when a very human kid ends up at the wrong summer camp—FOR VAMPIRES?! This quirky and heart warming graphic novel about making friends and getting in trouble is perfect for fans of Witches of Brooklyn.
After a lackluster school year, Maya anticipates an even more disappointing summer. The only thing she’s looking forward to is cooking and mixing ingredients in the kitchen, which these days brings her more joy than mingling with her peers…that is until her dad’s girlfriend registers her for culinary summer camp! Maya’s summer is saved!…or not.
What was meant to be a summer filled with baking pastries and cooking pasta is suddenly looking a lot…paler?! Why do all of the kids have pointy fangs? And hate garlic? Turns out that Maya isn’t at culinary camp—she’s at a camp for VAMPIRES! Maya has a lot to learn if she’s going to survive this summer…and if she’s lucky, she might even make some friends along the way.
Publication Date May 14th 2024 by Disney Hyperion
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For fans of The Last Fallen Star, Witchlings, and Ghost Squad, a heartfelt middle grade debut where Korean folklore is all too real and summer camp includes a gwishin haunting.
You couldn’t hold onto everything and everyone. You had to choose. And Ronnie only had two hands.
Since her mother died when she was five years old, it’s always just been Ronnie Miller and her dad. Two Korean Americans who, thanks to Ronnie’s dad’s adoption by white parents, have never felt all that Korean. But Ronnie is okay with that—as long as she has her dad and her best friend Jack, Ronnie is 99% certain she can get through anything.
But as much as she wants everything to stay the same, the world—and her dad—has other plans. Now, Ronnie and Jack are headed away to sleepaway camp for the first time ever. Camp Foster promises all of the outdoorsy activities that Ronnie has so far managed to avoid: ropes courses, scavenger hunts, kayaking on the lake. Ugh. But she can do this. As long as she has Jack.
As it turns out, an old manor in the woods is the kind of place that’s crawling with secrets. Secrets like a mysterious gwishin haunting the grounds, a blood-red scarf wrapped too tightly around her ghostly neck. And a witch-hunting dokkaebi intent on finding and silencing the last Rhee witch. And the strange habit all the counselors have of rhyming when they speak…just like Ronnie has begun to do lately.
For a girl who wants everything to stay the same, nothing is scarier than all the changes Camp Foster brings. New friends. New foes. Souls with unfinished business. And, possibly worst of all, revelations that disprove everything Ronnie knew to be true.
Jenna Lee-Yun combines magic, mystery, suspense, and humor into a ghostly action-packed contemporary fantasy.
Publication Date May 14th 2024 by Balzer + Bray
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From Julie Murphy, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin’, and acclaimed coauthor Crystal Maldonado comes the sequel to the hilarious and creepy middle grade summer-camp story—this time featuring werewolves!
Last year, Maggie and Nora didn’t exactly get the summer of their dreams. Instead, they had to survive a camp run by a covert clan of vampires. But this year, Camp Sylvania is back and under new management—gentle, hippie-dippie Luna Lupowski. So the girls are convinced to give camp another try.
All Nora wants is an unforgettable experience with her best friend. But it’s hard to have fun with Maggie fixated on all things otherworldly—and spending time with Logan, the boy she met at camp last year.
When creepy things start happening, Maggie insists on investigating. But Nora has found an interest of her own—the strange effects of Luna’s homemade “moon water.” It removes zits, adds lustrous shine to hair, and even seems to straighten teeth! No braces? No problem!
It isn’t long before the girls are caught up in another supernatural adventure. But when their friends find themselves in danger, can Maggie and Nora put their differences aside to save them? Is it possible to just have one normal summer, please?
Publication Date May 14th 2024 by
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Few campers at Camp Apple Hill Farm have found the mysterious cabin rumored to be hidden deep in the woods—but those who have whisper of a mysterious woman who tells tales of horrors beyond imagination. Are you brave enough to visit Cabin 23?
The last thing Tasha Washington wants is to move from her home in Savannah to a trailer park in Middle-of-Nowhere, Georgia. But when her mother dies and Tasha is taken in by her father—a man she’s never met, who abandoned her mom when Tasha was just a baby—she doesn’t have much of a choice. At least, she thinks, she won’t have to spend much time with him—something that becomes clear when he dumps Tasha with her grandmother and disappears to be with his new girlfriend.
The Shady Pines trailer park seems like a miserable place to spend a summer, even before an elderly neighbor suddenly passes away. But then Tasha meets a girl named Ellie who says she knows what really killed old Mr. Harold: a terrifying creature that stalks the trailer park at night, sucking the life from its victims. Tasha doesn’t believe it, but when she discovers a book of hoodoo legends in her grandmother’s trailer, and more people around Shady Pines start to appear unwell, she begins to fear the stories are true—and that danger is much closer than she thinks.
And don’t miss the second book in the Tales from Cabin 23 series: Night of the Living Head!
Publication Date May 28th 2024 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
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Doll Bones meets Skandar and The Unicorn Thief in this spooky, illustrated middle grade novel about a boy who doesn’t believe in magic discovering a supernatural world full of danger.
It began with a crack in the wall.
Eleven-year-old Benjamiah Creek believes in science, logic, and the power of reason. He definitely does not believe in magic. But when he receives a mysterious doll in the mail — a doll that can transform into a bird — he is led into an impossible (and most definitely magical) realm: Wreathenwold.
Wreathenwold is dangerous and holds many secrets within its labyrinthine walls — magi prowl, Hanged Men stalk, and at the center of its shifting streets lurks the Minotaur, a beastly creature and object of terror. In no time at all, Benjamiah is swept into a perilous adventure with the fierce and brilliant Elizabella, a girl determined to solve the disappearance of her missing brother, who may be caught up in a decades-old conspiracy that could doom them all.
Will Benjamiah ever find his way home? Or will he be lost forever in the labyrinth?
Publication Date June 18th 2024 by Feiwel & Friends
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A cemetery-boy-turned-monster-hunter must race against time to save his recently-resurrected mother in Darkness and Demon Song, M.R. Fournet’s eerie middle grade follow up to Brick Dust and Bones.
Marius Grey’s mom is back from the dead. After hunting monsters and performing forbidden spells, Marius is just happy she’s there, helping him to take care of their Louisiana cemetery again.
But it soon becomes clear that something has gone wrong. Marius’s mother is growing more distant and strange things start happening around her. Worse yet, sometimes it feels like she’s a completely different person–one who definitely isn’t his mom.
If Marius wants to save her, he’s going to need help. Serious help. Good thing he has a flesh-eating mermaid for a best friend and a classmate with extra strong magic. Add in mysterious clues for new hunts, graveyard hopping from Louisiana to Texas, and a tough ex-hunter he doesn’t know if he can trust, and it’s clear that Marius has his work cut out for him.
Publication Date June 25th 2024 by Pixel+Ink
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Technological wonders and terrors combine to weave an enchanting tale of finding your own way to belong in the second book in the sweeping Sinister Secrets series.
It’s been thrilling for Noah having the crew of the Abbreviated stuffed in his odd-twisting home. After spending a life being lonely, he finally feels like he has a family. But sailors are meant to be at sea, and now Noah’s terrified that they’ll leave him alone once more. He wishes he had the answer to solve this latest predicament.
And then the strangest things start happening in the city of Liberty. Under cover of darkness, people’s greatest wishes start to come true. But what begins as the marvelous realization of dreams soon morphs to ghoulish nightmare…and only Noah seems to be able to see the chimeras for what they really are. What’s more, the infiltration may all be his fault.
Now Noah must use his cunning to save Liberty once more. But how do you battle an invisible threat? And what will it cost him?
Accompanied by vibrant black and white illustrations, the stunning second book in the Sinister Secrets series reunites old friends for new challenges in a quest brimming with eerie mystery, adventure, and an aching desire to find a space in the world.
Publication Date July 2nd 2024 by Blackstone Publishing, Inc.
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From bestselling and award-winning author R. L. Stine, Shark Night is a terrifying seafaring adventure that will leave readers gasping for more.
After an accident with the original diver, Carlo finds himself alone in a giant water tank holding a camera. A twenty-foot-long hammerhead shark is about to be lowered into the tank with him…
Carlo is helping his mom film a documentary for the Danger Channel. A twelve-year-old battling a shark! It’ll be a sensation! But don’t worry, the hammerhead is the gentlest of sharks, and this one is old and nearly toothless, so he should be fine.
But Carlo is still paralyzed with fear, and as the shark is lowered into the tank he realizes something isn’t right…
They sent down the WRONG shark!
Publication Date July 9th 2024 by Godwin Books
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Fifty two different stories. Fifty two different Authors. Endless fright for all ages.
Every state has an urban legend that evokes fear and curiosity in equal parts, and we’ve chronicled all of these logic-defying horrors here in the Haunted States of America anthology.
From the Jersey Devil to La Llorona, each story included introduces a new chill inducing, stomach churning monster, spectre, or poltergeist certain to keep you up at night. A broad ranging collection of authors, including seasoned veterans and some first timers making a fright-tastic debut, have all united to unearth the scariest lore from each state in the US, as well as D.C. and Puerto Rico. Make sure to strap in for this spooky cross country tour, but be extra careful not to let any of these terrors follow you home.
Featuring stories from Ellen Hopkins, Rae Rose, Daniel Barlekamp, Aixa Perez- Prado, Paul Lubaczewski, Jan Eldredge, and many more.
Publication Date July 9th 2024 by HarperCollins
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From the UK’s bestselling author of the Land of Roar series comes this first book in a spooky, swashbuckling duology!
Sid Jones and her best friend, Zen, like to play in their local graveyard — but they never expected their ghostly games to suddenly turn real. When Sid accidentally frees the spirit of Ezekiel “Bones” Kittow, a pirate who died nearly three hundred years prior, he asks her to help him find his long-lost treasure so his soul can finally be at rest. The only problem? He can’t remember where, or even what, the treasure is.
With nothing but a spectral hand-drawn map to help guide their search, Sid, Bones, Zen, and an annoyingly loud ghost parrot set out to complete their quest. But haunting their every step is Old Scratch, a creepy specter who runs the eerie graveyard prison keeping Bones, his crew, and many other spirits trapped. Old Scratch won’t let Bones be free without a fight, and in the end, there may be much more sinister threats to face down…
Publication Date July 9th 2024 by HarperAlley
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Fans of the Bad Guys and Catwad will love the Cryptid Club, the hilarious four-book graphic novel series about an unlikely team of kid sleuths out to solve the mysteries behind the sudden spate of monster sightings around their school.
When the audition sheet for the school musical is stolen, Lily and her friends are on the case to catch the culprit. But when the school’s custodian reports scary noises coming from the woods, Lily and her friends know that there’s more to this mystery than meets the eye. Can Lily, Henry, Oliver, Ernie, and Daisy solve the mystery of the jackalope before the final curtain call?
The Cryptid Club takes on the spooky world of showbiz in the final installment of this laugh-out-loud graphic novel series from Late Show with Stephen Colbert writer Michael Brumm and acclaimed children’s book illustrator Jeff Mack.
Publication Date July 16th 2024 by Little Simon
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Liv’s class visits the greenhouse and encounters some strange plants in book three of the Spirited graphic novel chapter book series.
Liv’s science class has a new botany project: finding the plant that best represents them. Mrs. Arber, the ghost caring for (and haunting) the Gloomsdale Botanical Gardens, comes in to give a helping hand. In a town full of ghosts, Liv isn’t even sure she knows who she is, but when she meets a new ghost friend, she discovers that maybe she’s not the only one feeling like the odd-ghoul-out.
Publication Date July 16th 2024 by Clarion Books
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Diana and her little brother, Georgie, know every inch of the land around the old Willis place, a crumbling mansion that some people say is haunted. They climb the trees and swim in the pond. And they can do whatever they want, even stay up all night. They don’t have to change their clothes, brush their hair, or go to school. They have total freedom – as long as they don’t leave the grounds.
When Lissa arrives with her father, the new caretaker of the estate, Diana is overjoyed. She’s been wishing for a friend. She can show Lissa all her favorite spots, and they can share their favorite books. Maybe Lissa can even help her uncover the ghastly secret of the creepy old Willis house.
But there are rules that must be followed in order to keep the peace. Diana and Georgie aren’t allowed to make friends. If Diana makes contact with Lissa, she could unleash evil forces beyond her control…and then they’ll all be sorry.
Publication Date July 16th 2024 by Margaret K. McElderry Books
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Gordon Korman meets Scooby-Doo when anxiety-prone middle schoolers try a mindfulness app that has them face their fears all-too-literally in this spooky and humorous middle grade adventure.
FACE YOUR FEARS! That’s what the meditation app with the cheesy name De-stress-o-rama is telling Lena to do. She’s one of seven always-worried middle schoolers trying out this new app to see if it can help students handle stress. But something is going wrong — very, very wrong.
The group’s fears are becoming all too real, first lurking and dangling, then chasing them around and threatening to swallow them whole. From a stubborn inky blob that is fear of the dark, to the queasy giant in sweaty underpants that is fear of public speaking, monsters are invading Cranberry Bog Middle School! Can Lena’s group of worriers figure out how to conquer their fears before the whole school is swarmed?
Publication Date July 23rd 2024 by Andrews McMeel Publishing
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Twelve-year-old Gus Greenburg can see ghosts; in fact, he uses this paranormal superpower to help them “go on.” But when Gus and his mom move into an old mansion on the mysterious and remote Nameless Island, he meets a ghost that’s set out to hurt him. Bestselling author Carly Anne West weaves a spooky and thrilling series opener in this spine-tingling tale about mystery, family, and all things paranormal.
After his dad goes missing and his mom is hired to restore an old building called the Rotham Manor, twelve-year-old Gus Greenburg and his mom move to a quaint, secluded island called Nameless. Gus was hoping for a new start on the island (despite throwing up on the boat ride there…twice), but a mysterious ghost has another idea. Throw in a mean kid who hides rats in the manor, two new friends, an eclectic island chef who’s competing to be on a reality TV show, and Gus’s power to talk to the dead…well, that’s a lot of chaos for one kid!
Gus needs to find out the identity of the mysterious ghost – and fast – or else he might be doomed to the same lethal fate.
That is, if the island’s signature “Heavenly Hash” dish doesn’t get to him first.
The Ghosts of Nameless Island is the first book in a new trilogy from bestselling author Carly Anne West. It’s infused with Carly Anne West’s signature wit and humor, and spooky enough for fans of Claribel Ortega’s Ghost Squad, Scott Cawthon’s Five Night’s At Freddy’s, and Carly’s own Hello Neighbor series. This book also features black-and-white spot illustrations throughout.
Publication Date July 23rd 2024 by Penguin Workshop
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From the creator of My Life As a Teenage Robot comes the second story in a middle-grade horror series about a horrible bag, the spine-chilling world hidden within it, and a terrifying adventure into the world of GrahBhag.
Perfect for fans of Coraline, the Spiderwick Chronicles, and Small Spaces.
Zenith Maelstrom knows he’s forgetting something…
But he can’t quite remember what. He wakes up to notes in his handwriting with messages like, “Prepare for battle!” – but what battle? – and his sister Apogee seems to grow angrier with him by the day. It’s not until he finds Apogee sneaking back into the horrible bag hidden away in their basement that all the dreadful details about GrahBhag resurface. The spiderlike Shlurps. The trio of foul mouths that hunger for blood. Eldritch horrors around every corner.
Desperate to save Apogee from her ill-planned attempt to right the wrongs of their last trip into the bag, Zenith is forced to follow her into the bizarre world that has certainly not forgotten them. Between old foes set on vengeance like Raggedy Albert and terrifying new ones like the haunting Wraith, Zenith will have to put things right with his sister without falling into the clutches of those who would do him harm. For if he is caught, Eternity Tower awaits…
With a combination of dry, absurdist humor and no-holds-barred horror, Rob Renzetti has crafted a delightfully imaginative fantasy world that will hook readers as surely as it will send chills down their spines.
Publication Date July 30th 2024 by Delacorte Press
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The legend of Bigfoot gets a bone-chilling update in this scary story about a young girl and her scout troop who are willing to brave the woods to find her missing friend when no one else will. Perfect for fans of Daka Hermon and Claribel A. Ortega!
The wilderness is in Jenna’s blood. Her Pap was the first Black park ranger at Sturbridge Reservation, and she practically knows the Owlet Survival Handbook by heart. But she’s never encountered a creature like the one that took her best friend Reese. Her parents don’t believe her; the police are worthless, following the wrong leads; and the media isn’t connecting the dots between Reese’s disappearance and a string of other attacks. Determined to save her friend, Jenna joins a new local scout troop, and ventures back into the woods.
When the troop stumbles across suspicious signs: huge human-like footprints near the camp, scratch marks on trees, and ominous sounds from the woods, Jenna worries that whatever took Reese is back to take her too. Can she trust her new scout leader? And will her new friend Norrie—who makes her laugh and reminds her so much of Reese—believe her?
After the unthinkable happens, the scouts, armed with their wits and toiletries, band together to fight the monster and survive the night.
Publication Date July 30th 2024 by Walden Pond Press
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The Walter Award Honor–winning author of Root Magic returns with a terrifying story in the Southern Gothic tradition, inspired by the hoodoo practice of hair burning.
At night, Roddie still dreams of sitting at his mother’s feet while she braids his Afro down. But that’s a memory from before. Before his mom died in a tragic accident. Before he was taken in by an aunt he barely knows. Before his aunt brought him to Dogwood House, the creepiest place Roddie has ever seen. It was his family’s home for over a hundred years. Now the house — abandoned and rotting, draped in Spanish moss that reminds him too much of hair — is his home too.
Aunt Angie has returned to South Carolina to take care of Roddie and reconnect with their family’s hoodoo roots. Roddie, however, can’t help but feel lost. His mom had never told him anything about hoodoo, Dogwood House, or their family. And as they set about fixing the house up, Roddie discovers that there is even more his mother never said. Like why she left home when she was seventeen, never to return. Or why she insisted Aunt Angie always wear her hair in locs. Or what she knew of the strange secrets hidden deep within Dogwood House — secrets that have awoken again, and are reaching out to Roddie…
Publication Date August 6th 2024 by Aladdin
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A boy moves to a Halloween-themed town only to realize there may be more to the tourist trap than meets the eye in this fast-paced romp of a middle grade novel perfect for fans of The Last Kids On Earth and Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library!
When Caleb’s mom decides they are moving to her childhood home in Wisconsin, Caleb is not thrilled. Moving schools, states, and time zones would be bad enough, but Mom’s hometown is Samhain, a small and ridiculously kitschy place where every day is Halloween.
Caleb is not a fan of Halloween when it only happens once a year, so Halloween-obsessed Samhain is really not the place for him. How is he supposed to cope with kids wearing costumes to school every single day? And how about the fact that the mayor is so committed to the bit that City Hall is only open from sundown to sunup to accommodate his so-called vampirism? Sure enough, Caleb becomes an outcast at school for refusing to play along with the spooky tradition like the other sixth graders. Luckily, he manages to find a friend in fellow misfit Tai, and just in time, because things are getting weird in Samhain…or make that weirder.
But there’s no way the mayor is an actual vampire, and their teacher absolutely cannot really be a werewolf — right? Caleb discovers Samhain is so much stranger than he ever could have imagined. As one of the only people who realizes what’s happening, can he save a town that doesn’t want saving?
Publication Date August 6th 2024 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
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This series of terrifying standalone tales that combine monsters + mysteries is perfect for fans of Goosebumps.
When their school wins a state science competition, Rowan, Tinker, and Amari earn a dream trip to Earth Two, a biodome research lab deep in the desert, which is sealed off from the outside world. What could be cooler?
But soon, strange things begin to happen. In the dome’s swamp ecosystem, the kids discover a creature unknown to science—though the adults don’t believe them. Then a scientist is mysteriously attacked and Earth Two’s security and life-support systems fail, trapping everyone inside.
As oxygen runs low, a terrifying monster emerges from the shadows and begins to hunt. Now the kids must find a way to escape…before the biodome becomes their tomb.
Publication Date August 6th 2024 by Sourcebooks Young Readers
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When the scratching starts on the tent, a backyard camping trip turns terrifying for three friends. Prepare to be scared silly in this creepy middle-grade novel for fans of R.L. Stine, Dan Poblocki, and Mary Downing Hahn.
Chloe, Avery, and Madison can’t wait to spend the night camping in the backyard. Smores! Spooky stories! Trading secrets! It’s going to be awesome. Sure, Elijah the kid next door keeps trying to prank them, but it’s all in good fun. Who doesn’t like a little scare after the sun has set and the moonlight casts creepy shadows everywhere?
Then the scratching starts on the tent fabric. The girls think it must be Elijah again, but there’s no one outside. As the scratching gets more insistent, the girls may need to start asking WHAT is making that noise rather than WHO. Can they make it through the night?
Publication Date August 6th 2024 by HarperCollins
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Get ready for some spooky fun in the first installment of this all-new middle grade series from author Steve Behling, featuring side-splitting illustrations throughout by Robb Mommaerts!
Wen Wyler (aka Waffles) is 11 years old and is forced to spend the summer in Maine with his grandpa, a former Hollywood make-up and special effects artist for classic horror films. Ever seen THE BEAST WITH A THOUSAND TOES, GLAARG! Or its sequel GLAARG! AGAIN!? If so, then you might be familiar with his work.
Wen, a horror movie aficionado, is persuaded to go when he finds out that part of the summer will be spent helping his Grandpa sort through and organize his basement filled with props. Grandpa’s young neighbor, Tanya, has already been corralled into helping and together they dig in until Wen accidentally brings one of the props to life.
Mummy Man is a good guy, but the other creatures AREN’T so good. It’s up to Wen, Tanya, and Mummy Man (and his pet turtle, Frank) to stop the creatures from turning the town into the nexus for an all-out monster invasion.
Publication Date August 6th 2024 by Scholastic Press
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A chilling middle grade horror debut featuring a Black, autistic protagonist who uncovers dark secrets plaguing her new school.
Blythe Academy isn’t a normal school. Eva can tell – there’s something off, something wrong. She learns that fifty years ago part of the school collapsed, killing a classroom of students and their teacher. Things haven’t been the same since.
Soon, Eva’s having unnerving visions and terrifying run-ins with ghosts. She doesn’t think the collapse was just a tragic accident. It was caused by a malevolent force, and that force is back and hungry for more. Will Eva be able to discover the truth of Blythe Academy and save lives…or will it be too late?
Publication Date August 6th 2024 by Delacorte Press
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This spine-tingling ghost story follows a tween girl who’s being literally haunted by loneliness until a new friendship upends her life. From the bestselling author of the Paola Santiago series!
Sadie Rivera has been haunted all her life by a vengeful ghost — a ghost that doesn’t want her to make any friends. The moment she tries? Cue exploding lightbulbs, chilling gusts of wind, and slamming doors.
Last year, Sadie got fed up. Last year, she made a best friend, Anna. So when the ghost caused an accident that killed her best friend, Sadie knew it was all her fault.
Which is why she’s not going to make any friends this year at her new school. At least until mysterious cool girl Mal shows up, and the ghost doesn’t bother her for once. But Mal wants Sadie all to herself — and she’ll do anything to make sure it stays that way.
Publication Date August 13th 2024 by Delacorte Press
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Perfect for fans of Hocus Pocus and Stranger Things, this middle grade debut tells the story of a boy who travels into an alternate version of his Halloween-obsessed town to save his sister from an evil witch and free the town from the witch’s curse.
Fear comes home.
Welcome to Pearl, a town obsessed with Halloween: the spooky decorations, the costumes, the candy. No one seems to notice that every October 31st, a kid goes missing. Mason Miller does, though. Somehow he’s the only one who has any memory the person existed at all.
When Mason’s sister, Meg, vanishes while they’re trick-or-treating, Mason and his friends are pulled into an underworld where monsters roam the streets. They need to fight the evil taking over Pearl, but none of them know the true danger they’re facing.
Meg has been stolen by a witch who has no plans to let her go. Shadows of death curl around trees and behind doorways as Mason must use every ounce of bravery he has…or be haunted forever with the memory of a sister that only he remembers.
Publication Date August 13th 2024 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
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Read at Your Own Risk is the spine-chilling illustrated sketch diary of a kid who is being haunted after a game goes terribly wrong and an evil spirit starts conversing with her on the page.
Hannah and her friends were just having a bit of fun when they decided to play a game to communicate with spirits of the dead. Little did they know something would answer their call and crawl its way into the pages of Hannah’s journal. What started out as a game has turned into something much more evil. With dire, horrifying consequences.
Is there any way to escape the curse?
Publication Date August 20th 2024 by Aladdin
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Netflix’s Wednesday meets Jodi Lynn Anderson’s The Memory Thief in this creepy and high-stakes middle grade adventure about a girl’s quest to save her cursed brother that takes her through perilous, monster-filled woods.
The Grimsbane women have been hunting witches and monsters for generations — ever since the Watcher, the most powerful witch in the Midwest, cursed the Grimsbane men to die untimely and unusual deaths. Part-time skater, full-time troublemaker Anna Grimsbane may be only twelve, but she’s been learning about hunting her whole life and is tired of waiting to do the real thing. She and her twin brother Billy are about to turn thirteen, the age the curse takes hold, and Anna wants to be on the front lines fighting to break it.
Only hours before he’ll become an accident-prone walking disaster, Billy runs away to find the Watcher himself. The Grimsbane women are all out on patrol, leaving it up to Anna and her friends Suvi and Rosario to find Billy before his recklessness hastens his demise. But the woods are crawling with cryptids, most of whom hate humans, and all of whom hate the Grimsbanes, and the deeper Anna gets into the forest, the clearer it is that reading about witch hunting is no replacement for practical experience.
Anna feels in over her head, especially as she starts to suspect she knows much less about her family history than she’d thought. As she races against the clock to find Billy before midnight, it becomes all too evident that he isn’t the only Grimsbane at risk for a grisly death tonight.
Publication Date August 20th 2024 by Viking Books for Young Readers
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The past has come calling in the town of Hush, and for one girl, that means facing her ghosts. Perfect for fans of the satisfyingly scary Small Spaces quartet!
Maddie Maverick likes to win. Whether it’s track team races or one-liners she delivers on her parents’ home renovation show, Maddie knows that if she puts in the work, she’ll always come out on top. But things take a turn when her ghost-hunting nana passes away, and Maddie and her twin sister, Nat, discover that Nana left them an unexpected inheritance: They can now see ghosts just like she did.
While Nat is totally on board to try to help some spirits find peace, a ghostly calling is just not Maddie’s speed. So when history comes back to haunt their town, and the story of a decades-old train crash rears its ugly head, Maddie wants nothing to do with the ghosts of days long gone. But one ghost in particular won’t go away, and Maddie might just be the only one with the power to help her — that is, if she can survive the Night Train herself.
In this eerie tale by beloved author Lorelei Savaryn, one girl’s determination to bring long-hidden secrets to light might just change her town — and herself — forever.
Publication Date August 20th 2024 by Holiday House
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There’s no escaping these deliciously creepy tales of everyday horror, perfect for fans of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.
Once you open this book, you’re doomed…Cursed to stay up late, savoring every line of these terrifying stories. Go ahead and try to resist. The Night Things won’t let you get far.
Master storyteller Josh Allen, hailed as the “heir-apparent to Alvin Schwartz,” brings thirteen nightmare scenarios to life in this page-turning collection. From a shiny abandoned bike, to an innocent classroom icebreaker, to a piano recital that requires unusual sacrifices, there’s no end to the shocking twists on everyday reality.
In Allen’s wondrous world, which looks an awful like our own, danger waits behind every doorway…even in the most ordinary places. Kids eager for age-appropriate horror will relish every thrill and chill.
Eerie illustrations by award-winning artist Sarah Coleman accompany the stories, packaged in a stunning hardcover edition complete with a glow-in-the-dark jacket. Readers will sleep with one eye open!
Publication Date August 20th 2024 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
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The Baby-Sitters Club meets Stranger Things in this eerie middle grade novel about friendship, fitting in, and the afterlife, following a girl who discovers she’s not the only one at her new school who can see ghosts.
Wednesday Thomas sees ghosts. But that doesn’t mean she has to talk to them.
After a terrifying experience in an Arizona state park with a wicked ghost, Wednesday and her mother Olivia sell their RV and move back south to the family home in Alton, Georgia. Wednesday’s determined not to use her gift anymore — until she meets a group of girls who also know about the spirit realm.
There’s free-spirited Miki Okada and Southern belle Danni-Lynn Porter who seem to know about the ghosts who roam the school’s hallways, popular girl Alexa Scott who tells Wednesday to stay away from Miki and Danni-Lynn and not draw attention to herself, and mysterious neighbor Violet Delgado who died last year but still haunts the house across the street. Wednesday feels these girls have some kind of shared history, but it isn’t until Miki gives her an official invitation to the Dead Club that she starts to understand there’s a lot more going on with the ghosts in Alton and the girls who can see them.
And when another malevolent ghost threatens to harm Wednesday, it will take the help of new friends both living and dead to save her and banish the evil being to the spirit realm where it belongs.
Publication Date August 27th 2024 by Balzer + Bray
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Few campers at Camp Apple Hill Farm have found the mysterious cabin rumored to be hidden deep in the woods—but those who have whisper of a mysterious woman who tells tales of horrors beyond imagination. Are you brave enough to visit Cabin 23?
Twelve-year-old Alia has always had the worst luck. Whether it’s her parents moving her all the way from Kuala Lumpur to a tiny village or her shoes constantly coming untied, Alia can’t help but feel as if the universe has it out for her.
To top it all off, her estranged older sister, Ayu, has just reappeared in their lives after years away. Alia’s parents are delighted, but Alia is not so sure. She remembers the fights, the tears, the pain her sister caused and knows this is just another case of bad luck following her around.
Then Alia’s school fills with rumors of a horrifying creature spotted flying in the night sky. And Alia realizes that perhaps it’s not just her bad luck this time—but something more sinister is lying just under the surface of her town…and it’s up to Alia to put an end to it for once and for all.
Publication Date August 27th 2024 by Union Square Kids
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A hilarious ghost story about a group of thirteen-year-old boys whose friendship is tested by supernatural forces, secret crushes, and a hundred-year-old curse.
When Aidan Cross yeeted his very secret journal into the house on Yeet Street, he also intended to yeet his feelings for his best friend, Kai, as far away as possible.
To Aidan’s horror, his friends plan a sleepover at the haunted house the very next night. Terrance, Zephyr, and Kai are dead set on exploring local legend Farah Yeet’s creepy mansion. Aidan just wants to survive the night and retrieve his mortifying love story before his friends find it.
When Aidan discovers an actual ghost in the house (who happens to be a huge fan of his fiction), he makes it his mission to solve the mystery of Gabby’s death and free her from the house. But when Aidan’s journal falls into the wrong hands, secrets come to light that threaten the boys’ friendship. Can Aidan embrace the part of himself that’s longing to break free…or will he become the next victim to be trapped in the haunted house forever?
Publication Date August 27th 2024 by Feiwel & Friends
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From R.L. Stine, the master of horror for young readers, comes ten brand new stories that are sure to have you keeping the light on at bedtime tonight.
A boy thinks that a dream factory will help him make his slumber more fun…but what’s the line between dream and nightmare? Two kids find an abandoned shack on the side of the road and are determined to make it their new treehouse… but is it as abandoned as it seems? A boy wants to impress a birthday party with this amateur magician skills…but how far will he go to wow the crowd? And each story comes with a personal introduction from Stine himself, adding even more chills.
Laced with Stine’s signature humor and a hefty dose of nightmarish fun, Stinetinglers 3 is perfect for fans of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and Stine’s own Goosebumps books who want even more scares. These chilling tales prove that Stine’s epic legacy in the horror genre is justly earned. Dive in, and beware: these stories will stick with you long after you’ve turned the final page.
Publication Date August 27th 2024 by Andrews McMeel Publishing
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In this hauntingly delightful, highly illustrated first book in a new series, eleven-year-old Otto and his mom move to Monsterton, a gorgeous island on the border of the Belcarra forest and a mysterious place called The Dark. Monsterton is picturesque and beautiful; it’s an idyllic place for monsters to be themselves. There’s Hamish and his brother Ben, who have been created and sewn together by their pirate father; the royal vampires, Red and Rose, who are followed around by their dutiful guards; Remi, a ghost girl who can appear and disappear at will; Darby, a quiet girl made entirely of slime; and Luck, a zombie who always she thinks she’s right. In Monsterton, each monster can be themselves. They are free to be as scaly, slimy, or scary as nature intended.
There’s only one teeny, tinyproblem. Otto and his mom aren’t monsters.
As a human, Otto feels that he has to prove himself. After all, as Remi the ghost girl reminds him, he’s so fragile. Along with Otto’s new friends Hamish, Darby, and Luck, the group sets out to find the legendary White Pine Beach—a beach so mysterious, it’s rumored to jump locations, never staying in the same place for too long. But what the ragtag team of monsters (and one human) discovers is far more mysterious than a location-jumping beach. And when one of their number doesn’t return home with them…rumors swirl.
Can Otto find his new friend, fit in with the monsters, and stay true to himself? And what does a lost strix, a bird-girl living as an outcast in Belcarra, know?
This spooky, delightful, and charming full-color, highly illustrated novel with graphic novel inserts is perfect for fans of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and Five Nights at Freddy’s. Debut author Danielle McKechnie weaves compelling lore and storytelling with delightful characters brought to life by illustrator Simón Estrada.
Publication Date August 27th 2024 by Aladdin
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The legend of the Pied Piper meets Sal and Gabi Break The Universe with a touch of Coraline in this spooky and suspenseful middle grade adventure about a boy whose wish goes horribly wrong and his fight to reunite with his real family.
Sam Windsor’s parents and younger siblings, Grayson and Addie, are his whole world, so when his parents announce they’re separating, Sam is devastated. He’d do anything to make his parents change their minds and keep the family together. When a stranger offers a flute made of bone that supposedly grants the player’s wish, Sam doesn’t really believe it will work but figures he has nothing to lose.
Surprisingly, the wish on the skeleton flute comes true. The next day, his parents are happily in love, with no plans for his dad to leave. But there’s a major problem: his parents’ relationship isn’t the only thing in his life that has changed, and some of the changes are definitely for the worse.
Caught in a world full of unintended consequences and familiar strangers, Sam has limited options for returning to his old life — worries, challenges, and all. Can he track down the mysterious man who gave him the flute and undo his wish?
Publication Date September 3rd 2024 by Bloomsbury Children’s Books
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Gabe and Hayden have a vampire.
Joon and Tradd have a werewolf.
And they’re going to fight.After modern society pushed monsters into hiding, the Crafters Guild was formed: An organization of humans and other creatures intent on creating community amongst these exiled beings and combating the decline in monster mental health. Their solution? A no-holds-barred clash of the titans, where two monsters can fight it out with no limits. With young coaches like Gabe, Hayden, Joon, and Tradd to guide them, the monsters must prepare for a battle that will test their strengths, smarts, and special abilities. But it’s just a friendly competition-nothing could possibly go wrong…right?
My Vampire vs. Your Werewolf is the first in an epic horror series from bestselling author Paul Tobin featuring all your favorite monsters – from mummies and ghosts, to dragons and zombies, and witches and warlocks – daring to answer the question: Who would win in a fight?
Publication Date September 3rd 2024 by Annick Press
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The secrets of Ravensbarrow have been buried far too long. Now they’re coming to light…
Teddy and his friends uncover a monstrous ― and cheesy ― terror in the second installment of this laugh-out-loud series for fans of My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish and The Incredibly Dead Pets of Rex Dexter.
After facing a horde of brain-eating hamsters, Teddy is DONE with Ravensbarrow. He’s desperate to move back to his hometown, but he’ll need proof to convince his parents to leave. So when Teddy’s new friends invite him to explore Ravensbarrow’s mysterious trails, he sees his chance to capture some paranormal phenomena on camera. How dangerous can that be? Sure, people have disappeared in the misty forest. And the town legends about glowing mushrooms and murderous owls are…unsettling. Okay, FINE, Teddy is terrified. But all he needs is one little picture…
Publication Date September 3rd 2024 by Quill Tree Books
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A perfectly average boy uncovers a supernatural secret about his family that could put his whole town in grave danger — if it doesn’t make him die of embarrassment first — in this mysterious and funny middle grade debut from New York Times bestselling author Z Brewer.
Viktor Valentine can’t think of a better way to end his summer vacation than playing All the Vampires Everywhere, his favorite video game, with his best friend, Damon. Yet his parents, who make cringey jokes and call him dorky nicknames, seem set on ruining his plans. Viktor knows he can’t really compete with Damon’s “cool” friends — so their epic video game playing is the best Viktor can do to come close to being cool in Damon’s eyes.
But then Viktor slowly starts to realize that his parents may be hiding something from him. They’re acting very suspicious; they sneak out after midnight and return with bloody mouths. But he’s probably just played too many video games. After all, vampires aren’t real…right?
Seventh grade is tough enough without having to figure out if your family has fangs. And to make matters worse, the new girl that moved in across the street seems particularly interested in things that go bump in the night. Can Viktor protect his family, or will his sleuthing come back to bite him?
Publication Date September 3rd 2024 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
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Stranger Things meets A Monster Calls in this spine-tingling, emotionally rich middle grade novel about a boy who must protect his neighborhood from a malevolent monster tree while dealing with the recent loss of his father.
Something evil is growing…
Linus used to be an artist, like his dad. Now his father is gone, and Linus’s mom has moved them to the other side of the city, hoping for a fresh start. Maybe, for the first time in months, Linus will even draw again.
But there’s something unusual about their neighbor Maude and something wrong with the grotesque tree in her backyard. At night Linus sees it moving, changing, growing. When increasingly bizarre events plague the neighborhood ― massive claw marks appearing on doors and cars, pets going missing, sightings of a red-eyed creature ― he suspects Maude and her tree are to blame.
With his home under threat, Linus teams up with his goofy best friend, Spencer, and no-nonsense new girl Abby to unearth whatever sinister seeds have been planted next door…where something truly monstrous is just taking root.
Sarah Allen weaves together spooky supernatural adventure with a poignant tale of grief, the healing power of art, and the uniting force of friendship in Monster Tree.
Publication Date September 3rd 2024 by Scholastic Paperbacks
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Happy Silverman is more than a little excited for his class trip to the museum. He loves learning about Ancient Egypt and can’t wait to see real mummies. At the museum, Happy leans as close to the mummy display as he possibly can ― and something strange happens. His head spins and he hears an unfamiliar voice ringing inside his mind. The mummy is inside Happy’s brain and need his help ― or else!
Publication Date September 3rd 2024 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
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A spooky yet heartwarming adventure about one girl’s journey into the land of the undead, and the unexpected family she finds along the way. Perfect for fans of Nevermoor and the hit series Wednesday.
On Halloween, it is always wise to expect the unexpected, but no amount of planning could have prepared Eve for that particular night. Fleeing an unpleasant orphanage, she’s saved by someone who she never believed was real…the fabled Pumpkin King himself.
Throwing caution aside, Eve accepts the offer to become his daughter and is whisked away to the misty Hallowell Valley — home to witches and vampires, ghosts and goblins, and all that go bump in the night. But just when she believes she’s found her place among the undead, a sinister scheme unearths itself, threatening to take everything from Eve unless she can stop it.
From debut author Steven Banbury comes a cozy, magical adventure sure to delight anyone who loves the tricks of Halloween as much as the treats of autumn.
Publication Date September 3rd 2024 by HarperCollins
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The first book in a rich, eerie middle grade fantasy duology full of magic, monsters, and miles and miles of untamed forest, from the author of The Prince of Nowhere. Motivated by desperation and brotherhood, a boy must venture deep into the Nightwood to find a cure for his mysteriously sick brother. Perfect for fans of Over The Garden Wall and Serafina and The Black Cloak.
For twelve-year-old Nox Winters, the town of Evergreen isn’t home — it’s a tourist trap in middle-of-nowhere Maine for amateur cryptozoologists hoping to spot its infamous legend, a batlike creature known as the Evergreen Devil. But his twin brother, Noah, has been wasting away from an illness that has left medical professionals stumped, and the doctors here in Evergreen are his last hope. And Nox goes where Noah goes.
But as Noah’s condition worsens, Nox begins to suspect that Evergreen is doing more harm than good — and that there might be some truth to its tales of fearsome cryptids and mysterious disappearances. When Noah falls into a deep sleep that Nox can’t wake him from, Nox’s only chance at saving him lies in the surrounding forest; there, he discovers a hidden world where it’s always nighttime, full of powerful magic, supernatural creatures, and capricious minor gods. Nox must venture deeper into an endless night and successfully bargain with the terrifying Keepers of the forest for a cure to Noah’s ailment or else neither twin will leave Evergreen alive.
Publication Date September 3rd 2024 by Graphix
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Are you wearing the mask – or is the mask wearing you?
Carly Beth needs the perfect Halloween mask. One that will scare everyone she comes across ― including her annoying little brother and the bullies from her school. A visit to a strange costume store provides just the right one. An ugly green, with fierce fangs, the mask makes Carly Beth feel powerful and scary. But when the mask won’t come off, will the monster take over?
Publication Date September 3rd 2024 by Scholastic Inc.
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It’s harvest season…and in this town, that means corn mazes, sinister scarecrows, and plenty of horror. At the center of the corn maze lies…secrets and horror.
Publication Date September 3rd 2024 by Scholastic Inc.
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From master horror storyteller K.R. Alexander, the chilling story of a girl who has visions of a dead girl – and the diary that will lead her to the truth behind the girl’s tragic demise.
All her life, Kara had been told she was born in her hometown. But she’s always felt that wasn’t quite right, just as she’s had flashes of memories that weren’t her own. Now that she’s 12, those visions are becoming more frequent, more frightening…and when a mysterious diary shows up on her doorstep, she knows there’s more to these visions than she once thought.
Because this is the diary of a dead girl. The very girl who’s been haunting her visions. In the pages of the diary, Kara learns this girl didn’t just die – she was murdered. And Kara is the only one who can solve the mystery.
With her best friend Sienna, Kara visits the town where this ghost girl met her end. If Kara isn’t careful, she might meet her end there, too.
Publication Date September 3rd 2024 by Aladdin
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Haunted Mansion meets the ultimate escape room in this tense and twisty middle grade horror following four kids who must beat a series of games to make it out of a haunted house.
The creepiest place in Barret Eloise’s small town is the abandoned Raithfield Manor, a decrepit house surrounded by rumors of ghosts and kids going missing. So she certainly never planned on stepping foot inside. But when her history teacher gives her a group project to research a local landmark, the manor is the location her group chooses. Determined to ace the project and fix her awkward first impression on her assigned partners — which include her former friend Helena, smart and confident Wayne, and school basketball star Ridge — Barret Eloise isn’t about to let some tall tales scare her off.
When the kids first enter the house, it seems to be nothing more than an empty building. But when the sun goes down, the doors and windows lock, sealing them inside. Even worse, the room they’re in transforms into an all-too-real game of The Floor is Lava. It doesn’t take long for the group to realize the mansion is a maze of childhood games. Win the game and you keep moving forward, lose and you disappear. And complicating it all is a worrying revelation — they are not alone in the house.
If Barret Eloise wants to make it home, she and her dysfunctional group are going to have to learn to work together quickly.
Publication Date September 10th 2024 by Algonquin Young Readers
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Intrepid eight-year-old detective Nancy Spector and her talking dog, Jinx, search high and low for an invisible dog in this laugh-a-minute, fast-paced graphic novel perfect for fans of Dungeon Critters and The Mighty Jack.
The Invisible Man has a problem. His dog, Spot, is missing. Complicating matters, Spot is also invisible. So the Invisible Man turns to Nancy Spector for help. Nancy eagerly takes the case, and she and her grumpy best friend, a (visible) dog named Jinx, dive into the investigation.
As they follow Spot’s trail, they find themselves:
● Riding dragons
● Searching the monster diner—because all dogs like hot dogs
● Fleeing from vicious chipmunk unicorns
● Shopping in a store that is a gelatinous candy cube named Bob
● And paying a visit to Nancy’s vampire friend Eugene’s hamster’s funeralEvery time they think Spot is right around the corner, things get more and more confusing, but Nancy knows that to a great detective, there is no such thing as a bad clue. And Nancy knows she’s a great detective. Now she just needs to crack the case…
Publication Date September 10th 2024 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
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In this Team Chu adventure, Vietnamese-American siblings Clip and Sadie Chu―and friends―must unearth the mystery behind a haunted Halloween carnival.
When Iggy Morales’s stylish cat, Tuba, becomes famous on social media, he scores an invite to a star-studded pet fashion show at Spooky World. The family-friendly, Halloween-themed indoor carnival is the place to be on the last weekend in October, so of course Iggy brings all of his friends, including Clip and Sadie. The kids expect to ride thrilling rollercoasters, play games in the midway, and eat fried dough and candy apples, but they encounter a different kind of excitement instead: a ghost called the Weeping Lady, who has haunted Spooky World for decades, appears and asks for their help.
The Weeping Lady sends Iggy and his friends on a mysterious, action-packed scavenger hunt all over the sprawling theme park, giving them cryptic clues and communicating with Iggy’s seemingly clairvoyant cat, Tuba. If the kids can piece the story together and complete this wild ghost chase, they might just uncover the truth behind what really happened to Spooky World’s most infamous spirit.
Publication Date September 17th 2024 by Delacorte Press
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In this middle-grade mystery, eleven year old Charlie moves from NYC to Florida only to find herself in the haunted Winklevoss Manor. To her surprise, she’s not alone — she’s joined by three mischievous ghosts cursed for snatching a dead man’s diamond.
After twelve-year-old Charlie moves from New York City to sweaty, sticky Florida, she’ll do anything to get back home.
Even if it involves ghosts.
Winklevoss Manor, Charlie’s new house, is a towering Victorian mansion famous for one thing—it’s haunted. Three ghosts — Ada, Arthur, and Guff — live there, and not by choice. They’re trapped, cursed for stealing a dead man’s diamond. A diamond that, just like the ghosts, is still in the house. And this gets Charlie thinking…
Maybe if she can find the diamond and sell it, Charlie’s family could have enough money to move back to the city. But lifting the curse isn’t that simple, especially when she’s pitted against the school bully and three unruly spirits. It’s frightening to think about, but what if the only way to get rid of the ghosts and curses is by doing what Charlie fears the most — confronting the past that haunts her?
Publication Date September 17th 2024 by Bloomsbury Children’s Books
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Coraline meets Ghost Squad in this terrifying story about what happens when you aren’t careful what you wish for.
Ollie Di Costa wishes things could be different.
He wishes the bullies at school would leave him alone. He wishes his parents would stop fighting. He wishes his sister Mia didn’t have to worry about things like paying for college. But most of all, he wishes he wasn’t so angry about all of this. When he and Mia find a two-tailed cat they name Wishbone, Ollie takes comfort in telling him everything he wishes would change-then suddenly, it does. Everything Ollie and Mia wish for comes true, and it’s like all of their problems are solved. But magic comes at a price. Whatever they wish for is not simply given to them, but taken from others. And to make matters worse, a mysterious shadow man called The Mage is after Wishbone and his power. With each wish, darkness takes over more and more of their world, and worst of all, it threatens to take over Ollie, too. But can he let go of everything he’s ever wanted?
Justine Pucella Winans, author of the Stonewall Honor book The Otherwoods, brings us another bone-chilling middle grade horror, urging readers to not only be careful what you wish for, but beware of who you may become if you aren’t.
Publication Date September 17th 2024 by Papercutz
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Blue and Herschel, two bumbling losers, seek a cursed treasure buried beneath their middle school, but there is one problem; It’s haunted by those who tried… and died in their attempt to get the treasure for themselves!
AT AMBERLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL THERE’S MORE THAN ONE THING THAT GOES BUMP IN THE NIGHT…
Blue and their best friend Herschel are definitely not the coolest kids around, but when a group of popular bullies tell our main characters that their problems can be solved by finding the treasure buried beneath the school… well, Blue, Herschel and one annoyed night janitor have to investigate their school after dark!
What nightmares guard the treasure? The kind to give our heroes one bad case of the Heebie Jeebies!
Matthew Erman and Shelby Criswell re-team for this hilarious and spooky middle grade graphic novel perfect for the spookalicious kid or kid-at-heart that’ll be sure to surprise, delight and terrify!
Publication Date September 17th 2024 by Margaret K. McElderry Books
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Whispering Pines meets Small Spaces in this spooky middle grade novel about a girl whose first summer camp experience is disrupted by a menacing creature abducting her fellow campers.
Eleven-year-old Naomi loves all things outdoors—birds and beetles, bats and bunnies—in theory. She explores nature in the best possible way: the cold, hard facts in books. So when her parents’ announcement of their impending divorce comes hand in hand with sending Naomi and her younger twin brothers to summer camp while they figure things out, it’s salt in the wound for Naomi and her avoidance of hands-on experience.
Camp Twisted Pine could be worse. The counselors are nice, and Naomi likes her cabinmates, especially Jackie, whose blunt personality and frank dislike of the camp draws Naomi in quickly. Jackie is also hard of hearing and uses a hearing aid, and the girls quickly develop a routine of sign language lessons in their free time, which Naomi sees as a welcome break when all the s’mores-making and nature walks get to be a bit much.
But the campers aren’t the only ones who roam the grounds of Camp Twisted Pine. When people start to go missing, including Jackie, Naomi has to find a way to save everyone—and herself. Her practical knowledge of the outdoors may still be rudimentary at best, but she has years of studying and the scientific method to fall back on. Can Naomi identify and stop the dangerous predator before it’s too late?
Publication Date September 17th 2024 by Scholastic Press
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A spooky, heartfelt mystery inspired by Caribbean mythology, featuring the most lovable characters in middle grade fiction!
For once, everything in twelve-year-old Josephine’s life is going according to plan. She’s finally proved that girls belong on the cricket team and earned a spot as a starting player! And she’s confident that she and her best friend, Ahkai, will both be accepted to their dream secondary school. Nothing can stop Jo now — not even the memory of the vengeful sea spirit she vanquished last year.
But then a series of disasters strike. Ahkai suddenly seems to have a new best friend — the annoyingly perfect Lynne. Then Jo isn’t accepted to the same school as Ahkai! Even worse, Jo keeps having eerie encounters with a mysterious figure lurking in the shadows — a figure who bears an unsettling resemblance to the fearsome Heartman rumored to steal children’s hearts…
Jo doesn’t know where to turn. With Daddy away, the only person who’ll believe her is Ahkai, but Jo is too proud to ask for help after being replaced. By the time she musters the courage to approach him, it’s too late.
Ahkai has disappeared without a trace.
He’s been taken by the Heartman.
None of the adults believe Jo. The Heartman is just a legend, after all. But Jo knows that the fearsome creature is real and that if she doesn’t find his lair soon, Ahkai will be lost forever.
Publication Date September 17th 2024 by Delacorte Press
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A new locked room scary story about thirteen-year-old Avery, who plans a séance at a deserted theater to bond with her friends, only to realize they’re locked inside with someone—or something—else. This spine tingling read is perfect for fans of Katherine Arden and Lindsay Currie!
When Avery returns to her hometown after moving away a year earlier, she is hoping to jump back into her friend group as if nothing’s changed.
Unfortunately, new interests, secret crushes, and changing dynamics get in her way. To reunite her BFFs, she suggests they host a séance at an abandoned theater that was the site of a horrible tragedy.
What starts as a fun outing, soon becomes a fight for survival after the group gets locked in…and discovers they’re not alone.
Publication Date September 17th 2024 by Delacorte Press
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Let your fears take flight in this scary sequel of the Creatures & Teachers series where a group of friends must protect their school from vampire birds!
Angelo and his friends know that together they can handle any pretty much anything together. The scariest thing they think they have to worry about these days is the upcoming school dance.
But when a terrifying new enemy attacks from above it seems they have met their ultimate match…giant vampire birds after BLOOD.
Can they save their school before the big dance or will they dicover terror in the air like they’ve never seen before?
Publication Date September 24th 2024 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
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In this hair-raising and hilarious novel by New York Times bestselling author Chuck Wendig, a boy must face his many fears to save his town from a cursed videotape — before “The Scariest Movie Ever Made” devours his friends and family.
Ethan Pitowski is afraid of everything. Luckily, his best friends don’t mind, and when their entire class gets invited to watch a long-buried horror movie at the most popular boy in school’s house, Ethan’s friends encourage him to join in the fun. But when the “scariest movie ever made” reveals itself to be not just a movie about a monster, but a movie that is a monster, only a terrified Ethan escapes its clutches. Now he must find a way to stop the monster and save his friends (and also, um, get their heads back).
With his signature balance of kid-friendly horror and humor, Chuck Wendig crafts a spookily heartfelt novel about anxiety, friendship, and finding your unique voice and inner strength.
Publication Date September 24th 2024 by Abrams Books for Young Readers
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Dive into the most mysterious waters around the world (if you dare) in Spooky Lakes, an illustrated nonfiction book from TikTok star and educator Geo Rutherford
From Geo Rutherford—the creator of the hit series Spooky Lake Month (over 65 million likes!)—comes this thrilling nonfiction book that plumbs the depths of 25 unusual lakes around the world.
Backed by extensive research and packed with all-new content—including eerie and eye-popping watercolor illustrations in full color—Spooky Lakes takes readers on an adventure through weird and wild waters.
Some of Earth’s strangest—and creepiest—wonders lie deep below the surface…
There’s Lake Natron, a Tanzanian lake so briny that its waters can mummify any creature that touches its surface; Lake Maracaibo, a Venezuelan tidal bay where a constantly brewing storm sends an average of 28 lightning bolts per second into the water; and at the bottom of Lake Superior, the crew of the USS Kamloops—which mysteriously disappeared in 1921—remains somehow almost perfectly preserved to this day.
Readers will learn not only about the science of hydrology, but why understanding the natural world is crucial to protecting it from pollution and climate change.
Publication Date September 24th 2024 by HarperCollins
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In Pura Belpré Honor–winning author Adrianna Cuevas’s new spooky middle grade novel. Frani must fight to stop the undead from rising in her father’s body-farm laboratory—that is, if she can embrace the true nature of her brain and its ADHD.
No one has ever called Frani Gonzalez squeamish. Seriously, whether it’s guts (no big deal), bugs (move aside, she’s got this), or anything else that you might find at the Central Texas Forensic Anthropology Research Facility, to her and her dad, the university’s body farm is just home.
Having bodies buried in her backyard doesn’t exactly make Frani the most popular kid in school, and the imaginary spider that lives in a web in her brain isn’t helping either. Arañita’s always to blame for the distracted thoughts weaving through Frani’s mind. But when a hand reaches out of the ground and grabs her ankle, Frani realizes that she’s got bigger problems.
Not everything is as it seems at the body farm, and now Frani must help the teenage zombie that crawled out of the dirt…before he gets too hungry. But as more and more zombies begin to appear—and they seem to get less and less friendly—can Frani embrace the true nature of her brain and count on new friendships to solve the body farm’s mystery before it’s overrun with the undead?
Publication Date October 1st 2024 by Scholastic Paperbacks
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From the author of The Lonely Ghost comes a chilling new tale about a vengeful ghost who wants her doll back ― or else.
A headless doll. A deserted island. A haunted lighthouse. Twelve-year-old Jen’s summer vacation is not going anything like she expected it to. She’s staying with her Aunt Liv, who lives on an island off the coast of Maine. The island is mostly famous for its lighthouse, which is rumored to be haunted by a ghost. Aunt Liv is an artist who specializes in making one-of-a-kind dolls. She also runs a doll hospital so people send her their dolls from all over to repair.
Jen notices some creepy things about the house, like flickering lights and something that sounds like faint whispering. Then one of the dolls that Jen has been helping her aunt work on is found broken. A neighbor girl tells Jen that her aunt’s house is haunted by a ghost who’s looking for her lost doll. Jen doesn’t want to believe her. But after more dolls are broken, she starts to get scared. What if the ghost is real?
Publication Date October 1st 2024 by Amazon Crossing Kids
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What happens when you’re the only human student in a school for ghosts?
Lenny has no idea of the adventure he’s in for when his parents decide to take an extended research trip and sign him up for a boarding school in an old German castle. But even before leaving for the school, it seems like something is trying to prevent Lenny from going…
Once he arrives at Shadowsnout Castle Academy, a couple more things become clear: (1) this is not your average school, and (2) Lenny is probably in some serious danger. Lenny needs an escape plan ― and fast.
As Lenny makes his way through the school (and some most unusual classes), he’s plunged into a world of turning heads, rhyming radio ghosts, invisible pirates, and floating maidens, each with their own creepiness factor ― and, surprisingly, charm. And when the school comes under attack by outside forces, Lenny finds himself questioning everything he thought he knew. What if, maybe, being here, right now, was his destiny all along?
Publication Date October 1st 2024 by First Second
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In this first volume of a thrilling middle grade graphic novel series, a sixth-grader named Pablo discovers his locker is a portal to the realm of monsters!
For hundreds of years, something in the basement of Glenfield Middle School has waited for its chance to open a portal into the realm of monsters. Now its time has come, and the school is going to need a hero. Pablo Ortiz…isn’t that guy. All he wants to do is lie low and get through middle school in one piece. So when Pablo accidentally opens the portal and summons a vengeful Aztec goddess, he’ll need the butt-kicking skills of his new friends and the wisdom passed down by his abuela to take her on.
Publication Date October 1st 2024 by HarperCollins
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From J. A. White, the acclaimed author of Nightbooks, comes another spine-chilling stand-alone middle grade horror novel about a pair of friends who discover a strange creature in a cave that can make any wish come true — including bringing the dead back to life.
In the darkness, something opened its eyes.
The town of Haywood, New Jersey, has a secret. A wish monster.
Violet Park discovered its cave by accident, and the wish monster granted her deepest desire by bringing her dog Midnight back to life. It even erased everyone’s memory of his death. Life was perfect. But then an unremarkable boy named Hudson Causeway somehow remembered Midnight had died. That scared Violet. What if he ruined everything? Even worse, what if the wish monster wasn’t as innocent as it seemed?
Deep down, Violet knew: No wishes are made without consequences, and every monster needs to be fed.
Publication Date October 1st 2024 by Scholastic Press
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A chilling middle grade novel about a girl haunted by a hungry ghost.
Molly Teng sees things no one else can.
By touching the belongings of people who have died, she gets brief glimpses into the lives they lived. Sometimes the “zaps” are funny or random, but often they leave her feeling sad, drained, and lonely.
The last thing Jade remembers from life is dying. That was over one hundred years ago. Ever since then she’s been trapped in the same house watching people move in and out. She’s a ‘hungry ghost’ reliant on the livings’ food scraps to survive. To most people she is only a shadow, a ghost story, a superstition.
Molly is not most people. When she moves into Jade’s house, nothing will ever be the same―for either of them. After over a century alone, Jade might finally have someone who can help her uncover the secrets of her past, and maybe even find a way out of the house―before her hunger destroys them both.
Publication Date October 1st 2024 by Starscape
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A novel of ghosts, grief and the friends who make it all ok by #1 New York Times bestselling co-author Mark Oshiro!
Jasmine Garza has a problem: a ghost has been following her for years, ever since her Papi died. Not that Mami will admit anything supernatural is going on. But even the ghost she won’t acknowledge makes real trouble, so Jasmine and her mami are moving (again) to a new apartment in East Hollywood. This time Jasmine is committed to living a normal life with normal friends.
Enter: Bea Veracruz and Jorge Barrera. They’re the only two members of Jasmine’s middle school’s Gay Straight Alliance and they’re already obsessed with all things supernatural. Bea wants to prove herself to her paranormal investigator parents and Jorge is determined to overcome his fear of the beyond. And when Jasmine confesses she’s been tormented by a ghost for years, they not only believe her, they’re thrilled!
Together they set out to prove that Jasmine’s not just acting out after her father’s death – ghosts are real and Jasmine is haunted. But not everyone agrees how to deal with the departed. As Jasmine’s hauntings increase in intensity, her resentment builds. Why is her Mami so secretive about her past? Why is she the center of such a terrible vortex of supernatural activity? And why hasn’t her Papi ever reached out to her since he passed?
In order to face her ghosts―both internal and external―Jasmine must come to terms with her own history.
Publication Date October 15th 2024 by Scholastic Press
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From master storyteller Garth Nix, the chilling story of a strange object that falls into the wrong hands and has the potential to destroy the world. Perfect for fans of Stranger Things and The Last Kids On Earth.
It’s not fair. Kim’s always lived in the shadow of his younger sister, Eila – which is not how it’s supposed to be. Eila is a prodigy, and everyone talks about how smart she is…but, in Kim’s eyes, she has no common sense.
One day Kim and Eila are walking in the woods, and Eila finds an enigmatic, otherworldly object. Kim thinks it’s bad news…but Eila begins to commune with it. Kim has every reason to be worried, because soon Eila is able to control the minds of everyone around her…in ways she says is the best for everyone.
Kim’s problem-solving must go into high gear. He has to not only save his sister, but save the world from his sister and the forces she’s unleashed.
Publication Date October 15th 2024 by Little Simon
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Liv’s vampire friend loses a prized fang in book four of the Spirited graphic chapter book series.
Liv Livingston is having a ghoul-tastic day at her vampire friend Vera van Pire’s house — which is not the totally creepy castle Liv expected — with their were-pup friend, Howl. But when the trio play Bat Ball, Vera loses one of her fangs! To make things worse, picture day is tomorrow! Can Vera’s glittering vampire grin be restored, or is she doomed to fade into the flash?
Publication Date October 22nd 2024 by Union Square Kids
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Delightfully creepy. Ghostly good fun. A school for magic like no other.
Despite a lifetime of breaking the rules, twelve-year-old Issa Igwe never expected to land in witch prison. At least that’s what she calls The Siren School outside of its hallowed halls. It’s actually the country’s most prestigious boarding school for magically gifted girls, and Issa’s parents insist that she attend…even though the school’s creepy history is the stuff of legend.
When a devastating loss overturns Issa’s world, Issa decides to break one of her new school’s biggest rules of all: she’s going to use bitter magic to turn back time. To succeed, she must snatch sleep-inducing feathers from the backs of magical creatures, sneak out while avoiding the Night Children — whoever they are — and even raise the dead. Her nighttime explorations bring the school’s darkest secrets to light, and reveal a new power within Issa herself. It turns out that a rule-breaker might be just what The Siren School needs to undo an ancient evil…
This spooky and delightfully magical middle grade companion novel to The Fall of the House of Tatterly introduces an indomitable heroine and an unforgettable school of magic based in hoodoo and Gullah Geechee culture.
