Haunted Tales: A Guide to Halloween Reading

Halloween is a time for ghosts, goblins, and all things spooky. And what better way to celebrate than with a good book? Here is a guide to some of the best Halloween reading for all ages.

Children’s Books

• The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss: This classic tale is sure to entertain young readers with its silly antics and rhyming text. It follows the mischievous Cat in the Hat as he wreaks havoc in a young boy’s house.
• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak: This imaginative story follows a young boy named Max as he sails away to the land of the Wild Things, a group of creatures who are both scary and lovable.
• The Witches by Roald Dahl: This darkly funny story tells the tale of a young boy who discovers a coven of witches. The witches are planning to turn all the children in the world into mice.
• Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz: This collection of scary stories is sure to give young readers a good scare. The stories are based on folklore and urban legends, and they are sure to keep you up at night.
• The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman: This heartwarming story follows a boy who is raised by ghosts in a graveyard. The boy, named Nobody Owens, learns about the world of the dead and the living, and he must eventually decide where he belongs.

Young Adult Books

• The October Country by Ray Bradbury: This collection of short stories explores the dark side of the human imagination. The stories are set in a variety of locations, including a haunted house, a carnival, and a small town.
• The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson: This classic ghost story is sure to keep you up at night. The story follows a group of people who are invited to spend the night in a haunted house. The house begins to take a toll on the guests’ mental and physical health.
• Carrie by Stephen King: This terrifying novel tells the story of a young girl with telekinetic powers. Carrie is bullied and abused by her classmates and her mother. She eventually unleashes her powers on them, with devastating consequences.
• Pet Sematary by Stephen King: This disturbing novel follows a family who moves to a new home with a dark secret. The family’s son dies in a car accident, and they bury him in a pet cemetery behind their house. The boy returns from the dead, but he is not the same boy he was before.
• The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty: This true-life inspired horror story is sure to shock and disturb you. The story follows a young girl who is possessed by a demon. A priest must perform an exorcism to save her soul.

Adult Books

• Dracula by Bram Stoker: This classic vampire novel is still one of the most popular horror stories ever written. The story follows a young man who is lured to Transylvania by a mysterious count. The count turns out to be a vampire, and the man must find a way to escape.
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: This story about a scientist who creates a monster is a cautionary tale about the dangers of ambition. The scientist, Victor Frankenstein, creates a monster that is both hideous and intelligent. The monster eventually turns on Frankenstein, and the two of them embark on a deadly chase.
• The Shining by Stephen King: This terrifying novel tells the story of a family who takes a job as caretakers of a haunted hotel. The hotel begins to take a toll on the family’s mental and physical health. The father, Jack Torrance, slowly loses his grip on reality, and he eventually tries to kill his wife and son.
• The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris: This suspenseful novel tells the story of a young FBI agent who must seek the help of a serial killer to catch another. The agent, Clarice Starling, must interview the killer, Hannibal Lecter, to get information about another killer who is still at large.
• The Woman in Black by Susan Hill: This gothic ghost story is set in a haunted English mansion. The story follows a young lawyer who is sent to the mansion to settle the affairs of a recently deceased woman. The lawyer begins to experience strange and terrifying events, and he soon realizes that the mansion is haunted by the woman in black.

These are just a few of the many great Halloween books available. So curl up with a good book and get ready for a spooky good time!