Children’s / Teenage fiction: Horror and ghost stories

Book SynopsisAn International Thriller Award FinalistTwo sisters travel to an isolated Arizona town to investigate its connection to their mother's death, but uncover more than they bargained for in this supernatural thriller from the author of The Dead and the Dark.Beck Birsching has been adrift since the death of her mother, a brilliant but troubled investigative reporter. She can't stop herself from slipping into memories of happier days, longing for a time when things were more normal. So when a mysterious letter in her mother's handwriting arrives in the mail that reads Come and find me, pointing to the small town at the center of her last investigation, Beck hopes that it may hold the answers. But when Beck and her sister Riley arrive in Backravel, Arizona, it's clear that something's off. There are no cars, no cemeteries, no churches. The town is a mix of dilapidated military structures and new, shiny buildings, all overseen by a gleamin

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA collection of scary short stories by R.L. Stine, each one introduced by the master of horror himself.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom R.L. Stine, the master of horror for young readers, comes ten new stories that are sure to send a shiver down your spine. Two kids embark on a field trip to the zoo...and stumble upon a creature they never expected to meet. A boy makes a machine that puts kids in charge...but at what cost? A child is sure his new house is haunted...but is it just in his head? And each story comes with a personal introduction from Stine himself.Laced with Stine's signature humor and a hefty dose of nightmarish fun, Stinetinglers 2 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: you might be sleeping with the lights on tonight!

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom New York Times bestselling author R.L. Stine, the master of horror for young readers, comes ten new stories that are sure to leave you shivering.A boy who hates bugs starts to see them everywhere. A basketball player's skin starts to almost drip off his handsbut no one else can see it. Three friends find a hole in the ground that just gets bigger, and bigger, and bigger... And each story is introduced by Stine himself, providing a personal touch sure to delight fans.Laced with Stine's signature humor and a hefty dose of nightmarish fun, Stinetinglers is perfect for fans of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and Stine's own Goosebumps books. These chilling tales prove that Stine's epic legacy in the horror genre is justly earned. Dive in, and beware: you might be sleeping with the lights on tonight!

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this enemies-to-lovers romantasy mystery, cursebreaker Marlow Briggs reluctantly pretends to be in love with a powerful noble to gain entry into an illustriousand deadlysociety that holds clues to her mother''s disappearance. Nothing short of genius. Jennifer Lynn Barnes, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Inheritance Games seriesSince fleeing the gilded halls of Evergarden for the muck-filled canals of the Marshes, Marlow Briggs has made a name for herself as the best cursebreaker in Caraza City. But no matter how many cases she solves, she is still haunted by the mystery of her mother's disappearance.When Adrius Falcrest, Marlow''s old friend and scion of one of Caraza''s most affluent spell-making families, asks her to help break a life-threatening curse, Marlow wants nothing to do with the boy who spurned her a year ago. But a new lead in her mother's case makes Marlow realize that the only way to get the answers she despe

Read more less

Book SynopsisYou can check out of Room 9, but you can never leave.The Haunting of Hill House meets Nina LaCour in this paranormal mystery YA about the ghosts we carry with us.Something is building, simmering just out of reach.The room is watching. But Mira and Layla don''t know this yet. When the two best friends are stranded on their spring break college tour road trip, they find themselves at the Wildwood Motel, located in the middle of nowhere, Indiana. Mira can''t shake the feeling that there is something wrong and rotten about their room. Inside, she''s haunted by nightmares of her dead brother. When she wakes up, he''s still there.Layla doesn''t see him. Or notice anything suspicious about Room 9. The place may be a little run down, but it has a certain charm she can't wait to capture on camera. If Layla is being honest, she's too preoccupied with confusing feelings for Mira to see much else. But when they learn eight people died in that

Read more less

Book SynopsisA cutthroat K-pop competition leads to a dark obsession in this twisty sapphic horror-romance. Perfect for fans of She Is a Haunting and Yellowjackets.A perfect blend of folk horror and dazzling showbiz that will grip you from page one. ?Trang Thanh Tran, New York Times-bestselling author of She is a HauntingThe sweetest spot between horror and romance. ?Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of These Violent DelightsYou'll love them to death . . .Two years have passed since Sunny Lee lost her best friend Mina in a mysterious death. With their other BFF, Candie, the trio had been the hottest up-and-coming teen pop group, until it all suddenly ended. And Sunny can''t help but wonder if Candie had something to do with it.Now, Sunny is still seeking answers. When she discovers that Candie is attending a new K-pop workshop, Sunny follows, hoping to uncover the reason why Mina died..

Read more less

Book SynopsisA teenage girl is pulled into investigating the truth behind her new boarding school's decades-old legend in The Changing Man, this debut Young Adult speculative mystery by Tomi Oyemakinde.Face front. Watch your back. BE BRAVE.Despite Ife Adebola being in the Urban Achievers scholarship program at Nithercott School, her parents can barely afford the tuition. No matter how much the prestigious boarding school tries to pull her in,or who wants to be friends with her, like her classmate Bijal, Ife is determined not to get caught up in any of it.But when another student begins acting out of character, Ife can't help but wonder if there's more going on at Nithercott than she realizes. Could there be any truth to the school's decades-old legend of the ChangingMan? Is there any connection to the missing older brother of her classmate, Ben?As more questions arise, Ife has no choice but to team up with Ben and Bijal to investigate.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA gorgeous book with scares enough for the brave at heart and heart enough for everyone. I loved every page. Lora Senf, author of The ClackityIn this spooky middle grade novel perfect for fans of Small Spaces, Doll Bones, and V. E. Schwab, a young girl's deepest fears take on terrifying new life when she confronts a supernatural foe who can manipulate her nightmares.Penny Hope used to be brave, but that was before she met the Fear Maker. Years later, he still haunts her dreamsa tall, thin man with red eyes, in a haunted house in the woods, who devours human souls and leaves his victims'' eyes hollow and empty. Penny's beloved grandma tells her to write down these nightmares as poems in her notebook. But then Penny starts seeing blank-eyed people in the waking world, too. She's the only one who notices.As more people around her fall prey to the Fear Maker, Penny must gather her courage once and for all to save the souls of t

Read more less

Book SynopsisINSTANT INDIE BESTSELLER!This anthology makes a statement: Black women belong in horror...Projects like this - brave, necessary - celebrate Black women, and will hopefully inspire the future of the genre. -The New York Times Book ReviewA YA anthology of horror stories centering Black girls who battle monsters, both human and supernatural, and who survive to the end Be warned, dear reader: The Black girls survive in this one.Celebrating a new generation of bestselling and acclaimed Black writers, The Black Girl Survives in This One makes space for Black girls in horror. Fifteen chilling and thought-provoking stories place Black girls front and center as heroes and survivors who slay monsters, battle spirits, and face down death. Prepare to be terrified and left breathless by the pieces in this anthology.The bestselling and acclaimed authors include Erin E. Adams, Monica Brashears, Charlotte Nicole Davis, Desi

Read more less

Book SynopsisA twelve-year-old cemetery boy and monster hunteralong with his flesh-eating mermaid friendhas to race against the clock to save the ghost of his dead mother in Brick Dust and Bones, M.R. Fournet''s magical middle grade debut. Nothing's more dangerous than a monster hunter with a mission. Marius Grey hunts Monsters. He''s not supposed to. He''s only twelve and his job as a Cemetery Boy is to look after the ghosts in his family''s graveyard. He should be tending these ghosts andof coursegoing to school to learn how to live between worlds without getting into trouble. But, Marius has an expensive goal. He wants to bring his mother back from the dead, and that takes a LOT of mystic coins, which means a LOT of Monster Hunting, and his mother's window to return is closing.If he wants her back, Marius is going to have to go after bigger and meaner monsters, decide if a certain flesh-eating mermaid is a friend or foe, and avoid meddli

Read more less

Book SynopsisNight of the Living Queers is a YA horror anthology that explores a night when anything is possible, exclusively featuring queer authors of color putting fresh spins on classic horror tropes and tales.No matter its name or occasion, Halloween is more than a Hallmark holiday, it's a symbol of transformation. NIGHT OF THE LIVING QUEERS is a YA horror anthology that explores how Halloween can be more than just candies and frights, but a night where anything is possible. Each short story is told through the lens of a different BIPOC teen and the Halloween night that changes their lives forever. Creative, creepy, and queer, this collection brings fresh terror, heart, and humor to young adult literature.Contributors include editors Alex Brown and Shelly Page, Kalynn Bayron, Ryan Douglass, Sara Farizan, Maya Gittelman, Kosoko Jackson, Em Liu, Vanessa Montalban, Ayida Shonibar, Tara Sim, Trang Thanh Tran, and Rebecca Kim Wells.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe beloved haunting romance from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kendare Blake, now with an all-new bonus novella!Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father''s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. They follow legends and local lore, destroy the murderous dead, and keep pesky things like the future and friends at bay.Searching for a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas expects the usual: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he''s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared t

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisGhost story master Mary Downing Hahn unrolls the suspenseful, spine-chilling yarn of a girl imprisoned for more than a century, the terrifying events that put her there, and a friendship that crosses the boundary between past and present.Trade Review"An enthralling ghostly tale." — School Library Journal "This gentle paranormal mystery is perfect for young readers." — Booklist "Hahn’s mystery offers an atmospheric setting, a child ghost, and eerie circumstances." — Publishers Weekly

Read more less

Book SynopsisDexter meets Victoria Schwab in this dark and compelling fantasy about a girl who is determined to take down the black market once and for all in the conclusion to the trilogy that started with the critically acclaimed Not Even Bones.Nita finally has Fabricio, the boy who betrayed her to the black market, within her grasp. But when proof that Kovit’s a zannie—a monster who eats pain in order to survive—is leaked to the world, Nita must reevalute her plans.   With enemies closing in on all sides, the only way out is for Nita and Kovit to take on the most dangerous man in the world: Fabricio’s father. He protects the secrets of the monsters who run the black market. Stealing those secrets could be the one thing that stands between Nita and Kovit and certain death in the thrilling conclusion to the trilogy that began with the critically acclaimed Not Even Bones.

Read more less

Book SynopsisBook 2 of The Harbinger contemporary fantasy series features angels, demons and gargoyles in a battle to save humanity. For fans of Cassandra Clare, Gena Showalter and Holly Black.Trade ReviewPraise for Storm and Fury, Book 1 of The Harbinger Series:"Jennifer L. Armentrout is a master of weaving rich contemporary realism with magic and mayhem. Her characters will grab hold of your heart and refuse to let go. Every page left me wanting more." —New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer"Jennifer L. Armentrout's intoxicating new fantasy is her best yet!" —New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter"Filled with legendary creatures, this wild, action-packed ride features a kick-ass heroine to cheer for and a love interest I'm still dreaming about. Highly recommended for those who enjoy adventure, romance, twists and turns, and epic supernatural world building!" —Kresley Cole, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Arcana Chronicles"A swoony, supernatural smash that's impossible to put down!" —Abigail Johnson, author of Even If I Fall"The action and suspense build with each chapter, making this a compelling read. Readers will anxiously await the next installment in this series, and libraries will find it difficult to keep this one on the shelf." —School Library Journal"As always, Armentrout excels in building a paranormal romance world that is believable, accessible, and riveting." —Booklist

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"In a world where those in power prefer civility to justice, Wrath Becomes Her is the perfect book for those who know the fight for truth will always be a brutal one. Haunting, exhilarating, and a howl of vengeance." —Andrew Joseph White, New York Times bestselling author of Hell Followed With Us "Aden Polydoros' Wrath Becomes Her is intoxicating and visionary, a rare book that peels apart the idea of what personhood is, what our obligations are to those who made us who we are, and our obligations to the living and to the dead. Vera's story is riveting and compelling, and I could not put it down. I was blown away. No one's writing Jewish historical fantasy like Aden is. This is a tour de force." —Katherine Locke, author of This Rebel Heart"A tale of power and agency that is just as timely now as it was during its setting 80 years ago, Aden Polydoros has once again proven himself to be a master of storytelling and a talent to watch. If you're looking for one novel to sate your horror hungers, this is the book to read. I'll be thinking about this one for months to come." —Kosoko Jackson, author of Yesterday Is HistoryPraise for The City Beautiful:Winner of the 2022 Sydney Taylor Book Award for Young Adult2022 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel finalist2021 National Jewish Book Award finalistA Lambda Literary Award finalist2021 Bram Stoker Award Preliminary Ballot for Young Adult NovelsA New York Public Library Best Book for Teens 2021"An achingly rendered exploration of queer desire, grief, and the inexorable scars of the past." —Katy Rose Pool, author of There Will Come A Darkness"Chillingly sinister, warmly familiar, and breathtakingly transportive, The City Beautiful is the haunting, queer Jewish historical thriller of my darkest dreams." —Dahlia Adler, creator of LGBTQreads and editor of That Way Madness Lies "Like a darkly compelling dream; I dare readers to try to put down this queer triumph of a book where myth, mystery, and death lurk around every corner of the Windy City."—Sarah Glenn Marsh, author of the Reign of the Fallen series"With stark, poignant prose and an endearing main character, The City Beautiful is an entrancing and chilling tale that deftly analyzes complex themes of identity and assimilation. One-part historical fantasy, one-part gothic thriller, this genre-blending story has something for everyone."—Kalyn Josephson, author of the Storm Crow duology"Sinister and alluring, The City Beautiful will utterly transport you. With a keen eye for historical details, Polydoros deftly weaves together a gruesome murder mystery, a beautiful romance, and a rich depiction of Jewish life in the 19th century. I absolutely adored Alter, a boy on a quest for closure, love, and belonging in a hostile world."—Allison Saft, author of Down Comes the Night "Set during the 1893 Chicago World Fair, The City Beautiful is a gripping, fast-paced book that expertly marries thriller and murder mystery. Polydoros is not afraid to tear aside the façade of beauty and civility to confront the darkest aspects of human nature, no holds barred. The resulting book is something truly special."—Sophie Gonzales, author of Only Mostly Devastated “Readers will become immersed in Alter’s world, rooting for his survival, hoping for his reunion with his family, and wishing for him to find the love that he deserves.” —Kirkus Reviews“Polydoros seamlessly blends a murder mystery with Jewish folklore in this haunting historical fantasy…. Readers looking for finely wrought historical fiction with fully realized characters and a thrilling pursuit of justice are sure to be satisfied by Alter’s story.” —Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW“A gorgeous, disturbing, visceral and mystical experience…. His unflinching and well-rounded depiction of Jewish American and immigrant history makes The City Beautiful a superb addition to the ranks of YA historical fiction.” —Bookpage, STARRED REVIEW“Polydoros doesn’t hold back with this heavy, dark, and gritty story that explores the immigrant experience in a unique way. While firmly a historical fiction title, this genre-bending novel is also equal parts thriller and fantasy. Featuring a queer protagonist, it is deeply layered with Jewish myth, immigration, racism, and anti-Semitism…. A wild ride of a queer gothic fantasy that’s a must-have for YA fantasy collections.” –SLJ, STARRED REVIEW“The City Beautiful is a triumph, showcasing queer love, illuminating historical events, and guiding readers to an enthralling ending that will leave them satiated yet desirous to return to the world in which they have become immersed.” —Booklist, STARRED REVIEW“Details rich with specificity and research, and its joys tinged with sorrow…makes it all the more moving.” —NPR.org “It is excit­ing to see a sto­ry that draws from the deep well of Jew­ish folk­lore for a dark, super­nat­ur­al twist on the his­tor­i­cal mys­tery plot.” —Jewish Book CouncilPraise for Bone Weaver:"A heart-pounding adventure. Magic and monsters lurk in every corner as a headstrong trio search for their place in Aden Polydoros's haunting world." ––Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights"A dark and thrilling tale." —Kirkus Reviews"Superb... Polydoros is a master of world building and conjuring suspense in a page-turning plot. His characters are highly empathetic and memorable, as is this emotionally charged story." —Booklist, STARRED REVIEW“Polydoros crafts a magical world that readers will revel in exploring… Fans of Justina Ireland’s Dread Nation and the Shadow & Bone series will love this dark fantasy with a touch of horror.” —The Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books"Bone Weaver is a bloody and unflinching fantasy that balances its darkness with an unwavering cascade of love." —BookPage"In his lauded YA debut, The City Beautiful, Polydoros showed how adept he is at taking history and myth and spinning it into something believable and true. Though Bone Weaver is imaginary world fantasy, the real history behind it is treated with the same deep respect and consideration." —NPR.org

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom internationally bestselling, acclaimed author Melinda Salisbury comes a darkly seductive story of murder, betrayal, love, and family secrets in a small town in the Scottish Highlands.Here are the rules of living with a murderer.One: Do not draw attention to yourself.Of course, when you live with a murderer, this is impossible. Even the subtlest of spectres is bound to be noticed. Which leads to the next rule.Two: If you can''t be invisible, be useful.Everyone in this quiet lakeside community knows that Alva''s father killed her mother, all those years ago. There wasn''t enough proof to arrest him, though, and with no other family, Alva''s been forced to live with her mother''s murderer, doing her best to survive until she can earn enough money to run away.One of her chores is to monitor water levels in the loch-a task her father takes very seriously. Their family has been the guardian of the loch for generations. It''s a cold, lonely task, and a

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisWelcome, foolish mortals, to an original and eerie novel inspired by the Haunted Mansion attraction at Disney Parks!When high school student Audrey Perez moves to a town that's supposedly home to a haunted mansion, she and a few of her new friends decide to investigate. Audrey is quickly swept up in a macabre mystery and eerie adventure that holds the fate of the Haunted Mansion's 999 happy haunts in the balance. A storm is coming—both literally and figuratively—and it'll be up to Audrey and her friends to save the Mansion—and its ghosts—before it's too late. But can Audrey do so while dealing with her own anxieties and while caught in a love triangle between her boyfriend and the enigmatic Sterling—who just might be a ghost?Read on, foolish mortal, if you dare . . .

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the New York Times best-selling author of Disney’s Villains series comes a ghostly new stand-alone novel that reimagines The Legend of Sleepy Hollow through the eyes of a modern teen.The two-hundredth anniversary of the Headless Horseman's legendary haunting of Sleepy Hollow is approaching, but Kat van Tassel wants nothing to do with the town's superstitious celebrations. As a descendant of the original Katrina van Tassel, Kat knows she’s expected to fulfill her ancestor’s legacy by someday marrying her longtime boyfriend and running the prestigious family estate. But Kat dreams of a life outside Sleepy Hollow. Then Kat meets Isadora, a new girl in town who challenges Kat to reexamine those expectations, opens her eyes to the possibility that ghosts are real, and makes her question who she truly wants to be . . . and be with. When Kat is given the original Katrina’s diary, a new legend begins to take sh

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewRendered in bold colors in a delightfully creepy Tim Burton–esque style, they appear on every page, often in double-page spreads, and include lots of small details and quirky annotations that young readers will enjoy examining closely. * School Library Journal *

Read more less