Looking for a shocking tale that will leave you peeking over your shoulder? Here are five collections to check out, available at the Barrington Area Library.
Dare to Be Scared: Thirteen Stories to Chill and Thrill
by Robert D. San Souci and David Ouimet
A young girl receives a phone call from her aunt. Problem is, her aunt’s been dead for a while.
A young boy is trapped in a nightmare he can’t wake up from.
A trip to the Caribbean goes horribly wrong.
Scares abound in this collection of original short stories by Robert D. San Souci, complemented by David Ouimet’s wonderful illustrations.
Some of the stories are only mildly spine-tingling, while others are positively frightening. Recommended for middle grade and slightly younger readers.
Don’t Turn Out the Lights
by various authors
A young boy steals a small, wooden bear statue. The bear changes again and again, and soon it is apparent the boy is being hunted.
A small town keeps a strange “holiday” in which impossibly tall, rail-thin creatures appear and demand gifts from the townsfolk.
A hapless ghost is desperate to frighten a child, but is unsuccessful at every turn.
In this chain-rattling collection, popular authors including R.L. Stine, Margaret Stohl, and Josh Malerman come together to pay tribute to Alvin Schwartz’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.
Some of the stories are kid-friendly, while others border on young adult. Recommended for middle grade readers and older, though some stories may be appropriate as read-alouds for younger siblings.
Ghost: Thirteen Haunting Tales to Tell
by various authors
A fateful slip beneath icy waves.
Eyes in the trees, watching your every move.
A mirror that contains more than your reflection.
These thirteen grim tales, penned and inked by the creative collective Illustratus, are concerned with “the only true ghost stories,” as told by a creepy old storyteller. These stories are creepy, made creepier by the artwork, and appropriate for middle grade readers.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
by Alvin Schwartz
An old woman finds a severed toe and decides to make a soup out of it. Then the toe’s owner comes looking for their lost appendage.
A young woman is disturbed to find a zit on her cheek… a zit that keeps growing bigger, and bigger, and bigger…
Two bored farmers make a scarecrow and name him Harold. Harold is the butt of their jokes, a way for them to pass the time… until Harold starts making noises on his own.
This classic collection of frightening tales is the first in a trilogy. Alvin Schwart’s storytelling is straightforward, but effective, complemented by Stephen Gammell’s horrifying art. There is a newer edition, pictured above on the right, with less-frightening artwork (by Brett Helquist) that will be more appropriate for younger readers.
The original edition (left) is recommended for middle grade and older readers. The newer edition (right) is also recommended for middle grade readers, but may be more appropriate for a slightly younger audience.
Through the Woods
by Emily Carroll
Two brothers enter the woods, looking for the monster that harasses their village. Only one brother returns.
A young woman discovers a shocking secret in her new husband’s beautiful manor.
A young girl struggles with her ability to see ghosts.
This collection of short comics by artist Emily Carroll combines Halloween-appropriate horror with fairy tale storytelling, complete with a twist on “Little Red Riding Hood.” The art is gorgeous, though sometimes scary, and will leave readers thoroughly disturbed.
Recommended for teen readers of graphic fiction, fantasy, and horror.
Tip: Want personalized reading suggestions? Fill out this form and you’ll receive a customized list direct to your inbox!
Youth Services Librarian Chris