October Theme: Scary Reads

by
Stephanie J. Blake

My boys love to be scared; not completely freaked out and unable to go into a dark room alone, but just spooked enough to get the imagination going. Halloween is a good time to read spooky stories by candlelight. I have three book recommendations for your middle grade ghost or goblin this Halloween season.
 
Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein

There's a big ugly tree in Zack's yard, and it's posessed. A lightening strike lets the evil spirit loose. It's up to Zack and his stepmom, Judy, to get rid of the spririt for good. This book will appeal to boys who do not really enjoy reading. They'll have to keep turning the pages to find out what happens.


Coraline by Neil Gaiman

When Coraline finds a secret door in her new old house, she meets "an other mother" who wants her to stay--forever. In this other world, Coraline can have everything she's ever wanted, if only she'll exchange her eyes for big round black buttons and never leave. The book is more thrilling than the movie. Illustrations add to the fun.
Always October by Bruce Coville

Jake finds a baby on his doorstep, and his family decides to keep it. To their surprise, the baby turns into a monster at night, complete with fur and fangs. And other monsters are out to get him. Jake and his friend, Lily, have adventures in a world called Always October trying to save the "little brother" at all costs. Funny and scary! A great combo. Also good for boys who don't really like to read.


Comments

  1. Love that phrase: "spooked enough to get the imagination going." Fabulous book recs!

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  2. These sound like great books! A little imagination and spookiness goes a long way.

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  3. Thanks for the book recs. For some reason I've never got round to reading Coraline but I'm going to make it top of my list!

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  4. Thanks for all the scary book recommendations. I don't care much for either scary books or Halloween, but my students do!

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