Haunted Houses, Schools, and Mansions. Oh My!
Posted on June 25, 2023
by Sam P
Haunted houses are one of the most beloved horror tropes out there. From creeping dread permeating the floorboards to fast-paced supernatural adventures, there’s no shortage of material available for youth.
There’s a Ghost In This House by Oliver Jeffers
In a house believed to be haunted, a young girl attempts to find the ghosts she knows wander the house. Think of this picture book like hide-and-seek. You never know what may be lurking on the next page.
Sir Simon: Super Scarer by Cale Atkinson
Sir Simon is a professional house haunter in a gorgeously illustrated home. Tragically, this picture book is only available in print, but if it weren’t for the back cover, we’d miss out on Sir Simon’s tiny little ghost cheeks which are reason enough for me to recommend this.
This Appearing House
By Ally Malinenko
Print | eBook | hoopla eBook | hoopla eAudiobook
You’ve heard of haunted houses that have been around for years, but what about haunted houses that seemingly appear out of nowhere and trap kids inside? This topsy-turvy nightmare is perfect for middle-grade readers who are looking for more than the classic haunted house story.
The House With a Clock In Its Walls
By John Bellairs
Print | hoopla eBook | hoopla eAudiobook
An actual classic haunted house story for middle grade, Lewis goes to live with his eccentric (also known as magical) uncle where a clock is counting down to doomsday. Jack Black does not make an appearance in the book, but who am I to say Uncle Jonathan really looks any different?
What Lives in the Woods
By Lindsay Curry
Print | eBook | eAudiobook | hoopla eBook | hoopla eAudiobook
Why spend your summer at a mystery writing workshop when you could get wrapped up in a real mystery while staying in a decrepit manor house? If your summer plans have ever been ruined, step into Ginny Anderson’s shoes and witness how it could’ve been much scarier.
She Is A Haunting
By Trang Thanh Tran
Print | eBook | eAudiobook
Another haunted house restoration project, but this time we follow Jade Nguyen to Vietnam. An estranged father, cryptic ancestral messages, and about a dozen secrets are waiting to be uncovered in this gothic novel.
Gallant
By V. E. Schwab
Print | eBook | eAudiobook | hoopla eBook | hoopla eAudiobook
Although Olivia Prior grew up at a lonely boarding school wherein no one could communicate with her, the haunted building we’re concerned about in this teen novel is the decrepit family manor she was invited to live in. The current tenants weren’t expecting her, but to be fair, she wasn’t expecting ancestral ghosts to be roaming the property either.
Delicious Monsters
By Liselle Stambury
Print | eBook | eAudiobook
Not sure how Daisy and her mom expected living in a secluded mansion would go given Daisy’s ability to see dead people. Regardless, they make the move and a decade later, it’s up to Brittney, a viral paranormal investigator, to investigate what exactly happened to them.
Locke vs. Key Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft
By Joe Hill
Print | eBook | hoopla eBook | hoopla Spanish eBook
You may be familiar with this dark, magical title given it’s popularity as a Netflix adaptation. Familial lore runs deep through Key House and when the latest generation of the Locke family moves in following a tragedy, their fresh start comes in the form of magical keys that are much more trouble than they’re worth.
Tales from the Haunted Mansion Vol. IV: Momento Mori
By John Esposito
Print | eAudiobook | hoopla
Returning to The Haunted Mansion can happen on the page too. Contained within these pages are several terrifying tales as iconic as the original film itself.
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