Young Adult Horror

It's been about three months since I've read any young adult fiction, and now that it's October, I've found myself finally wanting to read it again. It's perfect timing, too. This month's reading theme is horror, and there are plenty of young adult horror novels to choose from. Here's what I'll be reading this month. All book summaries are from the library's catalog.


MARY: Unleashed by Hillary Monahan: Jess McAllister's summoning obsession has turned into a deadly haunting since the ghost of Mary Worth will not rest until Jess has come undone, so now it is up to Jess and her reluctant friends, Shauna and Kitty, to stop Mary for good.

The urban legend of Bloody Mary has always fascinated me, and I was thrilled when MARY: The Summoning was published last year. While it wasn't the best horror novel I've read, it kept me interested, and I was happy to see that it was the first of a series.

Thirteen Chairs by Dave Shelton: When Jack enters the deserted house in his neighborhood, he finds a group of people who invite him to take the thirteenth chair in the room and share a story--in the house where the ghosts meet.

I love ghost stories, and this one sounds different enough from the typical ghost story that I couldn't wait to check it out.

What We Knew by Barbara Stewart: "When I was little, I imagined a monster: Scaly hands. Pits for eyes..." When Tracy and her best friend, Lisa, were kids, stories about a man -  a creep who exposes himself to little girls - kept them out of the woods and in their own backyards. But Tracy and Lisa aren't so little anymore, and the man in the woods is nothing but a stupid legend. Right? But someone is in the woods. Someone is watching. And he knows all their secrets, secrets they can't tell anyone - not even each other. "Monsters don't exist." Lisa's just being paranoid. At least that's what Tracy things. But when a disturbing "gift" confirms her worst fears, ti sets the girls on a dangerous journey that takes them beyond the edge of the woods. But reality is more terrifying than the most chilling myth, and what they find will test the bonds of friendship, loyalty, and love. "Once upon a time, two girls were lost in the woods." In Barbara Stewart's What We Knew, Tracy and Lisa can't destroy the evil they'll face, but can they stop it from destroying each other?

A creepy monster living in the woods? Yes, please!

Don't Stay Up Late: A Fear Street novel by R.L. Stine: Ever since a car accident killed her father and gave her a severe concussion, high school junior Lisa has been plagued by nightmares and hallucinations, but when she accepts a babysitting job in hopes it will banish the disturbing images, she faces new terror as she begins to question exactly who--or what--she is babysitting.

I have to admit, I'm only reading this one because it's R.L. Stine. I never read the original Fear Street series, but I loved Goosebumps, and now that Fear Street is back, I thought I'd give it a try.

Return to the Dark House by Laurie Faria Stolarz: Ivy Jensen escaped the Dark House--but the haunting memories of the friends she left behind remain. As the trail for the killer grows cold, it's up to Ivy to end the nightmare. Forever.

I loved Welcome to the Dark House. It felt like I was reading a horror movie. I love horror movies, and I would love to see this book turned into one. It was creepy without being too terrifying, and I couldn't help but read it in one sitting. I can't wait to dive into the second book.

Slasher Boys and Monster Girls, edited by April Genevieve Tucholke: Inspired by classic tales and films, a collection of fourteen short stories ranging from bloody horror, to psychological thrillers, to supernatural creatures, to unsettling, all-too-possible realism, by acclaimed YA authors of every genre.

Ask the Dark by Henry Turner: Billy Zeets has a story to tell. About being a vandal and petty thief. About missing boys and an elusive killer. And about what happens if a boy who breaks all the rules is the only person who can piece together the truth. Gripping and powerful, this masterful debut novel comes to vivid life through the unique voice of a hero as unlikely as he is unforgettable.

There are also a few adult novels and short story collections I'd like to read.

Hawkes Harbor by S.E. Hinton
Christine by Stephen King
The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe


I don't know that I'll be able to get through everything, but I love this time of year. Fall perfect for reading (I love curling up in bed with a cup of hot tea and a good book!), and October is even better because with the holidays coming up, everything is starting to feel festive and fun, and there's no better time to read a scary story than that.

Will you be reading any horror novels this month? Let me know in the comments. Happy reading!