The Best Halloween Read Alouds for Upper Elementary & Middle School Readers

Halloween is a great time to engage readers & teach about suspense, cliffhangers, and other spooky elements of author’s craft. However, finding engaging, age-appropriate Halloween read alouds for upper elementary can be overwhelming.

If your students are already big fans of scary stories, you can use Halloween books as a chance to build on their excitement and enthusiasm. For example, if you want to introduce mysteries or thrillers, use October to help them hone their skills as detectives. Have them practice analyzing clues and writing down who they think committed the crime.

Whether you’re still building your classroom library or just looking to add a few engaging new titles this October, these Halloween books are a perfect place to start making your list.

30+ Spooky Halloween Read Alouds for Upper Elementary & Middle Schoolers

Halloween is also an excellent opportunity to engage reluctant readers with spooky stories. You might even be able to interest students in fantasy and science fiction who don’t generally like those genres by using Halloween as a way in for those titles.

Another great aspect of many spooky novels and Halloween books is that they have elements of suspense and mystery, which can be a useful entry point for discussing the author’s craft—for instance, how do authors create suspense? What words or phrases do they use? How do cliffhangers work?

Here are over 30 of my favorite Halloween read alouds for upper elementary students and middle schoolers that are great for teaching or adding to your library this October.

1. Ghouls of Howlfair by Nick Tomlinson

The book The Ghouls of Howlfair by Nick Tomlinson takes a new approach to the Choose Your Own Adventure series.

Written from a second-person point of view, students no longer participate as ordinary human characters. Instead, they assume control over their ghostly selves and explore rooms filled with haunts!

Alongside strange creatures like vampires or werewolves, there is always something lurking in this house so the reader will need to choose wisely how they want things to go next…

Details about Ghouls of Howlfair:

• Age Range: 9-12 years
• Pages: 336

2. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard Book is a captivating Halloween novel that will have readers engrossed from beginning to end.

This book has been both critically acclaimed and the winner of many awards, including The Newbery Medal in 2009 and the Carnegie Medal in 2008. The story is unique in that it is a full-length novel for middle-grade readers with several shorter stories that can be pulled out as supplements or mentor texts for a specific unit.

The story of “Nobody Owens” is a lonely one. The main character lives in his own world, with only the ghosts that raise him as family – but what does he think about when nobody’s around?

Themes like isolation and loneliness are common for young readers to relate to, yet this book provides unique perspectives on those subjects which will make your students see them differently than before!

Details about The Graveyard Book:

• Age Range: 10-12 years
• Pages: 320
• Lexile: 820L

3. Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh

While not necessarily classified with other Halloween books, this story is a great option for those adding more multi-cultural voices to their classroom libraries.

The story focuses on Harper, who has just moved into her new home in Philadelphia, and discovers that there are Korean ghosts haunting the house. She enlists the help of a few friends to get rid of them.

The author is Korean-American, and the main character is half-Korean and half-African American. While there are lots of ghost stories out there, Spirit Hunters takes place on the main character’s journey to discover what it means to be biracial through her connection with her ancestors. The stories surrounding the six spirits Harper encounters are based on actual Korean folklore told by Ellen Oh’s grandmother during her childhood.

Themes such as death, tragedy and ancestry make this a compelling read for this time of year. What makes it even more fun is that Harper and one of her friends use their knowledge of technology to collect evidence proving that their house is haunted (which they then post online).

Details about Spirit Hunters:

• Age Range: 8-12 years
• Pages: 304
• Lexile: 680L

4. The Phantom Twin by Lisa Brown

Again not technically a Halloween book, but this is a great option if you’re looking to add more models of suspense and the horror genre to your classroom library.

This book is historical fiction, but it’s set in a circus! An acrobat named Lucy has a twin sister who dies in a tragic trapeze accident. But then she starts seeing her sister everywhere, and they’re soon joined by other ghosts from the circus.

It’s really creepy and beautifully written — it reminds me of Neil Gaiman’s work set for an older audience. It’s about both sisterhood and death, so it would be great for the classroom!

Details about The Phantom Twin:

• Age Range: 12-16 years
• Pages: 208

5. The Shadows by Jacqueline West

The Shadows is the first story from The Books of Elsewhere series. tells the story of Olive, a ten-year-old girl who moves with her family to a new house that has windows that don’t open and doors that lock on their own. One day she discovers a book in the library, and her life changes forever.

The book is full of pictures that come to life at night, moving creatures, and characters who want something from Olive. She soon realizes that they want her help saving their world. So begins an unforgettable adventure filled with mysterious places (including one where rain falls up), strange people (who can mysteriously appear and disappear), magic mirrors and keys, secret gardens, strange houses (including one whose front room is always dark), evil queens (and kings), creepy toys—and even cooler stuff like traveling ships pulled by flying cats!

This is the first in a series of 10 books about Olive, the book world and their adventures.

Details about The Shadows:

• Age Range: 9-11 years
• Pages: 272
• Lexile: 770L

6. The Stone Child by Dan Poblocki

This story is a little spookier than some of the others on this list, but it is a real page-turner. The story follows a boy named Eddie, who is a loner that would much prefer to read the mystery books of Nathaniel Olmstead to hanging out with peers. When Eddie moves to a new town, he discovers it is the same place Olmstead lived before he disappeared 13 years prior.

Soon Eddie finds a handwritten, never-before-seen book written by his favorite author. The problem starts when all the scary creatures that fill the pages start appearing in real life. Eddie and his new friends must break the code and solve the mystery.

Details about The Stone Child:

• Age Range: 8-12 years
• Pages: 288
• Lexile: 740L

7. The Year of Shadows by Claire Legrand

An incredibly spooky book to include in your classroom library this Halloween is The Year of Shadows by Claire Legrand. It is the story of Olivia Stelltella, a young girl who wishes for a new life after a rough year.

Living with her father in a broken-down concert hall, Olivia’s only friend is a stray cat named Igor. That is until she meets the four ghosts who haunt the hall. Their friendship gives Olivia a new mission – Save the concert hall to help her ghostly friends! However, she must do the impossible and soon discovers helping the dead has consequences for the living.

Details about The Year of Shadows:

• Age Range: 8-12 years
• Pages: 416
• Lexile: 570L

8. The Haunting of Henry Davis by Katherine Siebel

With historical details about the 1918 flu pandemic, The Haunting of Henry Davis is the story of a a boy who doesn’t quite fit in. Small and pale, Henry spends recess sketching in a notebook rather than playing with other children, and it is soon discovered that he is being haunted by a ghost named Edgar.

After making some new friends, Henry embarks on an adventure to discover who exactly Edgar was when he was alive and why he’s chosen to haunt Henry. Your students will enjoy reading this story as they try to solve the mystery.

Details about The Haunting of Henry Davis:

• Age Range: 9-12 years
• Pages: 240
• Lexile: 590L

9. The Hidden Witch by Molly Knox Ostertag

The Hidden Witch is a graphic novel set in a middle school. It’s about magic, friendship, and confronting bullies. Graphic novels are great for engaging readers and helping them build understanding of context clues and story elements. For reluctant and struggling readers, the shorter text is more approachable and the pictures offer support in comprehension.

This is a great addition to your classroom library around Halloween! It’s short enough that you can probably fit it into your curriculum if you want to—but also works around any time of year because there aren’t any spooky elements like ghosts or zombies (unless you count turning people into animals).

Details about The Hidden Witch:

• Age Range: 8-11 years
• Pages: 208
• Lexile: GN340L

10. The Jumbies by Tracey Baptise

Tracey Baptise’s novel takes place on a Caribbean island, where Corrine is excited for her upcoming birthday party. However, she has one big problem—Jumbies are supernatural creatures in Haitian folklore that live among humans, and one of them has decided to wreak havoc on the community. As her birthday gets closer, Corrine starts to worry that the Jumbie will ruin her party.

This story is inspired by Haitian folklore and tells the story of how a young girl must save her community from a jumbie.

Details about The Jumbies:

• Age Range: 9-12 years
• Pages: 240
• Lexile: 680L

11. Nightbooks by J.A. White

Alex is a young bookworm who loves scary stories, but he never thought he would become the hero of one himself. He is kidnapped by Natacha, a witch who keeps him prisoner and forces him to spin tales in order to stay alive.

This fast-paced novel features exciting twists and turns and explores the power of storytelling in captivating ways as Alex tries to outwit his wicked captor.

Details about Nightbooks:

• Age Range: 8-12 years
• Pages: 320
• Lexile: 660L

12. Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol

Anya’s Ghost is a graphic novel that takes place in the United States and follows Anya, a teenage girl who befriends a ghost. Together, they work on solving some of Anya’s problems. But as it turns out, the ghost may not be what she seems.

The book has won multiple awards including the 2012 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Kids and has been translated into 15 languages.

Details about Anya’s Ghost:

• Age Range: 10-14 years
• Pages: 221
• Lexile: GN240L

13. The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner

The Okay Witch is yet another graphic novel that will make a great addition to your classroom library this Halloween. It tells the story of Moth, a young witch who learns that she has magical powers and is sent to live with her two elderly aunts.

The book is incredibly humorous, but it also has elements of mystery and magic that will engage even the most reluctant readers.

Details about The Okay Witch:

• Age Range: 8-10 years
• Pages: 272
• Lexile: GN390L

14. Sheets by Brenna Thummler

This graphic novel by Brenna Thummler is a real treat. Middle-grade kids (ages 7-12) will love reading about Marj, who is so shy that she barely speaks to anyone other than her dad and the ghost who lives in their basement laundry room.

Not only does this story have some spooky elements, it’s also a heartwarming tale about friendship, connecting with others, and expressing yourself creatively through art. Kids who read this one will learn all about drawing comics from Thummler, who even includes tips in the back of the book!

Details about Sheets:

• Age Range: 8-10 years
• Pages: 240
• Lexile: GN400L

15. Skeleton Tree by Kim Ventrella

If you’re looking for a Halloween story that will appeal to your students from *third grade* on up, then Skeleton Tree could be the perfect book for you. It’s a little bit spooky and a little bit humorous. Your middle schoolers will especially love this story, but if you have younger students who like to read about monsters and ghosts, they might also enjoy it.

The illustrations are great and add an extra layer of humor to this story. They make Skeleton Tree even more fun to look at than some other books out there in the same genre; just take a look at the funny expressions on the characters’ faces!

Details about Skeleton Tree:

• Age Range: 9-12 years
• Pages: 240
• Lexile: 720L

16. Bunnicula by James and Deborah Howe

Bunnicula is a classic fiction novel that is likely your students’ first introduction to the beloved vampire bunny. In this comic horror, Chester and Harold are both members of the Monroe family, but while Harold is human, they are both animals—Chester is a cat and Harold is a dog. Bunnicula sneaks into the Monroe’s home late one night when they go to see a movie about vampires. Chester believes that Bunnicula may be a vampire as well, so he does what he can to protect his family from the baby rabbit.

Bunnicula was published in 1979 and has become an increasingly popular staple of many classrooms. In fact, it is one of my favorite books for 4th graders, and it has been followed by several sequels and spinoffs, including The Celery Stalks at Midnight in 1982, Howliday Inn in 1982 and Nighty Nightmare in 1988.

Details about Bunnicula:

• Age Range: 7-10 years
• Pages: 128
• Lexile: 700L
• Purchase Novel Study Resources: Bunnicula Novel Unit

17. Small Spaces by Katherine Arden

Small Spaces is a book that’s perfect for reading around Halloween. This creepy tale of mystery and suspense will have your students on the edge of their seats.

The main character, Ollie, has been through some serious trauma, but she overcomes her fears and uses them to help solve the mystery of Small Spaces. It’s also a great book to use when teaching suspense in writing.

This one isn’t very scary but it does have some spooky elements. It has an exciting plot, but it also gives you plenty to talk about with your students. For example, this book is great for teaching about overcoming fears and self-esteem issues.

Details about Small Spaces:

• Age Range: 10-12 years
• Pages: 256
• Lexile: HL570L

18. Doll Bones by Holly Black

If your students are into creepy stories and have a strong stomach, this book may be just what they’re looking for. Black has written a number of middle-grade novels but is best known for her Curse Workers Series.

This novel takes place in the same world as The Curse Worker Series without any prior knowledge of that series being required (although having read it will enhance the experience).

The story follows Zach, Poppy and Alice as they discover that their beloved china doll is actually a real human girl who is haunted by the ghost of a dead girl who wants revenge. To set things right, the children must travel to the underworld to bury her bones.

Doll Bones was a Newbery Honor book in 2014 and was also included on the Texas Bluebonnet Master List for 2014-2015 school year.

Details about Doll Bones:

• Age Range: 10-13 years
• Pages: 272
• Lexile: 840L

19. Coraline by Neil Gaiman 

Coraline is a horror, fantasy, and children’s literature novel written by Neil Gaiman. Originally published in 2002, the novel has since been adapted into a stop-motion animated film. In fact, the film was even nominated for Hugo and Nebula awards.

Coraline follows the title character as she travels through a portal to an alternate universe. Of course, things are not quite what they seem in this new world. The story is considered part of Gaiman’s “Sandman Universe” series of graphic novels.

The book can be used to introduce students to the notion of parallel universes, as well as elements of fantasy literature. It’s also a great way to introduce students to horror writing. You can connect lessons on literary techniques that create suspense, such as foreshadowing and building tension over time.

Details about Coraline:

• Age Range: 10-12 years
• Pages: 208
• Lexile: 740L

20. Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn

After their father’s death, Molly and Michael move with their stepmother to a new town. The house they have moved into is near the cemetery. It is believed that the ghost of Helen, who died there, still lingers in the area.

This book makes for a spooky story but also explores sibling relationships as well as other family dynamics. It can also be used to discuss bullying and how it has lasting effects on everyone involved.

Details about Wait Till Helen Comes:

• Age Range: 10-12 years
• Pages: 192
• Lexile: 750L

21. Ghosts by Raina Telgemeir

This list of Halloween stories wouldn’t be complete without Ghosts! This graphic novel will give you and your students chills while still being a fun read. Ghosts tells the story of sisters Catrina and Maya. The girls are moving to California with their mother because Maya is sick.

As it turns out, their new home has quite a few ghosts in residence! These friendly ghosts teach the family about their town’s storied past. However, some of them might be more helpful than others—and not all of them want the family to stay!

Ghost adventures abound in this graphic novel series. It’s perfect for readers who aren’t quite ready for Goosebumps or Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. My own reluctant reader, who is headed into 4th grade, loves this book despite typically avoiding anything remotely spooky.

Details about Ghosts:

• Age Range: 8-11 years
• Pages: 256
• Lexile: GN300L

22. Haunted Histories by J.H. Everett

Haunted Histories by J.H. Everett is a nonfiction book that uses creepy stories to teach about the past. It’s a great way to get older reluctant readers interested in history. Topics include ghosts, mysterious disappearances, witches, and hauntings.

Here are some spooky stories you can share with your class:

• A Man Disappears into a Doctor’s Cabinet: This was an early form of a closet or wardrobe. Napoleon Bonaparte disappeared into one from which he could not escape!
• The Whitechapel Murders: Learn about Jack the Ripper through this book!
• The Mysterious Hex: When tragedy struck at the Pennsylvania farmhouse known as Hex Hollow, many believed it was because of a curse placed by an angry witch.
• Cursed Treasure of Oak Island: What secrets lie beneath Oak Island? Of course, there has to be treasure there—it’s cursed!

Details about Haunted Histories:

• Age Range: 9-12 years
• Pages: 160
• Lexile: 950L

23. A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

Hansel and Gretel walk out of their own story and into eight other classic Grimm-inspired tales. Readers follow the siblings through a forest brimming with menacing foes. They learn the true story behind (and beyond) the bread crumbs, edible houses, and outwitted witches. Hansel and Gretel learn to take charge of their destinies. The pair become the clever architects of their own happily ever after.

Adam Gidwitz makes it clear that fairy tales are not for kids alone. This book is intended for upper elementary and middle school students (grades 4 –8). Its tone is playful enough that even your most reluctant reader will be drawn in by its illustrations, detailed characterizations, and gripping plot twists.

Gidwitz’s lighthearted narration encourages readers to explore themes like family dynamics and relationships between brothers and sisters through a new medium—one that may just show them how familiar these tropes really are!

Details about A Tale Dark & Grimm:

• Age Range: 9-12 years
• Pages: 288
• Lexile: 690L

24. City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab

City of Ghosts is the perfect book to set the tone for your Halloween-themed classroom. It follows the story of Cassidy Blake, a girl who can see ghosts—and an amateur ghost hunter. When her parents suggest they spend some time in Edinburgh, Scotland, she knows it’s because her mother wants to visit a real haunted house and film it for their next ghost hunting episode. But when Cass meets a girl named Lara who keeps appearing and disappearing, she realizes that there are more ghosts than just those found in haunted houses.

This book would be great for 7th grade readers and has everything you want from a Halloween read: scary ghosts, creepy places (hello, haunted house), and action-packed mystery.

Details about City of Ghosts:

• Age Range: 11-14 years
• Pages: 320
• Lexile: 720L

25. Serafina & the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty

The first in a multi-book series, Serafina & the Black Cloak tells the story of a young girl who lives in the basement of an estate during the Gilded Age. Her father works as the estate’s maintenance man and has told her to remain hidden. However, when children begin disappearing at the estate, Serafina realizes she may hold the clues needed to solve the mystery.

Readers follow Serafina’s hunt for the man in the Black Cloak and work to determine who he is before all the children at Biltmore disappear.

Details about Serafina & the Black Cloak:

• Age Range: 10-12 years
• Pages: 320
• Lexile: 850L

26. Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker

This Newbery Award-winning novel follows two fox brothers who are bullied by older foxes. When their mother goes out for a late-night hunt one evening, the two brothers hear noises in the forest.

As they venture out to investigate, they come across an abandoned mansion filled with strange paintings and a mysterious door. The boys’ desire to know what lies behind that door will take them on an adventure of a lifetime.

Heidicker writes well-developed characters that are easy to relate to and understand. He also includes descriptive passages that help readers become fully immersed in the story’s setting. The writing style is similar to that of traditional children’s books. That makes this book ideal for capturing the imagination of struggling readers who enjoy fantasy and/or horror stories.

Details about Scary Stories for Young Foxes:

• Age Range: 9-12 years
• Pages: 336
• Lexile: 640L

27. The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

This Newbery Award winner is the magical story of a young girl raised by a witch, a swamp monster, and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, who must unlock the secret of her past to reimagine her future.

One fateful night every year in the Protectorate, people leave their baby daughters in the forest for the witch. This way there are enough resources for everyone else (or so they think). But one year, the witch accidentally feeds on moonlight instead of starlight. As a result, she imbues Luna with powers that will change everything.

Details about The Girl Who Drank the Moon:

• Age Range: 9-12 years
• Pages: 400
• Lexile: 640L

28. The Witches of Willow Cove by Josh Roberts

This one is best as a read-aloud for upper elementary kids in grades 3-5. It is a great fit for Halloween as it is a little spooky without being too scary.

The main character is a 7th grader named Abby Shepherd. However, she’s far from your ordinary seventh-grade student. Abby is a witch!

When all sorts of strange things begin happening in her town, Abby discovers she isn’t the only teenage witch in the area, and her hometown has a secret past. However, this only brings about more questions when it becomes clear that her teacher may be keeping secrets of her own.

The book isn’t necessarily scary, but it does have some spooky elements. If you love Halloween and want a book your students will enjoy reading before the big day, this one will fit perfectly into your classroom library.

Details about The Witches of Willow Cove:

• Age Range: 10-12 years
• Pages: 310

29. The Witches by Roald Dahl

This is a great book to read over Halloween, especially as a read-aloud with your class.

It is age-appropriate for 3rd-5th graders. In the story, a boy finds out that all witches look like normal women but have claws instead of fingernails and bald heads underneath their wigs. He finds out about the witches’ plan to get rid of children and ends up thwarting them. The ending has a twist that will leave your students wanting more!

The story is full of suspense, mystery, and thrills. Perfect for Halloween reading!

Details about The Witches:

• Age Range: 7-10 years
• Pages: 208
• Lexile: 740L
• Purchase Novel Study Resources: The Witches Novel Unit

30. The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street by Lindsay Currie

Lindsay Currie’s The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street is an eerie story about a group of girls who find themselves in an odd situation. They’re trapped in the woods for days with no food or water and no idea when their rescue will come.

It turns out that the girls have been brought together by their shared love of horror movies. After watching a show about two teens who discover something terrible in the woods behind their homes, they decide to bring it up at the next day’s sleepover.

As expected from such an innocent conversation the night before, it goes downhill from there. Each girl takes her turn telling what she saw that night—something none of them claim to have seen but all will swear exists right behind their houses—and things get stranger as each girl describes more and more supernatural details.

Details about The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street:

• Age Range: 9-12 years
• Pages: 304
• Lexile: 620L

31. Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith

Hoodoo is the story of a young boy living in Depression-era Alabama. Hoodoo, who’s been mistaken for an orphan, was born and raised on a moonshiner’s farm in the backwoods of his home state.

When authorities come to seize Mr. Henry’s farm, Hoodoo is sent away to live with his grandmother, who’s a root doctor (a witch). At first, he doesn’t fit in with this new world and its rituals. However, as he learns more about his heritage and abilities, he becomes more comfortable and even starts to use the traditional folk magic of hoodoo himself.

What would otherwise be just a coming-of-age tale takes on another dimension that adds some spookiness just in time for Halloween —the supernatural.

Details about Hoodoo:

• Age Range: 10-12 years
• Pages: 226
• Lexile: 600L

32. Remarkables by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Written by the author of Among the Hidden, Remarkables is a a great Halloween book for readers who like a bit of mystery.

It tells the story of a girl named Marin who is new in town. At first, she can’t believe her eyes when the teens next door disappear. However, when her new friend admits he knows about them, too, the real mystery begins. With a warning to stay away, Charley makes it clear that there are painful secrets and mysteries that abound in Marin’s new community.

However, the story is so much more than that! With real issues – like bullying, family issues, and more – embedded throughout the story, you’ll love the engaging and uplifting message the author shares.

Details about Remarkables:

• Age Range: 8-12 years
• Pages: 320 pages

32. The Best Halloween Ever by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Looking for something that isn’t a scary chapter book? This Halloween adventure is written by the author of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and is a quick, funny read that’s perfect for reluctant readers.

A continuation of the story of the Herdman family and their hijinx, in this book the town mayor has had enough. It’s no surprise that the town’s children are upset with his decision to cancel Halloween, but somehow the Herdman kids still find a way to turn what should be the WORST Halloween ever into the best one!

Details about The Best Halloween Ever:

• Age Range: 8-11 years
• Pages: 140 pages

These books are perfect for getting in the Halloween spirit!