6 spooky chapter books for Halloween

I was obsessed with spooky stories as a kid. I read almost every Goosebumps book on the shelves and all the spooky stories I could get my hands on. I loved watching “Unsolved Mysteries” and other creepy shows. I entered my own horror story into my school’s Reflections contest in middle school.

I laugh now, because I’m SUCH a baby when it comes to anything remotely scary. I refuse to watch or read scary movies or books (even Signs, The Sixth Sense, and What Lies Beneath were too scary for me).

My 3rd-grader is repeating history and is super into spooky stories, especially around Halloween. We rounded up a few of our favorite spooky but not-too-scary books for kids who read at the middle grade level.

Of course, every child can handle different levels of spooky, so use your own discretion! My daughter and I rated these according to how spooky we think they are. 1 is barely spooky, and 5 is possibly nightmare-inducing. I’m not into evil-scary, so I picked books that are on the mild side.

1. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

In 17th century New England, a young girl moves to a new town and is instantly met with disapproval and suspicion. But she finds a friend in a woman who is believed to be a witch. This is a great middle-grade classic.

Spook factor: 1/5

2. Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween by Lisa Morton

A fun one to read together and learn some interesting history behind this spooky holiday.

Spook factor: 1/5

3. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz

I read and loved these when I was young. The stories and illustrations are definitely creepy, but my 8-year-old loves them!

Spook factor: 4/5

4. Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene

This classic series about a girl detective and the mysteries she solves is perfect for Halloween.

Spook factor: 3/5

5. The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

On Halloween night, a group of boys go to a haunted house, where their friend disappears. The boys travel back in time to find their friend and discover the origin of Halloween along the way. Ray Bradbury is a master storyteller and the illustrations are fantastic.

Spook factor: 2/5

6. The Witches by Roald Dahl

One of my favorite Roald Dahls. A fantastic tale of “real” witches, woven with wonder, magic, and just enough suspense.