Creepy, Spooky & Scary Tales

Note: All books are located in the Fiction section. *Indicated titles suitable for younger readers.

Adler, C.S. FOOTSTEPS ON THE STAIRS

Thirteen-year old Dodie and her new stepsister Anne gradually become friends as they investigate sounds of footsteps which may be those of two sisters drowned in a nearby marsh nearly forty years earlier.

Avi. SOMETHING UPSTAIRS: A TALE OF GHOSTS

Kenny discovers that his new house is haunted by the spirit of a black slave boy who asks Kenny to returnn with him to the early nineteenth century and prevent his murder by slave traders.

Bellairs, John. THE VENGEANCE OF THE WITCH-FINDER

Thirteen-year-old Lewis Barnavelt accidentally unleashes demonic forces and summons the ghost of an evil wizard bent on killing the Barnavelt family. Part of a series.

DeFelice, Cynthia. THE GHOST AND MRS. HOBBS

Eleven-year-old Allie investigates the fire 17 years earlier which claimed the lives of the husband and infant son of a school cafeteria worker, as well as the handsome young man whose ghost asks Allie for help.

Gaiman, Neil. CORALINE

Looking for excitement, Coraline ventures through a mysterious door into a world that is similar, yet disturbingly different from her own, where she must challenge a gruesome entity in order to save herself, her parents, and the souls of three others.

Gliori, Debi. PURE DEAD MAGIC

When their father is kidnapped and danger looms, the Strega-Borgia children, their mysterious new nanny, and a giant tarantula use magic and actual trips through the Internet to bring peace to their Scottish castle. Part of a series.

Griffin, Peni. THE GHOST SITTER

When she realizes that her new house is haunted by the ghost of a ten-year-old girl, Charlotte tries to help her find peace.

Hahn, Mary Downing. DEEP AND DARK AND DANGEROUS

Thirteen-year-old Ali spends the summer with her aunt and cousin at the family's vacation home, and she stumbles upon a secret that her mother and aunt have been hiding for over thirty years.

Howe, James. BUNNICULA*

Though scoffed at by Harold the dog, Chester the cat tries to warn his human family that their foundling baby bunny must be a vampire. Part of a series.

Jacques, Brian. SEVEN STRANGE AND GHOSTLY TALES

Ghosts, vampires and demons populate these strange and unexpected tales.

Lawrence, Michael. THE POLTERGOOSE

After moving to a new house, Jiggy is haunted by the ghost of a goose, and his friends join him in trying to lay her spirit to rest.

Levy, Elizabeth. NIGHT OF THE LIVING GERBIL*

Sam and his brother Robert fear their new neighbor is a zombie and plans to bring their dead pet gerbil back to life. Part of a series.

Lively, Penelope. THE GHOST OF THOMAS KEMPE

The ghost of a seventeenth-century sorcerer emerges as a poltergeist and attempts to make young James his apprentice.

Maguir, Gregory. SEVEN SPIDERS SPINNING*

Seven prehistoric spiders that had been trapped in ice for thousands of years bring excitement to rural Vermont and briefly unite two rival clubs at a local elementary school. Part of a series.

McNish, Cliff. BREATHE: A GHOST STORY

Twelve-year-old Jack moves into an old farmhouse in the English countryside and discovers that he can see the ghosts inhabiting the house and also talk to a tormented, malevolent spirit that threatens to destroy both his mother and himself.

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. THE WITCH'S SISTER

Lynn's growing conviction that her sister is learning witchcraft from a neighbor reaches its peak when Lynn, her sister and brother are left for a weekend in the neighbor's charge. Part of a series.

Pinkwater, Daniel. THE LUNCHROOM OF DOOM*

Even a child who is pure of heart and does his homework neatly may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the moon is full. Part of a series.

Sage, Angie. MY HAUNTED HOUSE*

Araminta Spookie enlists the help of several ghosts and a haunted suit of armor named Sir Horace in an attempt to stop her Aunt Tabby from selling Spook House. Part of a series.

San Souci, Robert. DARE TO BE SCARED

Thirteen short stories about ghosts, monsters, spirits, and other scary creatures will give the reader thrills and chills.

Sommer-Boldenburg, Angela. IF YOU WANT TO SCARE YOURSELF

Bored and sick in bed, Freddy listens to four scary stories told to him by members of his family and then makes one up himself.

Turner, Ann. ROSEMARY'S WITCH

Nine-year-old Rosemary discovers that the nearby woods conceal a 150 year-old witch, who once lived in her house and is using her magic to take it back.

Vande Velde, Vivian. THERE'S A DEAD PERSON FOLLOWING MY SISTER AROUND

Eleven-year-old Ted becomes concerned and intrigued when his five-year-old sister Vicki begins receiving visits from two female ghosts.

Vivelo, Jackie. CHILLS IN THE NIGHT: TALES THAT WILL HAUNT YOU

Eight stories about ghosts, disappearances, and strange creatures.

Wright, Betty Ren. THE GHOST OF POPCORN HILL

Martin and Peter acquire a mischievous new dog and two lonely ghosts.

September 2007 (tnd)