Boo! Focus on Scary Stories

“Do you have any scary stories?” Aside, possibly, from “Where’s the bathroom?” this is the most common question you or any other school or public service librarian will hear from your readers—and that would be young readers of all ages, from kindergarteners on up. Unlike that other question, of course, it’s not one that should be taken literally; children who ask it are not (one hopes) after genuine trauma, but are instead searching for ways to articulate, control, or at least build a little resistance to the fear that comes from feeling surrounded by a world rife with shadows, sudden dangers, and unknown rules. And if those ways should include books, especially the sort with monsters, ghosts, ghouls, or the occasional vampire, so much the better! Authors such as R.L. Stine, Stephen King, Anne Rice, and Dean Koontz have built bestseller-sized followings with their individual brands of fright fiction—but here is a sampler of recent and equally disquieting chillers from other hands, arranged by most likely audience and (taking a cue from Judy Sierra’s rousing guide to monsters worldwide, below) rated for general intensity.

CUSHMAN, Doug. Dirk Bones and the Mystery of the Haunted House. illus. by author. HarperCollins. 2006. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-06-073764-1; PLB $16.89. ISBN 978-0-06-073765-8.

Gr 1-3–When the town of Ghostly is haunted by some un-ghostlike noises, it’s up to skeleton reporter Dirk Bones to discover the cause. Younger fans of vampires, ghosts, werewolves, graveyards, and all things spooky will be delighted by Cushman’s witty text and cartoon creatures in this minimally scary easy-reader series kickoff.

DRUCE, Arden. Halloween Night. illus. by David T. Wenzel. Rising Moon. 2001. pap. $6.95. ISBN 978-0-87358-762-4.

K-Gr 1–Long on Halloween atmosphere but short on actual menace, this nighttime rhyme features delightfully detailed watercolor illustrations of a grinning witch, swooping bats, re-animated skeletons–and a gaggle of unfrightened trick-or-treaters in costume, gathered on a porch to wriggle their fingers and make spooky noises.

GOODHART, Pippa. Three Little Ghosties. illus. by AnnaLaura Cantone. Bloomsbury. 2007. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-58234-711-0.

K-Gr 2–In this expanded version of an old rhyme, three ghosties finish their toasties and set out to scare “girlsies” and “boyses,” but are themselves sent scurrying back to bed, “sucking on their thumbsies” by a fearless child’s “BOOO!” Cantone’s autumnal backgrounds and pop-eyed cartoon figures provide just the right visual tone for this Halloween romp.

HAMILTON, Virginia. Wee Winnie Witch’s Skinny: An Original African American Scare Tale. illus. by Barry Moser. Scholastic/Blue Sky. 2004. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-590-28880-4.

Gr 3-5–In this truly spine-tingling tale, original but based on folklore, a lad takes on a witch who can not only make a strong man weak enough to ride like a horse, but can take off her own skin at will. Moser’s eerie woodcuts add to the fun.

MCKISSACK, Patricia C. & Onawumi Jean Moss. Precious and the Boo Hag. illus. by Kyrsten Brooker. S & S/Atheneum/Anne Schwartz Bks. 2005. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-689-85194-0.

Gr 1-3–With the rest of her family out working the fields, young Precious is left all alone when the evil, shape-shifting Boo Hag comes knocking at the door. Thanks to some quick thinking, she saves herself–but as a twist at the end reveals, maybe not permanently. Precious has a spirited look in the paint and collage art, and the Boo Hag is plainly a powerful enemy. Audio version available from Recorded Books.

POLACCO, Patricia. The Graves Family. illus. by author. Philomel. 2003. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-24034-8; pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-14-240635-9.

Gr 2-3–Doug and Shalleaux Graves and their children bring near-chaos to the quiet town of Union City in an exuberantly told and illustrated romp that features giant spiders, voracious tropical plants, and a homemade hair-restoring concoction that has hilariously unintended side effects. Children who prefer creature features that are comical rather than creepy will enjoy the misadventures here, and in the sequel, The Graves Family Goes Camping (Philomel, 2005).

THACH, James Otis. A Child’s Guide to Common Household Monsters. illus. by David Udovic. Front St. 2007. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-932425-58-1.

K-Gr 2–The monster under the bed is hiding from the one in the closet, who in turn is hiding from the one in the attic, who is also hiding–in fact all of the monsters in the house are hiding from the scariest “monster” of all. Guess who? Detailed art creates a shadowy, deliciously realistic setting for this reassuring esteem-builder.

THOMASSIE, Tynia. Feliciana Meets D’Loup Garou: A Cajun Tall Tale. illus. by Cat Bowman Smith. Little, Brown. 1998. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-0-316-84133-7.

Gr 1-3–Illustrations featuring a particularly scary-looking creature give this Cajun tale some extra chills. Left alone when the rest of her family goes out to party, moody Feliciana ventures into the swamp and runs right into the dreaded werewolf. Rather than eat her up, though, it teaches her the value of a good howl.

WOOD, Audrey. Heckedy Peg. illus. by Don Wood. Harcourt. 1987. Tr $17. ISBN 978-0-15-233678-3: pap. $7. ISBN 978-0-15-233679-0.

Gr 2-5–An oldie but still a goodie, this folkloric, original tale of a mother who (seemingly) sacrifices her legs to save her children from being eaten by a witch not only makes riveting reading, alone or aloud, but also features strong, accomplished pictures that are positively freighted with menace.

AHLBERG, Allan. The Improbable Cat. illus. by Peter Bailey. Delacorte. 2004. Tr $9.95. ISBN 978-0-385-73186-7.

Gr 4-6–Young David is immune to the charms of a kitten that seems able to control the minds of the rest of his family–and so it’s up to him to do battle when the cat grows into a malign and powerful monster. Dark illustrations provide a clue that this small, deceptively innocuous tale is not for the nervous.

BRUCHAC, Joseph. Skeleton Man. Harper-Collins. 2001. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-029075-7; PLB $16.89. ISBN 978-0-06-029076-4; pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-0-06-440888-2.

Gr 4-6–A figure out of Mohawk legend in a modern setting, the thin man who imprisons Molly turns out to be a creature who ate himself down to the bones long ago and is now out to do the same to his relatives. Bruchac really cranks up the suspense in this chilling match between a resourceful young girl and a ghoulish predator.

BUCKLEY, Michael. The Fairy Tale Detectives. illus. by Peter Ferguson. (The Sisters Grimm Series, Bk. #1). Abrams. 2005. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-0-8109-5925-5; pap. $5.95. ISBN 978-0-8109-9322-8.

Gr 4-6–Discovering that the characters in many old folktales are real and have taken up residence around a small New York town, two sisters find themselves embroiled in magical and other intrigues that could turn deadly in an instant. Ferguson’s accomplished illustrations provide additional chills. (NB: The adversaries have been getting scarier in the follow-up volumes.) Audio version available from Recorded Books.

DEL NEGRO, Janice M. Passion and Poison: Tales of Shape-shifters, Ghosts, and Spirited Women. illus. by Vince Natale. Marshall Cavendish. 2007. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7614-5361-1.

Gr 5-7–Written for telling aloud, these seven original tales or recast folktales range from a tender tale of two mourning mothers, only one of whom is alive, to an utterly terrifying version of the serial-killer tale “Mr. Fox.” Natale’s art adds atmospheric touches.

DELANEY, Joseph. Revenge of the Witch. illus. by Patrick Arrasmith. (The Last Apprentice Series, Bk. #1). HarperCollins/Greenwillow. 2005. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-076618-4; PLB $17.89. ISBN 978-0-06-076619-1; pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-0-06-076620-7.

Gr 5-7–An apprentice ghost and bogle hunter finds himself learning on the job as he faces an increasingly deadly array of supernatural foes–culminating in Mother Malkin, a truly frightening, and unkillable, witch. This episode opens a series distinguished for its particularly creepy cast of unquiet spirits and malign entities. Arrasmith’s dark art reflects the tone perfectly. Audio version available from Recorded Books.

GAIMAN, Neil. Coraline. illus. by Dave McKean. HarperCollins. 2002. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-380-97778-9; PLB $17.89. ISBN 978-0-06-623744-2; pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-06-057591-5.

Gr 5-7–A child walks through a door in her new house and finds herself in an eerie alternate world, where her “parents” have buttons for eyes. Worse yet, when she goes back through the door, her real parents are missing. A quietly disturbing tale that is quickly assuming the status of a classic.

MARRIN, Albert, Oh, Rats! The Story of Rats and People. illus. by C. B. Mordan. Dutton. 2006. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-525-47762-4.

Gr 4-6–As a change of pace from imagined horrors, how about a stomach-churning, “Eeeeww!” inducing set of true stories featuring our ages-old companion, competitor, pet, plague carrier, and, often enough, entrée, the rat? Marrin relates his ghoulish anecdotes with relish, and the furry survivors with glowing red eyes that scamper across Mordan’s dark illustrations will sneak directly into readers’ deepest fears.

PEARSON, Maggie. The Headless Horseman and Other Ghoulish Tales. illus. by Gavin Rowe. Crocodile. 2001. Tr $18.95. ISBN 978-1-56656-377-2.

Gr 4-6–In 14 stories retold in a chillingly matter-of-fact way, Pearson pushes readers into Bluebeard’s castle, Baba Yaga’s hut, an igloo where a lonely fisherman brings a skeleton woman to life, and other haunts worldwide. Rowe’s pictures will grab readers like a bony hand in the dark, but the tales are also perfectly suited for telling.

Scary Stories. illus. by Barry Moser. Chronicle. 2006. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8118-5414-6.

Gr 6-9–Fear being the oldest and most primitive emotion, well-done horror stories tend to age more slowly than those in other genres. Here’s proof: a set of classic tales that are as nape-prickling now as when they first appeared, written by the likes of Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, Shirley Jackson, Dean Koontz, and even Winston Churchill. Moser contributes appropriately melodramatic wood engravings.

SIERRA, Judy. The Gruesome Guide to World Monsters. illus. by Henrik Drescher. Candlewick. 2005. RTE $18.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-1727-1.

Gr 4-6–Drescher goes for psychological effect rather than realism in the pictures that accompany this who’s who of bad-news creatures from world folklore–which is fitting as most are little known, rarely encountered, and eager to leap out from some cranny to feast on unsuspecting readers. Sierra provides a “gruesomeness rating” and survival tips (if there are any) for each entry.

VANDE VELDE, Vivian. Being Dead. Harcourt. 2001. Tr $17. ISBN 978-0-15-216320-4; pap. $6.95. ISBN 978-0-15-204912-6.

Gr 4-6–In seven characteristically clever, unsettling tales, the author provides charm and chills in equal measure with ghosts who return to settle scores or tie up loose ends. Readers fond of macabre developments, unexpected twists, and just deserts won’t find a dud in the lot.

WILD, Margaret. Woolvs in the Sitee. illus. by Anne Spudvilas. Front St. 2007. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-500-3.

Gr 5-9–All the more frightening for being so shadowy and undefined, the “woolvs” in this psychodrama stand for fear itself. Hiding away from the terror that has taken over the streets outside, young Ben remembers a more peaceful time–but now everything’s “topsee-turvee.” In the end, Ben begins to master his fear–but the semiphonetically spelled text and dark, atmospheric illustrations combine to create a decidedly unsettling tale.

COONEY, Caroline B. Code Orange. Delacorte. 2005. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-0-385-73259-8; PLB $17.99. ISBN 978-0-385-90277-9; pap. $6.50. ISBN 978-0-385-73260-4.

Gr 6-9–In this terrifying and all-too-plausible tale, a New York City teenager handles some old smallpox scabs that might or might not still carry contagion. So is he a dork to worry–or a deadly bio-weapon who, just by taking a walk, could wipe out an entire city?

HINDS, Gareth, adapt. Beowulf. illus. by adapter. Candlewick. 2007. RTE $21.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-3022-5; pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-3023-2.

Gr 6-9–Graphic in every sense of the word, this heavily illustrated version of the old tale pits massively muscled Beowulf against three even larger and truly intimidating monsters in a series of chaotic, gore-splashed battles. Just the ticket for readers who like to see extended fight scenes featuring heads bitten off and limbs rent from bodies.

HOFFMAN, Nina Kiriki. A Stir of Bones. Viking. 2003. pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-0-14-240361-7.

Gr 7-9–In this riveting blend of earthly horror and supernatural eeriness, teenaged Susan finds the help she needs to begin distancing herself from her abusive father in a house haunted by the ghost of a young suicide. Strong, atmospheric writing propels this prequel to the equally memorable A Red Heart of Memories (1999) and Past the Size of Dreaming (2001, both Penguin).

KLAUSE, Annette Curtis. Blood and Chocolate. Delacorte. 1997. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-385-32305-5; pap. $6.50. ISBN 978-0-440-22668-0.

Gr 8 Up–Still solidly perched at or near the top of any list of classic werewolf tales, this scary, sensuous, thought-provoking coming-of-age story features vividly imagined characters, multiple murders, and a shape-changing teenager caught between two ways of life.

LANDY, Derek. Skulduggery Pleasant. HarperCollins. 2007. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-123115-5; PLB $18.89. ISBN 978-0-06-123116-2.

Gr 6-8–In this tongue-in-cheek noir caper, young but intrepid Stephanie is pitched into a battle between a walking, talking, sharply dressed, fire-throwing skeleton detective and a sorcerer bent on unleashing an ancient evil. The plot is laced with violence and narrow squeaks, and the supporting cast includes a hair-raising array of scary, bad-news villains. Audio version available from HarperCollins.

SAUL, John. In the Dark of the Night. Ballantine. 2006. Tr $25.95. ISBN 978-0-345-48701-8; pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-0-345-48702-5.

Gr 9 Up–A summer vacation in a rented Wisconsin mansion–formerly the home of a doctor who studied serial killers–slides inexorably into terror as Eric and his friends experience frightening dreams (or are they dreams?) and discover in the nearby boathouse clues to some grisly past events. Not recommended for nighttime reading.

SHAN, Darren. Lord Loss. (The Demonata Series, Bk. #1). Little, Brown. 2005. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-316-11499-8; pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-316-01233-1.

Gr 6-9–Just the thing for fans of Shan’s “Cirque du Freak” series (Little, Brown), this blood-splashed series opener begins with a teenager’s prank with rat guts and his subsequent discovery that his family has been literally ripped to shreds by a demon. See the sequels (Demonata #4 appeared in May 2007) for further developments.

SHUSTERMAN, Neal. Red Rider’s Hood. Dutton. 2005. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-525-47562-0; pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-14-240678-6.

Gr 8-10–The best (so far) of Shusterman’s “Dark Fusion” tales plants 16-year-old Red in a werewolf street gang as a spy, and culminates in a climactic moonlit battle with a rival gang of vampire shape-changers.

TRUEMAN, Terry. Stuck in Neutral. HarperCollins. 2000. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-0-06-028519-7; PLB $16.89. ISBN 978-0-06-028518-0; pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-06-447213-5.

Gr 5-9–This may well be the scariest title on the list, and it has no supernatural element at all. Severe cerebral palsy has left Shawn unable to move or talk, a seeming vegetable, but inside he is very much alive, aware, sane, curious–and utterly terrified as he watches his sad, compassionate father wrestle with the impulse to put him out of his supposed misery. Audio version available from Recorded Books.