Book Recommendations for Halloween

          School has been stressful recently, and with Halloween around the corner, many of us are looking forward to having fun. For many, this could mean carving pumpkins, trick-or-treating with friends, and eating as much candy as possible. For others, this could mean getting lost in a good book. That being said, here are some spooky book recommendations to enjoy on Halloween!

1     Small Spaces by Katherine Arden

          Small Spaces is about an eleven-year-old girl named Ollie who only finds solace in books. So, when she finds a woman threatening to throw a book into the water, she steals the book and runs away. As she begins to read the slender, untitled volume, Ollie finds herself captivated by a chilling story about a girl named Beth, her two loving brothers, and a deal made with “the smiling man”, a mysterious, sinister specter who will grant your most tightly held wish, but only if he can take you “until the mist turns to rain.” Ollie is still reading the book the next day when she goes on a school trip to a local farm with its own haunting history. There, she stumbles upon the graves of the people that she’s been reading about, and Ollie begins to wonder if the story could be real. She doesn’t have too long to think about the answer, though, as the situation takes a turn for the worse on the way home: the school bus breaks down, the teacher goes back to the farm for help, and Ollie and her classmates are left with the strange bus driver. This is when Ollie’s previously broken digital watch begins a startling countdown, delivering a terrifying message: “RUN.” The bus driver tells Ollie that she should follow her watch’s instructions, and he gives her a final piece of advice before she leaves: “Avoid large places. Keep to small.” Ollie listens to the bus driver, and with two of her classmates, Coco and Brian, she heads out to the woods bordered by a field of scarecrows, unable to shake off the feeling that she’s being watched.

          I have read Small Spaces before, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a spine-chilling read. It is mild for a horror book, but it does have some pretty terrifying moments, so it is a good choice whether you have just started reading horror or have been exploring the genre for years. If you like this book, you can also check out its sequels, Dead Voices, Dark Waters, and Empty Smiles. Small Spaces can be found in the Millburn Middle School library or on Amazon.

          Online review by @Princesamama80 on Amazon: “This book is an absolute masterpiece and I will stand by that. I love this book so much. It is a perfect mix of mystery, adventure, friendship and an uneasy feeling that I totally wanted when I read this. I wasn’t too freaked out but it definitely gave me chills at the moment. The writing was super fun and creative and I just really, really love this book. I'd recommend it to anybody just looking to spend a few hours reading (or however long it takes you to read this book). Overall, I absolutely love this book and I'd recommend it to people looking for a fun and exciting book. If you get scared super super easily then this might not be for you, but it was absolutely for me. I would recommend.”

2     The Darkdeep by Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs

          When twelve-year-old Nico is sent over the edge of a cliff to an off-limits area, his friends follow him, only to find an island hidden in the swirling mist. Shrouded by dense trees and murky tides, the island appears uninhabited, but the group can’t shake the feeling that something about it is off. As they delve deeper into the unknown, their discoveries begin to intertwine in weird and creepy ways. Something ancient awakens, and it knows their wishes and dreams–and their deepest secrets. Together, they must face the shadows that lurk within themselves, as well as their darkest fears.

          I have read The Darkdeep before, and it is full of adventure and suspense. Although it didn’t scare me that much, it was definitely still an enjoyable read! You can find The Darkdeep at the Millburn Middle School library or on Amazon. If you like this book, you can also check out its sequels, The Beast and The Torchbearers.

          Online review by @Elizabeth Laing on Goodreads: “Such a thrilling read! Fun, fast-paced, and occasionally creepy (but not TOO creepy). I tore through this book in two days. The concept was new and exciting, the mystery enthralling, and the friendships between characters nuanced and realistic. If your middle grade reader likes mysteries, thrillers, and meaningful stories about friendship, they will love this book—and its characters.”

3     Thornhill by Pam Smy

          This story follows two girls, Mary and Ella, one who is from the past and one who is from the present. The past is told through diary entries and reveals the horrors Mary experienced as a child. Neglected by her parents and bullied at the Institute of Children with no one to help her, she is a quiet girl who must face her tragedies alone. Meanwhile, Ella’s story is told through illustrations. She keeps seeing a girl in her window frame after moving to the house of Thornhill, which seems to be alive. As we switch between the two perspectives, a haunting tale unfolds.

          I have not personally read Thornhill, but there are many great reviews for it online. You can find the book on Amazon.

          Online review by @Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) on Goodreads: “This was such a wonderful piece of middle grade horror. More unsettling than scary, I was completely immersed in this short story. The narrative was slower paced, yet it was captivating. The pictures between the chapters added to the mystery with simple, yet effective illustrations. I would highly recommend this one to readers of all ages. I almost found the story and its ending more disturbing as an adult.”

4     The Goosebumps Series by R.L. Stine

          This series has been a favorite since elementary school. It has a total of 62 books, each with its own thrilling storyline. These books are tailored for younger readers, so you can read them with a younger sibling. You can find the Goosebumps series at the Millburn Public Library.

          Online review on Welcome to Dead House of the Goosebumps Series by @Ashley Daviau on Goodreads: “I will never be too old to love Goosebumps! This was one of the first ones I read when I was young and reading it again brought back so many good memories. I think this is probably one of my favorite Goosebumps stories, something about it just really hits the spot for me. This story still holds up all these years later, I enjoyed the heck out of my reread of this one! I had forgotten most of the details of the story so it was like I was experiencing it again for the first time and I fell in love with it all over again.”

Extra     The Haunted Mansion by Disney (2023 Movie)

          Inspired by the Haunted Mansion rides in Disney World, The Haunted Mansion is a perfect Halloween movie. The story starts with a single mother and her son moving to a mansion. However, they soon discover that the mansion is haunted, and the ghosts won’t let them leave. They soon turn to a team of psychics and paranormal investigators, hoping to exorcise the house. The group of strangers must work together to return the ghosts back to the realm of the dead while also coping with their own emotions, discovering the dark secrets behind the mansion along the way. Despite being created by Disney, there are a few scenes in this movie that can be pretty terrifying if you haven’t watched many horror movies. However, that being said, it is on the mild side of the horror genre since it doesn’t have any gore, so you can watch it with a younger sibling. The Haunted Mansion is available on Disney Plus, and you can find the trailer for The Haunted Mansion at Haunted Mansion | Official Trailer or Disney's Haunted Mansion | New Trailer!

          Online review by @Miriam on Rotten Tomatoes:  “It was surprisingly good and entertaining. I don’t know if I would watch it as a kid because there were some very scary (to me) scenes, but the fear didn't linger long.”

          That concludes our list of Halloween recommendations. We hope that these haunting books and movies will keep you entertained on the spooky night of Halloween!