By Tony Jones 
The Best Middle Grade Horror Books of 2025: A Spine-Tingling Guide
Here are my top ticks for 2025, featuring my favourite Middle Grade horror and dark fiction titles. There is a wide selection of books which are presented alphabetically by author. Amongst the mix there is some historical fiction, werewolves, nightmares, haunted boarding schools, zombies and several sequels. Click back on the Young Blood site for my accompanying Young Adult ‘Best of 2025’ which was recently published by Ginger Nuts of Horror. A number of the authors, with other titles, also feature in my own YA Horror 400 almanac, which is promoted at the end of the article. All of these books are suitable for the top end of primary to kids aged twelve in secondary.
Lindsay Currie – It’s Watching
Publisher : Delacorte Press
It’s Watching is based around an old cemetery, Batchelor’s Grave, which three kids Josie, Jackson and Alison decide to visit on Halloween Eve and are subsequently frightened by scary sounding text message memes from an anonymous number, which includes a threatening countdown. I enjoyed the fact that the trio were researching a story for their school newspaper on the Lady in White legend, rather than fooling around, as their cause for visiting the cemetery. After an unexpected chase, their uber takes them back to town and the first meme arrives, stating “I’m watching.”
Readers will have fun as the friends unravel the mystery, which humanises the ghost(s) and takes the story into unexpected directions. As with Currie’s other books the mix of fact and fiction was top notch, leading to a very satisfying ending which might inspire other kids to put down their computers or other devices and do some snooping into a local legend of mystery of their own. AGE RANGE 10-13
Gabriel Dylan – Shiver Point 4: Beneath the Ghostly Graves
Publisher : Piccadilly Press
Beneath the Ghostly Graves is supposedly the final book in the Shiver Point series. If so, I’ll be sorry there are no more adventures with best friends Mo, Oli, Alex, Riley and Sophie who make up the Shiver Point gang. These books are gentle introductions to popular horror tropes such as werewolves and scary scarecrows, with a solid dash of mystery thrown into the mix. Although the books feature all the characters, Mo is the emphasis in Beneath the Ghostly Graves, the character who has the reputation for being the scaredy cat of the group. I love the fact that his friends simply accept Mo’s quirks and nobody laughs at him for being nervous or hanging at the back.
Mo has to face his fears as he is goaded by his little brother into reciting a ghost’s name three times with a rhyme. After doing so poor Mo ends up on the radar of Blue Bessie, an urban legend and ghost of Shadow Hill Cemetery who likes to play deadly games with anyone foolish enough to utter her name. Soon a terrified Mo has to call on his friends at the Shiver Squad after his little brother disappears.
In an extremely fast moving story, the gang head to her crypt in the cemetery to try and beat the ghost in a series of challenges and riddles with Mo taking centre stage. I enjoyed the banter between the children and the creature was also well developed in a story which is sure to keep pre-teens on the hook. Beneath the Ghostly Graves is written as a standalone story, but I would recommend reading the books in order. AGE RANGE 9-12
Larry Hayes – The Nightmares of Finnegan Quick
Publisher : Bloomsbury Children’s Books
The Nightmares of Finnegan Quick is an entertaining Middle Grade fantasy horror novel for kids aged 10+, featuring mild scares and is suitable for the top end of primary or lower secondary school pupils. Finnegan’s nightmares are so terrifying they don’t just stay in his head; they can creep into the real world. Early in the action he dreams about a strange girl, who helps him fight the monsters.
When this girl, Cass, turns up as a new pupil at school, Finn teams up with her and his best friend Squid to investigate the mystery of his dreams, the connection to his missing parents whilst battling with an array of monsters, creatures, goblins and a powerful ‘Big Bad’ lurking in the background. And not forgetting to negotiate school and an increasingly distant grandmother.
The dynamics of the three characters were the major strength of this novel and I particularly enjoyed the shock of the two boys when the older Year 9 girl (Cass) saunters across the lunch hall and then deliberately causes a fight. Even though the ages of the characters were leaning towards YA, this is most definitely a Middle Grade read.
Squid was great backup and Finn was a believable character, feeling guilt over his parent’s disappearance, whilst being relentlessly being pushed by Cass (who has her own agenda) to shake off his fearfulness. We can’t all be heroes overnight! The dream sequences, living nightmares were well presented, and it was great all the characters had flaws in a story which balanced the supernatural with school with Finn picking up a detention and the wrath of a teacher who was scarier than the dream monsters. AGE RANGE 10+
Phil Hickes – Shadowhall Academy 2: Ghost Story Society
Publisher : Usborne Publishing
With his second entry in his Shadowhall Academy series Phil Hickes ups the ante in another spooky tale, set a term after the haunting which took place in book one, The Whispering Walls (2024). Perfectly pitched for the top end of primary school, to easy read for lower secondary, these are brilliant stories for kids who don’t want to be scared too much. The story follows Lilian Jones and her friends Serena Khan, Marion Dawson and Angela Radford, who start a midnight Ghost Story Society at their boarding school Shadowhall Academy.
As a kid I would have been first in the queue to join Lilian’s Ghost Story Society to fool around in the school library after dark! The fun starts after a school prefect gatecrashes the secret society and tells the story of a haunted or cursed book. Seeking a good mystery, the girls join the drama club to try and locate the book, and once they do they wish they hadn’t as the tome has the power to bring your scariest secrets to life.
These books are short enough to ensure they can hold the attention of even the most distracted child, are endearingly cute, have great banter between the characters and you just know everything is going to be fine in the end. The buildup towards the finale was particularly engaging, when something unnerving from Lilian’s childhood truly comes back to haunt her. AGE RANGE 9-12
Lorien Lawrence – The Many Hauntings of the Manning Family
Publisher : Amulet Books
In The Many Hauntings of the Manning Family thirteen-year-old twins Gabby and Trent Manning are Connecticut’s youngest paranormal investigators. Both have inherited ‘the gift’ from their grandparents, the Mannings, whose legendary ghost hunts inspired several books and films, but whose names have been nearly forgotten since their untimely deaths years earlier.
The story revolves around their pushy mother trying to kick start their flagging You Tube channel, where they investigate various hauntings, whilst balancing this against their schoolwork and personal interests. The twins are vastly different characters and one of the strengths of the dual narrative is their different takes on the ghost hunting. Trent is happy to follow their mother’s ideas and for a ghost hunter is easily scared, whilst the much more outgoing Gabby would rather be playing soccer for the school team than following the family business.
The main plot hangs around a haunting at the abandoned Majestic Theatre. This haunting story is nicely balanced against the personal issues of the ‘Ghost Twins,’ with things taking a dark turn when their mother disappears after a séance goes wrong. The novel also cleverly adds other articles, interviews, and found media which give the story an aura of authenticity.
The strength of the story is the wildly different two children and I really felt for poor Gabby when her mother told her she had to ghost hunt rather than captain the soccer team! The ghost hunting rules were also a nice touch and overall the novel has a pitch perfect Middle Grade emotional message that it is okay to be yourself and not who your parents want you to be. A terrific gateway horror novel with credible family dynamics balanced against the supernatural. AGE RANGE 10+
Jack Mackay – Gloam
Publisher : Rock the Boat
In Gloam thirteen-year-old Gwen is the oldest of four children, the lynchpin holding her family together after the death of their mother. The story opens with the family relocating to the island of Gloam, where they have inherited the family home, Somnolent House. Their guardian is their stepfather Henry, who whilst looking for a new job recruits a babysitter, Esme Laverne, which is the focus of the story as the children adapt to the island before school starts. Gwen feels that she is old enough to look after her siblings, Roger, and twin sisters, Hazel and Hester, and she takes an immediate dislike to their new babysitter and they quickly clash.
The house is an unsettling place and the younger children are quickly scared by the ‘Stitchy Man’ whilst the babysitter shows her true colours early in the action. Gwen is a sympathetic main character, struggling to cope, briefly makes friends with a cat before chatting to a tree with supernatural powers who knew both her mother and grandmother.
Esme Laverne is a great character who is sure to scare younger readers whilst she feeds on the fear of the children, manipulating the youngsters. The story opens up into an entertaining adventure as they investigate ways of defeating the creature hiding behind the face of the babysitter and overcome their own fears. Aimed at Middle Grade readers with an interest in spooky and imaginative storytelling, this is a fulfilling read for young readers ready to face a nightmare full on. AGE RANGE 9-12
Kevin Moran – The Doomsday Club
Publisher : O’Brien Press Ltd
Kevin Moran’s entertaining debut The Doomsday Club gives a big shout out to Ireland. I loved the fact that it is very Irish, uses Irish school system terminology and even throws in some Irish language, along with a believable mythology. The action opens after a group of best friends (boys – that’s another plus as fiction it totally dominated by girls at the moment) having a punch up and getting in trouble at school with their teacher.
Presented as a split narrative between Jack and Conan, a detention with Yash and Jerry follows, until they see a creature appear close to the school perimeter, also in the vicinity of a creepy old man, Mr Kilroe, who everybody is suspicious off. Before long, the kids have formed their own version of the Scooby Doo Gang and begin to investigate. There is a lot of entertaining loud banter between the boys, trying to solve the mystery, whilst examining their own friendships. The Irish folklore angle was nicely pitched, with loads of humour, and this is the ideal read for reluctant readers as the horror was smartly blended with action and sympathetic characters. AGE RANGE 10-12
Alice Nuttall – The Zombie Project
Publisher : Chicken House
Alice Nuttall’s The Zombie Project is a highly entertaining Middle Grade debut with a fresh spin on the zombie storyline. Historically, there are significantly more zombie novels for the older YA age group, so it is good to see some quality undead action for younger children also. The Zombie Project is set some years after worldwide environmental problems have led to the extinction of bees and the arrival of zombies. However, the zombie problem is kept under control and this is seen a necessity as death-flies feed on the undead and we need death-flies to help grow food in the absence of bees.
This was a complex basis for a story, so Middle Grade readers will have to follow the narrative closely otherwise they might get confused. Not everybody believe having the zombies around is a clever idea and a sinister corporation lurks in the background with its own self-serving money-centred agenda.
The hero of the story is Merian, who has grown up around zombies as her mother is a scientist who believes the creatures are part of the future. Merian has her own rule book for survival and is sucked into a conspiracy, including the possibility that bees might not be extinct after all. This was a warm hearted story with a great central character, even the zombies are humanised, with clever social media drops throughout the story. Although a horror story, any child who likes a taste of adventure or thriller should find this charming novel entertaining. AGE RANGE 10-12
Paul Tremblay – Another
Publisher : Quill Tree Books
Another wisely tones down the heavy use of ambiguity, which is common in Paul Tremblay’s adult fiction, relying more heavily on childhood friends, family dynamics and fears, both irrational and very real. The action opens with Casey Wilson’s parents telling him that a friend is coming over for a sleepover.
Casey finds this strange as he has been struggling at school since he was bullied online and struggles to cope with his facial tics when he is anxious or stressed. Casey is a beautifully rounded character who loves art and attends baseball to please his dad, who is a coach, even though he regularly fumbles the ball. He is a rather sad little boy, who is pleased to meet Morel when he arrives at their house. The sleepover goes on and on, with Morel described through Casey’s eyes. He is not a normal boy, but Casey cannot but his finger on what is different about him, and as Morel’s stay lengthens he begins to change.
Adult readers will easily see where the story is heading but put yourself in the shoes of a ten-year-old and this is riveting stuff as Casey’s voice slowly and helplessly disappears. Another highlight of Another is the wonderful relationship Casey has with his sister Ally, who has recently left the family home for college, as she is the only person he can articulate his fears to.
Another is loaded with memorable scenes, just the fact that Morel does not sleep and just stands in Casey’s room gave me the creeps! Middle Grade is usually billed at the 8-12 age group, I would recommend this for the upper end of that age bracket, as it might be slightly slow for those under ten. AGE RANGE 10+
S.J. Wills – Bite Risk 3 – Cold Blood
Publisher : Simon & Schuster Children’s UK
Bite Risk: Cold Blood concludes in some style S.J. Wills’s terrific werewolf trilogy, set in the terrifically weird and deliberately isolated town of Tremorglade. The opening book introduces us to a community where everybody over the age of fifteen (or thereabouts) turns into a ‘ripper’ (werewolf) and the sinister organisation which controls the town. Both Sel and Ingrid, from previous novels, return with their own narratives, with Sel in particular fighting his own demons as he explores his acceptance, embraces even, what it means to be a werewolf. This was a neat way of ending the series, which has been loaded with thoughtful conflicts, and is much more than an action driven horror novel.
It is tricky to go into the plot without providing spoilers for what went on in the previous two books, with events picking up after Rippocalypse, where the community is divided on how to deal with rippers in the long term and with the part Sel played. The friendship between Sel and Agatha continued to develop, but what I enjoyed most was Sel exploring the limitations of being a werewolf and whether he could change at will, even when there is not a full moon.
New threats are integrated into the plot and the dangers from the earlier books are never far away. The Bite Risk series is an outstanding blend of horror, thriller, action, a touch of comedy, set in a highly original location with a touch of dystopia. Highly recommended. AGE RANGE 11/12+
Tony Jones
Praise for the YA Horror 400 almanac, published in 2024:
“The YA Horror 400 is such a good and constructive push for YA horror.” JEREMY DE QUIDT (YA author of The Wrong Train & The Toymaker)
“An amazing teen horror guide, with fabulous features like fear factor ratings and ‘If You Like This Try” recs. Perfect for librarians, teachers, and anyone who wants to live their best YA horror life” ANN FRAISTAT (YA author of What We Harvest & A Place for Vanishing)
“A must have for anyone looking to help connect younger readers to the best genre in the world. Expertly compiled by Tony Jones” PHIL HICKES (Middle Grade author of the Aveline Jones and Shadowhall Academy series)
“So excited that my books have been featured here. Teachers and librarians – this is the PERFECT resource for you!” LORIEN LAWRENCE (Middle Grade author of The Stitchers series)
“If you’ve ever wished there were an easily accessible almanac of YA horror, I’ve got great news, Tony Jones, who has been reviewing and supporting my work since I first started and is one of my biggest professional cheerleaders has released his YA Horror 400 almanac! I was lucky enough to have had the opportunity to contribute to it, too. What a cool project! Go Tony!” AMY LUKAVICS (YA author of Daughters Unto Devils & The Ravenous)
“I want to alert English teachers and librarians to the most definitive resource I’ve ever seen highlighting the best YA horror novels since 2008. 400 of the best dark fiction for readers 9-15+ . Where do you go for advice yourself to know what to purchase? It’s all here. What do you give a middle-grade reader or teen with a taste for the darker side? This … and let them pick and choose their own! CLIFF McNish (YA author of Breathe & The Hunting Ground)
“Librarians! Bloggers! Readers! Educators! I am wildly pleased to see The Call on, and between, the covers of THE YA HORROR 400 by Tony Jones. Reviews of brilliant books, author interviews. Scares aplenty.” PEADAR Ó GUILÍN (YA horror/fantasy author of The Call duology)”
“Great news for teen horror fans! The YA Horror 400 is out! A massive horror almanac w/ fab features including fear factor ratings, articles, notes from authors and much more. Absolutely perfect for librarians, teachers and anyone who reads YA horror.” BRYONY PEARCE (YA author of Savage Island & Raising Hell)
“The YA Horror 400 is a fabulous resource for librarians, parents, and fans of horror kidlit.” Lora Senf (Bram Stoker Award winning author of The Blight Harbor series)
“I highly recommend the YA Horror 400: an almanac of 400 teen horror novel reviews published between 2008-2024 by Tony Jones, featuring reviews of the best YA and middle grade horror (including my own novel Channel Fear”. LISA RICHARDSON (YA author of Channel Fear)
“Teachers, librarians, readers… This brand new almanac from horror guru Tony Jones is all you need to navigate your way through YA spookiness, gore and thrills. SJ Wills (YA author of the Bite Risk series)
Spine-Tingling Reads: Your Guide to YA & MG Horror Reviews at Ginger Nuts of Horror
For fans seeking the best Young Adult (YA) Horror books and the most gripping Middle Grade (MG) Horror novels, look no further. The Young Blood library on Ginger Nuts of Horror is your essential destination for in-depth reviews of the year’s most chilling releases. This curated section is dedicated to the thrilling world of youth horror, from spine-tingling ghost stories to dark supernatural adventures.
We explore the powerful themes that make YA and MG horror books so compelling for readers and parents alike. Our reviews analyse how these stories masterfully tackle fear, identity, and resilience through narratives that are as emotionally deep as they are accessible. Discover scary books for kids 2025 that offer more than just a fright—they provide a gateway to discussing bigger themes.
Your Resource for the Latest Spooky Reads
Navigating the vast world of horror for younger audiences can be daunting. The Young Blood library simplifies this by showcasing a diverse array of titles. We highlight everything from buzz-worthy debut authors to new releases from established names like Lindsay Currie and Paul Tremblay.
Our passionate contributors, who share a profound love for the genre, write every review to help you find your next favourite book. Whether you’re searching for ghost stories for kids, spooky boarding school books, or the latest in werewolf series for middle-grade readers, our insights guide you to perfect picks for ages 9-13.
Dive Deeper into the World of Young Horror
The Young Blood section is part of the larger Ginger Nuts of Horror website, a trusted hub for horror enthusiasts. Here, you can stay ahead of the latest trends, from atmospheric Gothic tales to fast-paced supernatural thrillers.
Find Your Next Favourite Frightful Book Today
Whether you’re a teen seeking thrills, a parent building a Halloween reading list, or a teacher looking for chapter books for reluctant readers, the Young Blood library is designed for you. Our reviews help you choose books with the right balance of chills, heart, and exceptional storytelling.
Explore the Young Blood review library now to discover your next spine-tingling read.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What age range is MG and YA horror suitable for?
A: Middle Grade (MG) horror is typically aimed at readers aged 8-13, featuring spooky themes but age-appropriate scares. Young Adult (YA) horror is geared toward teens and older, often exploring more complex and intense themes. Our reviews always note the recommended age range.
Q: How can I find reviews for a specific type of horror, like zombie books or haunted house stories?
A: Use the search function within the Young Blood section or look for tags on our reviews (e.g., “ghost stories,” “werewolves,” “psychological horror”). We also create themed recommendation lists throughout the year.
Q: Are the books reviewed in Young Blood too scary for younger readers?
A: Our reviews carefully assess the scare factor and content. We highlight books that are “scary but not too scary,” perfect for young horror fans. Each review describes the tone and themes to help you make the best choice for the young reader in your life.
Q: Do you review older books, or only new releases?
A: While we focus on highlighting the best new releases and 2025 titles, we also cover timeless classics and hidden gems that deserve a spot on every young horror fan’s shelf.
