Tony Jones returns to Young Blood with the horror books for 12 to 13 year olds that Year 8 readers cannot leave on the shelf. Drawn from his school’s 100 Book Challenge and over 11,000 pupil reviews, this list runs from Juno Dawson and Charlie Higson to Stephen King’s Gwendy’s Button Box. Every pick comes reviewed by the young readers who devoured it.
Tony Jones rounds up five new YA horror novels for August 2026. Cynthia Murphy’s Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls leads the pack as a top recommendation for schools, while Vincent Ralph’s Bleak Haven Quartet ends on a minor high. Melinda Salisbury and Jacqueline West deliver Folk Horror and small town chills.
Tony Jones returns with his latest YA horror and middle grade horror roundup, covering seven books that blend horror with thriller, dystopian and science fiction. Standouts include Dan Smith’s The Night House Files, perfect for reluctant readers, and twisty YA thrillers from Carlyn Greenwald and Dana Mele.
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