The Thief of Always
Clive Barker

Written by horror icon Clive Barker, this children’s novel meshes fantasy and fable to tell a brilliant story about youth and the nature of time.

Young Harvey’s wish for a more exciting life is granted when he’s whisked away to a fantastical place called Mr. Hood’s Holiday House. It seems like paradise, where children have endless fun and experience every season of the year in a single day. However, as Harvey spends more time there, he starts to suspect there’s something sinister about Mr. Hood’s world.

City of Ghosts
Victoria Schwab

Middle-grade fans of supernatural stories will find City of Ghosts an eerie and enjoyable read.

After she nearly drowned, Cassidy discovers she can see beyond the Veil separating the living from the dead. Her life takes an even stranger turn when her parents decide to host a paranormal TV show in Edinburgh, Scotland. When Cassidy meets a fellow "gifted" girl in the historic city, she realizes there's much more to learn about the Veil and her own abilities.

The Enemy
Charlie Higson

Fans of the horror genre will appreciate Charlie Higson’s gruesome take on zombies in The Enemy, the first in a series of post-apocalyptic novels set in London. As ravenous creatures prowl the streets, a small group of survivors find themselves on a terrifying journey to safety.

Dracula
Bram Stoker

Defiantly challenging Victorian conventions, Bram Stoker examines the nature of evil in this chilling Gothic novel that is sure to thrill students.

This timeless tale of horror, love, and suspense unfolds through diaries and letters, weaving a story of darkness and deceit. Follow Jonathan Harker as he becomes trapped in the diabolical web of Count Dracula, a vampire with an insatiable thirst for blood. Can Harker and his allies stop the sinister reign of this supernatural being?

The Bone Houses
Emily Lloyd-Jones

In the remote village of Colbren, Ryn and her family work as gravediggers, a tough job given that in Colbren, the dead don’t always stay dead. Called “bone houses,” the risen corpses are a result of a curse put on the land.

After a mapmaker named Ellis arrives in town, the bone houses start attacking the village each night. To find a way to break the curse, Ryn and Ellis must travel into the wilderness outside of the village, unsure of what they will find.

Students who love the horror genre will be captivated by this chilling tale of terror.

The Turn of the Screw
Henry James

In a secluded English estate, a young governess takes charge of two orphaned children. As she grapples with eerie apparitions and unexplained events, a haunting question emerges: Are the children truly innocent, or are they ensnared by malevolent spirits?

Henry James weaves a gripping tale of ambiguity and fear, making this classic ghost story a must-read for those who crave psychological horror. It’s best suited for your older classes, as James’s syntax and language are advanced.

Catherine House
Elisabeth Thomas

This atmospheric novel follows Ines, a new student at Catherine House, a reputable boarding school from which the brightest minds emerge. Those lucky enough to be accepted may attend for free, with one caveat: For all three years of enrollment, they must completely remove themselves from the outside world.

Ines, eager to escape a troubled past, is quick to accept these terms and dive into academic challenges. But as her time at the school progresses, Ines suspects dark forces are at work behind the school’s experimental curriculum.

Frankenstein
Mary Shelley

When students begin Frankenstein, they expect a mindless monster story; what they get instead is an insightful exploration of man's place in the universe. Dr. Victor Frankenstein's pursuit of knowledge leads him to create a being from lifeless parts. But when the creature is brought to life, it becomes a symbol of both scientific achievement and human folly. There is no better way to share the world of the Romantics with your class than with this classroom favorite.

Escape Room
Maren Stoffels

If your students crave a fast-paced story, Escape Room is an excellent pick. Teenagers Alissa, Sky, Miles, and Mint are excited to try an escape room challenge. It seems simple: pick a game, get locked in a room, find clues, and solve puzzles within 60 minutes to escape. But as the puzzles become increasingly sinister, the group starts to wonder if they’ll be locked in there forever.

The Best of Poe
Edgar Allan Poe

Poe is a name that conjures up thoughts of hearts beating beneath floorboards long after their owners are dead, of disease and plague amid wealth, and of love that extends beyond the grave. Explore the mysterious allure and genius of Edgar Allan Poe with your students by using our anthology of 33 of his greatest poems and stories, including “The Raven,” “Annabelle Lee,” “The Fall of the House of Usher,” “The Cask of Amontillado,” and more!