I’m woefully behind on my TBR, so by the time I get around to reading these awesome-sounding middle grade horror books, I may already be lamenting the resolutions I’ve already broken.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to read them right now — and it definitely shouldn’t stop you from picking them up.
Ready to bury yourself in some creepy, skin-crawling fun? Here are five spooky MG stories I’m itching to get lost in:
Broken Dolls by Ally Malinenko (2025)
Two sisters. An old country house. Antique dolls hidden away everywhere. And Stephen King said to “Put it on your list.” Yes, that really is enough for me.
Another by Paul Tremblay (2025)
Just as you’re feeling isolated and left out at school, a quiet kid shows up who seems like the perfect friend. Until he starts dressing like you. Talking like you. And then slowly moving into your house and insinuating himself with your family. So. Creepy. Body Snatchers for the MG crowd.
Crater Lake by Jennifer Killick (2020)
Okay, I swear I’m not just obsessed with Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but… This one leans into that classic even more, with infectious alien spores that turn the protagonists’ classmates into sleepwalking zombies. Bonus: It’s described as a fast-paced survival comedy rife with claustrophobic tension. Yes, please.
The Clackity by Lora Senf (2022)
With strong comparisons to Coraline, I’ve been wanting to read this one for a while now and just haven’t gotten around to it. The main character has to enter an alternate dimension to save her aunt after she disappears inside an abandoned slaughterhouse. Lauded for incredible worldbuilding, nightmare-fuel monsters, and — wait for it — deep emotional resonance. Weren’t expecting that, were you?
It’s Watching by Lindsay Currie (2025)
Ghosthunters: Kids Edition — except the ghost in question starts leaving creepy text messages and photos taken from inside the kids’ rooms. Sounds like a fun, horrifying mix of haunted-house thrills and cyber-stalking dread.
Have you read any of these yet? Which one should I pick up first? Or do you have another recent spooky middle grade favorite I should add instead?