19 Spooky Books That Should Be Required Halloween Reading

Trick-or-reading.

We asked the BuzzFeed Community what Young Adult* books should be required Halloween reading. Here are the most spine-tingling results (*though some aren't actually YA, but we love them all the same).

1. Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

Bloomsbury

"It's about a world where Cinderella's story is less about magic pumpkins and flowy dresses and more about zombie curses and soul-stealing."

—colleend9

Get it from Amazon for $15.63, Bookshop for $17.47 (to support local bookstores), or check your local library.

2. The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Little, Brown and Company

"The Bone Houses is creepy in a good way. There’s even a strange village in the woods."

—manoushkaf

Get it from Amazon for $8.99, Bookshop for $16.55 (to support local bookstores), or check your local library.

3. The Diviners series by Libba Bray

Penguin Random House

"It’s about a group of teenagers in 1920s New York who all have magical powers. In the first book, they have to solve a series of mysterious murders. The characters are all really great, and the historical stuff is really neat too."

—onepieceofstardust

"So scary, I had to run home every night after reading it on the train back from work."

—alwynhamilton

Get it from Amazon for $28.99, Bookshop for $14.71 (to support local bookstores), or check your local library.

4. Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson

Penguin Random House

"It involves a trio of teen girls being resurrected after their deaths and the mystery surrounding what caused their deaths in the first place. There are spells involved, as witchcraft is used for the resurrections, and the trio are in a zombie-like state (but without the hunger-for-brains part). It's a fun, spooky read with an awesome focus on female friendships."

—misscaitlinslw

Get it from Amazon for $11.59, Bookshop for $16.55 (to support local bookstores), or check your local library.

5. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

Macmillan

"It's about a young woman who makes a pact with the devil and accidentally becomes immortal."

—juliakatherinew

Get it from Amazon for $16.19, Bookshop for $24.83 (to support local bookstores), or check your local library.

6. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Penguin Random House

"Modern day East London is being haunted (maybe literally) by someone who is mercilessly recreating the Jack the Ripper murders. A young boarding school student is the only witness to have caught sight of the murderer."

—alwynhamilton

Get it from Amazon for $9.39, Bookshop for $11.03 (to support local bookstores), or check your local library.

7. House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

Penguin Random House

"House of Salt and Sorrows was especially spooky, and there’s mystery and magic."

—manoushkaf

Get it from Amazon for $15.72, Bookshop for $14.72 (to support local bookstores), or check your local library.

8. Small Spaces by Katherine Arden

Penguin Random House

"It's like a full-on horror movie but made for the 9-12 age range. The audiobook version also adds to the creepy vibes because the author paints such a clear picture of what they’re seeing without being childish. There’s also a sequel that just came out if you’re wanting more!"

—daniellecouture

Get it from Amazon for $13.77, Bookshop for $15.63 (to support local bookstores), or check your local library.

9. Mexican Gothic by Silver Moreno-Garcia

Penguin Random House

"It's an interesting take on the haunted house story — think creepy eugenicists plus ghosts!"

—juliakatherinew

Get it from Amazon for $18.99, Bookshop for $24.84 (to support local bookstores), or check your local library.

10. The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

Macmillan

"It's about a girl who is hunted by characters from her grandmother's famed book of fairy tales. The fairy tale characters are super dark and have already taken her mother."

—monikap6

Get it from Amazon for $11.30, Bookshop for $10.11 (to support local bookstores), or check your local library.

11. Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn

Scholastic

"It's more a middle grade read than a YA read, but it's perfect for spooky season. It's about a girl trying to save her stepsister from the thrall of a menacing ghost."

—danieller4856e1619

Get it from Amazon for $5.95, Bookshop for $7.35 (to support local bookstores), or check your local library.

12. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Hyperion

"All the witchcraft of Hogwarts with all the sass of a wonderfully witty witch forced to go to magic reform school."

—alwynhamilton

Get it from Amazon for $20.98, Bookshop for $22.99 (to support local bookstores), or check your local library.

13. Down a Dark Hall by Lois Duncan

Little, Brown and Company

"Four girls are accepted into an exclusive boarding school. They start learning amazing new talents, but the talents may not be their own."

—danieller4856e1619

Get it from Amazon for $2.99, Bookshop for $13.99 (to support local bookstores), or check your local library.

14. Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus

Penguin Random House

"Not only does it take place during autumn/fall, it has a great, intriguing mystery surrounding missing (and killed) teen girls and a Halloween-themed carnival as a central location in the small town of Echo Ridge. I really enjoyed this, and the mystery and setting make it a great spooky autumn read."

—misscaitlinslw

Get it from Amazon for $11.28, Bookshop for $18.39 (to support local bookstores), or check your local library.

15. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Macmillan

"One of the best YA releases this year."

—manoushkaf

"I have Cemetery Boys lined up as my next read."

—juliakatherinew

Get it from Amazon for $15.99, Bookshop for $16.55 (to support local bookstores), or check your local library.

16. Rules for Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall

Penguin Random House

“Hands down the scariest book I’ve ever read. It kept me up all night. It’s really good, but be warned — it’s REALLY scary."

—sadiedowning

Get it from Amazon for $15.59, Bookshop for $17.47 (to support local bookstores), or check your local library.

17. Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl

Penguin Random House

"This dark psychological thriller is like if Gillian Flynn did Groundhog Day. It really explores the dark recesses of its characters' psyches, but with gripping pacing and a dusky atmosphere."

—riand23

Get it from Amazon for $11.44, Bookshop for $17.47 (to support local bookstores), or check your local library.

18. 172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad

Little, Brown and Company

“It is so creepy and suspenseful; it's something perfect for Halloween."

—mmeaghanst

Get it from Amazon for $14.89, Bookshop for $16.54 (to support local bookstores), or check your local library.

19. And finally, Party Games by R.L. Stein

Macillian

"The only way it’s still 'for kids' is that it has the ‘it’s all fake’ twist, so skip the last chapter and voila."

—youcanhavethekidsbutigetthedog

Get it from Amazon for $10.93, Bookshop for $11.95 (to support local bookstores), or check your local library.

Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.

UPDATE

Oct. 23, 2020, at 16:07 PM

This post has been updated to reflect that not all of the books included are YA.