Spooky Reads for October

 

As the leaves begin to change and a decidedly autumnal chill fills the air, it is the perfect time to cozy up with a good scary book. Whether you’re a fan of ghost stories, eerie folklore, or psychological thrillers, the Grayslake Library is your one-stop destination for satisfying that craving for horror. Listed below are just a few of the books that your library and its neighbors have to offer. Check out any of these titles, for middle-grade readers, teens, or adults, for a haunting tale that will haunt you long after you turn the final page!

Middle Grade:

The Night Gardener: A Scary Story by Jonathan Auxier is a gothic tale that follows orphaned siblings Molly and Kip as they take jobs at an old house inhabited by a mysterious family, who soon discover that there is more to the grounds than meets the eye. They are haunted by a sinister figure known as the Night Gardener, who tends to a cursed tree that feeds on the fears of those around it.

The Clackity by Lora Senf is a spooky novel about twelve-year-old Evie as she ventures into a strange, shifting otherworldly world to rescue her aunt, guided by a sinister creature known as The Clackity. She must navigate through a series of dangerous challenges while uncovering the secrets of her town.

The Bellwoods Game by Celia Krampien is a mystery about a group of kids who must solve the legend of a ghost that is said to haunt their town’s woods. Every year, children attempt to find the ghost, named Maude Bellwood, and escape her curse. Enter Maddie, the new girl, who becomes determined to uncover the truth behind the game.

Teen:

Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare is set in the small town of Kettle Springs, where a sinister clown figure named Frendo begins terrorizing a group of teens. Quinn Maybrook, a newcomer to town, is targeted by Frendo, along with her friends, in a game linked to the town’s dark secrets.

The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson is centered on Maddy Washngton, a biracial high schooler who has been passing as white in her racially divided town. Her secret is exposed, however, setting off a series of horrifying events at her prom, leading to a catastrophic reckoning.

The Honeys by Ryan La Sala is an atmospheric horror that follows gender-fluid teen Mars as they grieve the death of their twin sister, Caroline, who died mysteriously at Aspen Summer Academy. There, Mars attends the elite summer program where Caroline had been a part of a strange and powerful group called “The Honeys,” all the while delving deeper into their unsettling secrets and uncovering the truth about the seemingly idyllic camp.

Adult:

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones is a chilling tale that blends supernatural terror with the cultural trauma of Native Americans. It follows four Blackfeet men, whose lives become entangled with a vengeful, otherworldly entity that stems from a misdeed they committed a decade ago.

Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey is a psychological horror novel about a woman named Vera, who returns to her childhood home to care for her dying mother, only to confront the house’s dark secrets. Once the site of her serial killer father’s grotesque crimes, the home becomes increasingly oppressive as Vera unravels buried memories.

Hide by Kiersten White is a tense thriller about a high-stakes survival game set in an abandoned amusement park. Fourteen contestants must hide for seven days to win a life-changing cash prize, but as Mack navigates the park, it becomes clear that something far more sinister than a mere game is at play as contestants mysteriously disappear.