Board Book
Say Boo! by Lynda Graham-Barber – To this day, when all my kids are firmly beyond board book age, Say Boo! remains a family favorite! A cute tale of a ghost who, despite advice from a variety of talking animals, can’t seem to say, “Boo!”
Picture Books
Gus Was a Friendly Ghost by Jane Thayer is one of my childhood favorites. My husband and I both owned a copy when we were kids, and his copy survived. Our kids also love this story of a ghost who inhabits a New England summer home along with an irascible mouse.
How Spider Saved Halloween by Robert Kraus is another story my husband and I both owned. Again, his copy is the survivor. (I think we both made heavy use of the Scholastic Book flyers.) Our kids often request this story of a pumpkin and his friends who outwit some Halloween bullies.
The Berenstains Bears in the Dark by Stan and Jan Berenstain finds Brother and Sister Bear awake at night thanks to a spooky book. Turns out the spooky case of the crying cave is easily solved, and the solution is not so scary after all.
Middle Grade
Mandy Lamb and the Full Moon by Corinna Turner – A fun story about friendship with a pulse-pounding climax and an element that resonates in every story – self-sacrifice. If you had told me I’d enjoy a book about a 1/2 sheep girl, a werewolf, and a vampire this much, I’d be surprised. But, Mandy Lamb is a likable girl, uh, lamb, and there is surprising depth to this children’s book.
Young Adult
Battle for His Soul by Theresa Linden – Not what you’d typically think of as a Halloween book, but given the spiritual battle between demons and angels, it’s fitting. When you’re finished, you’ll be more aware of the unseen supernatural reality of the world around you, guaranteed. Part of the ongoing, award-winning West Brothers series.
The Gifting by K. E. Ganshert – This series, too, is rife with angels and demons, and there is definitely a sinister tone underlying the dystopian series that demonstrates the value of life – one of my favorites! And it has a romance to boot. (It’s perma-free on Kindle, so go ahead and download this one now!)
Frozen Footprints by Therese Heckenkamp – A page-turning thriller that kept me up past my bedtime! The suspense alone qualifies it for a Halloween read, but the evil villain solidifies its place here. The importance of faith shines through amid mortal peril in a wintry, isolated cabin.
Adult
Bleeder: A Miracle or a Bloody Murder? by John Desjarlais – I just started this book for the upcoming Sabbath Rest Book Talk, but I’m hooked already and am recommending it based on the strength of another John Desjarlais book, Viper, which has a rightful place on this list as well.
The Half Killed by Quenby Olson – Dorothea Hawes is a psychic who, as a child, is pressed into service as a spiritualist and a parlor room entertainer with disastrous results. Despite her reticence, her “gift” reduces her to an object to be used by others for their twisted predilections or pecuniary gain. Expertly written.
Descended: Jett by Dana Pratola – The first in a series, Jett is a supernatural romance. A reviewer described it as Jane Eyre meets Batman, and with a mysterious, billionaire hero and an innocent, principled heroine, I think the comparisons work. Otherworldy, romantic, and addresses the all-too-real issue of sex trafficking.
The Egyptian Elixir (The Unofficial Chronicles of John Grissom) by Page Zaplendam – You’ll probably want to start with Book 1, Order of the Blood, and not read out of order like I am. I thoroughly enjoyed this historical vampire mystery. Great regency-style banter between Grissom and Van Helsing.
Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz – I’m ready for a re-read of the Odd Thomas books by Dean Koontz. In fact, I don’t think I finished the entire series yet! But I love this story of a virtuous, heartbroken short-order cook who fights evil.
Haven’t Read Yet But . . .
I have yet to read these two books, but have heard great things about each of them:
Jennifer the Damned by Karen Ullo and A Bloody Habit by Eleanor Bourg Nicholson.
I hope to add them to a similar post next Halloween along with a forthcoming book for adults by Theresa Linden, Tortured Souls. It’s a spine-chilling story of a woman whose unwilling move to a new house isn’t what anyone hoped.
Spooky Reading Recommendations for Halloween! Click To TweetWhat are your spooky reading recommendations? I didn’t even touch on the classics, from which we could draw a long, long list!
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I can still hear my husband and kids reading together, in spooky voices: “The Berenstain Bears … innnnn the daaaarrrrrrkkkkk…” but the real favorite BB Halloween read around here was “The Spooky Old Tree.”
Catholic author Kaye Park Hinckley has a new ghost story out, “The Ghosts of Faithful.” Captivating, and very disconcerting. I just read it over the weekend.
I have not read any “Odd Thomas” books but you’re not the first to mention them. I should look into these.
Oh, yes, The Spooky Old Tree! I have Kaye Park Hinckley’s books in mind, but they are so long, and I keep putting them off!
This one isn’t THAT long. The ARC was 300 pages but it’s all in bold type (I need to ask her about that) so it’s probably really more like 225.
I can definitely tackle 225!