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    The Children's Book Review

    5 Great Horror Books for Teens and Why to Read Them

    Dr. Jen HarrisonBy Dr. Jen Harrison7 Mins Read Best Kids Stories Halloween Books Novels for Kids and Teens Quest for Literacy Teens: Young Adults
    5 Great Horror Books for Teens and Why to Read Them
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    Growing Readers: Learning to Love Reading and Writing Column 27

    This editorial article was written by Dr. Jen Harrison
    Horror Stories and Halloween Reads for Teens
    The Children’s Book Review

    As October approaches, it’s the perfect season to think about horror as book club
    and school assignment reading, Halloween inspiration, and fodder for reluctant
    readers. However, many adults find the teen attraction to horror distasteful, viewing
    it as frivolous or unsophisticated. So, should you be encouraging your teen’s
    fondness for horror fiction? And if so, how can you identify the diamonds amongst
    the coal? In this article, we offer a few pointers.

    Are Horror Stories Good for Teens?

    First and foremost, it’s worth noting that experts generally agree about one thing:
    reading horror can be beneficial for a number of reasons.

    Horror’s key benefit, naturally, is its appeal. For those who enjoy the genre, horror
    stories are gripping, drawing readers in and making them want to read more. It’s
    also a genre with wide popular appeal, offering ample opportunity for social
    discussion and engagement. According to an article offered by the School Library
    Journal
    , “Horror captures the attention of teens of all reading abilities–advanced and
    reluctant readers find it compelling.” This is because horror is relatable: fear is
    something we all experience, and “those stories serve as metaphors for the
    challenges they face every day.”

    Psychologist Emma Kenny agrees, and even sees additional benefits for the growth
    and mental health of readers; she argues that “[b]eing frightened by a book …
    helps forge resilience.” As children’s horror writer Cavan Scott explains, “We live in
    a scary world, especially for kids … Scary stories help kids learn how to deal with
    the real world. They’re a way to acknowledge that life isn’t always easy and learn
    that it’s OK to be scared.”

    Of course, horror isn’t right for every reader. Readers with anxiety or emotional
    issues might want to steer clear—and some teens just aren’t into it. For any reader,
    the horror needs to be age and maturity appropriate. However, with this caveat in
    place, for those who enjoy horror, there are good reasons to let them indulge.

    What Makes a “Good” Horror Story?

    Like any other genre, there’s quality horror and … well, the less well-written stuff.
    So, how can you tell what’s worth reading?

    Of course, the best way to tell if a book is good quality is to read it yourself. If you
    don’t have the time or inclination for that, there are a few things you can look for.

    First, look for stories that emphasize psychology more than gore. To get the real
    benefits of horror, readers need stories with believable characters and relatable
    situations and dilemmas, and they are less likely to find these in horror stories that
    max out on visceral content.

    Second, beware teen romance masquerading as horror. These stories can
    sometimes glamorize unhealthy relationships, and there is a lot of unoriginal series that feed on the popularity of more original stories without offering much to
    challenge a reader.

    Finally, it’s worth watching out for stories that offer an original take on a timeless
    fear. Horror isn’t only ghosts and zombies—a great story will find a new and
    intriguing way to walk readers through the process of coping with real-life fears,
    such as the fear of being alone, the fear of the dark, or the fear of failing. Look for
    stories with more than the surface trappings of horror.

    5 Great Horror Books and Halloween Reads for Teens

    Not sure where to start? Here are a few of our favorites.

    The Turn of the Screw: Book Cover

    The Turn of the Screw

    Written by Henry James

    107 Pages | ISBN-13: 9798472523417

    Henry James’ classic nineteenth-century ghost story is one that no horror fan should
    miss. Told through multiple narrators, readers hear the story of a governess who is
    convinced that the house in which she teaches is haunted by the ghost of a
    previous governess—and the children are possessed. With each layer of narrative
    adding a layer of uncertainty and an ending that will send shivers down your spine,
    this is a story of timeless psychological depth.

    Even better, The Turn of the Screw is a fantastic reading experience for advanced
    readers, offering sophisticated language and a challenging narrative structure. This
    is classic gothic horror at its best.

    Buy the Book
    Amazon
    Halloween Party by Agatha Christie

    Hallowe’en Party

    Written by Agatha Christie

    272 Pages | ISBN-13: 9780062073952

    Agatha Christie is known as the Queen of Crime, and Halloween Party offers an
    enticing mix of horror and mystery that really supports that title. In this quaint
    English murder mystery, an unpopular teenage girl is murdered after boasting at a
    Halloween Party that she once saw someone murdered. No one believes her, of
    course—until her body is found, drowned in the apple-bobbing barrel.
    Halloween Party offers historical fiction that lacks some of the more disturbing and
    graphic elements of modern horror—there is little in the way of sex, gore, drugs,
    and other elements of modern thriller fiction. Nevertheless, the story will have
    readers thinking deeply about love, hate, trust, and what it really means to feel
    fear.

    Amazon
    Anya's Ghost Book Cover

    Anya’s Ghost

    Written and Illustrated by Vera Brosgol

    224 Pages | ISBN-13: 9781596437135

    For readers who enjoy graphic novels, Anya’s Ghost is edgy, thought-provoking, and
    utterly chilling. In muted colors and understated lines, this graphic novel tells the
    story of Anya, whose problems with body image, family, and peer relationships
    leave her desperate for a friend. When she falls down a well and discovers the ghost
    of a long-dead girl just like her, it seems like a dream come true—the friend she has
    been longing for. However, Anya’s new friend is not all that she seems, and soon
    Anya will find her new friendship spiraling rapidly out of control.

    This is a ghost story with a wholly modern edge, filled with the gritty elements of
    modern teenagerhood that really help it speak to young readers. Following Anya’s story is not only seat-grippingly enthralling—it’s also an opportunity for readers to try out some emotional scenarios and see how they might play out in real life.

    Amazon
    I Am Legend: Book Cover

    I Am Legend

    Written by Richard Matheson

    448 Pages | ISBN-13: 9781250242754

    I Am Legend is the 1954 post-apocalyptic horror novel that really marked the start
    of zombie and vampire popular fiction. This timeless story resonates particularly
    well today, with so many young people experiencing the fear and anxiety left in the
    wake of a global pandemic.

    The novel tells the story of Robert Neville, the last remaining survivor of a pandemic
    that has killed nearly everyone else and turned all survivors into blood-sucking,
    pale-skinned, nocturnal monsters. Although they look and sound just like the people
    he knows, these monsters spend the novel attempting to lure him from the house
    that has become his stronghold. As Neville tries to understand, research, and find a
    cure for the disease, he comes ever closer to death himself at the hands of these
    not-quite-human victims.

    Like many apocalyptic novels, I Am Legend challenges readers to think about how
    they would survive if the worst were to happen, and what it would mean to be
    human in those situations.

    Amazon
    White Is For Witching Book Cover

    White is for Witching

    Written by Helen Oyeyemi

    448 Pages | ISBN-13: 9781250242754

    The fear of racial tensions and conflict is particularly prevalent in many
    communities following incidents like the murder of George Floyd and the death of
    six Asian women in the Atlanta-area spa shootings. At the very root of racial
    tensions is the fear of otherness, and horror that explores this fear at the safe
    distance of a book page can be cathartic.

    Helen Oyeyemi’s White Is for Witching is both a gripping narrative and a powerful
    exploration of the tensions around race, nationality, and family that affect so many
    communities. Set in an English country house full of secret passageways and long-
    lost secrets, the novel tells the story of a young girl whose troubling eating disorder
    and sensitivity to spirts is drawing her further and further away from the living
    world. This is a challenging read, perfect for more mature readers.

    Amazon

    Thank you for reading the Growing Readers: Learning to Love Reading and Writing column. Bookmark this Growing Readers Column link or subscribe to our e-newsletter so you do not miss out on the monthly reading tips. 5 Great Horror Books for Teens and Why to Read Them was written by Dr. Jen Harrison.

    What to Read Next:

    1. Monsterland, by Michael Okon | Book Spotlight
    2. The Ghost of Midnight Lake, by Lucy Strange | Book Review
    3. Halloween Books: Spook-Worthy Fall Books for Kids
    4. Evil Librarian: Finding the Balance Between Horror and Humor

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Agatha Christie featured Growing Readers Column Halloween Books Helen Oyeyemi Henry James Horror Richard Matheson Vera Brosgol
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    Dr. Jen Harrison
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    Dr. Jen Harrison provides writing and research services as the CEO of Read.Write.Perfect. She completed her Ph.D. in Children’s and Victorian Literature at Aberystwyth University in Wales, in the UK. After a brief spell in administration, Jen then trained as a secondary school English teacher and worked for several years teaching Secondary School English, working independently as a private tutor of English, and working in nursery and primary schools. She has been an editor for the peer-reviewed journal of children’s literature, Jeunesse, and has published academic work on children’s non-fiction, YA speculative fiction, and the posthuman.

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