Featuring stories from R.L. Stine and Madeleine Roux, this middle grade horror anthology, curated by New York Times bestselling author and master of macabre Jonathan Maberry, is a chilling tribute to Alvin Schwartz’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.

Flesh-hungry ogres? Brains full of spiders? Haunted houses you can’t escape? This collection of 35 terrifying stories from the Horror Writers Association has it all, including ghastly illustrations from Iris Compiet that will absolutely chill readers to the bone.

So turn off your lamps, click on your flashlights, and prepare—if you dare—to be utterly spooked!

The complete list of writers: Linda D. Addison, Courtney Alameda, Jonathan Auxier, Gary A. Braunbeck, Z Brewer, Aric Cushing, John Dixon, Tananarive Due, Jamie Ford, Kami Garcia, Christopher Golden, Tonya Hurley, Catherine Jordan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Alethea Kontis, N.R. Lambert, Laurent Linn, Amy Lukavics, Barry Lyga, D.J. MacHale, Josh Malerman, James A. Moore, Michael Northrop, Micol Ostow, Joanna Parypinksi, Brendan Reichs, Madeleine Roux, R.L. Stine, Margaret Stohl, Gaby Triana, Luis Alberto Urrea, Rosario Urrea, Kim Ventrella, Sheri White, T.J. Wooldridge, Brenna Yovanoff

Every home has its secrets...For Nora, the truth starts to be revealed on Halloween night.
It's been a bad few months for Nora Wilson. There was a huge fire in her family's apartment this summer, and her parents have been acting superweird ever since. They won't let her or her brother out of the apartment anymore, not even to go to school. So when Nora's parents say she can go trick-or-treating on Halloween, Nora is thrilled. And she's even more thrilled to make a new friend, Caitlin, who just moved into the apartment building. Caitlin knows nothing about what happened to Nora's family, but she does seem to know a lot about the ghosts that are rumored to haunt the building. As she shares these ghost stories with Nora, Nora can't help but be chilled by them. Are they hitting just a little too close to home?
This spooky story is rated a Level 4 on the Creep-o-Meter.

Two Martians unexpectedly land on Earth and have to get home - by highjacking the bodies of two kids and leaving a trail of trouble in their wake that no one may be able to fix! ENJOY YOUR VISIT Family camping trips are supposed to be fun, but for Parker, Annie, and the Walden family, they're an absolute nightmare! After a creepy, unidentified bird attacks their mom in the forest, Parker and Annie find themselves face to face with two strange creatures that suddenly enter the kids' brains and take control of their bodies. Can Parker and Annie break loose of this horrific control and convince their family of what's happening, or will the creatures take over their lives for good?

Infused with page-turning suspense, bittersweet romance, shocking twists, and tragic turns, Sterling has written a standout debut. --Dana Mele, author of People Like Us Hannah's a witch, but not the kind you're thinking of. She's the real deal, an Elemental with the power to control fire, earth, water, and air. But even though she lives in Salem, Massachusetts, her magic is a secret she has to keep to herself. If she's ever caught using it in front of a Reg (read: non-witch), she could lose it. For good. So, Hannah spends most of her time avoiding her ex-girlfriend (and fellow Elemental Witch) Veronica, hanging out with her best friend, and working at the Fly by Night Cauldron selling candles and crystals to tourists, goths, and local Wiccans. But dealing with her ex is the least of Hannah's concerns when a terrifying blood ritual interrupts the end-of-school-year bonfire. Evidence of dark magic begins to appear all over Salem, and Hannah's sure it's the work of a deadly Blood Witch. The issue is, her coven is less than convinced, forcing Hannah to team up with the last person she wants to see: Veronica. While the pair attempt to smoke out the Blood Witch at a house party, Hannah meets Morgan, a cute new ballerina in town. But trying to date amid a supernatural crisis is easier said than done, and Hannah will have to test the limits of her power if she's going to save her coven and get the girl, especially when the attacks on Salem's witches become deadlier by the day. Isabel Sterling's delightful, suspenseful debut is equal parts sweet romance and thrilling mystery. With everything she loves on the line, Hannah must confront this murderous villain before her coven--and any chance she has with the new girl--is destroyed.

Sharp turns ahead All aboard the next-to-last thrill ride in this epic series from fright-master R.L. Stine And be prepared for the most shocking twists yet. . . .
Not long ago, Luke and Lizzy Morris dared to spend one day at HorrorLand, the terrifying theme park where nightmares come to life. They thought that NOTHING could lure them back, but their travel plans are about to change....
Who--or WHAT--is summoning ordinary kids to HorrorLand and trapping them there? Luke and Lizzy are determined to find out. They've gathered every clue, and they even launched their own secret website at EscapeHorrorLand.com.
This time, Luke and Lizzy are prepared to face any danger--and any villain. Or so they thought...

"This haunting fantasy thriller brings together the quirkiness of Roald Dahl and darkness of Neil Gaimen."
--Austin Family
"The story was well-written, clever, and completely unpredictable...a great summer read that will let your imagination run wild."
--TIME for Kids
Olive thought she'd uncovered all the house's secrets. She was wrong.
It's Halloween night when strangers come to Linden Street...and something dear to Olive goes missing. To what lengths will she go to get it back? Can she trust the strangers? Will she turn to a new and dangerous magic within the paintings of Elsewhere? Or will she put her faith in her own worst enemies to save the people and home she loves?
The stakes grow higher, the secrets more dangerous, and mystery and magic abound as Olive, the boys, and the cats uncover the true nature of the house on Linden Street. A must-read fantasy series for fans of Pseudonymous Bosch, "Coraline," and Septimus Heap.
This is the fourth book in the Books of Elsewhere series.

When a 200-year-old witch attacks her, sixteen-year-old bookworm Lainey Styles is determined to find a logical explanation. Even with the impossible staring her in the face, Lainey refuses to believe it--until she finds a photograph linking the witch to her dead mother. After consulting a psychic, Lainey discovers that she, like her mother, is a Keeper: a witch with the exclusive ability to unlock and wield the Grimoire, a dangerous but powerful spell book. But there's a problem. The Grimoire has been stolen by a malevolent warlock who is desperate for a spell locked inside it--a spell that would allow him to siphon away the world's magic. With the help of her comic-book-loving best friend and an enigmatic but admittedly handsome street fighter, Lainey must leave her life of college prep and studying behind to prepare for the biggest test of all: stealing back the book.

It's a whole new ride from master of horror and bestselling author R.L. Stine--with a story so fiendish that it can't be contained to just one book
Fright-master R.L. Stine invites you on an all-new, all-terrifying adventure
The thrill ride begins when 12-year-old Britney Crosby encounters an old ventriloquist's dummy with a lively secret--and a wicked plan.
Just when she thinks the nightmare is over, Britney receives an invitation to an amusement park where everything is not as it seems. Who--or what--is summoning ordinary kids to HorrorLand? Britney and her friends must find out fast--or remain trapped forever in the scariest place on Earth.

A startlingly original, stunningly-illustrated modern classic about learning to face your fears from the multi award-winning partnership of Nick Lake and Emily Gravett. Lily just wants things to go back to the way they were: before she got sick, before her parents decided to have another baby. So when she's sent away to stay with her grandmother while her mum has the baby, Lily is determined to go home. But she doesn't expect to find people in her house - people who look like her parents, but definitely aren't ... Together with some unlikely animal companions, Lily must face her fears and summon the courage to break into her own house, and defeat 'The Replacements' before the night is out. Nick Lake's atmospheric story of family and friendship is brought to spectacular life by Emily Gravett, twice winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal. 'A book of such wit and flair and delight: the kind of book you finish and immediately begin again, so that you can live again alongside the characters' Katherine Rundell, bestselling author of The Explorer

Two Hawkins yearbooks in one--based on the Netflix series Stranger Things! Based on Netflix's Stranger Things, this vintage '80s yearbook is really two books in one. First, visit the middle school in Mike Wheeler's annual, then flip it over and feel the Tiger pride in Nancy Wheeler's high school yearbook. Filled with class pictures, AV Club candids, lists, inscriptions, and secret notes, this is sure to fascinate fans of all ages.

Before Count Dracula became one of the greatest, most feared vampires of all time, he was just a young boy called Wilfred who didn't really feel like he belonged anywhere. But Wilfred's dad, the old Count, doesn't think his son is up to the task of being a great vampire! Can Wilfred show his father what he's really made of? Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 7+

This Ladybird Classic is an abridged retelling of the classic vampire tale of Dracula by Bram Stoker. A perfect introduction to the well-loved legend, it is ideal for adults to read with children, or for newly confident readers to tackle alone. Please note that due to some scary parts in places, content may not be suitable for very young or sensitive readers. Jonathan Harker visits Transylvania for what he thinks is a simple business meeting with a new client. Instead, he encounters the strange and sinister Count Dracula. There will be a battle between good and evil, but who will prevail? Beautiful new illustrations throughout and a gorgeous larger format with ribbon marker bring the excitement of this classic story to a new generation of children.

I must record the facts that have led me to where I am now. So that, when someone reads this, they understand. Sam Hunter's neighbours are pillars of the community, the most influential people in town. But they're liars too. The Greenhills are hiding something and Sam's determined to find out what it is. As his investigation unfolds, he realizes the lies reach further than he ever imagined - is there anyone he can trust? Uncovering the horror is one thing ... escaping is another. Simon Cheshire's chilling novel is part of the Red Eye series.

It's just a bad dream--but it seems so real. Every night Maggie Travers has the same horrible dream. Every night she is forced to watch the same murder. And every night the girl in her dream cries out for help. Maggie is afraid to go to sleep again. But when the terrifying dream starts to come true and the gruesome accidents begin, staying awake is the real nightmare!

Inspired by a terrifying true story, acclaimed author Guadalupe Garcia McCall creates a twisty tale about a boy desperately trying to survive in a new town with a secret past. James always knew moving from Texas to Oregon was going to be horrible.. But no sooner have he and his family arrived in their "perfect" new home in their "perfect" new town than he starts getting mysterious letters from someone called the Keeper. Someone who claims to be watching him. Someone who is looking for "young blood." James and his sister, Ava, are obviously in danger. But the problem with having a history of playing practical jokes is that no one believes James-not even his parents. Now James and Ava need to figure out who is sending the letters before they become the next victims in their neighborhood's long history of missing children. Because one thing is clear: Uncovering the truth about the Keeper is the only thing that will keep them alive.

Destiny Weller and her twin sister, Livvy, return from their summer vacation with an overpowering thirst -- an inhuman desire to drink blood.

Have they turned into vampires?

How will they keep their horrifying secret from their family and friends?

And can they find a way to become human again ... before it's too late?

A New York Times bestseller, The Night Gardener is a Victorian ghost story with shades of Washington Irving and Henry James. More than just a spooky tale, it's also a moral fable about human greed and the power of storytelling. The Night Gardener follows two abandoned Irish siblings who travel to work as servants at a creepy, crumbling English manor house. But the house and its family are not quite what they seem. Soon the children are confronted by a mysterious spectre and an ancient curse that threatens their very lives. With Auxier's exquisite command of language, The Night Gardener is a mesmerizing read and a classic in the making. Praise for The Night Gardener STARRED REVIEWS "Lots of creepiness, memorable characters, a worthy message, Auxier's atmospheric drawings and touches of humor amid the horror make this cautionary tale one readers will not soon forget." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Storytelling and the secret desires of the heart wind together in this atmospheric novel that doubles as a ghost tale." --School Library Journal, starred review "Auxier achieves an ideal mix of adventure and horror, offering all of it in elegant, atmospheric language that forces the reader to slow down a bit and revel in both the high-quality plot and the storytelling itself." --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "All proper scary stories require a spooky, menacing atmosphere, and Auxier (Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes) delivers the goods with his precise descriptions of the gothic setting and teasing hints of mystery and suspense." --The Horn Book Magazine Summer 2014 Kids' Indie Next List

Short and Scary! includes stories of ghosts, monsters, and aliens - as well as some much more unexpected scares! Over forty stories in one book - all of them very, very short! None of the stories are more than two pages long, but each of them is special and thought-provoking to inspire short story writers. Drawn from a range of sources, including folk tales, urban myths, and narrative jokes, as well as original stories, the stories are ideal for use in the classroom.

"A poignant story." --School Library Journal

"An unforgettable, life-affirming tale." --Booklist

The Graveyard Book meets Hatchet in this eerie novel about a boy who is stranded on a mysterious beach, from debut author Samantha M. Clark.

A boy washes up on a mysterious, seemingly uninhabited beach. Who is he? How did he get there? The boy can't remember. When he sees a light shining over the foreboding wall of trees that surrounds the shore, he decides to follow it, in the hopes that it will lead him to answers. The boy's journey is a struggle for survival and a search for the truth--a terrifying truth that once uncovered, will force him to face his greatest fear of all if he is to go home.

This gripping adventure will have readers hooked until its jaw-dropping and moving conclusion. Samantha M. Clark's first novel heralds the arrival of an exciting new voice.

In Olive's third adventure, what lurks below the house could be as dangerous as what's hidden inside . . .
Some terrifying things have happened to Olive in the old stone house, but none as scary as starting junior high. Or so she thinks. When she plummets through a hole in her backyard, though, she realizes two things that may change her mind: First, the wicked Annabelle McMartin is back. Second, there's a secret underground that unlocks not one but two of Elsewhere's biggest, most powerful, most dangerous forces yet. But with the house's guardian cats acting suspicious, her best friend threatening to move away, and her ally Morton starting to rebel, Olive isn't sure where to turn. Will she figure it out in time? Or will she be lured into Elsewhere, and trapped there for good?

Previously published as The Hanging Hill. From the New York Times bestselling author of Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library and coauthor of I Funny and Treasure Hunters, comes a series of spine-tingling mysteries to keep you up long after the lights go out.

Every theater has its demons.

At this one? They're real.

Zack is staying at the Hanging Hill summer theater, a place where he and his family hope to recover from the fiery fallout of Zack's last ghostly encounter. The theater is all set to stage Zack's stepmother's play . . . or so they think. What Zack doesn't know is that the director has another show in mind, and that production requires a child born under a full moon. A child who will not survive opening night. And Zack? He was born under a full moon.

Zack has battled evil spirits before, but this time he'll learn that just because it's a playhouse doesn't mean that the ghosts are playing.