Books to Enjoy a Good Scare this Halloween

Trick or treat? Give me something good to read!

Halloween is just around the corner. While some children love to dress up, teens and tweens may prefer to experience the thrill from the comfort of home with a good book in hand. After all, fear, when told in a story, can be just as enjoyable as candy.

At Bambú we have chilling and exciting reads for every age: from first readers learning to face the dark, to middle grade readers who enjoy a tingle of suspense, to young adults looking for a truly dark and gripping story.

Go Away Nightmares! from the topselling Victory! series, written by Elisenda Roca and illustrated by Cristina Losantos is perfect for early readers who want to overcome their fear of the dark.

Juan is cheerful and easygoing during the day, but when night falls, the shadows in his room seem to turn into terrifying creatures. Luckily, his grandmother shows him a clever trick to make those shadows less scary, and even fun.

Candela and the Mystery of the Open Door by Reyes Martínez and illustrations by Mercè López is ideal for Middle Grade readers.

Curious Candela explores an abandoned house and discovers playful child spirits living in different rooms. To go out, she must solve clever riddles and decode the unusual ways they communicate. Full of intrigue, and a touch of tenderness, it’s a gentle creepy and fun Halloween read.

The Universe of Poe, illustrated by Pep Montserrat introduces young readers to the extraordinary world of Edgar Allan Poe.

This volume gathers some of his most haunting tales: a mysterious golden beetle, a pirate’s treasure, a haunted castle in the Apennines, a young woman trapped inside a portrait, and even a dead man who is not truly dead. It is a perfect gateway into Poe’s dark and poetic universe.

The Slaughterer is a gripping and terrifying YA novel by the bestselling author Fernando Lalana.

In Zaragoza, the police are on the trail of a sadistic serial killer who murders his victims in a horrifying way: by taking their eyes. Young inspector Germán Goitia faces the toughest case of his career—and perhaps his last.

This Halloween, dare to turn off the lights, pick up a book, and let yourself be swept into stories that will make your skin tingle. That’s a treat!