Horror Books For Young Adults – The best horror books for teenagers do two things. First, they have to be scary – of course. But they also need to introduce young readers to the genre, attract them and make sure they connect. An entire generation of children started out as cringe-worthy horror readers at an early age; Before a certain boy wizard and his school of magic arrived, Goosebumps author R.L. Stine was the author of the best-selling children’s series of all time. But for some, the genre comes later – and this list of the best horror books for teenagers offers great places to start.
Speaking of R.L. Stinea, did you know that he also wrote horror novels for teenagers? Street of Fear is the name of his series for young adults, and while it’s not as prolific as Goosebumps, there’s plenty to start with – and these books have seriously grown up, too. There are 51 books in the series before you even start counting the spin-offs and mini-series that followed.
Horror Books For Young Adults
Betrayal is the first in that mini-series, Street of Fear: The Saga. The saga explains the origins of Fear Street, a place where grisly murders and supernatural events are common. Betrayal takes readers to Puritan America, outlines the feud between the Fear and Good families, and helps explain the curse plaguing Fear Street. This is a great place to start with Stine’s YA books, especially if you’ve seen the movies.
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Stephen King is, of course, one of the most popular writers of all time, and his career as a novelist began in 1974 with Carrie – still one of his most famous and popular books. This is one of the best horror books for teenagers, especially those new to horror or Stephen King himself; Prepare to be truly terrified after reading this.
Carrie tells the story of a lonely, bullied high school girl who comes from an abusive, religious family. She rediscovers that she has telekinetic powers and uses them to take revenge on those who wronged her and bring great disaster to the city. Besides showing all the promise of horror that King would be known for, teenagers will find Carrey terrifying.
Until now, this list of the best horror books for teenagers has lacked a vampire story – but luckily, Darren Shan has you covered with his twelve-book series for young adults, The Saga of Darren Shan. Darren Shan (character) becomes a half-vampire in exchange for the life of one of his best friends, making the entire series four trilogy.
Cirque du Freak is the first book to introduce characters and a host of vampires – who are a little different from us bloodsuckers. Shan’s vampires don’t just bite the necks of their victims; They drink a little through open veins. They can climb walls with their long claws. They can absorb the souls of their victims and are partially immune to sunlight. Teenagers have loved this saga for a long time, and it’s easy to see why it remains popular.
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Coraline is best known as a children’s book, but if some teenagers are dipping their toes into horror, it’s a good place to start. And, in true Neil Gaiman style, it still works on different levels – and teenagers might find it scarier than kids. It’s a very creepy, atmospheric story, but there’s also a graphic novel version, which can appeal to a wide range of young readers or those who are a little hesitant to start.
One rainy day, Coraline discovers another world through a mysterious door in her apartment building. In another world, which is almost identical to hers, there is more time for another mother and another father, and Coraline enjoys it there. When offered the chance to live there forever, Coraline refuses, but then must save her parents from the wrath of the Other Mother, who traps them in another world.
Zombie horror is practically a genre unto itself, and in Dread Nation, Justina Ireland combines it with some alternate-reality historical fiction, as well as a little Sapphic romance for added flavor. Most horror novels work on some allegorical level to tell a different story, but Dread Nation doesn’t even try to hide the fact that it also has some serious political statements.
In an alternate history of the United States, the appearance of zombies has led to a civil war. Black and Native American children go to combat schools to learn how to fight zombies so they can become protectors of the rich. Jane knows that school is her opportunity, but she just wants to go home. When people start mysteriously disappearing, Jane realizes that zombies are the least of her problems.
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A list like this should have room for a classic or two, and luckily, Frankenstein is one of the best horror novels for teenagers.
For those new to the classics, Frankenstein is short and doesn’t look intimidating on the bookshelf. Mary Shelley was a teenager herself when she wrote this book, practically reinventing the science fiction genre – and scaring readers.
Frankenstein, of course, is not the name of a monster. Doctor Victor Frankenstein is a man who creates a monster, brings it to life, and then has several different views of him and his creation. When it comes to horror, teenagers may find Frankenstein a bit milder than some of the others on this list, but that doesn’t matter when the story is this good.
This is one of the newer novels on the list, but it easily ranks among the best horror books for teenagers. For fans of Japanese horror, this is a must-read – and it’s also a very good, creepy ghost story. It’s the kind of horror story that keeps readers up at night, moving shadows in the corners of their rooms.
Best Horror Books For Teens
Okiku is the spirit of a murdered child, who roams the earth and releases the spirits of other murdered dead people. When she meets Tark, a troubled boy who is feared by the people around him, she realizes that he is the host of a ghost. Okiku wants to free Tark, but if the demon dies in the process, Tark will die too.
Staying on the longer monstrous theme, Daniel Vega’s The Merciless also focuses on that theme. The book has been touted as The Exorcist meets Mean Girls, and readers generally agree that the story delivers a lot when it comes to comparing the two.
When her friends, three perfect girls, tell her they want to help Brooklyn Stevens, Sofia Flores regrets getting involved – she didn’t know they’d be trying to get rid of the demon hiding Brooklyn. Sophia just wants to escape the exorcism, but she can’t speak against her friends. After all, she could be next.
Another classic for the list, The Curious Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde really needs no introduction; Like Frankenstein, the story has become a staple of pop culture. Like Frankenstein, the novel is easily embraced by young children and teenagers – even those who may be a little hesitant to try something older.
Of The Best Young Adult Horror Books
Dr. Henry Jekyll spent much of his life trying to suppress his ‘evil urges’. In desperation, he creates a serum that he hopes will eradicate this part of his personality. Instead, he transforms into the evil and unrepentant Edward Hyde, who grows stronger throughout the story and commits evil deeds. The story is gothic horror, not pure horror, but it’s a classic for a reason.
Rounding out the list with a good old serial killer story is in order. Stephanie Perkins may be best known for her romance novels, but there is some romance in Someone’s in Your House, but for the most part it’s a classic, creepy-meets-teen-horror-movie-killer story. House
Makani Young moved from Hawaii to Nebraska to live with her grandmother. Makani is having a hard time adjusting to his new life. And then, as if that wasn’t enough, someone starts picking on her high school students, one by one, in very creepy ways. Will Makani survive the killer or become another victim?
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The 10 Best Horror Books Of 2022
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