Dark Matter: A Ghost Story

Michelle Paver

This psychological thriller is a ghost story with real depth and historical detail. When Jack is invited to join an Arctic expedition, it seems like a miraculous escape from his dead-end job in Depression-era London. Unfortunately, the expedition’s chosen destination – Gruhuken, in northern Norway – seems to be an ill-fated place. A series of accidents and disasters results in Jack being left alone, with only his husky dog for company. As the long Arctic nights draw in, something darkly malevolent seems to be lurking in Gruhuken . . . or is it only in Jack’s mind? Reading and interest level:

violence; emotionally disturbing

White Crow

Marcus Sedgwick

Rebecca and her father come to the village of Winterfold to escape from a tragedy, but their present turns out to be just as haunted as their past. Winterfold is gradually being reclaimed by the sea, and dark secrets will be inadvertently uncovered by Rebecca and her strange new friend, Ferelith. This thoughtful book weaves together historical and contemporary storylines and characters, all obsessed by the question of whether there is any life after death.

violence

The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket

Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allen Poe is a poetic voice forever associated with gothic horror, and this influential adventure story is his only completed work of novel length. When the 16 year-old narrator stows away on a whaling ship, he does so in expectation of a glorious adventure. Instead, he must confront every horror imaginable: from confinement to near starvation, mutiny, cannibalism, sharks, treacherous natives and the death of his friends. The descriptive language and realistic detail will entertain, horrify and educate the reader who is up for a challenge.

contains some gruesome imagery

The Replacement

Brenna Yovanoff

The town of Gentry is a melancholy place, scarred by decades of coal excavation. Mackie Doyle has lived in Gentry for all of his 16 years, but he can’t shake the conviction that he doesn’t really belong. When Mackie discovers an underworld under the abandoned slag heap, he begins to discover where he really comes from – but will he give his loyalty to the House of Mayhem or his human friends and family? This atmospheric gothic tale has original world-building, strong female characters and enough creepiness to appeal to horror fans.

strong language; sexuality; drugs/alcohol

The Monstrumologist (The Monstrumologist, #1)

Rick Yancey

This award-winning novel is the first in a series following the monster-hunting exploits of an obsessive doctor and his 12 year-old orphan apprentice. When a grave robber unearths the corpse of a strange headless monster, he turns to this unusual pair for assistance. Set in New England in 1888, the book has a gothic atmosphere reminiscent of Frankenstein and other Victorian horror stories. The formal tone and precise vocabulary provide a vivid contrast to the incredibly gory descriptions of death, decay and dismemberment.

violence and gore; emotionally disturbing

The Graveyard Book

Neil Gaiman

Author Neil Gaiman described this story as “a lot like The Jungle Book” but “set in a graveyard,” with ghosts, instead of animals, raising the young orphaned boy. With the help of some highly unusual friends and mentors, Bod must grow up – and continue to elude the terrifying Jack who has killed off his family, and wants to kill him. This imaginative fantasy is the perfect Halloween story for young teenage readers who want some humour with their horror.

violence; emotionally disturbing

My So-Called Haunting

Tamsyn Murray

Being the new girl in school isn’t easy, especially when you talk to ghosts on a regular basis. Whether she is riding the bus, or trying to do her homework, ghosts just won’t leave 14 year-old Skye alone. The one good thing in Skye’s life is her new boyfriend Nico, until ‘dark and mysterious’ takes her on a date to the cemetery. This (mostly) light-hearted look into London’s paranormal world is the second book in the Afterlife series.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Ransom Riggs

Jacob has always been fascinated by his grandfather’s wild stories of Nazis, children with unusual gifts and the mysterious Miss Peregrine. But when his grandfather dies under questionable circumstances, Jacob gets a disturbing glimpse into a world others try to convince him just doesn’t exist. Jacob returns to the obscure island of his grandfather’s past looking for answers, and finds much more than he could have imagined. This fantasy-horror novel defies usual genre categorization and reader expectations. The authentic vintage photographs, which are interspersed with the text, add to the book’s eccentric appeal. Now also a major motion picture.

strong language

At the Mountains of Madness

H. P. Lovecraft

One of the acknowledged fathers and masters of horror, H.P. Lovecraft’s work is a must for devotees of this genre. In one of his best-known stories, a geographical expedition to the Antarctica uncovers evidence of ancient civilizations which will completely transform current scientific thinking. The initial excitement is soon marred by tragedy, though, and the one sane survivor becomes desperate to conceal their horrific discoveries. This cross between science fiction and horror will give older readers a good sense of the Lovecraft style. Careful readers will notice how Poe influenced Lovecraft, and how Lovecraft in turn has influenced contemporary writers like Rick Yancey.

horror

A Monster Calls

Patrick Ness

This exceptionally well-written and moving novel examines one of our most profound fears: losing someone we love. As his mother suffers through another round of chemotherapy, 13 year-old Conor is being stalked by a monster who invades both his dreams and his waking life. Feeling both isolated and persecuted, Conor must battle the monster on his own. The dramatic illustrations and powerful imagery heighten the impact of this real-life horror story.

emotionally disturbing