6 of the Scariest Ghosts in Middle Grade

Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story, by Mary Downing Hahn
When siblings Molly and Michael move to the country with their annoying stepsister, Heather, they think things can’t any worse. That is, until Heather starts talking to a ghost named Helen and claims Helen is going to come for Molly and Michael. Then, as the title suggests, Helen comes. And she’s no joke; this eerie novel by mystery and suspense writer Mary Downing Hahn is genuinely scary.

Doll Bones, by Holly Black
Readers who like their ghosts in creepy doll form should look no further than this Newbury Honor-winning tale from Holly Black. Doll Bones is a wonderfully weird and spooky novel that is as much about the friendship between Zach, Alice, and Poppy, as it is about the sinister china-doll that seems to have the three friends in its clutches. With vivid characters and a page-turning plot, kids might have to read this one with the lights on but they won’t want to put it down.

The Girl Behind the Glass, by Jane Kelley
In this novel about a set of twins who move into a gloomy old house on Hemlock Road, a vengeful and mysterious ghost narrates the story and becomes more unstable and menacing as the book progresses, driving the twins apart, and haunting their family. The suspenseful tale will keep readers guessing, wondering who or what the ghost might be.

Breathe: A Ghost Story, by Cliff McNish
When Jack and his recently widowed mother move to an old farmhouse, Jack starts hearing from a group of spirits from the 19th century: a ghost mother enslaving her three ghost children. Jack must learn their secrets in order to save himself and his mother from this vengeful and dangerous ghost, culminating in a thrilling and bone-chilling conclusion.

Shadowed Summer, by Saundra Mitchell
When summer vacation begins, Iris expects the usual boring few months, hanging out at the grocery store with her best friend and telling ghost stories at the old cemetery. But, this summer, a real ghost begins to haunt her, the legendary Elijah Landry, whose mysterious death still plagues her small town. Iris must learn what really happened to him and why he chose her to haunt.

Jane-Emily and Witches’ Children, by Patricia Clapp
For those older readers who are not quite ready for Stephen King but want a good scare, Patricia Clapp’s popular classic is a must-read. While spending the summer at Jane’s grandmother’s house, Jane and her young Aunt Louisa encounter Emily, an angry and malevolent spirit, who has dark plans for Jane. Young Louisa must battle to save Jane and make things right again.