The Thief of Always

Clive Barker

Young Harvey’s wish for a more exciting life is granted when he’s whisked away to a fantastical place called Mr. Hood’s Holiday House. It seems like paradise, where children have endless fun and experience every season of the year in a single day. However, as Harvey spends more time there, he starts to suspect there’s something sinister about Mr. Hood’s world. Written by horror icon Clive Barker, this children’s novel meshes fantasy and fable to tell a brilliant story about youth and the nature of time.

Dracula

Bram Stoker

Defiantly challenging Victorian conventions, Bram Stoker examines the nature of evil in this chilling Gothic novel that is sure to thrill students. This timeless tale of horror, love, and suspense unfolds through diaries and letters, weaving a story of darkness and deceit. Follow Jonathan Harker as he becomes trapped in the diabolical web of Count Dracula, a vampire with an insatiable thirst for blood. Can Harker and his allies stop the sinister reign of this supernatural being?

The Bone Houses

Emily Lloyd-Jones

In the remote village of Colbren, Ryn and her family work as gravediggers, a tough job given that in Colbren, the dead don’t always stay dead. Called “bone houses,” the risen corpses are a result of a curse put on the land. After a mapmaker named Ellis arrives in town, the bone houses start attacking the village each night. To find a way to break the curse, Ryn and Ellis must travel into the wilderness outside of the village, unsure of what they will find. Students who love the horror genre will be captivated by this chilling tale of terror.

The Turn of the Screw

Henry James

In a secluded English estate, a young governess takes charge of two orphaned children. As she grapples with eerie apparitions and unexplained events, a haunting question emerges: Are the children truly innocent, or are they ensnared by malevolent spirits? Henry James weaves a gripping tale of ambiguity and fear, making this classic ghost story a must-read for those who crave psychological horror. It’s best suited for your older classes, as James’s syntax and language are advanced.

Escape Room

Maren Stoffels

If your students crave a fast-paced story, Escape Room is an excellent pick. Teenagers Alissa, Sky, Miles, and Mint are excited to try an escape room challenge. It seems simple: pick a game, get locked in a room, find clues, and solve puzzles within 60 minutes to escape. But as the puzzles become increasingly sinister, the group starts to wonder if they’ll be locked in there forever.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde’s exploration of life without limits or consequences shocked its late-Victorian audience and still remains highly unsettling to modern readers. Your students will be forced to reconsider whether total freedom and absolute knowledge are really worth the cost as they witness the effects of decadence and wickedness that are portrayed in Dorian’s gruesome portrait.

Catherine House

Elisabeth Thomas

This atmospheric novel follows Ines, a new student at Catherine House, a reputable boarding school from which the brightest minds emerge. Those lucky enough to be accepted may attend for free, with one caveat: For all three years of enrollment, they must completely remove themselves from the outside world. Ines, eager to escape a troubled past, is quick to accept these terms and dive into academic challenges. But as her time at the school progresses, Ines suspects dark forces are at work behind the school’s experimental curriculum.

Frankenstein

Mary Shelley

When students begin Frankenstein, they expect a mindless monster story; what they get instead is an insightful exploration of man's place in the universe. Dr. Victor Frankenstein's pursuit of knowledge leads him to create a being from lifeless parts. But when the creature is brought to life, it becomes a symbol of both scientific achievement and human folly. There is no better way to share the world of the Romantics with your class than with this classroom favorite.

The Enemy

Charlie Higson

Fans of the horror genre will appreciate Charlie Higson’s gruesome take on zombies in The Enemy, the first in a series of post-apocalyptic novels set in London. As ravenous creatures prowl the streets, a small group of survivors find themselves on a terrifying journey to safety. Surprise your students with this gripping story that is gaining remarkable traction with teachers across the country.

The Best of Poe

Edgar Allan Poe

Poe is a name that conjures up thoughts of hearts beating beneath floorboards long after their owners are dead, of disease and plague amid wealth, and of love that extends beyond the grave. Explore the mysterious allure and genius of Edgar Allan Poe with your students by using our anthology of 33 of his greatest poems and stories, including “The Raven,” “Annabelle Lee,” “The Fall of the House of Usher,” “The Cask of Amontillado,” and more!