While frightening tales and the accompanying group scares are an important part of oral storytelling, it’s also deliciously creepy fun to read them alone. Any time of year is the perfect time of year for curling up with a blanket and a cup of hot chocolate and reading a short, spooky story – and that’s true whatever your age. There are plenty of brilliantly creepy middle grade horror novels out there, but what about shorter stories? Adult anthologies of ghost stories and scary tales are plentiful, but middle grade horror anthologies are less common. Here are some of the best collections of scary short stories for middle grade readers, ranging from the genuinely frightening to the goofy and funny. There are tales of ghouls, monsters and ghosts for all kinds of horror fans in the following collections – read on if you dare… Whether the young readers in your life love being scared or are looking for a less frightening but just as thrilling Halloween story, these middle grade horror anthologies will fill a niche and be a perfect read for spooky autumn nights. Just make sure to read them with the lights on. For more scary stories for middle graders, check out our article on Truly Terrifying Books for Fearless Middle Grade Readers. If your middle grade reader prefers a more low-key, comfortable horror, try 8 Cozy Middle Grade Ghost Stories.
