Spooky teen reads for autumn and winter nights
Now the nights are dark and long, there's a definite chill in the air. But is that shiver down your spine caused by the cold weather or something else?
If you like to spook yourself silly, prepare to be scared with these enjoyably eerie books about ghosts, gods, nightmares and monsters. Don't say we didn't warn you...
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Book of Lies
Author: Terri Terry
Publisher: Orchard
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 12+Piper and Quinn find out they're identical twins when their mother dies. Written with alternating viewpoint chapters between the twins, there is a genuinely spooky feel to this excellent psychological and supernatural thriller.
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The Hawkweed Prophecy
Author: Irena Brignull
Publisher: Orchard Books
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 12+Strong characters, complex relationships, and important themes of family, belonging, identity, love and loneliness, drive this absorbing story of magic and painful family secrets.
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And I Darken
Author: Kiersten White
Publisher: Corgi
Interest age: 12-16
Reading age: 12+And I Darken is a fictional retelling of the rise of Vlad the Impaler - except, in White's thrilling take on it, Vlad isn't Vlad but Lady Lada. The political intrigue and character relationships are wonderfully done, and Lada is an anti-heroine to root for.
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Three Dark Crowns
Author: Kendare Blake
Publisher: Macmillan
Interest age: 13-18
Reading age: 13+Three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and possessor of a coveted magic - and when they are 16, they must battle to the death to become Queen of the island. This story is feminist, fierce and unforgettable - perfect for fans of Game of Thrones.
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Barefoot on the Wind
Author: Zoe Marriott
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 12+This stylish reworking of Beauty and the Beast unfolds in mythical Japan. Beautiful visual imagery, viscerally brutal action and desperate passions make this retelling feel fresh.
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The Wrong Train
Author: Jeremy De Quidt
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Interest age: 14+
Reading age: 10+Getting on the wrong train is usually just a minor inconvenience but, as this masterful piece of horror writing confirms, it can sometimes become one of your worst nightmares. Utterly chilling and haunting.
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The Otherlife
Author: Julia Gray
Publisher: Andersen Press
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 12+An intelligent and insightful read, this YA novel manages to merge Norse myth, competitive parenting, bullying, class issues and exam pressures into a taut and chilling thriller. Perfect for fans of Sarah Govett and Neil Gaiman.
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Haunt Me
Author: Liz Kessler
Publisher: Orion
Interest age: 12-16
Reading age: 12+Introverted Erin has just moved to a new house and school - and finds her new bedroom is haunted by teenager Joe. With a mature and sensitive approach to bereavement, loss and teen relationships, this proves a thought-provoking read.
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The Creeper Man
Author: Dawn Kurtagich
Publisher: Orion
Interest age: 12-13
Reading age: 12+Kurtagich has created an incredibly assured, claustrophobic horror with a fractured and troubled teen narrator that will have you gripped to the very last page.
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The Graces
Author: Laure Eve
Publisher: Faber and Faber
Interest age: 13+
Reading age: 13+Like everyone else in town, River is obsessed with the Graces: attracted by their glamour and apparent ability to weave magic. But are they really what they seem? A beautifully written, deliciously dark YA fantasy with a fresh take on witches.
