Summary: In today’s article, I’ve rounded up 20 books similar to Goosebumps that are sure to give you all the thrills and chills you’re looking for. Here are my top 3 choices:
- Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz
- The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier
- The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste
Books like Goosebumps give young readers just the right amount of spooky fun—creepy adventures, strange creatures, and eerie mysteries—without going too far. These stories blend excitement, suspense, and a touch of fear, making them perfect for kids and teens who love haunted houses, hidden secrets, and supernatural thrills.
TOP 20: best Books Similar to Goosebumps
- Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz
- The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier
- The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste
- Coraline by Neil Gaiman
- Nightmares! by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller
- The Haunting of Derek Stone by Tony Abbott
- The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
- Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh
- Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
- Lockwood & Co. by Jonathan Stroud
- The Last Apprentice (Wardstone Chronicles) by Joseph Delaney
- A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
- Bunnicula by James Howe
- The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street by Lindsay Currie
- Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn
- The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls by Claire Legrand
- Goosebumps HorrorLand by R.L. Stine
- Doll Bones by Holly Black
- Monster Street series by J.H. Reynolds
- Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac
1. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
- Author: Alvin Schwartz
- About: A collection of folk and urban legends retold in eerie, simple prose, often with haunting illustrations.
- Style of writing: Short, creepy, straightforward; written to resemble oral storytelling.
- Length: ~10,000 words
- Year written: 1981
- Emotional impact: Memorable; many stories have a lasting, unsettling impact.
- Difficulty level: Easy
- Why read it: Perfect for quick chills and a taste of classic folklore.
2. The Night Gardener
- Author: Jonathan Auxier
- About: A Gothic tale of two siblings working in a haunted house with a dark secret.
- Style of writing: Rich, atmospheric prose with strong character development.
- Length: ~80,000 words
- Year written: 2014
- Emotional impact: Haunting and impactful; lingers with readers.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: For fans of eerie, atmospheric stories with moral depth.
3. The Jumbies
- Author: Tracey Baptiste
- About: A Caribbean-inspired horror tale about a girl facing off with supernatural beings.
- Style of writing: Simple, vivid language capturing Caribbean folklore.
- Length: ~45,000 words
- Year written: 2015
- Emotional impact: Thought-provoking with strong cultural themes.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: Engages readers with mythology and strong, relatable characters.
4. Coraline
- Author: Neil Gaiman
- About: A girl discovers an alternate world with sinister versions of her family.
- Style of writing: Dark, whimsical, and imaginative.
- Length: ~30,000 words
- Year written: 2002
- Emotional impact: Memorable; unsettling with a lasting sense of wonder.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: A unique mix of fantasy and horror with clever twists.
5. Nightmares!
- Authors: Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller
- About: A boy must face his nightmares to protect his town from dark forces.
- Style of writing: Lighthearted with suspenseful, action-packed scenes.
- Length: ~65,000 words
- Year written: 2014
- Emotional impact: Fun and engaging with a positive message.
- Difficulty level: Easy to moderate
- Why read it: Combines humor with spooky adventure, great for younger readers.
6. The Haunting of Derek Stone
- Author: Tony Abbott
- About: A boy experiences supernatural events after a near-death experience.
- Style of writing: Fast-paced, suspenseful.
- Length: ~20,000 words per book (4-book series)
- Year written: 2009
- Emotional impact: Suspenseful, leaves readers intrigued.
- Difficulty level: Easy
- Why read it: A quick, engaging series with lots of twists.
7. The Graveyard Book
- Author: Neil Gaiman
- About: A boy raised by ghosts in a graveyard encounters dark supernatural forces.
- Style of writing: Poetic, atmospheric.
- Length: ~80,000 words
- Year written: 2008
- Emotional impact: Poignant, memorable.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: A beautifully written, award-winning story with depth.
8. Spirit Hunters
- Author: Ellen Oh
- About: A girl uncovers family secrets in a haunted house.
- Style of writing: Straightforward, suspenseful.
- Length: ~55,000 words
- Year written: 2017
- Emotional impact: Engaging and suspenseful, with a lasting impact.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: Features diverse characters and a gripping ghost story.
9. Small Spaces
- Author: Katherine Arden
- About: Kids trapped on a haunted farm face supernatural dangers.
- Style of writing: Suspenseful, descriptive.
- Length: ~50,000 words
- Year written: 2018
- Emotional impact: Tense, atmospheric.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: Perfect for fans of creepy, mysterious adventures.
10. Lockwood & Co.
- Author: Jonathan Stroud
- About: Teen ghost hunters battle malevolent spirits in London.
- Style of writing: Witty, action-packed.
- Length: ~80,000 words per book (5-book series)
- Year written: 2013-2017
- Emotional impact: Exciting and suspenseful.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: Great mix of humor, action, and supernatural elements.
11. The Last Apprentice (Wardstone Chronicles)
- Author: Joseph Delaney
- About: An apprentice learns to battle dark creatures and witches.
- Style of writing: Dark, adventurous.
- Length: ~60,000 words per book (13-book series)
- Year written: 2004-2017
- Emotional impact: Spooky, memorable.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: A richly detailed fantasy-horror series with dark twists.
12. A Tale Dark & Grimm
- Author: Adam Gidwitz
- About: Dark, twisted fairy tales inspired by the Brothers Grimm.
- Style of writing: Playful, darkly humorous.
- Length: ~50,000 words
- Year written: 2010
- Emotional impact: Fun yet thought-provoking.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: A unique spin on fairy tales with a horror twist.
13. Bunnicula
- Authors: James Howe and Deborah Howe
- About: A vampire bunny causes mischief for a family’s pets.
- Style of writing: Lighthearted, humorous.
- Length: ~15,000 words
- Year written: 1979
- Emotional impact: Charming, fun.
- Difficulty level: Easy
- Why read it: A classic, humorous “horror” story for young readers.
14. The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street
- Author: Lindsay Currie
- About: A girl uncovers the ghostly secrets of her new home.
- Style of writing: Suspenseful and atmospheric.
- Length: ~50,000 words
- Year written: 2017
- Emotional impact: Suspenseful, impactful.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: Perfect for fans of ghost mysteries.
15. Wait Till Helen Comes
- Author: Mary Downing Hahn
- About: A girl’s troubled stepsister seems to be communicating with a ghost.
- Style of writing: Suspenseful, haunting.
- Length: ~35,000 words
- Year written: 1986
- Emotional impact: Memorable, eerie.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: A classic ghost story with emotional depth.
16. The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls
- Author: Claire Legrand
- About: A girl uncovers dark secrets in a mysterious home for children.
- Style of writing: Gothic, suspenseful.
- Length: ~60,000 words
- Year written: 2012
- Emotional impact: Creepy and intriguing.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: A modern twist on Gothic horror for young readers.
17. Goosebumps HorrorLand
- Author: R.L. Stine
- About: Kids face terrifying scenarios in a supernatural theme park.
- Style of writing: Fast-paced, suspenseful.
- Length: ~25,000 words per book
- Year written: 2008-2011
- Emotional impact: Fun, nostalgic.
- Difficulty level: Easy
- Why read it: Continuation of the Goosebumps series with a fun theme park twist.
18. Doll Bones
- Author: Holly Black
- About: Three kids embark on a spooky adventure to lay a haunted doll to rest.
- Style of writing: Poignant, atmospheric.
- Length: ~35,000 words
- Year written: 2013
- Emotional impact: Memorable and haunting.
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Why read it: Combines adventure and a chilling ghost story with a touch of realism.
19. Monster Street
- Author: J.H. Reynolds
- About: Anthology-style series with a new spooky adventure in each book.
- Style of writing: Suspenseful, engaging.
- Length: ~35,000 words per book
- Year written: 2018-present
- Emotional impact: Fun and exciting.
- Difficulty level: Easy
- Why read it: Ideal for fans of horror anthologies with fast-paced plots.
20. Skeleton Man
- Author: Joseph Bruchac
- About: A girl faces a sinister figure from Native American folklore.
- Style of writing: Tense, suspenseful.
- Length: ~20,000 words
- Year written: 2001
- Emotional impact: Haunting and impactful.
- Difficulty level: Easy to moderate
- Why read it: A unique horror story with cultural depth.
