Spooky tomes for tweens

Halloween is just around the corner. It’s the perfect holiday for kids, providing them a unique opportunity to dress up in costume and scour the neighborhood soliciting treats. But as all parents know, kids eventually grow up, and some begin to grow out of their love for Halloween earlier than others. Some bid goodbye to Halloween as early as their tween years, giving Moms and Dads more evidence that kids grow up quickly. For parents of tweens who still like Halloween but might be growing apart from some of its traditions, consider giving kids the following spooky books this fall. “Dare to Be Scared” by Robert D. Dan Souci. A collection of frightening stories, this popular series of books utilizes suspense and drama to weave some frightening tales young readers are sure to love. “The Empty Mirror” by James Lincoln Collier. When Nick casually walks by a mirror and notices he no longer has a reflection, he’s forced to figure out what is going on while living on his uncle’s wooded New England estate. Suspense and mystery combine to create a tale no younger reader can resist. “The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray” by Chris Wooding. Set in old London, this spooky tale follows wych-hunters Thaniel and Cathaline, who come across the Alaizabel Cray, who is possessed by an evil Thaniel and Cathaline must figure out. “Lord of the Flies” by Willing Golding. For older tweens, this classic story about a group of shipwrecked boys on a deserted island is a startling portrait of human nature that’s sure to keep kids turning pages no matter how much they fear what awaits them on the next page. “Twilight” by Stephanie Meyer. For the few tweens out there who have yet to see the blockbuster movies inspired by this wildly popular tale of a teenager falling in love with a vampire, this is the first book in a series tweens love to read and then watch on the big screen.