Listen If You Dare: 7 Horror Audiobooks for Tweens
by Alex Hernandez
Ever since I was a little girl, I have been afraid of the dark. I’ve also been fascinated and comforted by it. Even though it would creep me out to sneak downstairs in the middle of the night for a drink of water, the thrill of taking a sip, rushing back to bed, and diving back under the covers was just as powerful as that prickly feeling of how things look in the dark.
Sometimes, as we grow up and for many different reasons, we experience big changes or great losses that force us to face even greater fears than lights out. And all of that while trying to navigate a first kiss or study for that test in fourth period! While some may not have the vocabulary yet to describe those anxious thoughts (I certainly didn’t when I was growing up), scary stories can be a surprisingly fun outlet and teach you so much about yourself. Listening to horror audiobooks invites us all to become just a little braver in real life too.
If you’re up for the hair-rising challenge this Halloween season, here are seven of my favorite horror audiobooks perfect for tweens in need of a spooky thrill! Highly recommend listening to these with popcorn, sour gummies, or a Pumpkin Spice latte.
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Blood City Rollers
If you’re already feeling nostalgic for the exciting world of the Olympics after this summer’s inspiring wins, Blood City Rollers is the perfect audiobook for goth kids on the MOVE.
Thirteen-year-old Mina is an ice skater on a one-track path to Olympic gold and all-time greatness - until a competition wipeout sucks her into the world of Paranormal Roller Derby. And all the creatures of the night that go with it.
Whether you’re carpooling to swim practice with your besties or enjoying an early morning walk, you won’t be able to hit pause on this incredibly spirited graphic novel, adapted for audio, and performed by a stellar full cast.
And even if you’re like me and not a great skater, don’t forget to workshop your best roller derby nickname - mine’s Friday Addams, my favorite spooky family’s chaotic cousin on wheels!
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The Devouring Wolf
Told through a wonderful narration by Jeremy Carlisle Parker, The Devouring Wolf is a deeply poetic audiobook about queer kids, big mistakes, and familial bonds. Twelve-year-old Riley Callahan is ready to turn into a wolf but on the eve of the first full moon of summer, she and some of her friends don’t shift. Is it a coincidence or the work of a more sinister plan?
One of my favorite monsters is the werewolf, a horrifying figure of folklore that usually gets a bad reputation for being, well, a monster! But I think werewolves are highly misunderstood creatures, so when I listened to The Devouring Wolf, I knew I’d discovered a magical tale for the little wolf in me. And the power of sharing your genuine self with your friends and family!
And if you love this audiobook, the wolf pack reunites in the sequel, The Nameless Witch.
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It Came from the Trees
Listeners, I have a confession to make. It Came from the Trees made me pause my audiobook … to turn ON the lights! But once I felt safe in a brightly lit room, I could not stop listening to this spine-tingling adventure, perfect for fans of Goosebumps.
Ally Russell’s debut takes the infamous Bigfoot myth and gives it a fresh update through the point of view of Jenna, a young scout and granddaughter to the first Black park ranger at her local Sturbridge Reservation. When her best friend is taken by a vicious creature lurking the woods, it’s up to Jenna and her new scout troop to come together and do the impossible - finally defeat the monster!
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It Happened to Anna
When I was in junior high school, one of my favorite after-school TV shows was Are You Afraid of the Dark? on Nickelodeon. At the beginning of each episode, a group of tweens and teens would gather around a campfire at night to share scary stories. Many of them were somber but powerful ghost stories, which were often incredibly helpful in teaching me how to process my own anxious emotions. Each week, we got to see another haunting tale come to life. Listening to the audiobook of It Happened to Anna gave me the same nostalgic feeling!
Sadie Rivera has been haunted by loneliness for most of her young life. She has experienced the accidental death of her close friend, Anna, which forces Sadie to confront grief before many of us are ever ready to do so. It is a grief that threatens to swallow her whole … until she makes a new mysterious friend named Mal.
More than a ghost story, It Happened to Anna is a beautiful ode to facing your fears, finding inner strength, and moving forward even when you’re in pain or feeling sad. May it teach us all that it’s okay to stand up for yourself against all odds, as long as you believe that you are worth it. And no matter how long old you get, it’s okay to ask for help.
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Mine
About three years ago this Halloween, I moved from my hometown of the Bronx down to the sunny state of Florida to be with my family, which is exactly where 12-year-old Lily Horne ends up in Mine, a delightfully creepy ghost story that will keep even the most reluctant listener on the edge of their seat!
Lily is the ultimate drama queen. Literally! She is supposed to be the star of the school play, but when her theatrics land her in deep trouble, her parents demand a fresh start in their new Southern home. The only problem is, it’s a swampy, smelly nightmare. And the ghost that haunts its walls is not exactly friendly.
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Taxi Ghost
Sometimes, spooky season is less about vampires, witches, and goblins, and more about our scary real-life milestones … like puberty!
When Adèle gets her first period, she learns that with this next phase of her life comes her family’s long kept secret - she is the descendant of a lineage of mediums! As she comes of age within her tight-knit community, she must decide for herself if this new unique ability is a gift or a curse.
From Sophie Escabasse, author of the beloved Witches of Brooklyn series, comes a new graphic novel that explores coming of age, both physically and spiritually, adapted for audio and performed by a full cast.
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Small Spaces
After suffering from a tragic loss, 11-year-old Ollie comes across (ahem…steals) an old book containing a chilling old tale about Beth, the two brothers, and the sinister smiling man.
On a school trip to Smoke Hollow, a local farm with a haunting history of its own, Ollie and two of her classmates set out to learn if the story of the smiling man is truly just an urban legend.
When I was discovering my love of spooky audiobooks in 2018, the first audiobook I listened to was Small Spaces, the middle grade debut by New York Times bestselling author, Katherine Arden. I can picture it now — cleaning my bedroom on a weekend afternoon and being transported to another world. And that world was scary but spellbinding, chilling but inviting. Those of us who find comfort in horror movies on a rainy day will understand this particular cozy feeling.
For me, that’s the magic of horror audiobooks for young people. The ability to escape into a world that may be scary for a little while, but in the end, we’ve faced our fears together, made ourselves proud, and maybe fought a ghoul or school bully along the way. It’s a safe place to process, learn, and grow. I hope you find the same bravery within yourselves this spooky season! Who knows what you’ll discover.