Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.
Each week there’s a different Top Ten list. It’s a great way to find and connect with other awesome bloggers.
So here’s the thing about Halloween in Australia: it’s not really that popular.
Maybe Australians are just lazy or something, but it’s not NEARLY as popular as it is in the US. I’ve been trick-or-treating a few times, but most of the time people pretend not to be at home, or they tell you to bugger off. I’ve had quite a few lectures too. There are the rare few that go all out, but it’s not so much of a thing.
But here are some books that might get you into the Halloween spirit anyway! These are mostly just scary books, by the way.
The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin – this is the SECOND book in the series, and golly, it is creepy. Much better than the first book in the series.
Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas – scary in the sense that “can people really do that”??? I love this book so much.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs – I didn’t love this one overly much, but I know a lot of people do. The photographs in it are pretty great as well.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J. K. Rowling – HEAR ME OUT. Remember the Halloween scene? “Troll in the dungeon.” Yep. That’s why. Actually, all the HP books have Halloween, so you can just read them all.
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson – despite the unfortunate cover, this book is awesome. Jack the Ripper, boarding school, England. The perfect combination.
Shift by Em Bailey – this one is deliciously creepy. You’ll have some “WHAAAT” moments, that’s for sure. Also, it’s Aussie.
Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige – This is a bit gruesome in some parts, and gory, and I think it’d be perfect for Halloween.
(sorry for the dodgy photos!)
Goosebumps by R. L. Stine – basically any of them – these were my first introduction to horror and I loved them to pieces. I’m sure a lot of you have got some of these lying around the house, so why not reread one for Halloween?
Looking for JJ by Anne Cassidy – this doesn’t have monsters or anything, but it’s still terrifying.
Triskellion by Will Peterson – this is a middle grade book (I think) but it’s pretty scary. I used to love it when I was younger.
The Loony Teen Writer 
Pretty good list. Funnily enough, Ms. Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children just arrived for me at the library. I partially disagree with Dorothy Must Die, as the ending seemed slightly cheap, but it does have a nice atmosphere. Harry Potter is always a good choice. Finally, I recommend 127 Hours On The Moon. Space travel, German mythology, and an atmosphere of horror. Almost all of the covers for it terrify me.
Oh, I forgot to put this. I love In The Name Of The Star and the sequel. I was reading some lackluster books at the time, and it brought me out of my funk. I think it was early last month. I’m going to search for the third book, assuming that it’s out.
Oooh, 127 Hours on the Moon sounds awesome! I love mythology of all kinds. And yeah, how great is The Name of the Star? Really surprised me 🙂
I definitely recommend 127 Hours, Emily. In The Name Of The Star is hilarious! I just looked it up and a third book does exist. I currently have about seventy items checked out from my local library, but I’m putting it on hold anyway.
I clearly need to read more Halloween books too because I don’t even recognise half of these. >_< My bad! I LOVE scary books, but I honestly can't find many really epic ones. I need to read Mara Dyer though. AND OMG DANGEROUS GIRLS!!! I’m still terrified of that one. I could probably write a list of scary books completely from Michael Grant at this point….hehe. I’m listening to an audio of BZRK and omg, it is freaking TERRIFYING. It’s like microscopic warfare where people plant bugs in your brain and control you. SOMEONE HIDE ME.
I think I clearly need to read more, because I couldn’t think of any besides these ones that people have never heard of! But yeah, there SERIOUSLY need to be more scary books. Oooh I should have put Breaking Butterflies on the list. That was terrifying. Also, I’m totally reading some Michael Grant 🙂
The only books I’ve read on this list are Dangerous Girls. Looking for JJ and Harry Potter and I think they are perfect Halloween books for different reasons. I could not put Dangerous Girls down when I read it, such a brilliant book. Harry Potter is just amazing! I’d recommend it for anything, haha.
Dorothy Must Die and The Name of the Star are two books I have wanted to read for quite some time now. I’m probably going to be putting Dorothy Must Die on my Christmas wishlist. Great picks 🙂
Yeah, it’s funny because there are all SORTS of creepy books. And the Halloween atmosphere in Harry Potter is great, of course 🙂
I actually REALLY liked Dorothy Must Die – there are lots of negative reviews but luckily I enjoyed it 🙂
Great list Emily! I’ve read a few of these – Shift, Looking for JJ and Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and definitely agree that they are creepy reads! Shift especially left me with a ‘what – what just happened?!’ moments and since I guess since you don’t usually find many Aussie YA ‘scary’ books out there it did stand out for me.
Shift is sooo creepy, right? And that plot twist in the middle. HOLY CRAP. There need to be more scary books.
I love scary books, they’re always so much fun! I really like your list, it’s fabulous actually :).
They are, aren’t they? Pity there aren’t more!
Fabulous choices Emily! 😀 I absolutely adored and was completely emotionally scared by Dangerous Girls and definitely think it’s the perfect Halloween read. And even though I wasn’t the biggest fan of Miss Peregrine, I still do think it is the perfect book for if you’re looking for a spooky read. Thanks for sharing, and great choices!
Yep, I don’t think I’ll ever get over Dangerous Girls. I didn’t like Miss Peregrine too much either, but the pictures are cool 😛
Great list! I’ve never really been a huge fan of Halloween in the US, but everyone else seems to be. I don’t really think I’m a great expert on scary books either…but I would check out Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake if you haven’t already!
It’s such a huge thing in the US, whereas in Aus it’s not at all (although the supermarkets try to cash in on it, of course). I just finished reading Anna Dressed in Blood…wasn’t HUGELY impressed but I liked the characters 🙂
Duuude. Goosebumps. Yes!
I’ve read very few of these, apart from Harry Potter and Goosebumps. Name of the Star has been on my TBR list for a long time, though; I should really get onto that.
I KNOW, RIGHT? Childhood memories 😛 The Name of the Star is awesome – I really recommend it 🙂
Ooh, great recommendations this week, Em. 🙂 I always wanted Halloween to be more popular here, because it looks so fun on all of the movies and TV shows! Well, the little kid version does, not the slutty teenage version. I think it’s slowly becoming more popular here…I don’t actually know, they seem to be stocking more Halloween stuff in the shops now, so that’s my reasoning.
I love Mara Dyer, Harry Potter and The Name of the Star (I NEED BOOK 3!!) And I enjoyed Miss Peregrine’s and Dorothy but was disappointed by them – they’re still great Halloween reads though. AND GOOSEBUMPS. I loved Goosebumps. The one that you have pictured is actually one of favourites. From memory, anyway.
I really need to read Dangerous Girls already!
It does, doesn’t it? And on Tumblr, as well. Plus they have Thanksgiving. We clearly need more holidays 😛
I need book 3 of Mara Dyer, that’s what I need!! Luckily I really enjoyed Dorothy, despite all the negative reviews 😛 the only Goosebumps book I can remember is the one with the camera that took pictures of ghosts or something 😛
YES YOU DO NEED TO READ DANGEROUS GIRLS.
It’s okay, I rarely read horror/halloweenie books either. THOUGH I RECOMMEND The Girl With All the Gifts. Though I feel like you already read this? I don’t know, I might be mixing up my bloggy buddies. Anyways, yes, there’s that one. I don’t have anything else to add though. I avoid spooky reads like the plague, like Goosebumps. I hated that series.
Loved Dangerous Girls though! It was definitely an amazing thriller that LEFT ME ARGHHHH (still).
Oooh, that sounds like a good one. No, I haven’t read it yet. Aww, I like spooky reads, because I hate scary movies and I feel like I need SOME scary stuff, you know?
I WILL NEVER GET OVER DANGEROUS GIRLS.
Interestingly, I’ve found that over the years, Halloween is becoming bigger in Australia (or, at least where I live, we’re beginning to get more people knocking), but yeah, it’s definitely not as big as in the US. xD Yessss, I so agree with Mara Dyer — especially that second book. It was so much better than the first PLUS it was creepy. I’ve been meaning to read Name of the Star for quiiittte some time now, but I never seem to actually get around to reading it. The cover is… off-putting. But it does sound pretty awesome. Same goes with Dorothy Must Die — that book looks awesome. 😀 Great list!
I think it is too, but I don’t think it will ever be as big as it is in the US. Aussies are just too lazy haha. YES the second book was soooo much better of Mara Dyer.
Fantastic list Emily. I absolutely loved Goosebumps when I was younger. They were my introduction to the Horror genre as well as Point Horror. Dangerous Girls is very scary, especially as it’s based on some true facts. I find the Mara Dyer trilogy very disturbing and I’m intrigued to see where the writer goes with it.
Same as me! Although I never read the Point Horror books. Dangerous Girls scares me because of how real it seemed. My goodness. That’s a psychological thriller for you 🙂
Goosebumps terrified me. So did Fear Street (Also by RL Stein). I remember being petrified of all sorts of things were going to hgappen to me. Like turning into a bug or being buried alive.
The only other book I’ve read from your list was Harry Potter – and I love the vibe of those books. The first four arent too scary but they do have the best supernatural feeling to them.
Ooh I’ve never read that. I totally should. Paul Jennings scared the crap out of me too. Harry Potter is a great recommendation for practically anything, haha 🙂
YAY!!! Mara Dyer has some
scenes but I have so much love for it (especially at halloween!) And I totally agree with Dangerous Girls. That has messed me up haha Lectures from people during a holiday like halloween?! Now that’s just plain mean. But I totally get you. There was a year I ate all the candy so when the doorbell rang, I just didn’t open it *guilty*
Mara Dyer is AWESOME. I didn’t like the first one so much, but loved the second one. Hahaha yep I’m permanently scarred from Dangerous Girls 😛
OMG Goosebumps! I read them as a kid and have been apprehensive about anything scary since! And I REALLY need to read the Mara Dyer trilogy…so many people recommending it and argh just not enough time! Maybe next year….
Hahaha but I LOVE Goosebumps. Oh my gosh read Mara Dyer (ASAP) 😛
Shift and The Name of the Start both look interesting. I’m pretty scared of scary stuff though. I’ve been trying to read Dangerous Girls but with exams around the corner I’m struggling to focus!
Buttttt you can just close the book if it gets too scary haha. Yeah, exams do have the tendency to make things hard to focus on 😛
Yes Dangerous Girls every time! That book is so very awesome, and perfect for Halloween. I still need to check out the other books on your list.
Thanks for sharing, Em! <33
I know, right? I will never stop recommending it!
I’m not a fan of scary things myself, but Harry Potter is so totally a yes! I want to read Dorothy Must Die, too, but alas, my TBR grows ever-longer… *sigh*
Harry Potter is definitely scary enough for me sometimes – the second movie, in particularly, used to scare me as a kid.
I totally agree, Halloween is practically non-existent in Aus, at least where I live. And I feel terrible because I don’t think I’ve really read a single creepy book o.O
It’s getting a BIT more popular where I am, but still way off the US level!