Kia Garriques

As you all know, Halloween is only a matter of days away and to get you all in the mood I am sharing my Top Halloween Reads. Whether you are looking for a full-on fright or to inject a little comic relief into the festivities – look no further.

1. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

This eerily eccentric book tells the story of Jacob Portman, a sixteen year-old boy, who embarks on a unique and supernatural adventure using his grandfather’s photography collection. Following the clues from the photos, Jacob finds himself at an abandoned orphanage on a Welsh island where he meets a number of unusual characters with supernatural powers. As well as meeting such gifted characters as Emma and Millard, Jacob experiences all of the spookiness of the island, from time travel to its sinister monsters. The book comes highly recommended, having spent no less than 63 weeks on the New York Times Best Sellers list for children.

2. The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

When eight boys set out for a spot of trick-or-treating on Halloween night, they have no idea that they are about to embark on an epic adventure. Upon learning that their friend, Pipkin, has been transported to another world, the boys resolve to find him and bring him back home. Guided by a mysterious creature named Moundshroud, the boys have to travel across time and ancient civilisations in order to get their friend back. The Halloween Tree will provide the perfect reading material for a spooky celebration at home.

3. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

This is the first instalment of Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles. The story opens with Louis, a vampire, recounting his life (both living and undead) to a reporter, Daniel. Starting with the beginnings of his existence as a plantation owner, Louis proceeds to tell the tale of how Lestat turned him into a vampire and all of the details of their undead life together. Interestingly, we learn that Louis is not your typical, blood-thirsty vampire to start out with; indeed, he reveals his initial reluctance to follow in Lestat’s hedonistic existence and lack of compassion for humans. The addition of a vampire girl named Claudia to their party ultimately has dramatic consequences, which makes for an even more scintillating read. This is a great read and a nice alternative to Dracula and Twilight for a traditional Halloween vampire story.

4. The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

This ghost story, written in the late nineteenth century, has drawn much scholarly debate throughout the century since its publication. While its language is quite antiquated and so a little hard to follow, it is worth the extra concentration! The story is set in England, where a young woman has just been employed as a governess to a wealthy man’s orphaned nephew and niece, Miles and Flora. While all seems well in the beginning, the governess starts to feel uneasy at the appearance of two mysterious figures on the grounds. She quickly realises that the house and the children are holding dangerous secrets from her, with chilling consequences. The suspense and eerie atmosphere make this tale one scary ghost story which will have you sleeping with the lights on!

5. Pongwiffy by Kaye Umansky

And after all of that spookiness, a little comic relief in the form of Kaye Umansky’s inimitable Pongwiffy: the hovel-living, garbage-loving, hair-brained witch. Whether she is hanging out with her best friend, the disdainful Sharkadder, or undertaking an important task for the Coven, you can be guaranteed that Pongwiffy will find herself in some sticky situation. From sorting out a troublesome gang of goblins to dealing with difficulties of having a hamster for an assistant (not to mention some brilliant one-liners) you are sure to be entertained by her anecdotes. The perfect escape from the fright-night jitters!