Librarians recommend spooky reads for Middle Schoolers

As the days get colder, the nights get longer, and the houses sprout giant spiderwebs and skeletons, a book lover’s thoughts naturally turn to the spooky stuff.
By Kate Pritchard, MS/HS Librarian

If you’re craving a good scare, let our librarians offer a few recommendations that run the gamut from somewhat unsettling to downright horrifying. Read on for suggestions for Middle School students:

Small Spaces, by Katherine Arden
It’s October in Ollie’s small Vermont town, which means her class is taking a field trip to Misty Valley Farm. But then the bus breaks down on the way home, and the mist and shadows start closing in … and Ollie receives a message on the watch her mother gave her before she died. The message says: RUN.

The Wrong Train, by Jeremy De Quidt
A boy misses his train and gets on the wrong one by accident. Realizing his mistake, he gets off at the next stop, which is dark and deserted, to wait for another train to take him back. Then the old man shows up and starts telling stories. Scary stories. Gruesome stories. The boy wants to get away, but what choice does he have? And what does the old man want from him? Above all, how can he make the stories stop?

The Jumbies, by Tracey Baptiste
Corinne La Mer lives with her father in Trinidad, where she’s been raised on stories of the jumbies: evil creatures who lurk in the shadows, waiting for their chance to steal children or suck their blood. She knows they aren’t real, but then strange things start to happen on the island, in the forest, and even inside her own house. What do the jumbies want from her? Corinne and her friends must discover the truth before it’s too late.

Scary Stories for Young Foxes, by Christian McKay Heidicker
Seven young foxes ask their mother for a scary bedtime story, but they’ve already heard all her best ones. Before she drifts off to sleep, she says, “You must promise that no matter what you do tonight, you will not go to Bog Cavern.” What’s in Bog Cavern? Oh, only the old storyteller, who tells stories “so frightening it will put the white in your tail.” Once their mother is asleep, seven young foxes creep off to find the old storyteller … but before the night is over, they will wish they’d stayed in bed.

Come to the Hassenfeld Library to find these books and many more. You can browse our list of scary stories for Middle School readers, or check out our displays of spooky books. Looking for another kind of book? You can always submit a request for a book recommendation, and our librarians will respond with personalized suggestions just for you. Happy reading!
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School News

List of 3 news stories.

  • University School of Nashville students Eleanor Mixon '27 and Dylan Omary '27 voted first the first time on Thursday, October 29, 2026 at the Scarritt Bennett.

    Seniors take field trip to cast first ballot

    All 40 eligible University School of Nashville students in the Class of 2037 registered to vote ahead of the voter registration deadline, and Eleanor Mixon '27 and Dylan Omary '27 walked across the street from USN to the Scarritt Bennett Center to cast their first ballots on the final day of early voting.
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  • The ballot box and beyond: USN Seniors civically engaged

    Students in High School History Teacher Cameron Parsons' Advanced Topics: American Government and Politics Class have been working diligently on civic engagement projects that required them to participate in the democratic process.
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  • An evening of erudition: 22 seniors enter Cum Laude Society

    Congratulations to the Class of 2027 inductees of the USN Cum Laude Society: Jack Barrett, Charlie Blau, Alder Brandon, Olivia Brown, Elisabeth Crane, Alexandra Drewry, Lucia Gellert, Melis Kurtulus, Abigail Manoukian, Lily Margalit, Eleanor Mixon, Louisa Nordberg, Mia Orefice, Karsen Puzniak, Ruchika Ramachandran, Jacqueline Seale, Elliott Spiller, Laine Theobald, Alexander Truss, Yifan Wang, Madeleine Wiseman, and Julia Young.
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Archive

Athletics News

List of 3 news stories.

  • Mountain Bike Team Takes on “Electric" State Champs Trails, Dehner Snags Overall Podium Medal

    Steve Smail & MTB Team Coaches
    With trail names like Megawatt, Electric Avenue, High Voltage and Livewire, the mountain bike team knew it was time to pedal out some extra watts for their NICA/TICL State Championships at Raccoon Mountain, and survive the technical trails above Chattanooga full of boulder gardens, rock drops and sandy rubble.
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  • Mountain Bike Team Takes on Winged Deer Trails, HS Makes Podium Appearance

    Steve Smail
    Winged Deer Park and trails in Johnson City hosted our 4th race on Sunday October 11th, and despite a bit of hurricane outwash winds and showers - and reduced team numbers due to fall break and distance from Nashville - our racers utilized all available skills and speed which helped “wing" Sophomore Claire Dehner to a 4th place podium spot, our first podium appearance and medal for the season.
     
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  • HS athletics recaps for September 11-17

    Tiger golfers have officially qualified for the region tournament, and our other teams are not far behind. Volleyball sits near the top of the district, finishing up regular season play next week with Senior Night. Girls soccer continues to hold first place in the district after another 9-0 win, and our cross country runners are chasing after some school records. To round it all out, our mountain bike team traveled to Oakfield to continue to improve on their times for the season. There’s plenty more where that came from- so be sure to come out to the River Campus, Sperling Gym, or out on the road to cheer on our Tigers before their seasons end.
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Phone:  615-321-8000
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Email:    info@usn.org

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University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.