Librarians recommend spooky reads for High 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 Hassenfeld librarians offer a few recommendations that run the gamut from somewhat unsettling to downright horrifying. Read on for suggestions for High School students:
Monstrous Affections, edited by Kelly Link and Gavin Grant
This “anthology of beastly tales” features monsters of all sorts, from vampires to demons to creatures without names. Some are bumbling, lonely, misunderstood; some are malevolent, intelligent, remorseless. Some live in the ocean or outer space; some live in our houses or our heads. You may fear them or pity them, but one way or another, they’re coming for you.
Dread Nation, by Justina Ireland
In this alternate history, the Civil War ended at Gettysburg — because that’s when the dead began to rise. Now, 16 years later, Jane McKeene is nearly done with her training at Miss Preston’s School for Combat, where African American and Native American girls are sent to become Attendants to protect the white elites. But attacks by “shamblers” are on the rise, and when Jane realizes that local families are going missing, she stumbles upon a sinister conspiracy that threatens not just her life but everything she holds dear.
The Diviners, by Libba Bray
New York in the 1920s: flappers, jazz, the Harlem Renaissance … and an ancient evil? When Evie O’Neill is sent from her small Ohio town to live with her uncle in New York, she’s thrilled to experience all that the big city has to offer. But when her uncle, an expert in the occult, begins investigating a series of grisly murders, Evie and her new group of friends, all with strange powers of their own, are drawn into the mystery, the intrigue, and the danger.
The October Country, by Ray Bradbury
Bradbury (1920-2012) was a master of the creepy and the horrifying, especially in his short stories. The October Country collects 19 of his most chilling tales. A man becomes terrified of his own skeleton. A sick boy’s faithful dog will stop at nothing to bring him a visitor. A new mother’s healthy baby becomes her greatest nightmare. These are stories that lodge themselves in your mind, disturbing your sleep long after you’ve put the book down.
Come to the Hassenfeld Library to find these books and many more. You can browse our list of scary stories for High 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!
More USN News
List of 3 news stories.
-
Security Corner: Meet Sgt. Anthony Jones
Sgt. Anthony Jones joined University School of Nashville in November as a School Resource Officer, a certified police officer who is primarily assigned to a school and provides safety and security-related functions, including emergency response, safety training, traffic direction, and patrol functions.Read More -
Senior named UVA Jefferson Scholar
University of Virginia selected Margot Ross '24 to be a Jefferson Scholar. The highly selective scholarship includes the full cost of attending UVA for four years of study as well as numerous enrichment opportunities. It has been 16 years since a University School of Nashville senior last became a Jefferson Scholar.Read More -
UNISON Dance, USN Choir spring concert April 25
Dance and choral students will come together for their spring semester performances at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 25 in Durnan Auditorium.Read More
Contact
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
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.
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.