Spooky Books for 9-Year Old

Updated on February 23, 2011
C.M. asks from Bartlett, IL
9 answers

My 9-year old loves spooky stories and mysteries. Her teacher said she needs to work on reading more at home so I've been trying to find books for her at the library that she'd be interested in.

The problem is her reading level is low for a 4th grader, it's maybe around 3rd grade level (which is why she needs to practice at home!). She can read Goosebumps but she's read a lot of them. Nancy Drew is too hard for her to read comfortably, she needs a lot of help. So are the mystery series by American Girl. She always wants a good spooky story!

Does anyone know of any good mystery/spooky story books for about a 3rd grade reading level?

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J.P.

answers from Chicago on

Has she read any of the AtoZ Mysteries or Magic Treehouse books? My step-daughter enjoyed those as she went through grade school and she has always enjoyed mysteries.

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S.M.

answers from Dallas on

I loved reading these books in 3rd grade (The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids). They are mystery books that have all kinds of monsters and mythical beings in them!

http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Bailey-School-Kids-part/...

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K.K.

answers from Springfield on

Have you heard of The Bailey School Kids series? My daughter is in 2nd grade and her teacher and the library have a lot of them, they are spooky, but not scary! Things like Bigfoot doesn't Square dance...anyway, you might try them. My daughter loves them, they are a little too hard for her on her own, so I think they might be about 3rd grade...

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N.F.

answers from Chicago on

My 9 yr old LOVES Mary Downing Hahn. She also loves spooky stories, and she raves about this author. She takes tests on them at school for the required reading program, so they are okay for school ages kids to read.
I'm not sure what the reading level is, but it's always something to work towards. GOod luck and GOd bless!!!!

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J.N.

answers from Chicago on

Try some Geronimo Stilton ... sometimes a bit scary, but always fun.

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K.U.

answers from Detroit on

I was going to suggest Harry Potter, or the Lemony Snicket series, but I don't know if those might be a little tough for her too - maybe with some help from you? Also, I don't know if they are so much spooky as suspenseful. Encyclopedia Brown is good too, not really spooky but good as mysteries and problem-solving goes.

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A.R.

answers from Charlotte on

My 16 year old read a book series called "Scary Stories to Tell In The Dark" by Alvin Schwartz. its 3 short books, pretty creepy and even had a game sort of thing in one. You could have her read out the instructions.
She read it in 4th grade, and said it was simple, but I dont know how true that would be because she was writing at a 12th grade level in 5th grade, so maybe just read them first yourself and see how they go?
Have creepy pictures soo, and a poem my granddaughter still sings, something about a Slithery-Dee that come out of the sea

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J.G.

answers from Rockford on

I see someone else suggested the Scary Stories books. I remember reading those when I was a kid, when they first came out. I couldn't remember the age level of them, so I just looked it up and it said ages 9-12. As I recall they aren't difficult stories. It's more of collections of short stories, so it wouldn't be like she had to read the whole book to get to an ending, which was good for me because I was an impatient reader. They, of coarse, aren't super scary as they are written for children. The covers are a little spooky looking though. I just looked and there are lots of them on Amazon.com ( http://www.amazon.com/Scary-Stories-Boxed-Alvin-Schwartz/... ) and I'm sure the library has them, and most book stores.

L.B.

answers from Biloxi on

Yeah, I was gonna' say Goosebumps. LOL
Go by your local library and get suggestions. They can suggest age appropriate and reading level appropriate books for your daughter.
Also, try her school's library and her teacher - surely they should be able to recommend books for her.
My son is 14 and an avid reader but even he depends on Miss Lucy at the library to suggest books for him.

Happy reading!!!!

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