Librarian List : Goosebumps Alternatives

Not that the Goosebumps fad has ever gone away, but the series is having a resurgence due to the Goosebumps movie released at the end of last year.

Goosebumps Series by R.L. Stine has been thrilling young readers since 1992.Picture here with the new look covers

The Goosebumps Series by R.L. Stine has been thrilling young readers since 1992.
Pictured here with the new look covers

So what else might tempt these young horror fiction fans?

 Scream Series by Jack Heath
The Scream series is pitched in the same style and for the same reading ability as the Goosebumps books – bonus points – Jack Heath is an Australian author.
The series currently comprises of four books released in 2015:
The Human Flytrap – The Spider Army – The Haunted Book – The Squid Slayer.
My personal favourite is The Haunted Book. If like me, you love books, you’ll need all your self-control not to throw the book far far away from you when you discover its creepy secret.

The Haunted Book by Jack Heath

The Haunted Book by Jack Heath

Oliver Nocturne Series by Kevin Emerson
Oliver Nocturne is on the cusp of becoming a fully-fledged vampire, but something doesn’t feel right to him. When he befriends Emalie, a human girl, it sets in motion a chain of events and some stunning revelations.
This series is ideal for reluctant readers in years 5 and 6 and will appeal to confident readers in year 4. It has the added appeal of being a vampire story suitable for young readers. Ages 9+

Oliver Nocturne by Kevin Emerson Books 1 - 5 (Book 6 not in included in the image)

Oliver Nocturne by Kevin Emerson
Books 1 – 5 (Book 6 not in included in the image)

 Wardstone Chronicles by Joseph Delany (published as the Last Apprentice in the US)
The Wardstone Chronicles is a dark fantasy / horror series that was the basis for the movie, The Seventh Son. This is definitely a series you do not want to judge by its movie!
It comes with the appropriate warning – ‘Not to be read after dark’ and is best suited to readers 11+.

Wardstone Chronicles, Book 1 - The Spook's Apprentice by Joseph DelaneyPictured with the original cover

Wardstone Chronicles, Book 1 – The Spook’s Apprentice by Joseph Delaney
Pictured with the original cover

Thomas Ward, the seventh son of a seventh son has been apprenticed to the local Spook, where he will be trained to fight against the Dark.
In the following series, The Starblade Chronicles, Thomas Ward is no longer an apprentice, but a Spook himself.
Both the Wardstone Chronicles and the Starblade Chronicles are often referred to as the ‘Spook’s Series.’

 

This list will be kept up-to-date on my Pintrest Board : Better than Goosebumps