The Giant Print Library Horror and ghost stories for younger readers
Updated: December 2012
Any UK member of our library service may borrow up to a maximum of 6 books per service for a 3 month loan period.
Most of the books have been produced by the National Blind Children's Society and are in 24 point type with identical covers to the ordinary print versions of the books.
Please be aware that due to their size, many of the books are split into two or more volumes, and these will have the same covers.
For details on borrowing any of the titles listed or for further information regarding the Giant Print collection please contact Liz Farrell or Hazel Sharrock, Children's Librarians at RNIB National Library Service on 0161 429 1975.
Horror and ghost stories
Almond, David.
Skellig. 1998. Suggested reading age 9+.1v.
Michael's baby sister is ill. While his parents spend time at the hospital, he explores their new home. In the old, derelict garage he finds something sinister; a strange creature, part owl, part angel. Is it something good or something evil?
Contains swear words.
Arnold, Louise
The ghost school. 2006. Suggested reading age 9+. 2v.
Grey Arthur finally knows where he belongs - at the side of Tom Golden - as his invisible friend. He's been thinking that maybe there are other ghosts like him, who aren't very good at haunting and would make perfect invisible friends.
Barlow, Steve.
Zombie hunter. 2010. Suggested reading age 9+. 1v.
A Plot-Your-Own story. You are the Hunter - destined to fight horror wherever you find it. You're called to an island in the South Pacific - home to the Nutco Oil corporation. Their operation is being disrupted by the sort of pest that only you can help to defeat - zombies! They are threatening to destroy everything on the island of Saruba, and now you must fight your way through the fog and hordes of living dead to find the truth...
Burne, Christy.
Takeshita demons. 2010. Suggested reading age 9+.1v.
Miku Takeshita and her family have moved from Japan to live in the UK, but unfortunately the family's enemy demons have followed them! One night, in a raging snowstorm, Miku's little brother Kazu is kidnapped by the demons, and then it's up to Miku and her friend Cait to get him back
Cabot, Meg.
The mediator 1 : love you to death. 2004. Suggested reading age 13+. 2v.
Book 1 of the Mediator series. Suze is a mediator; she directs the unhappy dead into the afterlife, and it isn't easy - not all ghouls want to be guided. At least she's sharing her bedroom with Jesse - the most gorgeous ghost ever!
Cann, Kate.
Leaving Poppy. 2006. Suggested reading age 15+. 2v.
Amber's family think she's gone to Cornwall on holiday, but really she's left home. She feels bad because her mother and Poppy need her, but she's got to make the break. Then Amber falls ill and her family come to look after her. Something in the house responds to Poppy's presence, something malign and threatening.
Carpenter, Humphrey.
Mr Majeika and the ghost train. 1995. Suggested reading age 7+. 1v.
When Class Three and Mr Majeika get on board a Ghost Train they are in for a surprise. Real ghosts appear and the wicked Wilhelmina Worlock isn't far away. But Jody comes to the rescue...with a dragon to help her.
Carpenter, Humphrey.
Mr Majeika and the haunted hotel. 1988. Suggested reading age 7+. 1v.
Mysteriously stranded in the fog at night, Mr. Majeika and Class Three find themselves in a creepy hotel near Hadrian's Wall, where some very spooky things start to happen. Strange lights, ghostly sounds and vanishing people...
Cooper, Louise.
Short and scary! : a book of very short scary stories. 2002. Suggested reading age 9+. 1v.
(Short and spooky : a book of very short spooky stories is also available). A collection of short stories. They are short, some are spooky, some of them are funny, some of them are a little bit creepy.
Cross, Gillian.
Wolf. 1992. Suggested reading age 13+. 2v.
In the middle of the night in Nan's flat, Cassy hears voices. The next morning she is packed off to stay with her mother. It has all happened before and Cassy, knowing it is pointless to ask questions, tries to distract herself by getting involved in a travelling theatre show called Wolf. But this time distraction is not enough.
Crossley-Holland, Kevin
Storm. 1985. Suggested reading age 7+. 1v.
Annie lives with her elderly parents in a remote cottage. She knows the secrets of the great marsh. She's even heard about its ghosts. Then, on a terrible night, with the phone lines down, Willa, Annie's sister, goes into labour. Annie is terrified of the ghost, but knows she must brave the storm to fetch help. As she ventures into the night for help, not even she knows what to expect.
Deary, Terry
Terry Deary's terribly true ghost stories. 2006. Suggested reading age 9+. 1v.
A collection of spine-tingling true tales about ghosts, including the Flying Dutchman, a ghostly green man, reincarnation and poltergeists.
Delaney, Joseph
The Spook's apprentice. 2005. Suggested reading age 13+. 2v.
Book 1 of the Wardstone Chronicles (other books in the series are also available). Thomas Ward is the seventh son of a seventh son and has been apprenticed to the local Spook. Somehow Thomas must learn how to exorcise ghosts, contain witches and bind boggarts.
Dickens, Charles.
A Christmas carol. 1843. Suggested reading age 11+. 1v.
Ebenezer Scrooge is a heartless old miser who doesn't enjoy Christmas and doesn't think anyone else should, either. But, one Christmas Eve, some ghostly visitors take Scrooge on a journey that changes his mind for ever.
Du Maurier, Daphne.
The birds and other stories. 1952. 2v. Suggested reading age 15+.
The birds become hostile after a harsh winter with little food - first the seagulls, then birds of prey, and finally even small birds - all turn against mankind.
Du Maurier, Daphne.
Don't look now and other stories. 1971. Suggested reading age 15+. 2v.
John and Laura have come to Venice to try and escape the pain of their young daughter's death. But when they encounter two old women who claim to have second sight, they find that, instead of laying their ghosts to rest, they become caught up in a train of increasingly strange and violent events.
Duncan Lois
I know what you did last summer. 2000. Suggested reading age 15+. 1v.
Four teenagers try to conceal their responsibility for a hit-and-run accident while being pursued by a mystery figure seeking revenge.
Ellis, Carol.
Silent witness. 1994. Suggested reading age 11+. 1v.
A Point Horror book. When Lucy's friend Allen dies, she is faced with sorting out his stuff - there's not much, but there is a video tape. Not unusual at first, but when played, it reveals a strange sinister secret, and covers a crime - a deadly crime.
Fine, Anne.
The devil walks. 2011.Suggested reading age 9+. 2v.
Raised in secrecy by a mother everyone thinks has gone mad, Daniel's only link to his past is the intricately built model of the family home High Gates. The dolls house is perfect in every detail. Then Daniel is reunited with his uncle Severin, who bears an uncanny resemblance to a sinister wooden doll he has found hidden in the house.
Fisher, Catherine
The ghost box. Suggested reading age 13+. 1v.
A Barrington Stoke book. There's a ghost in Sarah's bedroom and he is begging for her help. All he needs is for her to open a box. Will she save his soul or is it a dreadful trap?
Gaiman, Neil.
Coraline. 2002. Suggested reading age 13+. 1v.
When Coraline moves with her parents to a new house she is fascinated by the fact that their 'house' is in fact only half a house! Divided into flats years before, there is a brick wall behind a door where once there was a corridor and one day it is corridor again, down which the intrepid Coraline wanders. And so a nightmare-ish mystery begins that takes Coraline into the arms of counterfeit parents and a life that isn't quite right. Can Coraline get out? Can she find her real parents? Will life ever be the same again?
Gibbons, Alan.
Scared to death. 2008. Suggested reading age 13+. 2v.
Book 1 of the Hell's Underground series. (Book 2, The demon assassin, is also available.) Paul makes a new friend, John Redman - daring and enigmatic, just as Paul longs to be, away from his cloying mother. Redman charms Paul at once, but also a girl called Jude they meet on a night about town. A few days later, Paul learns that Jude has mysteriously died, and Redman has disappeared…
Goodhart, Pippa.
The house with no name. 2003. Suggested reading age 8 years, suggested interest age 9-12 years.
A Barrington Stoke book.
When Jamie's father buys a house that has been empty for thirty-five years, a secret from the past is revealed. A touching ghost story.
Graves, Sue.
Ghost. 2009. Suggested reading age 13+. 1v.
A Barrington Stoke book.
Dan and Lee find a weird coin in the woods with 'dare' on one side and 'danger' on the other. When they flip it, adventure follows.
Higson, Charles
The enemy. 2010. Suggested reading age 11+. 3v.
Book 1 of the Enemy series. When the sickness came, every parent, policeman, politician - every adult - fell ill. The lucky ones died. The others are crazed, confused and hungry. Only children under fourteen remain, and they're fighting to survive. Now there are rumours of a safe place to hide. And so a gang of children begin their quest across London, where all through the city - down alleyways, in deserted houses, underground - the grown-ups lie in wait. But can they make it there - alive?
Hoh, Diane.
The whisperer. 1997. Suggested reading age 13+. 1v.
A Point Horror book (Nightmare Hall). Shea Fallon is hiding a dark secret, and no-one must find out what she has done. But someone has found out, and now Shea is being haunted by a terrifying whisper on the phone. Can Shea stop the whisperer from revealing the truth? Or is she going to have to pay a deadly price?
Horowitz, Anthony.
Groosham Grange. 1988. Suggested reading age 9+. 1v.
David quickly discovers that his new school, Groosham Grange, is a very weird place indeed. New pupils sign their names in blood; the French teacher disappears every full moon and the assistant headmaster keeps something very chilling in his room, and that's just the first year. In his second year, David is on a course to win the Unholy Grail - but something is trying to stop him from winning.
Horowitz, Anthony.
Horowitz horror. 2005. Suggested reading age 9+. 1v.
Two wicked short story collections It includes stories as creepy as an ordinary looking camera that turns out to have evil powers, a bus ride home that turns into your worst nightmare, and a mysterious computer game that absolutely nobody would play.
Hutchison, Barry.
Invisible friends : Mr Mumbles. 2010. Suggested reading age 9+. 2v.
Kyle's imaginary friend from childhood is back! with a vengeance. Kyle hasn't seen Mr Mumbles in years. And there's a good reason for that: Mr Mumbles doesn't exist. But now Kyle's imaginary friend is back, and Kyle doesn't have time to worry about why. Only one thing matters: staying alive!
Jacobs, W.W.
The monkey's paw (retold by Diane Mowat). 2000. Suggested reading age 9+. 1v.
From the Bookworms series, which offers younger readers the chance to
enjoy lively and accessible adaptations of the best classic and modern fiction. Outside, the night is cold and wet. There is a knock; a man is standing outside in the dark. The visitor has been in India for many years. He has brought the hand of a small, dead animal - a monkey's paw…
James, Henry.
The turn of the screw. 1898. Suggested reading age 15+. 2v.
A young governess takes charge of two orphaned children, but she soon begins to feel the presence of intense evil…
Lassiter, Rhiannon
Bad blood. 2007. Suggested reading age 13+. 2v.
In an abandoned house in the Lake District, a cupboard door opens into a playroom where there's a collection of children's books in which the names of characters have been savagely crossed out. Here three children played a make believe game, which was never finished…
Lively, Penelope.
Astercote. 1996. Suggested reading age 9+. 1v.
Mair Jenkins and her brother enter forbidden territory and find themselves caught up in an atmosphere of medieval superstition. Who is the strange boy the children find in the wood? Could he be from this century? or maybe he's from a time long past...
Lively, Penelope.
The ghost of Thomas Kempe. 1973. Suggested reading age 9+. 1v.
The ghost of Thomas Kempe was always getting James into trouble and for a long time it just refused to go away.
Mahy, Margaret.
The changeover : a supernatural romance. 1984. Suggested reading age 11+. 2v.
Teenage Laura is aware that she has latent supernatural powers but is careful to keep them suppressed. A chance meeting with the strange and evil Carmody Braque brands her little brother Jacko with terrifying results. Laura realises that the only way to save Jacko is to challenge this malevolent being, but will she be strong enough to win?
Mahy, Margaret.
The haunting. 1992. Suggested reading age 11+. 1v.
The family of Barney's dead mother is aware that there is something special about this particular boy. As he resigns himself to being haunted again, his sister and brother set out to discover the reason behind his supernatural attraction.
Morden, Daniel.
Fearless. 2009.Reloaded Suggested reading age 8+ ; Suggested interest age 10-14. 1v.