Halloween is almost upon us, but 2024 has brought us terrific spooky books all year, with stories of ghosts, vampires, werewolves, haunted houses, curses, and other creepy things—and LGBTQ characters solving mysteries, fighting evil, and being themselves.
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Chapter Books
Batcat, the adorable half-bat, half-cat, is back for their second graphic novel adventure! Werewolf Bram (who has two dads) is hesitant about his first day at the Villains Academy He’s just not sure he’s … bad enough. Hilarious and entertaining.Werewolf Bram is back for his second adventure, where he and his friends must stop a new teacher’s evil plan and protect the school.In the sixth volume of this series, science-loving Freddy von Frankenstein and siblings investigate why a magic force in their home mountain is attracting “fantasticals” like sprites and yetis.
Middle Grade
A fun, paranormal, graphic novel romp with a ton of queernessSixth-grader “Boog” and friends Cedrick (who has two dads) and Jules (who uses they/them pronouns) are back for a third adventure as Vanquishers, defenders of humanity against vampires.A queer, Jewish werewolf stars in this creative and powerful exploration of identity, bias, community, and change.A supernatural adventure with a majority queer, Latine cast and thoughtful messages about grief and change.This graphic novel follows a young man who helps ghosts find their way to Death’s Door—until the key to the door is stolen, trapping the ghosts in the land of the living.A spooky mystery that weaves in a coming out story, a first crush, and an amusing, well-drawn supporting ensemble.This second volume of the series picks up with nonbinary, puzzle-loving protagonist Nev looking into a mystery at their gloomy, gothic, boarding school.A delightful mystery-adventure with a nonbinary protagonist and a thoughtful theme about how we care for the ones we love.An eerie, wonderfully original tale of magical realism, where a girl who lives at her family’s Unnatural History Museum must help break the curse connected to the nearby Eelgrass Bog.Flamboyant nonbinary protagonist Zed Watson is back with their friend Gabe for another humorous early middle grade mystery-adventure.A mystery-horror adventure with a transgender demiboy protagonist and an underlying theme about embracing all parts of ourselves.A spooky series starter with some unexpected depths, with an ensemble cast investigating supernatural happenings in their hometown.This second volume of the series brings us back to one of America’s Most Haunted Cities, and to the three friends who have been given magic relics to combat forces of evil. A graphic novel fantasy set in the 19th century, where queer protagonist Agatha is drawn into a mysterious parallel world of strange beings and fairy bargains.A spooky mystery of magical realism, friendships, and a first crush, set at a summer camp in the New Jersey Pine Barrens.A tale that blends supernatural powers and monsters with some well-crafted lessons on belonging, forgiveness, and choosing to do what is right.A slightly spooky adventure story with a gender creative protagonist who uses a wheelchair.A sequel to the action-adventure Ring of Solomon, with a gay, Jewish protagonist battling (and allying with) creatures from Jewish folklore and mythology.
