Hole in the Sky by Pete Hautman

"I look toward the sound and see a pile of rags on the floor against the far wall. My eyes adjust further and the pile of rags becomes a man hugging his knees to his chest. He coughs, a dry cough that starts high in his throat, then works its way down until it becomes a bubbling chortle."

In the year 2038, only 38 million people are left on Earth. Most have fallen victim to the worst flu in history. Many others have been killed in the aftermath by the warring tribes of people left behind. Some have survived the flu, only to live without hair, or sight, or sanity. Four teens are on their own, trying to survive, and hoping to find a hole in the sky. Told, in turn, from the points of view of all four teens (including the deaf mute) this is a harrowing story of loyalty and hope.

SLJ recommends grades 7 to 10.

Learn more at HCL, Amazon, and here.

Dragon Head by Minetaro Mochizuki

"I remember the train lurching like it had been hit, and then...screaming...the train started shaking...I was thrown out of my chair...then the lights went out. There was this long noise, like a chainsaw cutting through sheet metal...and then everything went black."

Aoki is on his way home from a school field trip when his train ride is interrupted by a devastating accident in an underground tunnel. Everyone is killed in the crash, except for Aoki and two unstable classmates. Cut off from the outside world, trapped in an oppressively hot tunnel, the trio are all alone...or are they? Mochizuki's story and art combine to evoke the terror of a disaster story, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

SLJ recommends grades 10 and up.

Learn more at Amazon and here.

Being Dead by Vivian Vande Velde

"My brother, Kevin, may or may not have come back from the dead for any one of several contradictory reasons, depending on which one of my relatives you assume is most reasonable. Personally, I wouldn't consider any of us particularly reliable."

Being Dead is a collection of nine short stories dealing with, well, being dead. All nine are ghost tales...several of them chilling, several sad, several are told from an unique point of view. Brenda's getting phone calls from a disconnected phone line. Emily's having an unearthly romance. And Marjorie won't stop dancing. Fans of spooky tales will love, love, LOVE this collection!

Learn more at HCL, Barnes and Noble, and here.

SLJ recommends grades 7 & up.

Jade Green by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

"The moolight through the window illuminated the rose-colored chair by the writing table, the brandy cupboard, the cushions, the clock. It shone as well on the grand piano, and, taking another step so as to get a closer look, I saw the hand, the severed hand, fingering the keys."

After having been orphaned by her mentally unstable mother, Judith travels from Ohio to South Carolina to move in with an Uncle. Her Uncle's hospitality comes with only one clause, Judith must not bring any green items with her. Forced to break that rule, Judith begins to hear scratching, to uncover horrible sights, and to encounter her cousin Charles' leers. Is Jade Green really haunting Judith, or is Judith slipping into madness just like her mother?

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor spins a tightly crafted, page-turning, supernatural tale. This period tale combines romance, mystery, and chills while it explores the nature of horror. Discover which is scarier, a disembodied hand or Cousin Charles!

Learn more at HCL, Amazon, and the author's web site.

(SLJ recommends grades 5 through 8)

Devil's Footsteps by E. E. Richardson

"One in fire, two in blood. Three in storm and four in flood. Five in anger, six in hate. Seven fear and evil eight. Nine in sorrow, ten in pain. Eleven death, twelve life again. Thriteen steps to the Dark Man's door. Won't be turning back no more."

Five years ago Bryan's brother Adam disappeared. They'd been tempting fate while testing the local legend of the Dark Man--reciting the old rhyme while stepping down a stone path. Bryan had been too chicken to finish the rhyme. He'd turned and run from that terrifying spot in the woods. Adam was never seen again. Since then, Bryan has been tortured by nightmares. He's been coping with the overwhelming abscence of his brother. And he's noticed things. Things like the huge number of children that go missing from his town each year. And the fact that no one seems to notice. In the company of two unlikely companions, Bryan finally begins to confront his fears and his past by unraveling the horrific secret behind the Dark Man and his rhyme.

E. E. Richardson's first novel is a page-turning, heart pounding, sleeping with the lights on, devilish delight!

Learn more at HCL and Amazon.

Subjects: Supernatural, Brothers, Missing Children, Horror Stories.

(SLJ recommends grades 6-9)