These short story collections center diverse characters and stories in creepy, readable tales.

BENTON-WALKER, Terry J., ed. The White Guy Dies First: 13 Scary Stories of Fear and Power. 320p. Tor Teen. Jul. 2024. Tr $20.99. ISBN 9781250861269.
Gr 8 Up–An undying love for all things creepy leads an online community of horror fans to discover 13 unread short stories surrounded by mystery. But how much is just a story, and how much is inspired by real life? This collection, all by authors of color, is made up of tales where the white guy, finally, dies first. Benton-Walker compiles a horror collection that may not always unsettle readers but will certainly encourage them to reflect on societal expectations and stereotypes. If the title doesn’t intrigue, the initial world establishment will tantalize and delightfully prepare readers for the ghastly tales. Blatant racism, corrupt governments, and struggles with mental health abound in this compilation that successfully tackles hurdles many people face daily. All the stories undeniably classify as horror; however, some weaker narratives in the collection fail to produce that shuddering creep factor or stop short of the base prompt on page. A few standout tales include H.E. Edgmon’s “Best Served Cold,” Chloe Gong’s “Docile Girls,” Tiffany D. Jackson’s “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” and Benton-Walker’s “The Road to Hell.” These stories excel at playing with perspective, familiar tropes, and twists on murderous intent, creating unique moments that reveal a bigger picture. Characters in the collection are diverse. VERDICT Each reader will have a favorite tale in this solid horror short story collection that complements novels like Trang Thanh Tran’s She Is a Haunting, Vincent Tirado’s Burn Down, Rise Up, and Liselle Sambury’s Delicious Monsters.–Emily Walker

BROWN, Alex. The House Where Death Lives. Page Street YA. Aug. 2024. 352p. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9798890030122.
Gr 10 Up–In a house unbound by the laws of the natural world, where death follows the inhabitants, these 16 stories by a mix of well-known and newer authors trail through the dark hallways of human fear. As readers progress from the attic down through each room of the house, it gives way to secrets and stories of the deaths it has seen. Other than the house as a pathway from one to the next, little common ground can be found in the stories, which represent a broad array of identities and topics. Illustrations are a chilling addition to this dark collection that bridges space between abortion, monsters, ghosts, infant loss, societal pressure, devotion beyond death to a sibling, and more: while the stories are only connected to each other by their taking place in the same house, the blend of horror with deeply emotional scenarios creates a poignant and evocative whole. Particularly creepy pieces include “Cradle and All” by Kay Costales, “Mirror, Mirror” by Nora Elghazzawi, and “Like Mother” by Gina Chen. VERDICT An inspired concept, somewhat successfully executed, but with some truly haunting tales. Purchase where anthologies circulate well.–Allie Stevens

COSTELLO, Rob, ed. We Mostly Come Out at Night: 15 Queer Tales of Monsters, Angels & Other Creatures. illus. by James Fenner-Zuk. 384p. Running Pr. May 2024. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780762483198.
Gr 10 Up–An ambitious anthology centering queer monstrosity in all its forms. Each entry opens with a stunning black-and-white chapter illustration, whetting readers’ appetites for the tale to follow. Stories range from ethereal fairy-tale retellings to dystopian quests of teens seeking love and acceptance in dust-soaked, drowned-out Earths. A young girl in Uruguay summons a sea witch to erase her queer feelings; the mirror-bound subject of a fearsome childhood rhyme lures readers to switch lives. This 15-story collection is unique in its diverse portrayals of monsters and of LGBTQIA+ teens, though it is uneven in tone and quality. Some stories feel rich and developed, while others drop readers into a plot that seems to never fully start. The motif of embracing difference and finding connection in the margins, even if it’s just with oneself, creates the hopeful throughline tying these pieces together. An editor’s note includes content warnings for addiction, poverty, grief, homelessness, and abortion alongside transphobia and homophobia. While this may not be a text to devour in one sitting, readers will likely savor a few stories at a time and revisit their favorites. It could also be utilized in creative writing spaces to prompt teens to explore their own monstrous narratives. VERDICT A solid collection of speculative queer YA, fitting for monster lovers. Recommended for fans of the various notable contributors to this collection.–Ashleigh Williams

DUPLESSIE, Andrew. Too Scared to Sleep. HarperCollins/Clarion. Oct. 2023. 224p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9780063266483.
Gr 8 Up–Scary stories have been part of the human experience since the beginning; they tie directly into our fears and can be extremely varied from person to person. This short story collection explores more general horror concepts like being lost alone in the woods, having a doppelgänger, or someone scary showing up at your door. The collection also provides a variety of modern and unique scares: revealing what’s really in the box of an unboxing video; a stalker from your livestream chat finding you in real life; or even a glitch in VR that can kill you. This book includes an add-on to each tale that is very distinctive. At the end of every story, readers can scan a QR code which will take them to a brief jump-scare video directly tied to the story they just read. For a majority of younger horror fans, these two concepts will wind together, drawing them deeper into the fandom, and perhaps provide a natural step towards enjoying more adult horror. However, for seasoned horror fans, these short stories are much more predictable and lose their edge. VERDICT This debut collection will go down as a young horror fan’s ideal example of scary. It will jump off shelves during spooky season, and word-of-mouth should keep it in constant demand, year-round.–Adam Fisher

 EVANS, Desiree S. & Saraciea J. Fennell, eds. The Black Girl Survives in This One: Horror Stories. Flatiron. Apr. 2024. 368p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781250871657.
Gr 10 Up–This short story collection delivers exactly what it promises—five chilling tales where Black girls survive heart-pounding encounters with werebeasts, demons, zombies, and MLMs. A foreword from Tananarive Due declares that this collection stands in defiance of decades worth of horror movies and books that exclude Black women, turn them into “mystical,” one-dimensional side-characters, or kill them off. With an incredible lineup of Black YA authors that includes Brittney Morris (The Cost of Knowing), Vincent Tirado (Burn Down, Rise Up), and Justina Ireland (Dread Nation), each story presents a quick but vivid portrait of a different Black girl who must use her strength and smarts to grapple with malicious forces, both supernatural and manmade. Some stories are just good, creepy fun; others use gristle, magic, and gore to tell stories about white supremacy, colonialism, and ancestral trauma. With contributions from accomplished novelists, it is no surprise that some stories read like the first chapter of a novel that may leave readers wanting more. Standouts include Ireland’s “Black Pride,” about a girl who unwittingly enters a pride full of werelions, and Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite’s “Black Girl Nature Group,” where two girls encounter a coven that literally spills Black women’s blood to remain powerful. Points to Morris’s “Queeniums for a Greenium!” for its humorous and horrifying take on multilevel marketing schemes. VERDICT A rich short story collection for any teen horror fan, especially those who are tired of the same old tropes.–Joanna Harris

GARCIA, Anastasia. Ghostly, Ghastly Tales. illus. by Teo Skaffa. 208p. (Frights to Tell at Night). Gibbs Smith. Jul. 2024. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9781423664925.
Gr 3-7–A collection of scary stories inspired by legends, lore, and history from around the world, with the perfect amount of spooky for young horror fans. The stories are organized into chapters based on topic—haunted objects, ghosts, creatures, wishes gone wrong, and nighttime scares—and provide a wide range of horrors so readers can find the stories that appeal to them most. Entries are marked with a fright level from one through three, though the ratings feel inconsistent. For example, a young girl getting trapped in a mirror and replaced by the creature who was haunting it receives only a one, a cannibalistic baker who murders children and turns them into sweet treats to serve to the town receives a two, while a girl sent back in time to the Civil War and asked by a surgeon to share the stories of deceased soldiers scores a surprising three. Skaffa’s full-page illustrations that accompany each story are a real highlight, bringing the horrors frightfully to life. Each tale ends with a brief explanation of its inspiration, and further notes on the stories’ backgrounds end the anthology along with a list of sources. The protagonists are a diverse group of children located in settings all over the world. VERDICT A horror anthology that will find an eager audience of young thrill seekers.–Mariah Smitala

ITO, Junji with Hirokatsu Kihara & Ichiro Nakayama. Mimi’s Tales of Terror. illus. by Junji Ito. Viz. Oct. 2023. 224p. Tr $24. ISBN 9781974738519.
Gr 9 Up–From a master of horror comes a finely tuned adaptation of urban legends from Shin Mimibukuro. Each short story has two things in common: the spunky Mimi as the protagonist and a plot where the supernatural invades an everyday life situation. Tension builds more often from the unexplained factors rather than from any immediate threat; however, some characters do experience trauma or die. Ito carefully crafts the atmosphere and pace of each story to draw readers into a mindset of light unease. Ordinary settings and characters look mundane right until the horrific appears. With the added heavy black inks, exaggerated expressions, and wispy lined details, the realistic dips into the uncanny. One’s mental landscape develops a step further when the creepily lettered sound effects build in an aural component. Even after finishing, these feelings linger because the supernatural is often left unnamed and either ends without explanation or remains lurking just at the edge of reality. As a bonus, this work also includes Ito’s one-shot story “Monster Prop.” VERDICT For those who prefer spooky supernatural horror, this single volume collection of urban legends will send a pleasing chill or two up the spine.–Rachel Forbes