As diversity continues to (slowly) rise in publishing, the horror genre has greatly expanded, bringing readers many new writers with fresh tales to tell. Inclusivity across race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, mental health, physical ability, and more are highlighted in the following 18 titles, reflecting the diverse lives and needs of young adults. Short, vicious stories; long, whimsical novels; and everything in between are represented here and reflect the disparate backgrounds of a group of authors whose works will likely continue to drive the genre’s development for years to come.

AMES, Alison. It Looks Like Us. Page Street YA. 2022. ISBN 9781645676188.
Gr 8 Up–A quick creep-out inspired by The Thing that follows Riley, a young ace researcher on an Antarctic expedition who has anxiety and panic attacks even before a grisly experience exposes a monster that could be hiding behind anyone’s face. Chilling and claustrophobic, this one packs a gruesome punch in under 300 pages.

ANDREW, Kelly. The Whispering Dark. Scholastic. 2022. ISBN 9781338809473.
Gr 10 Up–Delaney, medically fragile and Deaf, wears a cochlear implant and is sick of being treated like she’s made of glass. She’s thrilled by her acceptance into a university division for those with paranormal powers; a tangled connection to a boy named Colton complicates their attempts to uncover the school’s dark secrets.

COLÓN, Angel Luis. Infested. MTV Bks. 2023. ISBN 9781665928410.
Gr 9 Up–Puerto Rican senior Manny did not anticipate moving from Texas to the Bronx, and he certainly didn’t plan on having to battle an unending roach infestation in the building his stepdad is renovating. Nuanced discussions of gentrification and racism are balanced by a deeply authentic sense of place that brings the Bronx to life and some truly squirm-inducing moments.

EVANS, Desiree S. & Saraciea J. Fennell, eds. The Black Girl Survives in This One: Horror Stories. Flatiron. 2024. ISBN 9781250871657.
Gr 10 Up–A fast-paced collection of 15 stories from acclaimed authors centering Black girls who survive despite all odds. With short lengths and compelling topics, these stories are well-suited for striving readers. Black girl heroes feature in familiar horror settings where they have been far underrepresented, such as outer space; the deep, dark woods; classic ghost stories; health-nut cults; and more.

FRAISTAT, Ann. A Place for Vanishing. Delacorte. 2024. ISBN 9780593382219.
Gr 7 Up–After Libby’s recent mental health crisis, her mom hopes moving back to Libby’s grandparents’ now-defunct bed-and-breakfast will provide a change of scenery, but the house begins to get under all of their skin. The ripple effects of mental health issues on families are explored in a story featuring donor-conceived sisters of different races.

GILES, Lamar. The Getaway. Scholastic. 2022. ISBN 9781338752014.
Gr 9 Up–As the world outside descends into chaos, the obscenely wealthy tourists turned inhabitants of self-sustaining resort Karloff Country have permanent plans for the island’s staff. Short chapters ramp up the tension and pace without sacrificing complexity as Giles explores themes of wealth versus worth. The contemporary, charismatic voice of the narrative gives Jordan Peele vibes.

LA SALA, Ryan. Beholder. Scholastic/PUSH. 2023. ISBN 9781338745344.
Gr 9 Up–Supernaturally gifted Athan finds himself drawn to enigmatic Dom, despite a terrifying first encounter that ends with a massacre the cops think Athan committed. Time is running out to find Athan’s missing YiaYia as the police close in. Some Greek folklore is sprinkled in; this title shines at illuminating the disruption intrusive thoughts can create.

MARSH, Sarah Glenn. The Girls Are Never Gone. 2021. Penguin/Razorbill. ISBN 9781984836151.
Gr 7 Up–Skeptical but determined Dare visits haunted Arrington Estate, expecting to be investigating an old, potentially supernatural murder. She assumes there must be a human culprit, but whatever is in the estate’s lake is still trying to take young girls. Dare navigates Type 1 diabetes (with a service dog) through a ghostly, exciting, and compelling mystery.

MÉNDEZ, Yamile Saied & Amparo Ortiz, eds. Our Shadows Have Claws: 15 Latin American Monster Stories. illus. by Ricardo López Ortiz. 2022. Algonquin. ISBN 9781643751832.
Gr 9 Up–A fantastic lineup of authors share their interpretations of Latinx monsters from across a wide range of cultures and backgrounds. Drawn from the abundance of mythologies of the diaspora, these tales showcase familiar and unfamiliar legends, highlighting the diversity and creativity of Latin America. Striking accompanying illustrations add extra depth.

METOUI, Meriam. A Guide to the Dark. Holt. 2023. ISBN 9781250863218.
Gr 8 Up–A road trip detour gets dangerous for besties Layla and Mira, whose simmering feelings for each other are surfacing along with Mira’s nightmares and her brother’s ghost, somehow connected to the murderous force in Wildwood Motel’s Room 9. The expectations of very different Muslim families, gentle romance, and mild horror elements will appeal to younger readers or genre newcomers.

POLYDOROS, Aden. Wrath Becomes Her. Inkyard. 2023. ISBN 9781335458032.
Gr 9 Up–Jewish folk magic and a father’s grief created a golem named Vera, who begins to understand what it means to be alive and to rebel against the destiny her creator-father has planned—avenging his daughter’s death, whose mutilated body was used to create Vera’s. Older and particularly capable readers will get much from this densely historical and hauntingly emotional Nazi-punch.

ROGERS, Andrea. Man Made Monsters. illus. by Jeff Edwards. Levine Querido. 2022. ISBN 9781646141791.
Gr 8 Up–A Walter Dean Myers Award–winning collection of stories incorporating terrifying Cherokee legends alongside other familiar terrors as seen through the lens of one Cherokee family across generations. This unnerving series of vignettes, arranged chronologically over a couple hundred years, is inventive and smart, with magnetic appeal for readers of many ages and skill levels.

SAMBURY, Liselle. Tender Beasts. Atheneum/McElderry. 2024. ISBN 9781665903523.
Gr 9 Up–Their Black, Canadian family’s wealth can’t insulate Sunny’s brother from yet more suspicion when one of their private school classmates is found dead, complicating her efforts to keep their family together in the wake of their mother’s death. Bodies and long-buried family secrets keep turning up in this heavy-hitting take on generational trauma and family bonds.

SASS, Adam. Your Lonely Nights Are Over. Viking. 2023. ISBN 9780593526583.
Gr 9 Up–Returned killer Mr. Sandman is now targeting members of Dearie and Cole’s school’s Queer Club, and the police think they may have a connection to the crimes. Serious examinations of racial differences in police treatment are well woven with quick-witted, hilarious characters whose platonic friendship takes center stage.

SIMMONS, Kristen. Find Him Where You Left Him Dead. Tor Teen. 2023. ISBN 9781250851123.
Gr 9 Up–A blend of Japanese underworld myths underpins a deadly game that has already claimed one member of a friend group. Now, the game is dragging them back, and seven challenges stand between safety and the same fate as the friend they left behind. Friendship, forgiveness, and action galore complement the Jumanji-inspired tale of a game turned horribly real.

TRAN, Trang Thanh. She Is a Haunting. Bloomsbury YA. 2023. ISBN 9781547610815.
Gr 8 Up–A five-week visit to her dad in Vietnam won’t be as easy as it seemed when Jade finds herself in a life-or-death struggle with a house that wants to claim her for its own. The complexity of heritage, the poison of colonialism, and the power in claiming one’s identity pair with an unconventional haunted house and sharp-tongued main character in a novel well-suited for advanced readers.

WELLINGTON, Joelle. The Blonde Dies First. S. & S. 2023. ISBN 9781665922456.
Gr 9 Up–Devon’s Best Summer Ever plan with her twin sister backfires when they apparently summon a demon. Breathless, exciting danger unfolds along familiar horror-movie lines; Devon’s blond hair puts her square in the bull’s-eye of a terrifying killer. All the usual tropes are subverted in this riotously entertaining slasher with a thoughtful examination of sisterhood.

WHITE, Andrew Joseph. Hell Followed with Us. Peachtree Teen. 2022. ISBN 9781682633243.
Gr 10 Up–When a religious cult turns Benji’s body into a valuable bio-weapon, he is desperate to keep himself out of their grasp. With the help of autistic, mysterious, and deeply caring Nick, Benji joins a group of rebels and gains a found family in a hopeful and harrowing story full of visceral Gothic horrors and righteous violence.

Allie Stevens is a librarian in south Arkansas.