Our Top Halloween Reads 2012

This week, in honor of Halloween and #allhallowsread, we've chosen our favorite Halloween reads. Here's some information about All Hallow's Read, sponsored by Neil Gaiman.

If you want to give a young adult in your life (or anyone who love YA books) a fun Halloween read, check out some of these.

Lisa's Picks:

1. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan - This book takes place in the not-too-distant future after the zombie apocalypse. The world is creepy, and yet well done. For more information, read my review.
2. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake - This is a Great Halloween read. Just your average "boy meets girl. Girl kills people" story.  It reminded me a lot of the TV show, Supernatural, as well (which I love). Cas is a witty and engaging main character. The story is well-paced and fun, as it builds to a surprising blockbuster ending. I especially liked that it was set in Canada. 
3. The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong - (part of The Darkest Powers Trilogy - it's all great) Is set in a creepy institution where "troubled teen" Chloe discovers she is really a Necromancer. This book has it all, creepy ghosts, werewolves. See Blair's review for more.
4. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - Though probably written for a middle grade audience, this book has all sorts of great creepy and both YA and adult appeal.
5. The Sandman - The Doll's House by Neil Gaiman - This series of classic comics is available as a graphic novel (somewhere). This was my first introduction to Neil Gaiman (of so many years ago) and I have been a huge fan ever since. An escaped nightmare, called simply "The Corinthian" made me sleep with the lights on.  

Blair's Picks:

1. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - I love this story about a boy who grows up in a graveyard. LOVE IT. It's the sort of book I wish I could write. It has the bonus of appeal to both YA and middle grade.
2. Mort, Reaper Man, Soul Music, Hogfather and Theif of Time, all from the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett - Ha! I bet you thought that it would be the Tiffany Aching books, didn't you? She's witchy and YA. But no. If I had to pick a Halloween-y Discworld sub-series, it's the Death books. Why? Because how can you get more Halloween-y than Death? That' right, you can't. Plus, he's my favorite Discworld character of all time. Best Death ever. The characters Mort (Death's apprentice) and Susan Sto Helit (Death's granddaughter) give the books some YA appeal.
3. Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts - Because zombies. Every Halloween countdown needs zombies. Okay, this book's creatures aren't really zombies, but they do come in apocalyptic, world-eating hordes.
4. The Passage by Justin Cronin - More apocalyptic hordes. This one isn't technically YA, but neither is Stephen King, and a lot of teenagers read him. If you're one of those teens, give this vampire romp a try. It has the added bonus of no added sparkles.
5. Coraline by Neil Gaiman - Apparently my weaknesses include spooky Neil Gaiman books that cross the line between middle grade and YA. This fantastically creeptactuar story about a girl who discovers another world behind a locked door is well worth the read, at any age.

Jessica's Picks:

1. The Dark Tower Series - Stephen King - Hello. Stephen King the epidemy of fright.
2. Running with the Demon (Book 1) - Terry Brooks - A fight between good and Evil and a teenager that must make the choice between the word and the void - what more could one want.
3. A Knight of the Word (Book 2) - Terry Brooks - A little bit about voids, evil, fallen knights and a college girl who must still save everything (There is a third book too but Nest Freemark has transitioned from teen to adult.)
4. Earthsea Trilogy - Ursula K. Le Guin - Magic, dragons, demons and the prices paid
5. City of Beasts - Isabel Allende - although not technically scary in the sense of ghosts and ghouls it is about the destruction of things not understood.