Need something a bit meatier/scarier for 13yo DS2

[BaconAndAvocado]

DS2 has expressed an interest in reading a "horror" book.

He hasn't read a book since Primary school and it would be so great if he start reading again.

I'm not sure whether Stephen King is too old?

Any ideas?

He's quite hardy and recently watched the recent It films and Stranger Things without batting an eyelid.

Has he read anything like the hunger games series or the gone series or divergent series? Ds liked all of them

DS1 (12) is currently reading Stephen King's It - seems to be a bit of a thing in his Y8.

I will suggest It.

I think he would prefer something more "grown up" ( in his eyes!) than the Hunger Games.

It was James Herbert I read at that age.

P.s. I read and enjoyed the hunger games and divergent series books

Has he tried the Darren Shan series? DS read all of these at around this age. They read the first one in school then got the rest on his kindle.

Divergent series is better than Hunger Games for sure.

Also check out the Darkest Minds series. My 12&15 year olds both enjoy them

Bunker Diary - 12yo loved it and me too.

Or check out Patrick Ness books - they are YA books but very well written. More than This is my 15 yr old’s favourite and I think he first read it at around 11, but he is a voracious reader who reads well beyond his years so I would recommend it to easily 12/13+. It’s the only one I’ve read and while it’s not really my thing, it’s a well written book. It’s kind of sci fi/dystopian. Also the Chaos Walking trilogy is supposed to be very good - DS enjoyed them too

Rats by James Herbert was read at this age or Stephen King I think we read them from year 7

The Dresden files by Jim Butcher? Both scary at times and also at others very funny

Aren't the 400,000 point horror books designed for exactly this niche?

Ds(12) is currently reading and enjoying the Darren Shan Cirque du Freak series.

Robert muchamore books two different series
Sorry can't remember the name fibro head on today

@Guiltypleasures001 Cherub and Henderson boys
Although I'd have thought at 13yo he may well have read them.

What about things like Jack Higgins. They're not horror, but they can be quite graphic. I read Eagle has Landed at that age.

Point horror, used to love those books in my teens

Z For Zachariah will keep him awake for a month. Amazing book

The Woman in Black

Micheal Chriton
Jurassic park is one of his much better than the film

DS started reading Sherlock Holmes at 12/13 and he would highly recommend them

maze runner
jurassic park (the books have aged really well)

A series by Charlie Higson that includes “The Enemy” about kids coping with aftermath of an epidemic that has turned adults into killer zombie/vampires

darnton - neanderthal
the cornelia funke books

Chris Priestley - Tales of Terror are good short stories. Perhaps a good idea for someone who hasn't read in a while. He's written some young adult scary books as one offs rather than a series. Just check what you're getting as he has also written for younger children

The Road of the Dead by Kevin Brooks is excellent.

If going for Stephen King ‘Cujo’ would be a good one to go with.