This summer we are planting seeds – seeds of reading, of learning, and of fun. But as your resident horror genre blogger, I am also here to encourage you to plant the seed of fear!
That’s because it’s time to talk about the 2026 Summer Scares!
As a refresher for those who may be new here, The Horror Writers Association, in partnership with United for Libraries, Book Riot, Booklist, and Novelist – and a panel of library workers — design this list to promote horror as a great reading option for all ages, no matter the time of year.
Each year, three titles are selected in the following categories: Adult, Young Adult, and Middle Grade.
You can find the complete list here, but in this post, I wanted to cover the titles that I think best convey our summer reading theme: Plant a Seed, Read. Or as I like to think of it, Plant a Seed, Read (more horror).
Adult: A Botanical Daughter by Noah Medlock
Appeal Factors
- Offbeat Mood
- Intricately Plotted
- LGBTQIA+ Representation
A Botanical Daughter is full of beautiful prose and is an incredibly fresh take on the Frankenstein archetype, staying close to the Gothic roots (pun intended) of the creature narrative. This is peak biohorror, celebrating the natural world while also acknowledging the horror it has to offer us. While we currently don’t have this title in our collection – it has been requested for purchase.
Young Adult: What We Harvest by Ann Fraistat
Appeal Factors
- Small town horror
- Creepy and suspenseful tone
- Full of family secrets
When a small farming town’s crops turn deadly, survival becomes more than just protecting the harvest. Fear spreads and food supplies fail, and the residents of Hallow’s End face a creepy threat rooted in the land itself. To survive, they must confront family secrets that have been buried for generations. While we currently don’t have this title in our collection – it has been requested for purchase.
Middle Grade: Garlic & the Vampire by Bree Paulsen
Appeal Factors
- It’s a graphic novel
- More amusing and sweet than truly scary
- Leisurely paced
- Contains important themes like overcoming fears and challenging prejudices
This graphic novel is full of anthropomorphized veggies and fruits – which are truly adorable. The art gives a rustic, autumnal feel – which can feel nice in the middle of a blazing hot summer. It’s full of humor and friendship and is a great introduction for kids interested in testing the waters with spookier folklore without diving too much into horror elements. One could say this book is the perfect seed for growing a horror loving reader!
Maybe you only read horror in the Fall (during what is colloquially known as “spooky season”) or maybe you don’t read horror at all. My hope is that these titles (or any of the titles from the complete list) plant a seed of interest into the horror genre and maybe help you to grow outside of your comfort zone.