Literature is ubiquitous to our college experiences; from completing schoolwork to killing boredom, we use it for many different purposes. One purpose we might not always think of is to celebrate upcoming holidays.
With Halloween just eight days away, now is the perfect time to find a quiet place and pick up a book that resonates with its themes. There are so many options. If you’re stuck on what to choose, here are five books to consider.
“The Halloween Tree” by Ray Bradbury
Described as an “eerie tale,” “The Halloween Tree” is an excellent portrayal of Halloween. Published in the 1970s, it’s an eminent classic.
Set on Halloween, “The Halloween Tree” is about Mr. Moundshroud, an old, green-skinned man who helps eight trick-or-treaters search for their missing friend Pip. In the journey, Mr. Moundshroud takes the trick-or-treaters to different places and time periods, such as ancient Egypt and Mexico’s cemeteries.
This book received a lot of praise, indicating that it’s an amazing read. The Boston Globe called it a “mystery history trip,” and it has an average 4.6-star rating on Amazon. If you’re into mysteries and suspense, this would be great to read for Halloween.
“Dracula” by Bram Stoker
If you love vampire stories like “Twilight,” this novel will be an excellent pick for you.
While “The Halloween Tree” is old, “Dracula” is incredibly archaic. First published in 1897, the novel has newer editions, such as one from 1997 and another from 2025. What makes “Dracula” unique is that it’s in an epistolary form, meaning that it is written in a series of letters.
“Dracula” follows the story of Jonathan Harker, a solicitor that plans to spend a business trip in a castle owned by Count Dracula, a Transylvanian nobleman. During his stay, Harker flees the castle after finding out Dracula is a vampire. Not long after, several horror incidents begin to sweep across England, a few of which include a shipwreck near seaside town Whitby and a woman waking up with puncture marks on her neck. Assuming that Dracula is behind the incidents, a group led by Abraham Van Helsing goes on a hunt to kill him.
“The Haunting of Hill House” by Shirley Jackson
This 1950s novel is all about Gothic and psychological horror. When reading it, you’ll get a taste of how haunted houses can turn someone’s life upside down.
“The Haunting of Hill House” has four seekers: Dr. Montague, Theodora, Luke and Eleanor. In the story, they stay at Hill House, a place full of unnerving terrors they want to investigate. As time passes, Hill House’s horrors begin to strengthen, creating chilling impacts on the seekers, especially Eleanor, who commits suicide by crashing her car.
Like “The Halloween Tree,” “The Haunting of Hill House” received a lot of praise. It’s one of The Atlantic’s best novels of the past century, according to its Amazon description.
“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson
Another 1800s book, this is one of the most famous Halloween stories.
Set in London, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” is about one man with two distinct personalities. Dr. Jekyll is well respected and kind. But he possesses a malevolent alter ego: Mr. Hyde, an atrocious being who is an abhorrent presence. In the story, Mr. Hyde consistently terrorizes Dr. Jekyll by manipulating his soul, provoking the novel’s “police-style narrative,” according to Goodreads.
“A Discovery of Witches” by Deborah Harkness
Many Halloween novels I’ve heard of were published in the 1800s and 1900s. However, Harkness’ story was published in 2011, providing a modern look at the holiday’s prominent themes.
A unique element of “A Discovery of Witches” is the use of fantastical elements like witches. It follows the story of a schoolgirl named Diana Bishop, who descends from witches. In the novel, she finds a bewitched manuscript called “Ashmole 782.” The discovery leads to the opening of a secret underworld that Bishop explores with Matthew Clairmont, a vampire geneticist.
There are hundreds of Halloween stories to choose from. However, these five are great starters. They can be found in many bookstores, as well as Amazon, ThriftBooks and local libraries.