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Quick answer: If you loved The Spiderwick Chronicles, read Holly Black's Doll Bones, then Coraline, The Graveyard Book, Small Spaces and The Night Gardener. All are short, spooky fantasies about children who discover hidden creatures and dark secrets.
Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black's Spiderwick Chronicles follow Jared, Simon and Mallory Grace, who move into their great-aunt's old house and find a field guide to faeries, which draws them into a dangerous hidden world. The books are short, richly illustrated and tense. The books below offer similar fairy tales, ghosts and secret worlds for middle-grade readers.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doll Bones | Holly Black | Ages 9-13 | spooky friendship |
| Coraline | Neil Gaiman | Ages 8-12 | children's horror |
| The Graveyard Book | Neil Gaiman | Ages 10+ | raised by ghosts |
| Small Spaces | Katherine Arden | Ages 9-13 | scarecrows and fog |
| The Night Gardener | Jonathan Auxier | Ages 10-14 | haunted tree |
| Serafina and the Black Cloak | Robert Beatty | Ages 9-13 | Biltmore mystery |
| Greenglass House | Kate Milford | Ages 10-14 | snowed-in mystery |
| The Doll People | Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin | Ages 7-10 | living dolls |
| Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark | Alvin Schwartz | Ages 8-12 | short frights |
| Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief | Rick Riordan | 9-13 | myth adventures |
| Fablehaven | Brandon Mull | 9-13 | creature adventures |
| Nevermoor | Jessica Townsend | 9-13 | readers who like magic school stories |
| Artemis Fowl | Eoin Colfer | Ages 10-14 | fairy heists |
| The Mysterious Benedict Society | Trenton Lee Stewart | 9-13 | readers who like puzzles |
| The Wizards of Once | Cressida Cowell | Ages 8-12 | wild fantasy |
1. Doll Bones by Holly Black
Three friends take a haunted doll on a quest to bury her. Creepy and tender.
Best for: spooky friendship.
2. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
A girl finds a door to a sinister mirror world. Short, creepy and brilliant.
Best for: children's horror.
3. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
A boy is raised by the inhabitants of a graveyard. Eerie and tender.
Best for: raised by ghosts.
4. Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
A girl and her friends face a terrifying farm. Spooky and fast.
Best for: scarecrows and fog.
5. The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier
Two Irish orphans work for a family at a sinister house. Gothic and atmospheric.
Best for: haunted tree.
6. Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty
A girl who lives secretly in a mansion hunts a child-stealing figure. Mysterious and exciting.
Best for: Biltmore mystery.
7. Greenglass House by Kate Milford
A boy at an inn full of odd guests solves a theft. Cosy and complex.
Best for: snowed-in mystery.
8. The Doll People by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin
Dolls come to life when no one is looking. Gentle and fun.
Best for: living dolls.
9. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz
A classic collection of folktales and urban legends. Creepy and iconic.
Best for: short frights.
10. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Percy learns he is a demigod. Funny and fast.
Best for: myth adventures.
11. Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Kendra and Seth find that their grandparents' estate is a sanctuary for magical creatures. A fun series.
Best for: creature adventures.
12. Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend
Morrigan Crow escapes a curse and joins the Wundrous Society in Nevermoor. Fun and fast.
Best for: readers who like magic school stories.
13. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
A boy genius kidnaps a fairy. Clever and high-tech.
Best for: fairy heists.
14. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Four clever kids go on a secret mission. Puzzles and teamwork.
Best for: readers who like puzzles.
15. The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell
A young wizard and a warrior girl meet in an ancient forest. Funny and illustrated.
Best for: wild fantasy.
How to Choose
For more Holly Black begin with Doll Bones. For spooky shorter reads choose Coraline, Small Spaces or Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. For atmospheric houses pick The Night Gardener, Serafina and the Black Cloak or Greenglass House. For hidden worlds read Fablehaven, Nevermoor or Percy Jackson. The Spiderwick Chronicles are brief and creepy, so these picks suit readers who like spooky but gentle adventures. The five books were adapted into a 2008 film and a later television series, but the books are short enough to finish in a weekend. Tony DiTerlizzi's illustrations are a major draw, and Holly Black has continued the world in later books.
Related: 15 Books Like The Chronicles of Narnia You’ll Love: Magical Worlds for Kids and Families · What Age Is The Chronicles of Narnia Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What are The Spiderwick Chronicles?
A five-book series about three children who discover a hidden world of faeries.
Who wrote them?
Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi.
When was the first book published?
2003.
What age is it for?
Roughly ages 8 to 12.
Are the books scary?
They are spooky but suitable for most children of that age.
Is there a film?
Yes, a 2008 film, and a later TV series.
Do I need to read in order?
Yes.
What should I read next?
Try Doll Bones or Coraline.
Which book here is best for scarecrows and fog?
Try Small Spaces by Katherine Arden, which suits readers looking for scarecrows and fog.
Which book here is best for snowed-in mystery?
Try Greenglass House by Kate Milford, which suits readers looking for snowed-in mystery.
Which book here is best for myth adventures?
Try Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, which suits readers looking for myth adventures.