Booksology “Right now, more than ever, we need horror: stories that make us uneasy, that make us question what we think we know, that teach us how to face the darkness and come out on the other side,” McMahon said. “Stories that we forget, and that change our moods. This book collection, selected by the Summer Horror Committee, perfectly illustrates the true diversity of horror today and is further proof that we are on the cusp of a horror renaissance. It’s a book to share, a book to discuss and ponder. So come, take my hand, and prepare to step into the darkness with me this summer. Yes, there’s a lot of scary stuff in these books. But also, oh, and don’t miss anything along the way.
Three titles are selected each year in three categories: Adult, Young Adult, and Middle Grade. The titles selected for 2026 are:
Adult selection:
about fear
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Young adult selection:
- Our Shadows Have Claws, edited by Yamir Said Mendez & Amparo Ortiz (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2022)
Intermediate grade selection:
Summer Scares is designed to introduce school and public library staff to horror titles, start conversations with readers beyond the books on each list, and encourage reading for years to come. In addition to our annual list of recommended titles, the Summer Scares Programming Guide, which is free to access at any library, is back with the tools libraries need to connect with their patrons.
“Developed and designed by the HWA Libraries team, the 2026 Guide is a roadmap for library staff to provide exciting and meaningful experiences for the community through Summer Scares, whether it’s displaying books, leading discussion groups, developing events, or coordinating the entire Summer Scares program series,” said Konrad Stump, co-creator of the programming guide. “This guide includes carefully selected titles that align with iREAD’s 2026 theme (Plant, Read), making it easy for libraries around the world to incorporate Summer Scares into their summer reading programs and engage patrons of all ages with the horror genre.”
This guide will be available on the Summer Scares Resource page starting March 1, 2026.
In addition to this guide, the Summer Scares Committee will be collaborating with both recommendation list creators and horror authors from around the country to provide free programming to libraries. Libraries interested in hosting horror-themed events at any time of the year are encouraged to contact us via email. (email protected) To get started.
book list is helping kick off Summer Scares 2026 in March with a series of three free webinars featuring this year’s featured authors in conversation with committee members.
- Thursday, March 12, 2026, 2:00 PM ET, featuring Intermediate Authors and hosted by Julia Smith
- Monday, March 23, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET Young Adult Authors, hosted by Kelly Jensen
- Thursday, March 26, 2026, 2:00 PM ET, featuring adult authors and hosted by Jennifer McMahon
Each webinar lasts one hour. Anyone can register for free at https://www.booklistonline.com/webinars. The recording will be available on-demand after the live event at https://www.booklistonline.com/webinars-archive.
Everyone is welcome to join the Summer Scares committee and featured authors for HWA’s Librarian’s Day, which will be held in person in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Friday, June 5, 2026, as part of StokerCon.Ⓡ. For more information, please visit https://www.stokercon.com/.
HWA is a nonprofit association of writers and publishing professionals and the oldest organization dedicated to the horror/dark fiction genre. Part of HWA’s mission is to foster an appreciation for reading through a wide range of programs and partnerships with libraries, schools, and literacy organizations.
The 2026 Summer Scares program committee is comprised of author Jennifer McMahon, HWA Library Committee Co-Chairs Becky Spratford and Conrad Stamp, Academic Librarian and ILA President Carolyn Ciesla, Book Riot Senior Editor and YA Specialist Kelly Jensen, Booklist Senior Editor and Intermediate Specialist Julia Smith, and Manager of Reader Content and Services at NoveList Yaika Sabat.
For more information about the Summer Scares reading program, including committee member biographies, how to obtain promotional materials, and how to schedule an event with an author/committee member, please visit the Summer Scares resource page or contact HWA Library Committee Co-Chairs Becky Spratford and Konrad Stump via email (email protected).
