As the nights start to get longer and the weather starts to get colder we enter the annual celebration of scares and frights - Halloween - But where did it come from and most importantly for us - what should you be reading during it!
Halloween didn’t start with candy and costumes, it began as an ancient festival of fire and remembrance. Here’s a brisk tour of where Halloween comes from, how it evolved, and a curated list of great reads set on, or just perfect for, the spookiest night of the year.
Where Halloween Comes From - The quick version:
Samhain (pronounced “SAH-win”). Over 2,000 years ago, Celtic communities marked the end of harvest and the start of winter with Samhain. It was a night when boundaries between the living and the dead felt thin, celebrated with bonfires, disguises, and offerings.
However as Christianity spread across the Celtic lands, the church placed All Saints’ Day on November 1 with the evening before becoming All Hallows’ Eve and absorbing the local folk customs (costumes, visiting houses, food traditions) and gradually, over many years, became “Halloween.”
Turnips to pumpkins. In Ireland and Scotland, people carved terrifying faces into turnips or other root vegetables to ward off spirits. The “jack-o’-lantern” draws on the legend of “Stingy Jack.” When immigrants brought the custom to North America, pumpkins proved bigger and much easier to carve, and the glowing gourd became an icon.
Trick-or-treat. The tradition of children’s door-to-door visits became established in the early 20th century; the earliest known print use of “trick or treat” appears in an Alberta, Canada newspaper in 1927, it has gone on to become the most iconic of all of the traditions enjoyed on Halloween - Which I am sure is to do with all of the tasty candy.
Must-Read Books Set Around Halloween (or just perfect for a good scare!)
Halloween is popular with all ages, below are a few suggested reading topics for each age group to get you into the Halloween spirit.
For kids & families
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Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson: A bouncy, witchy picture-book adventure that’s become a Halloween staple for the littlest readers.
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The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams: Autumnal fun with rhythmic repetition and a brave heroine.
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The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman: A boy raised by ghosts in a graveyard; not strictly Halloween, but award-winning, atmospheric, and perfect for October nights.
Teens & Young Adults
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The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury : A magical Halloween night chase that doubles as a tour of the holiday’s history and symbols. (If you read one Halloween book with your kids, make it this.)
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Small Spaces by Katherine Arden: Scarecrows, farm fields, and a creeping October dread, ideal for confident teen readers.
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Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell & Faith Erin Hicks: Two teens savor the last night of the pumpkin-patch season in a warm, funny, graphic novel.
Adult & classic fiction
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Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge: Set on Halloween night in a Midwestern town where teens hunt a pumpkin-headed monster called the “October Boy.” Lean, propulsive, and award-winning.
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Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie: A murder at a village Halloween party drags Poirot into a chilling case; a classic cozy-meets-creepy read.
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“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving: Autumnal Americana at its best: harvest revels, ghostly tales, and a headless horseman.
Quick Ideas for Celebrating Halloween
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Host a mini read-in on 31 October with short stories or graphic novels—perfect for weeknight schedules.
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Pair a book with a prop: Pumpkinheads + hot cider, The Halloween Tree + a carved jack-o’-lantern, Hallowe’en Party + a bowl for (safe) apple-bobbing.
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Create a “spooky-but-cozy” nook: battery candles, a soft throw, and a small seasonal display (pumpkins, leaves, a friendly ghost figurine).
Final Word
Halloween is a patchwork of ancient fire festivals, medieval observances, immigrant traditions, and modern play.
Whether you’re into gentle spooks or late-night chills, there’s a perfect October read waiting for you.
And why not up the Halloween feeling with some of the decorations and gifts from our Seasonal Section
In the meantime, this list will keep your evenings nice and haunted.
