6 Middle School Short Stories for Halloween

It’s the time of year when we are all craving something a bit spooky and twisted – even our students! I won’t lie – planning my Halloween-themed unit is probably one of my favorite times of the year. Even my most reluctant readers can’t seem to resist a spooky story. So, I wanted to share my favorite short stories for Halloween that I know your students – and even you – will enjoy. 

Halloween Short Stories

“The Monkey’s Paw” by W. W. Jacobs

Mr. White thinks he has everything he could want or need, but when presented with the opportunity to grant a wish, he can’t resist. He has been warned about the dangerous, unintended consequences of the monkey paw – but Mr. White decides to make a wish anyway. Just as predicted, however, his wish comes with a big price. 

They say “be careful what you wish for” and this story is the epitome of that. This horror story is a cautionary tale of how even the best intentions can have negative consequences. Don’t worry though, despite being a horror story, it’s still appropriate for middle schoolers.

I love using this as a Halloween short story because it leaves my students on the edge of their seats. Quite literally. They will have a ton to say and discuss afterwards. I highly suggest giving them a collaborative writing assignment where they wish for something, and then having another student “manipulate” that wish into something very Halloween-esque! You can also have students write down a theme for the story and prove it with textual evidence.

“Examination Day” from The Twilight Zone

Upon turning twelve, Dickie is required by the government to take an intelligence examination. He isn’t too worried about it – after all, his friend said it was easy! His parents on the other hand, they seem skeptical. Could there be more to this seemingly simple exam?

This short story is actually a transcript of a Twilight Zone episode. I highly recommend this as a Halloween short story because the ending will leave your students shook (as the kids say). After reading this story, review the different elements of dystopian stories with students and have them identify these elements in “Examination Day”.

“Lamb to the Slaughter” by Rold Dahl

Mary Maloney is a pregnant, doting housewife. When her husband comes home from work and suggests they divorce, Mary completely loses it. She whacks her husband over the head with a frozen leg of lamb. What ensues is a wild goose chase to find her husbands murderer. Little do the police know…

I read this short story every Halloween because it is so fitting for the season. Murder. Suspense. Twists and turns. Plus, it serves as a great review for irony. At the end of the story, there is a perfect chance to talk about dramatic irony and the impact it has on the story.

“His Face All Red” by Emily Carroll

The main character of this story has a big secret: he killed her brother. So, when his brother shows up a few days later – he is baffled. Who is this person? He looks and acts like his brother, but something is seriously off. 

Two things I love about this Halloween short story: it’s in a graphic novel format and it’ll leave you with a lot of questions. I won’t lie – my students always get to the end and demand answers, but not every story had a perfectly wrapped bow! This story leaves students with the chance to make predictions about what could happen next. Have them share with the class!

You can find this short story here.

“The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury

The Hadley family lives in a smart house, which features a nursery full of screens. The room can come alive in different landscapes. When the nursery gets stuck on an African veldt landscape, the Hadley’s begin to wonder if the house is broken. And when their children start acting funny? And they hear screams at night? Well, I’m sure it’s nothing…

Science fiction and Halloween make for an awesome pairing. This story gives me Black Mirror vibes (if you’ve ever seen that Netflix show). I like how this story could have easily been written in 2022 as opposed to 1950. After reading this Halloween Short story, you can talk about foreshadowing with students. Have them go back and look for clues.

“The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street” from The Twilight Zone

Maple Street is a quiet peaceful neighborhood. One day, the electricity on the entire street goes out – even their cars won’t work. Suddenly, the residents begin to panic, point fingers, and come up with wild ideas about what could have gone wrong. But perhaps, the ideas aren’t so wild after all.

As you can see, I’m a sucker for a Twilight Zone episode, especially during Halloween. This episode was released in 1960 during the height of the Red Scare. You can pair this story with a nonfiction text about the Cold War, and the growing fears and suspicions in America. You don’t have to look hard to see the parallels between the time period and the short story!

Want more Halloween activities?

I have a middle school ELA Halloween Bundle with thirteen different activities. Students will review mood and tone, figurative language, rhetoric, and more in these Halloween-themed activities! Plus, it’s already made for you – so you have the perfect print-and-teach activity for the chaotic Halloween season.