An interesting collection of horror stories from around the United States; spooky tales that are scary enough to keep adults occupied but not so much that it's unsuitable for the kiddos.

Thank you to Godwin Books , an imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing, and Netgalley for the digital arc.
The nice thing about a collection of short stories is that you do not have to invest a lot of time. Short stories are meant to be read in one sitting. This 50+ collection provides one paranormal or ghost lore, from each of the states plus Puerto Rico and Washington DC. Each is written by a different established author,. Since the offerings not dependent on one another, I jumped in by reading the stories based in places to which I felt a connection--Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, Virginia , Tennessee, and Texas. I was familiar with famous paranormal stories from these states, but all these stories in the “Haunted States of America” were new to me. The characters, plots, and settings make it easy to read several at one sitting. Makes the perfect book for the teen who is pressed for time, or who likes horror in small bits.

Fifty two different stories. Fifty two different Authors. Endless fright for all ages.

This is a fun little book about urban legends. A quick and easy read perfect for spooky season.

With fifty-two stories and authors in this collection, there are a wide variety of types of stories and styles. They're also all quite short. A little bit of introduction and what amounts to a jump scare or a moment of final dread. There isn't a lot of atmosphere and development to make for a truly spine-chilling read. The value here is in introducing some lesser known monsters which may lead readers to truly terrifying tales.

Ooooh, this was a fun idea, and cleverly executed. Every state has its own ghost story, and I could feel the state's personality in most of them. The Colorado one even featured the hotel from The Shining, which was fun. The stories are short and vary in levels of creepiness, although none were gory or really horrible. Some of my favorite writers were here, which was fun too. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

A clever anthology that shares a creepy story for each of the 50 states. There is the usual culprits like The Jersey Devil as well as a plethora of ghost, poltrigiest, and strange creatures.
While this collection wasn't what I was expecting ot the type of horror and ghost stories I usually read, it was still enjoyable.
If you are one who likes you horror with little to no splatter, or a YA who is just entering the wonderful genre of horror, then this would be a perfect addition to your collection.

This edition has been released on Jjul 9, 2024 by Macmillan Children's Publishing Group.

Thanks to @netgalley for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Every state has a creepy story. These stories take you on a trip through each states hidden frightening. The Jersey Devil stalks the pages alongside poltergeist and unique creatures. A unique creepy road trip.

Wonderful collection of ghost stories for each state. Though it wasn't quite what I was expecting, it was enjoyable nonetheless. This would be a great addition to a kid's paranormal book collection.

The Haunted States of America offers a captivating journey through the country's most eerie and legendary haunted locations. The book’s intriguing accounts and detailed descriptions make it a compelling read for fans of paranormal history and ghost stories.

These short stories are delightfully spooky! Each state is represented by a story meant to give you the shivers. I look forward to sharing this book with my students!

Every state has its unique character and personality, including the ghost stories, lore, and legends that people, especially kids, trade to freak each other out. With The Haunted States of America, writers take on the task of bringing new life to the iconic tales from each state.

This collection is chock full of original stories based on urban legends, scary stories, and ghost lore from each state that makes up the United States of America, including Puerto Rico. Overall, this turned out to be an enjoyable collection. A few of the stories fell flat, but the majority definitely had substance. There were a lot more than expected that turned out to be quite chilling and downright scary. The subject matter varies, although they all seem to be based on local legends in the state that it takes place. It’s not just ghost stories. There are also some creature feature stories and definitely some urban or rural legend type scenarios that don’t easily classify into specific categories. There was a lot of good diversity in the characters, reflecting that America is a place of people of all colors, ethnicities, backgrounds, and creeds. Tones and maturity levels between stories vary, so some stories will impact younger readers differently from older, more seasoned horror reading teens and tweens. For its short length, there’s a lot of substance in this collection of super short, but largely impactful stories.

A collectionof 52 scary stories from around the Untied States of America (one for each state). It was a fun read, some of the stories were a bit “cheesy” but overall amusing. More than just “scary stories”, it is also full of folklore legends and ghost stories. A few lead me to do further research as they were quite intriguing.

Shiver your way across the United States of fear in this collection of paranormal stories as long as you don’t get too scare. After all, they are only urban legends. It’s dark. Something isn’t right. What are those strange sounds—screams, or more subtly ominous noises—floating on the air. Your cellphone is useless. You’re impelled to do something you know you shouldn’t. Finally, the dramatic climax arrives, and you’re saved—or perhaps not. Variations on these supernatural elements from every state, plus Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., confirm that whatever the setting, humans can find scares. Even camping can be scary. The legends offer a variety of chills plus more. Some of the stories are truly frightening. Those stories were truly creepy giving me chills. I still enjoyed reading them. After all doesn’t everyone like to get scare?

The book is an entertaining, fright-filled American tour. Just think, you will know what to see if you are into paranormal/supernatural events or perhaps you will know which states not to visit. It is fun to read.

The Haunted States of America was a fun read with stories of folklore and horror from every state. Some were definitely a little cheesy but some were definitely creepy. It was really neat reading about urban legends, ghost stories and folklore from each state!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Haunted States of America

This is a collections of 52 scary stories from around the Untied States of America, I read this with my daughter who loves the concept of scary stories but isn't ready for full on being scared. it is full of folklore legends and ghost stories, and we actually looked up a few and did our own research based on the stories in the book. I really has been a great read and We have even since purchased the print version.

The Haunted States of America by Ellen Hopkins, 208 pages. SHORT STORIES. Henry Holt and Co. (Macmillan), 2024. $18.
Language: PG (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
The United States of America is a melting pot of people, cultures, and lore. Fifty-two authors take fifty-two myths from each of the fifty states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico to tell legends unique to those areas—ghosts, lizard men, and more!
Some of the stories are lighthearted but the majority of them are decidedly not. I loved reading about the creepy monsters I have heard of before and discovering new legends from places I have never been. Your warning is this: be careful about where you go—and what you read!—in the dark.
With a variety of authors, the characters are naturally diverse in race and sexual orientation. The language rating is for Spanish swears. The mature content rating is for mentions of alcohol and kissing as well as for scary elements. The violence rating is for blood and gore, corpses, death, and mentions of physical abuse, guns, cannibalism, suicide, and murder.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. The sketches were great. It would’ve been interesting if there’d been a little history blurb at the end of each story telling how the ghost, cryptid,
etc… came to be. Each state and Puerto Rico offered something unique.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 3.5/5 stars.

I did enjoy how this was an anthology of short stories (which means a heck of a lot of authors) and most of the stories were short short. I also liked how some of them included sketches. The stories are not necessarily horror (or even haunted) but range from cryptids, to local legends, to ghost stories, to what I assume are just stories about some creepy places (like the Garden of Eden in Lucas KS).

Some of the stories did abruptly end while others had some interesting writing styles. It wasn't a bad anthology, but it does read younger in a sense.

The Haunted States Of America by multiple authors edited by Alan Hopkins and Solomon Hughes it is a middle grade book packed with many enjoyable haunted stories from the white ghost in Alabama to the wailing women in Wyoming, the stories are plentiful varied and even I at 52 years old found them interesting. When I was a little girl my mom wouldn’t let others scare me and so it only hiened my interest in in the taboo in a book like this would’ve tickled my fancy to no end and so I am not surprised that I enjoyed it even at my age. I think any child would love this haunted house story it is a perfect book for those who love the macabre and the spooky. Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.#McMillan Young readers, #NetGalley, #TheHauntedStatesOfAmerica,

Discover the spine-chilling thrill of 52 hair-raising tales from across the United States in this bone-chilling collection.
Immerse yourself in the gripping narratives crafted by a collective of talented writers. Their skillful storytelling brings local urban legends to life and sends shivers down your spine.

This book weaves a tapestry of spooky and atmospheric tales, blending regional folklore with compelling characters to create a truly spooktacular reading experience.
If you're a fan of a good scare and enjoy seeing your local legends transformed into captivating stories, this book is a must-read.

Happy Spooky Reading, Paige 📚 👻

Thank you, @netgalley, for the complimentary ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.