Read every series in the right order
Eerie Elementary Books in Chronological Order – Complete Reading Guide
Table of Contents
Quick Answer (TL;DR)
Read Eerie Elementary in publication order—it’s also the in-universe chronological order. Start with The School Is Alive! (2014) and continue straight through to The End of Orson Eerie? (2019). That order follows Sam, Lucy, and Antonio’s battles against the living school and its mad scientist founder, Orson Eerie, from first creepy day to finale. (Series list verified via Scholastic and OverDrive.)
Introduction
If you have a reader who loves a good shiver but isn’t quite ready for Goosebumps, the Eerie Elementary Books in Chronological Order make an ideal bridge: short chapters, high-contrast art on every page, just-right scares, and a steady arc that rewards reading the complete set. The series sits inside Scholastic’s Branches line for newly independent readers—typically ages 6–8 / grades 1–3—which emphasizes confidence-building text, fast plots, and frequent illustrations.
As the hall monitors of Eerie Elementary, Sam Graves, Lucy, and Antonio discover their school is literally alive—and hungry. Across ten volumes they uncover the origin of Orson Eerie, track secret rooms, face snowstorms and sentient hedge mazes, and ultimately challenge the school’s creator in a town-wide showdown. Reading Eerie Elementary Books in Chronological Order ensures all clues, callbacks, and character growth land right on time.
Quick Facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Series | Eerie Elementary (10 books), Scholastic Branches |
| Reading Order | Publication order = chronological order |
| Typical Length | ~96 pages per book (varies by edition) |
| Average Read Time | ~60–100 minutes for fluent readers; ~1.5 hours estimate for #9 used as benchmark. |
| Reading Difficulty | Early chapter book; Grades 1–3; Ages 6–8. |
| Genres | Spooky school adventure, light horror, friendship & teamwork |
| Content Notes | Mild peril, spooky imagery, no gore; safe “creepy-fun” tone (Branches line). |
| Media Adaptations | Pilot order (Sept 9, 2025): Eerie Prep—an aged-up TV adaptation in development for Disney+/Disney Channel (Deadline). |
| Primary Creators | Jack Chabert (pen name of Max Brallier); illustrators Sam Ricks (Books 1–6) & Matt Loveridge (Books 7–10). |
About the Eerie Elementary Book Series
Launched in 2014, Eerie Elementary is one of Scholastic’s most popular Branches series for “just-beyond-easy” readers. The hook is irresistible: on day one of his hall-monitor gig, Sam discovers the school is alive. With best friends Lucy and Antonio, he protects classmates from the building’s traps, learns the tragic backstory of inventor Orson Eerie, and slowly unravels the school’s secrets. Scholastic positions the series for Grades 1–3 (Ages 6–8) with high-interest plots and illustrations on every page to boost stamina and confidence.
The author “Jack Chabert” is actually Max Brallier—the New York Times bestselling creator of The Last Kids on Earth. Scholastic and multiple author bios confirm the pen name; Brallier created Eerie Elementary under that pseudonym.
Eerie Elementary Books at a Glance
| # | Title | Amazon Buy Links |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The School Is Alive! (2014) | Buy On Amazon |
| 2 | The Locker Ate Lucy! (2014) | Buy On Amazon |
| 3 | Recess Is a Jungle! (2016) | Buy On Amazon |
| 4 | The Science Fair Is Freaky! (2016) | Buy On Amazon |
| 5 | School Freezes Over! (2016) | Buy On Amazon |
| 6 | Sam Battles the Machine! (2017) | Buy On Amazon |
| 7 | Classes Are Canceled! (2017) | Buy On Amazon |
| 8 | The Hall Monitors Are Fired! (2018) | Buy On Amazon |
| 9 | The Art Show Attacks! (2018) | Buy On Amazon |
| 10 | The End of Orson Eerie? (2019) | Buy On Amazon |
Eerie Elementary Books in Chronological Order
The publication order is the true story order. Below are quick, spoiler-light blurbs to help choose the perfect next read.
- The School Is Alive! — Book 1
New hall monitor Sam Graves discovers Eerie Elementary is literally alive. With friends Lucy and Antonio, he survives a stage-trap during the class play and learns about the school’s ominous past. A perfect “just scary enough” opener with nonstop illustrations to support new readers. - The Locker Ate Lucy! — Book 2
Lucy disappears into her locker (!), forcing Sam and Antonio to venture into the school’s hidden spaces. The trio’s bond strengthens as they realize the building’s malice is connected to a long-ago inventor: Orson Eerie. - Recess Is a Jungle! — Book 3
The school grounds turn predatory, transforming the playground into a fog-blanketed hedge maze. The kids learn that everything tied to Eerie can come alive—including grass and trees. Stakes rise, teamwork deepens. - The Science Fair Is Freaky! — Book 4
A mysterious old notebook and a gymnasium volcano erupt into chaos. The kids unlock more of Eerie’s history while dodging lava and rigged experiments. - School Freezes Over! — Book 5
A sudden blizzard traps students inside, icicles drip from the ceiling, and Antonio becomes an ice statue target. Sam and Lucy raise the heat—literally—to save everyone. - Sam Battles the Machine! — Book 6
A suspicious substitute lives in Orson Eerie’s old house and is building a strange device. Is someone trying to resurrect Eerie? Sam and friends uncover the plan. - Classes Are Canceled! — Book 7
The school itself begins to fall apart—floors split, walls crumble—and the principal declares Eerie Elementary must be torn down. Is demolition what Orson wanted all along? - The Hall Monitors Are Fired! — Book 8
Sam, Lucy, and Antonio are sidelined just when they’re needed most. The kids push past discouragement to keep classmates safe and expose the next step in Orson’s scheme. - The Art Show Attacks! — Book 9
Clay comes alive, Orson’s face appears in paintings, and a secret room opens up inside the school. The plot barrels toward a final confrontation as Eerie’s influence creeps beyond the building. - The End of Orson Eerie? — Book 10
Eerie Day brings a “haunted house” at the school—and an all-out assault from Orson’s spirit. Pumpkins, mazes, and one last gambit: can the hall monitors save the town and end Eerie’s reign for good?
Series Timeline & Character Development
- Sam Graves grows from uncertain hall monitor to quick-thinking leader, learning to read the school’s moods and use its weaknesses against it. Early resourcefulness in Books 1–3 expands into strategy and leadership by Books 6–10.
- Lucy’s courage spikes after Book 2’s locker ordeal; she becomes the trio’s most fearless scout and puzzle-solver, driving discoveries in Books 4, 7, and 9.
- Antonio’s ingenuity—especially around gadgets and “how stuff works”—is key in tech-tinged plots (Book 6’s machine; Book 5’s frozen crisis). He moves from comic relief to crucial problem-solver.
- Orson Eerie evolves from rumor to active antagonist. Mid-series we learn how his experiments bound the school to his will; by Book 10, his spirit tries one last time to fuse school and town under his control.
This arc is why Eerie Elementary books in chronological order is the most satisfying approach—clues stack, character roles sharpen, and the finale pays off five books’ worth of breadcrumbs.
Novels Sorted in Order of In-Universe Events
The in-world sequence matches publication order:
| # | Title | Amazon Buy Links |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The School Is Alive! (2014) | Buy On Amazon |
| 2 | The Locker Ate Lucy! (2014) | Buy On Amazon |
| 3 | Recess Is a Jungle! (2016) | Buy On Amazon |
| 4 | The Science Fair Is Freaky! (2016) | Buy On Amazon |
| 5 | School Freezes Over! (2016) | Buy On Amazon |
| 6 | Sam Battles the Machine! (2017) | Buy On Amazon |
| 7 | Classes Are Canceled! (2017) | Buy On Amazon |
| 8 | The Hall Monitors Are Fired! (2018) | Buy On Amazon |
| 9 | The Art Show Attacks! (2018) | Buy On Amazon |
| 10 | The End of Orson Eerie? (2019) | Buy On Amazon |
Novels Sorted in Order of Publication
Publication dates by book/illustrator set:
- 2014 — The School Is Alive!; The Locker Ate Lucy! (illus. Sam Ricks)
- 2016 — Recess Is a Jungle!; The Science Fair Is Freaky!; School Freezes Over! (illus. Sam Ricks)
- 2017 — Sam Battles the Machine! (Ricks); Classes Are Canceled! (illus. Matt Loveridge)
- 2018 — The Hall Monitors Are Fired!; The Art Show Attacks! (Loveridge)
- 2019 — The End of Orson Eerie? (Loveridge; Scholastic & Goodreads pages confirm 2019 date.)
Companion Works
- Eerie Elementary Books 1–4 Box Set (paperbacks): A convenient starter bundle for classrooms and gifts.
- After-Reading Discussion Guide (PDF): Scholastic’s printable question sets for each book—great for literacy circles and reading logs.
- Spanish Editions (Escuela de Espanto): Bilingual classrooms can start with ¡La escuela está viva! in Spanish.
Editions & Formats (hardcover, collector, audio)
- Paperback: Standard Branches format (5.25 x 7.5 in), ~96 pages, high-contrast interior art. Widely available via Scholastic and retailers.
- Library Binding/“Hardcover (Library Edition)”: Durable school/library edition for high-circulation shelves.
- Kindle/eBook: All titles available digitally; useful for font scaling and dyslexia-friendly device settings.
- Audiobooks: The School Is Alive! and additional titles available from Scholastic Audio/Audible—solid for read-along or car time.
- Collector/Box Sets: The 1–4 paperback box makes a handy gift and classroom set.
Why Read Eerie Elementary Books in Chronological Order?
- Plot continuity. Orson Eerie’s backstory and the school’s powers unfold in sequence; late-book reveals rely on earlier discoveries.
- Character growth. Sam’s leadership and Lucy/Antonio’s specialized skills evolve book to book. The payoffs are most satisfying when read straight through.
- Escalating set-pieces. From stage traps to blizzards, from hedge mazes to pumpkin attacks, the scale ramps up toward the finale.
Reading Eerie Elementary books in chronological order ensures the series’ breadcrumb trail (secret rooms, machines, and Eerie Day) hits exactly as intended.
Author Spotlight
Jack Chabert (aka Max Brallier)
“Jack Chabert” is the pen name of Max Brallier, the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Kids on Earth. Scholastic and the Library of Congress author bio confirm the pseudonym; under it, Brallier created Eerie Elementary for the Branches line and wrote all ten volumes. He’s a prolific children’s writer with credits for LEGO, Adventure Time, and more.
- What that means for readers: Expect brisk pacing, humorous beats amid the scares, and cliff-hangers that propel kids into the next chapter—hallmarks Brallier uses across his series.
Illustrators
- Sam Ricks (Books 1–6): Cartoon-charged action that makes even the spookiest scenes accessible to early readers.
- Matt Loveridge (Books 7–10): Keeps the kinetic, high-contrast style while sharpening the finale’s bigger set-pieces. (Credits and illustrator changes are listed on Scholastic/OverDrive entries.)
Media Adaptations (films, TV, radio)
New in 2025: Eerie Prep, an aged-up live-action adaptation of Eerie Elementary, received a pilot order at Disney Branded Television (planned for Disney+ and Disney Channel). The show reframes the concept for older kids while drawing from Max Brallier’s original books. (Development status per Deadline, Sept 9, 2025.)
FAQs
Is there a difference between publication order and chronological order?
No. For Eerie Elementary, publication order is the chronological sequence of events.
What ages are these books best for?
Most listings and teacher pages recommend Ages 6–8 / Grades 1–3. Confident younger readers can try them with support; older reluctant readers also enjoy the quick pace.
Are the books too scary for first and second graders?
They’re designed as “creepy-fun” with mild peril and no gore—perfect for early readers who want shivers, not nightmares. (That’s the Branches line’s whole mission.)
Do the illustrations change mid-series?
Yes. Sam Ricks illustrates Books 1–6; Matt Loveridge illustrates 7–10. The visual vibe remains consistent and kid-friendly.
Is there an audiobook option?
Yes. Scholastic Audio and Audible carry The School Is Alive! with more entries rolling out—great for read-along practice.
What if my child wants to start with Book 5 or 7?
You can, but you’ll miss earlier clues about Orson Eerie and how the school became “alive.” We strongly recommend Eerie Elementary Books in Chronological Order for maximum payoff.
Is there a Spanish version?
Yes—Escuela de Espanto editions begin with ¡La escuela está viva! (Book 1).
Any classroom resources?
Scholastic’s After-Reading Guide PDF has discussion prompts for each book—perfect for literacy centers, book clubs, or homework.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re building a classroom library, planning October read-alouds, or raising a newly independent reader, the Eerie Elementary Books in Chronological Order deliver bite-size tension, lots of laughs, and a true “series arc” that rewards finishing all ten. Start with The School Is Alive! and let Sam, Lucy, and Antonio guide your reader from first fright to final victory.
Reading together? Try a chapter-swap: you read the narrative text, your reader tackles the speech balloons and sound effects. It’s an easy way to stretch stamina—exactly what the Branches line is built for.
