They often have a sense of mystery. For example, the settings are usually in some isolated or old - fashioned places like an abandoned house or a spooky forest. This creates an immediate atmosphere of unease. Also, they might involve some sort of supernatural element, such as ghosts or strange curses.
Sure. There's 'The Lottery' which has a very disturbing ending. In a small town, they have an annual lottery, but it's not a normal lottery. It turns out to be a sacrifice. 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' also fits. A man is about to be hanged during the Civil War and has a series of hallucinations that are quite spooky. And 'Ligeia' by Poe, which tells the story of a man obsessed with his first wife, Ligeia, and the strange events that occur after her death.
The story of the school basement is also well - known. It was always dark and damp down there. Rumor had it that there was a monster lurking in the basement. Some janitors even reported seeing strange footprints and hearing growling sounds. Whenever there was a power outage and the backup lights were on in the basement, it looked even scarier.
Well, another spooky story was about the school library. There was a restricted section that no one was allowed to enter. One day, a curious student managed to get in. He said he saw books flying off the shelves on their own and a cold breeze blew through even though all the windows were closed. He ran out in terror and never went back.
Sure. There was a story in a middle school where during halloween, students noticed that the portraits in the hallway seemed to be watching them. One girl was so freaked out that she ran. Later, it was found out that some of the other students had used some simple trickery with mirrors to make it seem like the portraits were moving.
One Halloween, there was a rumor going around middle school that a ghost was seen in the attic of the school building. Some of us were brave enough to go up there. It was dark and dusty. We didn't see any ghost, of course, but the anticipation and the creepy atmosphere made it a memorable experience.
The characters in these stories are often relatable. In 'The Lottery', the townspeople seem like ordinary people at first, which makes the shocking ending more impactful. And the settings are diverse. Some are set in small towns like in 'A Sound of Thunder', while others can be in a more fantastical place like Venus in 'All Summer in a Day'.
One interesting middle school short story could be about a shy student who overcomes his fear of public speaking during a school debate. He practices hard in secret and finally surprises everyone with his confident performance.
Good middle school short stories often have relatable characters. For example, characters who are going through typical middle - school experiences like making friends or dealing with schoolwork. This makes it easy for middle school students to connect with the story.
Another good one is 'Thank You, Ma'am' by Langston Hughes. This story is about a boy who tries to steal a woman's purse but instead she shows him kindness and understanding. It's a simple yet powerful story that teaches about empathy and second chances. It's short enough for middle school students to understand easily and the characters are vividly drawn.