Gloom Town
Ronald L. Smith
HMHKids, 2020. 267 p.
Rory is a 12-year-old kid who lives with his mom in Gloom Town. Since life is hard and they are behind on their rent, Rory takes an odd job as a valet at the Foxglove Manor—the spooky old place in town that everyone says is haunted. As Rory starts to work as a valet, things get a little horrific and dangerous. Rory learns that there is more than what appears at the manor and the whole town might be in trouble. When Rory discovers a bit about what is really happening, he turns to his best friend Izzy. The two of them work to figure out what paranormal-horror is coming and what they can do about it.
This is the type of scary story that those just wanting to start reading horror might like. The paranormal monsters are scary—but not so scary that kids won’t stay up all night with nightmares. The fight against evil in the climax is properly thrilling—but not so suspenseful that readers will wet their pants while reading it. And the resolution is long and calm enough that readers will feel like the problem is fully resolved and they can go to sleep without worrying if the Lord of Foxglove Manor is going to haunt their dreams. All in all, this is a good book for those young readers who like good characters, intriguing story, and a nice heaping of horror—without the teen dreadful proportions that will keep younger readers awake all night long.
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