Skip to main content

ENCHANTED STORIES: Gloom Town



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 Manorā€”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 scaryā€”but not so scary that kids wonā€™t stay up all night with nightmares. The fight against evil in the climax is properly thrillingā€”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 horrorā€”without the teen dreadful proportions that will keep younger readers awake all night long.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Faker

Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit...

If You Like...Ladybugs

Spring is almost upon us! We'll have more rain instead of snow, flowers will start blooming, and more bugs will be out. Ladybugs are some of the prettiest insects--and the least intimidating for those more wary of bugs. If you like ladybugs, check out these books! Ladybugs Do Not Go to Preschool Written by Ali Rutstein Illustrated by NinĢ‹a Nill Richmond, VA: Bright Light, 2024. Picture Book. Ravi loves ladybugs--he eats aphids instead of cornflakes for breakfast, brushes his mandibles instead of teeth, and has a ladybug costume complete with wings and antennae. He is certain that ladybugs don't have to go to preschool, and when Mom says that Ravi still has to go to school, he is nervous. However, thanks to Mom's patience and gentle encouragement, Ravi makes some new friends and realizes that preschool might be a good place for ladybugs after all. A Perfect Spot By Isabelle Simler Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2022. Picture Book. A ladybug is ready to ...

You Need to Read: Percy Jackson

I was a kid myself when  The Lightning Thief  by Rick Riordan was published, and it didn't take long for the Percy Jackson series to take the world by storm. Being the son of a Poseidon, Percy Jackson has some unique challenges as a half-blood. Here's some books that I think could've helped Percy when he was on his adventures trying to save the world: Greeking Out: Heroes and Olympians Written by Kenny Curtis and Jillian Hughes Illustrated by Javier Espila Washington D.C.: National Geographic, 2024. Informational. 191 pages. Percy, I know Chiron did a good job teaching you about mythology in Latin class, but this book is sure to be good to have on hand while you're traveling across the United States. Greeking Out  is written in a kid-friendly voice with vivid illustrations and a sometimes-snarky tone (much like Percy himself). It also presents real-life creatures and places along with the information about Greek mythology. The Homework Squad's ADHD Guide to School S...