Gloom Town

December 1, 2019
Two friends team up to save their town from an ancient supernatural evil in this suspenseful middle-grade novel. In his latest work, Smith (The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away, 2019, etc.) weaves together an eerie adventure narrative as nail-biting and mysterious as Roald Dahl's The Witches. Set in a downtrodden seaside town appropriately named Gloom, the tale follows a single mother and her son. Desperate to help in the endless struggle to make ends meet, Rory, a young dark-skinned biracial boy who takes after his father instead of his white mother, regards a job notice advertising a valet position at the opulent Foxglove Manor as a godsend. He's so eager he overlooks the townwide speculation that the manor contains some malevolent spirit. Before long, Rory can no longer ignore the sinister butler whose face looks inhuman, the mysterious dinner guests who aren't served food yet leave behind a pile of bones with the marrow sucked out, and a human heart found buried in the back garden. When Lord Foxglove, his enigmatic employer, discovers Rory snooping, he is forced to flee for his life. Together with best friend Izzy, a white girl who lives next door, Rory sets out to unravel the mystery of the manor and save Gloom from whatever lurks inside. Anchoring this well-paced story is a solid cast of characters whose central relationships feel authentic and grounded. A yarn as full of magic and intrigue as any fairy tale or pirate song. (Suspense. 10-12)

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December 16, 2019
In this quirky dark fantasy set in a small seaside town known as Gloom, a boy, desperate to help his mother pay the rent on the cottage they share, takes a job as a gentleman’s valet, only to discover that his frightening new master may be an ancient inhuman entity with a sinister agenda. Rory, 12, who is biracial, isn’t sure what to make of bald-headed, black-bearded Lord Foxglove and his butler Malvonius, or their strict rules and his contract’s “upon penalty of death” clause, but the pay is too good to pass up. After Rory overhears a conversation between Foxglove and his colleagues that reveals an upcoming “great harvest,” he discovers his predecessor’s grizzly fate. To prevent calamity from befalling the entire town, Rory and his best friend, red-haired fledgling witch Izzy, must find a way to thwart Foxglove’s plans. This atmospheric tale by Smith (The Owls Have Come to Take Us Away) conjures up a seaside setting full of secrets and long-lost legends. Though its resolution arrives abruptly—with last-minute revelations that leave the door open for future installments—the intriguing characters, eerie moments, and lurking peril prove a winning combination. Ages 10–12. Agent: Adriann Ranta Zurhellen, Foundry Literary + Media.

January 1, 2020

Gr 5-7-Rory has lived in Gloom, a small, bleak fishing village all his life. His single mom can barely make ends meet, so when Rory sees that there's a job available at notoriously creepy Foxglove Manor, he decides the benefits outweigh the risks and applies for the position. Given a huge advance on his salary, he's initially ecstatic that he's able to help his mom pay the rent. However, he soon finds out that Lord Foxglove is even more evil than the rumors say. In fact, the whole town is in danger! Rory enlists his best friend Izzy to help defeat the supernatural forces that reside in the manor. While the town itself is a big part of the story, world-building is lacking, and everything wraps up way too neatly. A full cast of eccentric characters has potential, but none are fully developed. Despite all this, the story is far darker than the cover suggests, so budding horror fans may overlook some of the flaws for the chills it provides. Nonstop action also propels the story, making for a quick and relatively engaging read. VERDICT Despite some structural bumps along the way, this creepy adventure has promise. Recommended for general purchase.-Mandy Laferriere, Fowler Middle School, Frisco, TX

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December 1, 2019
Grades 4-6 Rory, a good lad, lives with his hardworking mother near the docks in a town called Gloom. When he realizes that Mum's earnings will no longer cover the rent, he takes the only job available: gentleman's valet at sinister Foxglove Manor. Soon he's responsible for every menial task in the monstrous house. Terrified of Lord Foxglove, Rory works very hard, yet he awakens in the night to the sounds of weird chanting. After he and his best friend Izzy uncover disturbing clues to an ongoing mystery, they marshal their wits, their allies, and all the unexpected magic within them to set things right. Smith, who won the 2016 Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe Award for New Talent after writing Hoodoo (2015), spins a new, spine-tingling tale of good people facing down supernatural forces of evil. Once the well-drawn characters and distinctive setting are established, the story becomes increasingly involving, fast-paced, and imaginative. The final chapters will leave readers wondering what other riveting adventures await Rory and Izzy and hoping that sequels will follow.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)