Gloam

Gr 3-7–A chilling tale where monsters and nightmares are no match for bravery and family connection. After the death of her mother, 13-year-old Gwen moves to quiet Gloam Island with her well-meaning yet bumbling stepfather and three younger siblings. There they settle into “the House,” the eccentrically decorated residence they inherited from Gwen’s late grandmother. When Gwen’s stepfather takes a job on the mainland, he insists that Gwen and her siblings need a babysitter while he’s away and hires Esme, whose sweet looks and saccharine smiles might fool everyone else but give Gwen a sense of foreboding. When Gwen receives a message portending that danger has come for her, she must find a way to stop Esme and fight her nightmares. Thanks to the House, with its rotting walls, strange decor, and dark corridors, the book has a strong sense of place. Spooky imagery and gruesome monsters make this a genuinely frightening story, yet the bravery and loving connections of Gwen’s family bring a lot of heart. The scares are delightful and age appropriate, perfect for fans of Coraline.