- Chapter Books
- Ages 9–12
- Horror
Gloam
A spine-chilling middle-grade horror in which a grieving girl, newly moved to a fog-shrouded island, is the only one who can see the monster hiding behind her too-perfect babysitter's smile.
- Best for9–12
- FormatChapter
- Length256 pp
- Read aloud~3 hr40 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Literary
- Conversational
Tone
- Dark
- Scary
- Suspenseful
- Bittersweet
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Since her mum died, Gwen doesn't have time for feelings, not with two younger siblings to look after. When the family moves to their late grandmother's crumbling house on Gloam Island, everything feels wrong from the moment they arrive. Their new babysitter, Esme Laverne, seems sweet and kind, adored by everyone, but Gwen isn't fooled. She can see the monster behind the smile, even if no one else can. To protect her family, Gwen will have to face terrifying creatures and nightmares made real, and confront the grief she's been trying so hard to outrun. Jack Mackay's accomplished debut, with eerie chapter-head illustrations by Ben Joel Price, is a genuinely frightening but deeply felt horror story, praised by Lemony Snicket and Jonathan Stroud alike. Beneath the scares runs a tender, resonant story about loss, sibling love and the courage it takes to keep going.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
For 9-12s reading independently who enjoy a genuine scare. The horror and a mother's death make it unsuitable for sensitive or younger readers or for bedtime, but its emotional depth rewards older middle-graders.
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- Best fit · 9–12
- Read aloud · 9–12
- Independent · 9–12
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
Low
Reluctant-reader friendly
Workable
Read-aloud quality
Workable
Preview before sharing if a child is sensitive to: death of parent, grief, scary imagery.
Bedtime suitability
1 / 5 · Wide awake
Sensitive-child
2 / 5 · Use judgement
Graphic intensity
3 / 5 · Some
Best for
- Middle grade horror
- Atmospheric
- Scary reads
Avoid if
- Wants gentle bedtime
- Sensitive to parental death
- Scares easily
Particularly good for children who are…
- Bereavement
- Nightmares or fears
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
Gwen knows the sweet new babysitter is really a monster, and no one believes her. Kids love the creeping dread of Gloam Island, the nightmares that come to life, and rooting for a heroine who has to be brave enough to fight back alone.
- Surviving danger
- The underdog winning
- Breaking the rules safely
Why parents love it
A confident debut that earns its Lemony Snicket and Jonathan Stroud praise: properly frightening, but underpinned by a tender story of grief and sibling love. It handles a mother's death with care while giving thrill-seeking readers genuine chills.
- Conversation starter
- Great writing
About the creators
About the creators.
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