I enjoyed this book, and I definitely enjoyed the addition of magic and mythology thrown in. I love reading children's books because they're short, but they're packed full of all the aspects I want and need in a book.

This is a straight up, straight forward, fantastic adventure. The emphasis is on the friendship of the two main characters and the fun, danger and excitement of uncovering creepy goings on in a creepy mansion populated by creepy characters.

The writing is crisp and sharp. The pace is fast. There are some excellent twists, and great atmosphere throughout. This was ripping and satisfying, with a twisty an upbeat ending. Sort of "Oliver Twist" with a strong gal pal and demons. All nicely balanced.

(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

As a mother I was first drawn to this boo because it was an adventure of sorts for the whole family to embark upon. But after getting drawn to this book even as an adult I was in love with it. There is something about this story that I just fell in love with. I love that there is a picturesque seaside town and a spooky haunted mansion. Every member of our family just loved the story and I recommend it for all ages.

Rory is a 12-year-old who is struggling to help his single mother provide for their humble living in a very Dickensian-style town where nobody is cheerful and the weather is always glum. His mom works two jobs, and Rory feels that he is old enough to work himself, so he gets a job at a local mansion called Foxglove Manor which turns out to be more than he bargained for. His new boss is acting quite suspicious. Why are the guests to the house so mysterious and secretive? Why is Rory having weird dreams? Why is he the only dark-skinned person in Gloom Town? And what in Europica is going on with everyone's shadows???

This review will be a bit different from others. Since the things I liked and didn't like about the book are so closely related, I'm not going to split them up into positive-negative. I'm just going to mention each aspect and what I did and didn't like.

I felt like the book was paced very quickly, and at some points I found myself wishing that parts that had been glossed over had more meat to them or had been arranged in a different order. For example, the fact that Rory is mixed race is an integral part of his character and development, and while the story mentions he has darker skin, I would have liked to see more of his diversity included in the story. The representation is very important and one of my favorite parts about this book, and I appreciate that the author didn't overdo the diversity, which made it feel more authentic and genuine and is crucial for young children of color reading books that portray characters that look like them, but because the book doesn't have pictures, I think sprinkling in more details and events where he illustrates how his darker skin impacts him and his mother would have made it even better. The tie-in between the stories about him and Goldenrod, his favorite seafarer, would have been far more interesting if we'd gotten stories peppered in throughout the book. I felt like the fight against the "Big Bad" was very fast and would have liked more of a build-up and resolution.

Things like reveals about certain characters' strengths and backgrounds, including that of Rory, Izzie, and Gloom Town's, felt like they came out of nowhere while others took a very long time to get to. There was a twist about the city's history that felt a little bit like an off-hand comment when it should have been a giant revelation that changed the course of the story. There was a twist at the very end that I, being an older reader, had picked up on, but that younger readers probably would never see coming, because the clues to it were so vague. I also felt like after what was supposed to be this big explosive reveal, things kind of fizzled out and resolved themselves too quickly and the end came very abruptly. I think a lot of this comes from the telling and not showing of certain important parts. Instead of telling us that Rory has asked about his dad in the past, showing him asking his mom and having that conversation would give it more depth. Instead of telling us Goldenrod is a popular myth/legend people love to tell stories about, have Rory carry around a notebook that he fills every time he hears a new story about Goldenrod. For example, one of the best scenes was the seance scene with Izzie, and that worked so well because it was shown and not simply told - the atmosphere of that scene was so well-done and spooky. I also think this is a story that would be served well by occasional full-page illustrations, given the age of the target audience.

This was a short, easy read. I am sure there is a sequel coming with the big twist at the end. I enjoyed Gloom Town's atmosphere and intriguing characters and would definitely give the sequel a try, in hopes for more details like I mentioned above.

Thank you NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group for this digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Description
A delightfully creepy novel from a Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award winner imbued with magic and seafaring mythology. Lemony Snicket and Jessica Townsend meet Greenglass House, with a hint of Edward Gorey thrown in.

When twelve-year-old Rory applies for a job at a spooky old mansion in his gloomy seaside town, he finds the owner, Lord Foxglove, odd and unpleasant. But he and his mom need the money, so he takes the job anyway. Rory soon finds out that his new boss is not just strange, he’s not even human—and he’s trying to steal the townspeople’s shadows. Together, Rory and his friend Isabella set out to uncover exactly what Foxglove and his otherworldly accomplices are planning and devise a strategy to defeat them. But can two kids defeat a group of ancient evil beings who are determined to take over the world?

Another delightfully creepy tale from Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award–winning author Ronald L. Smith.

Is there a sequel? That's what I wondered while reading the book. Great character development - loved Rory and Isabella(Izzy). There's unanswered threads that are left hanging, as if they'll be answered in another book. The backstory in this book seemed to be the tip of an iceberg, making me feel that there was more to come. I hope so! This is a must read!

A fun, fast-paced story with interesting characters. Lagged at times. This book will appeal to young readers who like spooky stories and solving a puzzle!

Things are not too pleasant in the town of Gloom. Rory and his mom are having trouble paying the rent to their mean and greedy landlord. So, Rory decides to get a job in order to help. But Rory is only twelve, and, due to his age, does not qualify for any job. Then, he sees a notice for a job as a gentleman’s valet for Lord Foxglove. He knew that it wouldn’t be easy, but, in addition to the hard and ceaseless work, he discovers some very unusual, suspicious, and dangerous happenings at the Manor. This is a story of fantasy, magic, and amazing sea voyages.

I wasn't especially fond of this book. I thought it might be the setting that was giving me pause but I think its the actual writing. The plot is okay, follows a sensible logic. His new job allows a boy to discover that something nefarious is going on, leading him to foil a dark magic plot. The problem is its a very surface exploration. There were many places Smith could have gone deeper, plumbed depth of character and motivation.

Gloom Town was a spooky, suspenseful read that combines magic, mystery, and adventure. The setting was atmospheric and the characters a colorful crowd. Rory's curiosity and bravery in the face of horrifying circumstances were admirable, and Izzy was the perfect spunky sidekick with several tricks up her sleeve. I enjoyed Rory and Izzy's friendship and Rory's loving bond with his mother. The ending seemed to expand the story rather than wrap everything up, so I'm wondering if there is more to come about Rory. If so, I look forward to reading it.

I received this arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very fast read that I think I would have enjoyed a lot when I was younger. It's got an interesting magical mystery, two strong characters, and some fun plot points. The writing and plot were pretty simplistic but still conveyed a good story. This isn't among my favorites of the "children's books I read as an adult" category but I did enjoy the book.

My students love spooky-ish books, fantastical situations and are always looking for more and more of these. Gloom Town fills this desire perfectly for them! Just enough creepiness, just enough darkness. I know exactly which group of students to hand this title to and I know it will fly around amongst them all rarely landing on the shelf for more than a few hours.

Gloom Town is the story of Rory who gets hired at a estate surrounded in mystery and maybe even a little evil. While his best friend Izzy helps him figure out what is really going on behind the red door they don't realize there are bigger issues at hand. This story reminded me of The Night Gardener. One of the things I enjoyed most is that after the mystery is solved the story doesn't end. Without looking at the cover I wouldn't have known Rory was African American. The story mentions his skin being dark but for some reason it still didn't click. If I could change anything it would be the discussion of his race and make it more up front. Children ages 10 and up will enjoy this book.

I expected a bit more from this title based on early reviews. I'm usually a fan of Smith's, but this time the world building was lacking in my opinion and the pacing was really off. The story moved ooh so slowly and then the last quarter of the book was rapid fire resolution and exposition. That being said, the idea of stolen shadows and future seafaring adventures will make this a worthwhile addition to our library.

Magical, slightly dark and mysterious but a very suspenseful and intriguing read that keeps you turning the pages.

Gloom Town is exactly the kind of book I would have loved as a child. Dark, magical, engaging and spooky! A great little suspenseful tale that includes a fantastic little friendship group that, as a kid, I would have yearned to be a part of!

I am a huge fan of Smith's and this book is no exception. It knows how to paint a scene really well, where you feel like you are right there. There was drama and humor and friendship. It didn't scare me as much of some of his other books , especially Hoodoo, but it was creepy and fun!

There are many things which I enjoyed about Gloom Town. The main characters are well fleshed out, and the secondary characters (like Rory’s mom’s friends) are a colorful lot. I like it when secondary characters are quirky and not just in a book for “fillers.”

Rory’s strength of character makes him one which I hope the children who read this book will want to emulate. He knows he and his mom are in trouble financially. His mother works two jobs, so Rory takes the initiative to find a job to help out. However, his job is less than desirable, and if he’d read the contract carefully, he may have saved himself a lot of grief. But then we wouldn’t have this story either!

Though I enjoyed the story as a whole, it took me a while to get through the first third of the book. Yes, important events occur within that section of the story, but I just felt like it dragged a bit. The rest of the book moved much faster and was more exciting. Several elements in Gloom Town are very dark. Rory’s friend Izzy is a witch as is her mother, and I have no problem with that. What I did find a bit disturbing happen during the last “action sequence” (for lack of a better term and without giving spoilers). If you have a sensitive middle grade student, you might want to read this first. You can decide if you think they can handle it.

I give the book a little over 3 stars. I’d give it 4 had I not (as an adult) been disturbed by the dark elements in the story.

This was a gloomy, dark, magical middle grade novel that I would have loved to read as a kid! Rory is such a great protagonist and I love how he wanted to get a job and help his mother pay their rent. Izzy was grand and I loved her witchy powers and what great friends they were.

I felt like some things were a little too rushed (like that whole ending—defeating Mara and the others was wayyyy too easy), but overall it was a cute MG story and Rory’s dad showing up at the end was pretty grand (though also, way too convenient and rushed)

Readers can always rely on Ronald L. Smith to tell spooky tales with engaging characters and tons of heart. Gloom Town is no different. Perfect for readers who loved Greenhouse Glass and Lemony Snicket, Gloom Town keeps the reader guessing, in true Smith form. The ending is satisfying while also making the reader wish Smith would continue the tale. Highly recommended.

Preordered. Great blend of fantasy, mystery, horror and adventure with an MC who has some hidden talents that are surprising and oh so very exciting! I have visions of this becoming a student favourite.