This is one of the books that has made me dive further into middle grade horror. I love the character of Evie—her steadfast determination, compassion, and courage even while she fights panic attacks and a terrifying circumstance is great. The setting of the slaughterhouse and the “upside down” world Evie finds herself in, the character of the Clackity, the increasing intensity as Pope draws near— it’s all deliciously creepy. Future installments are high on my TBR pile.

"Evie Von Rathe lives in Blight Harbor—the seventh-most haunted town in America—with her Aunt Desdemona, the local paranormal expert. Des doesn’t have many rules except one: Stay out of the abandoned slaughterhouse at the edge of town. But when her aunt disappears into the building, Evie goes searching for her."

I wish that as a child there had been a book like this. This book was definitely up my loving the supernatural type of stories. Lora Senf can write like the best of them! I felt as if I was reading the quality of a book like The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. I recommend reading this with your child or recommending it to the purchasing librarian at your local Library, I know I will! I've got a few kids who wander the stacks looking for books like The Clackity! Read it you must!

I am so glad I was able to read and review this book! Thanks, Netgalley!

A wonderfully imaginative horror novel for middle-grade readers with a fresh take on a haunted (slaughter)house story.

The writing is engaging and, at times, lyrical which injects an earnestness into this story and treats young readers to an approachable story.

There were fresh elements in this ghost story that make it a unique addition to an avid young horror fans bookshelf: the dual antagonists, the haunted house quest, the haunted slaughterhouse.

In this tale reminiscent of Coraline and Monster House, a courageous young girl is determined to safeguard her beloved family at any cost.

This book immediately captured my attention with its striking cover. Despite its dark tone, it stands out and demands attention.

Upon reading the synopsis, I became engrossed, particularly with the mention of a haunted slaughterhouse. My fascination with haunted settings drew me in, and the unique twist on the familiar concept was instantly captivating.

The Clackity proved to be a satisfying middle-grade read.

The narrative and characters were compelling, and I appreciated the incorporation of an entire town haunted by ghosts, with its residents seemingly unfazed by their presence.

The use of the slaughterhouse as the dwelling of something sinister and ominous was a stroke of brilliance, offering a fresh take on haunted locations. Lora's innovative approach was truly commendable.

This is a must-read for middle-graders with a penchant for spine-chilling tales.

This was such a fun Coraline-like read. The spooky vibes in this one were perfect for spooky season. 😊

Not going to lie, the cover is what really grabbed me to this book... and the content is what made me stay and really enjoy the ride. This book really came alive while reading in the same way monster house and Coraline come to life. I really liked this authors style, I found the writing to be easy to understand but also stylistically really beautiful which I think is an important balance especially for a middle grade book as a way to ensure the kids stay hooked. I really liked Evie as a protagonist and feel as though her journey shared an important message on the importance of facing your fears which I really loved. Overall I think this story felt familiar but fresh, imaginative, spooky and just worked for me.

Mysteriously orphaned girl takes on the Clackity’s challenge in order to rescue her beloved aunt in a creepy original world. Excellent horror for middle grades.

The Clackity is a fast-paced, atmospheric and eerie adventure story featuring missing grownups, a spooky abandoned slaughterhouse, a shadow creature, and lots of ghosts. The comparisons to Coraline are fair but it is unique and engaging in it's own right as well.

This is an incredibly creepy and fun middle grade horror. If you are someone who has watched the show Channel Zero you will appreciate the similar vibes. This book is full of dynamic and eclectic characters, creepy and intriguing settings, and family, friends, and lots of love. If you are looking for a good introductory horror book for your child, this is the one!

Early marketing and reviews for this book paint it akin to Doll Bones by Holly Black, and I have to say that's a pretty great comparison! The voice in The Clackity is very reminiscent of that story, so it's easy and engaging to read. It's a delightfully spooky tale with a lot of heart and emotion behind it, and is sure to give young readers a delight in its sinister and often very spooky and surreal feel. The characters were strong and whimsical in a dark way, and the stakes were well pointed through to the end. Overall, this is a great read.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Simon & Schuster for the eGalley, offered in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Evie was a wonderful main character. The love she has for her aunt is amazing and was able to guide her through a terrifying experience. I think the thing I loved most about her was her development throughout the book and her internal monologue. I really admired her strength and courage- I can’t say that I would have handled these houses nearly as well as she did. A very close second favorite character was, of course, Bird. Evie’s companion had so much character and spunk, despite never saying a word. I loved their dynamic and trust in one another.

Another amazing character in this book was the setting of Blight Harbor (the seventh most haunted town in America per capita). Though the bulk of this story takes place in another world, full of dark, triscksy magic, Blight Harbor was the anchor setting. It allowed the reader to immediately be pulled into a world of what-ifs and paranormal occurrences before even entering the Clackity’s realm. It set the baseline feeling of something being right around the corner while also being like a warm blanket to curl up with. It contrasted nicely with the darker realm, even while sharing characteristics and characters.

There are two big antagonists in this book and both are terrifying in their own ways. The grotesque description of the Clackity, its mannerisms, and its intentions are all unsettling. The unknown aspects regarding the Clackity are what make it so scary, but the opposite is true of the ghost hunting Evie in the otherworld. The ghost is that of the town’s most notorious criminal. He was a serial killer who was said to get rid of his victims’ bodies at his workplace: the now-haunted slaughterhouse in which Aunt Des disappears. His horrendous crimes are known to Evie, and those known facts are what make him so scary. Together, the ghost and the Clackity make for a terrifying duo and they create such awful and intense obstacles for Evie to get around in her quest to save Aunt Des.

There’s so much imagination in this book! The quest itself is such a cool concept: having to navigate through different houses to get to her aunt. But each house presents such unique challenges, varying from witches, a memory-thief, ghosts, and never-ending dark falls. The otherworld has its own rules and it proved to be quite the ride for Evie.

This book really did sweep me away with the urgency. Evie was a great companion through the topsy turvy otherworld, and I loved the excitement and unknowing that came with each turn of the page. I would definitely recommend this book to middle grade and adult readers alike, and I can’t wait to read more from this author!

4.0 Stars - This was a lot of fun. I originally picked this out to read to my oldest (she's 9) and ended up reading through it myself to be sure it was age appropriate but also because I was just enjoying the story myself too! I did find the themes and content to be more for a YA audience so she will have to wait a little longer to read it. It reminded me a lot of Coraline, which I love, by Neil Gaiman. I will definitely be reading whatever Senf puts out next and recommending this accordingly.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book is FANTASTIC.

Twelve year old Evie lives in Blight Harbor, a notoriously haunted small town with so many ghouls and ghosts that her aunt and guardian, Desdemona (Des) making her living writing a witchy advice column for the local paper is in no way weird. Aunt Des has been Evie's guardian since her house burned down four years earlier, and her parents disappeared. It's the beginning of summer and Evie has big plans to volunteer in the town library under the supervision of Lily, head librarian and Aunt Des's best friend. But when Evie follows Desdemona to the (understandably) haunted, abandoned abattoir (slaughterhouse), she's drawn into a deal with The Clackity, a terrifying entity who promises she can rescue her aunt if she visits seven houses and brings back a terrible ghoul, the ghost of a local serial killer, before sunset. If she fails Aunt Des is lost forever, and The Clackity will eat Evie. The rescue mission will test her wits, resolve, and PTSD induced panic attacks.

Lora Senf wrote a terrifying middle-grade adventure quest novel, and I loved every moment of it. The Clackity has plenty of evil monsters, but also scary creatures that become opportunities for Evie to gain help and friendships on her journey by applying a bit of empathy and reason instead of just reacting. A delightful mix of traditional hero journey full of trials and tests, fairy tale with all requisite dangers and tricks, and a dash of Stephen King-esque horror, Evie's story creeped me out and kept me guessing through all seven houses.

Senf does a great job skirting that line for a middle grade reader: plenty of monsters and creepy situations and shivery scares, but nothing too gory or too adult. Her writing style is fast paced and engaging: I read this in a day and wished for more. Any kid (or adult) who likes spooky stories would love The Clackity. Stories like The Clackity are why I'm a reader.

Evie, who denies her parents are dead, since there isn't any evidence, now lives with Aunt Des in Blight Harbor, the 7th most haunted town in America. Aunt Des is a loving guardian but her work takes her away from home, which makes Evie fearful that she will disappear like her parents. And disappear she does ----into the shadows of a abandoned abattoir, or slaughterhouse, which she has been investigating. The abattoir/slaughterhouse, which acts as a portal to another dimension, is haunted by the Clackity. With his too wide smile, broken teeth, and one eye stitched shut, the Clackity talks in riddles. He tells Evie that if she goes through the gate, visits seven very different houses, and collects a key from each, she will find her aunt in the seventh house. However she must return the “Cow and Piggy Man”, who is none other than Blight Harbor's most feared ghost, John Jeffrey Pope, to the Clackity. This is definitely not going to be a romp in through a neighborhood, but the three monochromatic ghosts, Gold, Pink, and Grey, and the sparrow tattooed on her shoulder, offer help and advice, as well as Blight Harbor's head librarian Lily Littleknit, Aunt Des's best Friend. Scary events, impossible challenges, penny-eyed ghosts, some that are now dolls, make this an excellent piece of horror for ages 10+. I look forward to the next installment of the "Blight Harbor" series. Thank you to Netgalley and Atheneum Books for Young Reads for the digital arc.

Oooooh this book was soooo spooky! I'm a big fan of middle grade horror, and I especially like middle grade horror with emotionally deep protagonists. Evie was a great character and I really found myself rooting for her to succeed. I was immersed in the clackity's world, and in Evie's regular life filled with ghosts and witches.

Though I would give this books to fans of Small Spaces or Doll Bones, I found it a wholly unique and atmospheric horror novel.

This book was QUITE the adventure! You don’t really see in middle grade books brave enough to touch on loss and death as much as I’ve read in this book. Albeit the book was longer than I would have liked especially for a middle grade book, it took me longer than a YA or Adult novel to read but it made up for it with having SO MUCH adventure and so many different characters! I always love when there is one character that was designed by the antagonist and then they realize what they’re doing is wrong so they try to help the MC, it fills something in that even things meant to be bad can be changed for good! I also loved how we got to see how independent our MC started becoming and it started with her transition with makeup and it making her feel fierce which I LOVE because makeup has been put down a lot in the industry and seeing somebody young recognize that it makes them feel good is a great way to show the younger generation it’s okay to do things (safe) that make you feel good! Even with just her haircut you could see her grow braver I loved it! I am extremely impressed with this novelist!

An eerie middle grade that might give you a chill to cool you off this summer. Set in the seventh most haunted town in America, Evie makes a deal with a creature to save her missing aunt in exchange for the ghost of a serial killer. She must embark on a journey into the otherworld to collect the ghost before he collects her.

A quest for a missing aunt leads girl into a spooky adventure with a shadowy creature. Lora Senf hits the right tone and the right amount of creep with The Clackity. The setting and atmosphere pull the reader in immediately and Evie is a loveable heroine to root for. The illustrations are an excellent addition that may give readers the shivers. Definitely a new favorite for children's horror.

I'd describe this one as more horror-adjacent. It's creepy. There are ghosts. BUt it's very much not in the real world. We're in another realm, making it more dark fantasy. And there is a strong sense of unreality that removes any sense of urgency.

This is exactly what I needed. I haven't been feeling some of my books lately so a friend and I decided it was time for some spooky middle grade fun. I LOVE some spooky MG reads when I'm feeling blah. They are like the cozy mysteries of the horror genre.

The Clackity is a FUN read too. I absolutely adore Evie. The journey she takes to save her aunt is spooky too! A few times I was loke...ummm are we sure this is for MG?😂

Perfect read for those who love this type of book during Spooktober but don't like gore and blood. This gave me gothic horror vibes and had feels of books like Coraline. Definitely recommend this one.

I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. While a review wasn't expected, I have offered my opinion and these are my own thoughts.