This middle grade novel is darker and weirder than I expected, and the writing is much better than I anticipated. If you have a child in your life who is a strong reader and enjoys Stranger Things, give this to them and let them go wild. It’s the type of book my weird little 10-year old self would’ve devoured.

Another fun, nostalgic, kinda creepy middle grade horror. I liked the setting, which instantly gave this atmospheric novel a cinematic quality. I love paranoid horror and I found this right up my alley, especially with the creepy ending. Readers who want a fun and scary novel will like this one a lot.

Title: Unsettling Atmosphere and Suspenseful Twists in "The Stars Did Wander Darkling"

Colin Meloy's "The Stars Did Wander Darkling" plunges readers into a suspenseful and atmospheric horror set in 1980s Oregon, reminiscent of the eerie allure found in works by Neil Gaiman and Margaret Peterson Haddix. Meloy, known for his musical prowess as the lead singer/songwriter of the Decemberists, brings a lyrical touch to the written word, painting a vivid backdrop for the unfolding tale.

The story revolves around Archie Coomes, who finds himself in the midst of inexplicable and sinister occurrences in the seemingly placid Seaham. As ordinary objects and familiar faces take on an unsettling edge, the narrative quickly draws readers into a world tinged with an ever-growing sense of dread. Meloy masterfully builds tension, allowing the reader to experience the mounting unease alongside Archie and his friends.

Set against the backdrop of his father's construction project beneath the Langdon place, a site steeped in local legend, Archie becomes a reluctant protagonist in the face of an ancient, malevolent force. The evolution of the young characters' camaraderie and courage is portrayed with authenticity, adding depth to the narrative.

One of the book's strengths lies in Meloy's ability to capture the essence of small-town life, intertwining it seamlessly with supernatural elements. The juxtaposition of the mundane and the sinister creates a rich tapestry of suspense that keeps the reader engrossed from beginning to end.

While the plot offers a nod to classic horror tropes, Meloy infuses the narrative with his unique voice, offering unexpected twists and turns that keep the story fresh and engaging. The pacing is well-executed, allowing for moments of reflection amidst heart-pounding sequences.

"The Stars Did Wander Darkling" is a captivating read for fans of atmospheric horror, especially those who appreciate a blend of the nostalgic and the chilling. Meloy's prose, combined with the carefully crafted setting and characters, makes for an immersive experience that lingers long after the final page is turned. This book is a testament to Meloy's versatility as a storyteller, and a must-read for anyone seeking a dose of suspenseful escapism.

This was definitely on the scary side for middle grade, which is perfect for kids who are starting to outgrow children's horror stories. There were several parts in the story where I was genuinely scared. I loved the characters and their friendship group. The setting was very well described and atmospheric, and I loved that so much of the story took place outside in the forests and the seaside.

This creepy middle grade story blends the atmospheric sensations of Stranger Things with an nostalgic era. The plot will give al the chills and creepy sensations with an undercover vibe. Where this takes the wrong turn is the nostalgic era piece. I think many readers will not have a bond with the 90s era objects or need to ask what they are or ask for a visual representation. This book seemed to be written in part for middle grade but in reality for their parents.

A small coastal town of Seaham, Oregon is the 1980's setting of this atmospheric middle grade horror plot that has similarities to the hit program “Stranger Things”. Economically depressed, the community is hoping for revitalization via a multimillion dollar project to be built on the headlands. The local environmentalists are not in favor, and there is also a suspicious piece of history that suggests the headlands should not be disturbed due to evil connected to the town's founding. The plot unfolds around four friends, one of whom is psychic, and their slow realization that something very odd is happening. The night is filled with the sound of wood being chopped, random pennies appear on the ground, and the adults have either disappeared, or are acting like “robotons”. Three strangers who recite lines of poetry, have come out of nowhere and are taking notes as if they aren't familiar with the 20th century. There is an old mansion built by the founding family, and then abandoned...sort of. Best of all is the video store owner who is a wealth of knowledge on all things video and whose shop is the local hangout for the friends. With all these elements, this is the perfect book for those who need an eerie dose of mystery. Although I could keep going on about this book, I am stopping with a "highly recommend" and I seriously hope there will be a sequel. Thank you to Netgalley and Balzer+Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Children's Books, for the digital arc.

This book is being compared to "Stranger Things" and with good reason. Not only does it share a time period and a cast of middle school kids banding together, it shares the same sort of atmosphere. We have a deep, ancient evil, reminiscent of Lovecraft. The town is an increasingly unsettling place, the kids the only ones who seem to be aware that something is wrong. It's pretty standard middle grade horror stuff. There are a number of rather strange details and the characters are not as well developed as I might have preferred. But the set up is a decent one and makes for good reading, especially for a kid interested in details off the beaten path.

This was a spooky, atmospheric read perfect for fall and especially for those of us in the PNW. It is set in the 80s in Oregon, and definitely has the vibes of Stranger Things and The Goonies with a dash of Scooby Doo. It genuinely gave me the creeps. I don't know that it's super written for current middle graders, but it was a solid read and one I feel confident I can find readers to recommend it to.

For me personally, this was like a three star read, but as a middle-grade book it's a solid four star. It's a good time and reminiscent of the Goonies and Stranger Things. There's some really great conversations about environmentalism and colonialism that feel age appropriate. It's a little spooky, but not too creepy.

This was an excellent "spooky" read for October! Perfectly nostalgic for us Gen-X or older Millennials and as creepy as all those horror movies we grew up on. It reminded me a lot of IT: buried evil at the heart of a small town that's deep rooted in the town's history; adults who are clueless/helpless to the terror plaguing the town; smart kids who figure out what's going on. I was thoroughly engrossed the whole time and had no idea what was going to happen next. I wish the ending had provided a little more background for WHY the events happened and who the antagonists really were. But, it was conclusive enough not to feel anticlimactic.

I have to admit I was skeptical, the Decemberists vocalist has written a middle-grade novel I mean will it really be good? Well, the answer is a hard yes. This book definitely gives off Stranger Things and Goonie vibes. This is a must-read if that is a vibe you are searching for.

Just loved this book. Set in the early 90s, children had to use land lines to make phone calls. Extremely creepy, not sure if the villains were demons or from outer space.

This sounded like an interesting one and I liked that it was set in the 1980's but it just fell a bit flat for me.

It's about something strange and evil being unleashed after Archie's father and the construction company he works for starts digging in this one spot opening up something long burried.

Strange things begin to happen to those who live in the town of Seaham and Archie and his friends are the only ones who have noticed something wrong happening. This is mostly due to Archie's friend Oliver who seems to have some weird visions that nobody believes in till it gets to strange to deny.

So now these kids have to try and figure out what to do to save the town.

I loved the friend group in this book, they were all a bit different but still worked being friends. I just don't think I was a huge fan of the writing style and it felt a little bit more YA than MG to me especially with how things went down at the end.

Also it says in the blurb that Archie is a huge horror fan but I really didn't get that vibe from him, I know that he had seen a few movies and loved hanging out in the horror section at the video store but that doesn't really make you a huge fan. I don't know this book was just not what I thought it would be I guess.

I do think that that I would suggest this one be for older middle grade readers maybe or younger teens.

Who knew a young adult mystery would be this good?! I was thoroughly impressed with the writing style as well as the character development. 10/10 would recommend to a friend!

Scheduled to post 10/15/22.

What a great book. There's so much going for THE STARS DID WANDER DARKLING that I don't even know where to start.

This book is a mishmash of hat tips to a variety of different 80s things, like The Goonies, The Lost Boys, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (or a couple of different yet similar type stories), 'Salem's Lot (although that's technically 70s). I could see all these little pieces in this book and I practically squealed every time I saw them. Add in the gothic atmosphere and the gritty undercurrent of a story and it's a fantastic package.

It's pegged as middle grade, but it can easily transcend into YA, especially since we're dealing with characters in the summer between 8th and 9th grade. I've read a lot of middle grade in the last month and this book, by far, has the most depth to it. It's unapologetic in its writing, and even though I found myself thinking that the language may be too above middle grade, I kept reminding myself that I shouldn't care. It's a wonderful story, and I was reading waaaaaaaaaay up at that age, anyway. I'm sure many others are, and if they don't get what they're reading, they'll either stop or figure it out. It's not hard.

I loved the preface that Meloy wrote about writing the book his younger self wanted to find that was for him, not an adult book. And I think he nailed it. It's a mature story that isn't kiddie and doesn't play down to the younger readers of the category. It's dark, it puts the kids in dark places, and it drags them through some rough stuff. The ending had me a bit gutted and slightly terrified, yet it was a perfect ending. Things were all wrapped up. Mostly. And it's that mostly that's still sticking with me.

The only complaints I have are that I wanted a hint more 80s nostalgia in there. Not much. I appreciate that it didn't shove the 80s in my face and the story treated the time like it should: as if it were natural to the characters. It was seamless. A little too seamless, as I kept losing that the story was set in the 80s and not present day. I guess the reminder should have been the ever-present betamax store, but even that was really seamless. I like this way more than the 80s nostalgia stuffed down my throat, where the book is obviously for the parents reading the story, not the kids. This book is for the kids, and I love it.

Also, the title's a bit odd. I get it. It all comes full circle at the end, and I wouldn't want something more kiddie like "Invasion of the Adult Snatchers" or something kitschy like that. Even here, on the other side of the book, it's a bit odd. It could be that I don't have a full appreciation of poetry, which is where the title comes from. It's a minor thing, anyway.

So yeah. Two very minor complaints, but overall I thought this was a fantastic story. Great characters, a totally moody world that fit the narrative, and a simmering refrain of creepiness that bound the story together. I can't recommend this enough.

5

The Stars Did Wander Darkling by Colin Meloy is a fun racing adventure as a group of children fight to save their town from darkness. With some genuinely spooky moments, this book will delight readers of all ages.

Edge of the chair suspense! This is one of those read-all-night and keep the lights on books that will leave the reader deliciously scared for days. Some content and gore definitely make this a title for older tweens into teens.

Colin Meloy has long been one of my favorite musicians, and I have been delighted to discover over the years he is also one of my favorite children's writers. His books for children are smart, funny, and never condescending to its readers. Rich with atmosphere and populated with great characters, this book is a delight.

I adored the 80's setting for this. The spooky factor was effective while not being too scary, and I enjoyed the friendships. The video store warmed my heart. I also loved the town, and the way Meloy gave us a detailed history where appropriate. Very Goonies. I bought a copy for my young cousin, hoping they'll be intrigued.

When the seemingly mundane and normal existence of a teenager in coastal Oregon becomes so much more, it's hard to ignore. Set in Seeham, OR in the 1980s, "The Stars Did Wander Darkling" is a fun, spooky read for all middle-grade and middle-school readers - and with all of the nostalgia packed chapters, I'm sure more than a
few parents or teachers will enjoy the story just as much as their younger counterparts.

The story focuses on Archie Coomes, the youngest kid in his family who does not like being treated as such. He wants more responsibility and more respect. Strange things start to happen when his dad's company begins the process of excavating around the old Langdon place. Archie and his friends seem to be the only ones that notice and are burdened with the responsibility of setting things straight. It's only a matter of if they're going to be up to the task, or if things are a little too spooky.

The Stranger-Things-adjacent nature of the book is incredibly appealing right now and is a must read for fans of Mary Downing Hahn, India Hill Brown, and Neil Gaiman.