13 year old Teddy joins his uncle's paranormal TV show as they go to do a special shoot at Dreamer Mountain amusement park. Upon entering the park, Teddy encounters a force that seems to know his fears and can warp time and space.

I have to say I was not expecting this to be such a fun read. It brought to mind Goosebumps and Are you Afraid of the Dark. It is nostalgic for older readers and something intriguing for young readers.

The illustrations are a fun addition to the story. They brought the story more life. I also really like how the story is constructed. Novel in verse makes the fear more present makes it move along quicker.

This is a nice creepy middle grade horror. I like that this took place at an amusement park. I need more horror that takes place at theme parks. This filled a much needed gap for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Rosen Publishing/West 44 Books for an ARC of Dreamer Mountain to review.

One reason I read graphic novels is that the best make you feel you've read the novel side of things, while looking at the graphics that enhance the low word count. One reason I read novels-in-verse is that I get the novel side of things there too, even if by the word count it once again is just a short story. But that only happens at the best of times. Unfortunately, this is not the best of times. This is a short story wanting to feel in the hand like a novel, and failing.

It concerns a teenaged lad, tagging along with his uncle who runs a ghost-hunting vlog or something, breaking into a snowy, ice-bedecked and abandoned fairground. Well, they would be breaking in, but Uncle is asking each and every one what their worst fears are, and it's taking too many pages, so we forget about the ethereal hum from the empty place, and lose sight of just how creepy things could be. Creepy things are attempted, before a rushed ending. Not once did it feel like it had to be in verse, except for extending the page count, never did it really get the dread of the place into words, and it all felt stilted, formulaic and basically just too limp. It's not weak on the mental image it gives of things when they actually happen, but it is a short story, make no mistake.

Oh, and the illustrator gives a spider six legs, not eight. Just one of the many shortcomings.

I'm always searching for scary stories for my younger readers, and Darkness at Dreamer Mountain might fit the bill. The story as well as the writing in fairly simple, it reads very quickly, and is appropriately creepy. However, even for young readers, I think a bit more backstory or explanation might be worthwhile. Everything in the story, from set up to conclusion felt a bit too abrupt. Teddy's fears seem valid and relevant to his age and situation, but his understanding of them throughout the story feels a little too sophisticated to me. It would be fine for the narrator to explain his fears in this way, but I doubt a kid would have that level of understanding. But the creepy amusement park will easily draw readers, and the scares are just about right.

Dreamer Mountain is a haunted theme park. Teddy accompanies his uncle and crew to it, where they are to film the next episode of his uncle’s paranormal TV show., Shiver Search. While supposedly abandoned, rumor has it sounds can be heard at the park. After entering, Teddy, his uncle, and the crew are faced with haunts they never would have expected. They end up exploring aspects of the self regarding both hopes and fears,. Teddy’s uncle tries to touch the ghost but his hand just goes through the ghosts. Teddy and his uncle go on a roller coaster that they won’t forget.

The author has written this scary story in verse. It’s pulse-pounding. The vivid descriptions made me feel like I was there in the park with them. I must admit that I don’t really like a story in verse but this the exception for me.

"People say strange sounds come from Dreamer Mountain. Especially at night. Looks like the show is starting a little early. Just for us."

Thank you Netgalley & West 44 Books for this ARC! I haven't read a story in the form of verse since high school, but let me tell you, I forgot how easy and accessible it makes the story.

"They say this place echoes every fear you have... But who knows what's real?"

Darkness at Dreamer Mountain takes us on a journey through its namesake theme park, which just so happens to be (maybe...) haunted. When our rag tag team of ghosthunters enter the park, they are put against the elements of whomever and whatever is haunting the grounds. It is a very good story that touches on each character briefly enough to understand what is happening, why they're there and is done in a way that will not overwhelm the reader (bear in mind this is meant for middle grade readers) It is all very well done! The plot moves quickly, there are enough paranormal elements and the action keeps going from start to finish. I'd read more in this format anytime.

"You should never have brought us here."

I think this is perfect for the kids who can’t handle anything spooky/scary such as scary stories we tell in the dark. Only gripe I have with it is the layout of the pages, it couldn’t keep my attention without my eyes wandering sometimes (though very quick and easy read for an adult audience so that’s not the issue) so it does make me worried for the kids that get just as easily distracted when there’s not more on a page. The story was fast paced but not too fast to the point it lost itself.

Thirteen-year-old Teddy joins his Uncle to film an abandoned and haunted Theme-park for his paranormal show. Alongside the crew, Teddy soon finds himself trapped inside Dreamer Mountain, and it will not let them go until fears are faced, and nightmares are confronted.

Review:
What a unique middle-grade book! For those searching for something a little different, this was a breath of fresh air. The entire book is written in verse, with each page having only 60(ish) words, accompanied by illustrations that add to the spooky atmosphere.

I enjoyed the topics covered in this story, such as Teddy’s baby sister who has yet to be born, his concerns of being an older bother, and his worries of being pushed aside as he’s no longer small and cute in his parents eyes, with his mother’s attention now focussed on the new baby.

Other characters also had their horrors faced, a particular highlight being the scary Mr Pangolin who was terrifying!
I’ve yet to come across many middle grade reads that are like this one, it’s perfect for older kids who want a fun story that can be enjoyed in one sitting.

Thank you so much to Rosen Publishing / West 44 Books and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Teddy is helping his Uncle Kyle and his film crew to find spirits in a haunted theme park, together they all share their biggest fears and soon they come to fruition. The park chases them, attacks them and tests them. But was any of it real or was it all just a dream?

Creepy and eerie, a really well crafted middle grade horror. I really enjoyed the topic in this one, abandoned theme parks always have the most utterly creepy vibe to them and this book really grasps at that and draws you into its evil. I very much loved the hauntedness of the theme park, the fears and trickery at every turn.

It was such a roller coaster of events that unfurled through the story and as each fear became a glimpse at reality it was really intriguing at exactly what they would do about it, how they would over come it all. I really liked seeing each ones different reaction as things just kept happening and how the park didn’t stop until it was ready to be done.

This is such a great middle grade horror it’s just got the right scare to it for younger horror fans, but isn’t scary enough to provide major nightmare to those a little more susceptible to scary things. It’s a fun ride reading this story and the setting is what really make it for me.

A fun, fast-paced read filled with twists and turns. It reminded me of an episode of The Twilight Zone. A book that middle graders will enjoy year-round. Lots of emotions and contemplation in such few words.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rosen Publishing Group, West 44 Books, and Ryan Wolf for the opportunity to read Darkness at Dreamer Mountain in exchange for an honest review.

Ryan Wolf does it again! Darkness at Dreamer Mountain is another fun-filled middle grade HiLo adventure in verse! This one was exceptionally fun because it triggered my nostalgia in ways. It reminded me of the TV show Are You Afraid of the Dark, the young adult novel Full Tilt by Neal Shusterman, the video game Alan Wake II, and Hide by Kiersten White (though for a younger audience). It's a nice blend of what is already out there while also maintaining its own uniqueness.

The story follows Teddy as he accompanies his uncle and crew to a haunted theme park, where they are to film the next episode of his uncle's paranormal TV show. While supposedly abandoned, rumor has it sounds can be heard of the park, and it's not just the wind.

After entering, Teddy, his uncle, and the crew are faced with haunts they never would have expected, exploring aspects of the self regarding both hopes and fears, a trial they never expected to face. Hopefully they can have some fun on rides in the process, as well as maybe get the best episode footage ever!

One aspect about this novel I appreciate is the images. I am a firm believer that all books should have illustrations sprinkled throughout. It add more flare to the fun. The images were a nice touch to the haunting allure of the theme park, as well as some of the more obscure things Teddy witnessed or thought about. The covers of these books (West 44 Books in general) really just keep getting better and better too! This cover is so perfect! You have thirteen-year-old Teddy with a nice expression of fear, with some anxiety, and the haunting, snow-covered theme park in the background. Love it!

This is such a fun novel. More than Middle Grade readers are sure to enjoy this wild ride!

I think this is a perfect middle grade book for your kiddos that love a little spooky story. This story was told in poetic form as well. The pages flew by because the content was interesting and the words per page small.

Ryan Wolf's "Darkness at Dreamer Mountain" is a surprising little read. Told in verse, I wasn't expecting the story to be terribly vivid, but Wolf managed to conjure up plenty of vivid descriptions to make younger audiences truly feel like they're in this spooky park. It's a fast-paced read, which I know will make younger readers want to continue chapter after chapter. A quick, yet highly effective, middle grade supernatural novel that I thought was well worth the read.

A great starting foray for young readers wanting to begin their novels-in-verse journey.

Darkness at Dreamer Mountain follows the Shiver Searchers, a paranormal hunting group, as they head into the abandoned amusement park, Dreamer Mountain. The characters find themselves confronting by their deepest fears in Dreamer Mountain and can’t get back out again until they face them.

A junior fiction novel, written in verse, Darkness at Dreamer Mountain gives young readers a taste of a more enjoyable side of poetry. In my experience, poetry taught in schools focuses so much on parsing through to find meaning, dissecting poems for meter or rhyme schemes, that the enjoyability of them often gets lost. This novel can be a great way to re-engage with younger readers with just enough spooks to really get them immersed.

Each poem moves smoothly from one to the next, the ending lines pulling a lot of weight in keeping the interest there for the next one. There’s a couple of complimentary pictures scattered throughout, and while the poems themselves are long, the lines are short and engaging.
I would have like to see a bit more variety in the poems’ structures, but as I’ve said, this is a nice introductory piece before students move up to more challenging reads. The poems are easy to digest and focus a lot on imagery.

I look forward to adding this to our library’s collection to give our young readers more variety in their poetry options.

A young boy named Teddy goes with his uncle to a haunted amusement park.
His uncle is a paranormal investigator.
Teddy has always wanted to help with the show, and ends up being part of the team.
Mysterious noises are heard, so begins the search.
In reality they have all entered the park but the twist is a clever one.
It's written in poetry style. So the pages aren't very long.
I read it in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it.