For a children's book, this was extremely creepy, and unsettling. It's exactly what I wanted out of a book when I was in elementary school.

Siblings who have experienced trauma together ✅
A dark and mysterious house that is also most definitely haunted ✅
A very sinister babysitter that is disguised as good ✅
A deep, dark well ✅

Gloam had major Coraline x Series of Unfortunate Events vibes, however, I appreciate that the guardian eventually admits their mistakes.

This is going on my library order list ASAP.

Thank you, #NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Publication Group, for allowing me to read Gloam by Jack Mackay in exchange for my honest review.

Gloam is a scary, mysterious novel that middle school students would enjoy reading. Gwen reads like a middle school student, well, and her actions match a stubborn tween. The concept of this book has been done before; most middle school books deal with characters moving to a new town and something is strange with the house. This time its not the house that is particullarly strange it is also their babysitter. I enjoyed this novel, and I hope my students will as well. #Gloam #NetGalley.

Since her mother’s death, 13-year-old Gwen’s world has been turned upside down. Now her stepfather, Henry, is moving her, her brother, and her twin sisters into their grandmother’s eerie old house on a remote island. To help, Henry hires babysitter Esme Laverne. At first glance, Esme is beautiful and charming, but Gwen senses something sinister beneath the surface. No one believes her, until the house itself begins to rot and long-buried nightmares crawl back to life. Gwen must summon every ounce of courage to face the monsters and protect the people she loves.

This middle grade horror novel blends pure terror with emotional depth. The creeping atmosphere delivers shivers and dread, while Esme preys on classic childhood fears: dark closets, damp basements, claustrophobic spaces. The balance of slow-build suspense and sudden scares is genuinely unsettling, reminiscent of Coraline and its unforgettable Other Mother.

But, as with all great horror, the heart of the story lies in the family at its center. The sibling dynamics are tender and true, full of love, loyalty, and the occasional squabble. Gwen’s fierce protectiveness shines, and Henry’s quiet determination to do his best in an impossible situation is deeply moving. The bonds of this patchwork family are tested to their breaking point, and watching them endure together is both harrowing and beautiful.

A note for sensitive readers: every book deserves the “does the dog die?” check—even middle grade. Sadly, in this one, the cat does not survive, which may be upsetting.

Both chilling and heartfelt, Gloam is perfect for fans of Coraline and A Series of Unfortunate Events. Recommended for grades 5 and up.

Thank you to Viking Books for Young Readers for the ARC via NetGalley! Gloam published on August 12.

Atmospheric and eerie, with some genuinely creepy moments. The horror scenes were seriously scary and I think upper MG readers who like to truly be scared would enjoy this very much. Gwen’s story is engaging, though there were a handful of plot points that were repeatedly mentioned but didn't really have an explanation in the end. Still, the writing made it a worthwhile read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for this ARC!

In GLOAM, Gwen, her three younger siblings and her stepfather move to a remote island home that belonged to Gwen’s late grandmother. Almost immediately, things begin to go awry in the spooky, dilapidated home. Still reeling from the loss of their mother and adjusting to their new surroundings, Henry tries to reassure the children that all is well and hires a babysitter to take charge when he leaves the island for work. Gwen immediately distrusts Esme Laverne and shares this with Henry, but her unease is dismissed. Even though no one else seems to notice the manipulative Esme’s suspicious behavior, Gwen is determined to protect her siblings at all costs. As a black mold threatens to consume the house, nightmares arise, and Esme’s cruel acts escalate, Gwen will need to be brave to battle the hidden horrors.

Gwen carries the story with her tenaciousness and fierce sense of responsibility towards her siblings. With some jump scares sprinkled in, this atmospheric spooky and suspenseful book about the power of family will thrill middle grade horror fans.

Gloam is a hauntingly atmospheric book that celebrates the power of sibling bonds and the unexpected family that can be found in a step-parent. It’s a great choice for readers who enjoy a story that skillfully combines both physical and psychological horror.

While the overarching themes are universal, I will note that this might not be a book for every reader. There is some pretty intense psychological manipulation in this one, making for a very unlikable antagonist and an unsettling read. As the manipulation clearly becomes a form of abuse, you want to shake the step-dad and disbelieving siblings and tell them to get a clue, but all the reader can do is sit there and watch as the horrors unfold. It is frustratingly tense at times, and I did feel that some moments were a bit contrived.

Overall, this is a good read that I would recommend to fans of the genre.

Gloam, by Jack Mackey, is a deeply atmospheric book with just-right levels of creepiness for the middle grade audience. From the minute Gwen and her siblings arrive at their Grandmothers dilapidated, rapidly molding home on Gloam Island, something feels deeply amiss. Their guardian, Henry, is under immense stress, having come into care of the kids following their mother’s death. Likewise, the children are still reeling from the loss of their last blood relative who cared to know them. When Henry hires Esme Laverne to take care of the children while he is away at work, Gwen immediately distrusts her, yet has trouble convincing her younger siblings of the same conclusion. Mackay precisely nails the feelings of being unheard or dismissed by adults at the age of 13. Through Gwen, Mackay portrays the terror a teenager facing the world alone might experience, and monsters the siblings face over the course of the book is perfectly balanced in the Goldilocks zone of the middle grade horror genre, without ever talking down to the reader. The danger Gwen, Roger, Hester, and Hazel are facing at Esme Laverne’s hands encroaches the safety of their Grandmothers house as quickly as the rot that has begun to overtake the property spreads, and each of the siblings must face their monsters and their fear before they can begin to heal from their immense personal losses, and begin to reach healing and home.

Thirteen year old Gwen and her three younger siblings have moved with their stepfather Henry into their late grandmother’s house on Gloam island. Though the home is spooky, especially at night, Henry works hard to convince them all that monsters do not exist. To help out, Henry hires a mysterious caretaker named Esme to manage the children while he is unavailable, much to Gwen’s chagrin. She cannot explain exactly why, but there is something unsettling about Esme, and Gwen must determine the root of her feelings before tragedy strikes. This frightening middle grade story leans deeply into a side of horror-centric literature not often reflected in novels for this age group. Recounted in the third person from primarily Gwen’s perspective, the narrative focuses on her feelings and experiences while providing adequate emotional distance for the reader. Brief chapters and suspenseful storytelling keep the pages turning, and readers must pay attention to uncover all the details of Gwen’s backstory as they are revealed in pieces throughout the novel. Descriptive writing and a unique premise make the story enjoyable to read, and the undercurrent of grief Gwen feels at the loss of both her mother and her grandmother appears at choice moments in the book. Blending both jump scares and the approach of a psychological thriller, this novel effectively places young readers in a frightening environment from the safety of their imaginations. Best for middle grade readers with an interest in spooky storytelling, this is an intense addition to library collections for brave young readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun read and will be a great kids book. I really enjoyed this story.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book before its release! Mackay’s debut is wonderful! Though the intended audience is much younger than my age, I thoroughly enjoyed this story! It reminds me of Coraline and A Series of Unfortunate Events, both favorites of mine. I loved the eeriness paired with the heavier topics of grief and coming of age. This was masterfully done and handled with so much care! I’ll be sure to keep this author on my radar!