Welcome to Read This Book, a newsletter where I recommend one book that I think you absolutely must read. The books will vary across genre and age category to include new releases, backlist titles, and classics. If you’re ready to explode your TBR, buckle up!
Autumn is here, which means it’s time to curl up with a great read and get cozy—whatever your version of cozy looks like. Whether it’s romance, creepy reads, modern classics, or escapist reads you crave, TBR can help you find the perfect books for your fall reading, with options curated to your specific reading tastes.
Today’s pick is another spooky read perfect for middle grade readers (and older readers who might want those scary vibes but nothing too intense). It’s the first in a series you won’t want to miss!
The Clackity by Lora Senf
Evie lives with her Aunt Desdemona in the town of Blight Harbor, which is the seventh most haunted town in the country. She doesn’t mind ghosts—there are lots in Blight Harbor—and her aunt writes an advice column about supernatural issues. But when an old abattoir has Aunt Desdemona spooked, Evie is curious. And when an entity called the Clackity steals her aunt, Evie is forced to face a series of trials to confront the dangerous ghost of a serial killer in order to bring her aunt back.
I enjoyed the setting of Blight Harbor and Evie’s delightfully eccentric family and friends. The author does a good job of creating various creepy settings, from the old abattoir to the curious shadowy world that Evie finds herself venturing into, and the Clackity is a truly chilling monster. The mission that Evie must take on forces her to face her own tragic past—she lost her parents in a house fire, and their remains were never recovered. As she makes deals with supernatural entities and outwits monsters and ghosts, she begins to suspect that perhaps there is more to the fire and her parents aren’t really dead. Although that is a mystery that isn’t resolved in this book (don’t worry, there are sequels!), it provides a tantalizing backdrop to Evie’s journey to save her aunt, using her own unique skills and relying on some unexpected new friends, including a bird tattoo that can move across her skin. The book is a delicious mix of creepy and heartwarming, and it makes for perfect reading on a cold October night! Definitely pick it up if you’re looking for something to read that is evocative of Coraline by Neil Gaiman.
If you enjoy this one, make sure you look out for the sequel, The Nighthouse Keeper, out next week!
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Happy reading!
Tirzah
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