“Gustav Gloom and the People Taker” (Grosset & Dunlap) is the first book in a new fantasy series for 8- to 12-year-olds published just in time to celebrate the spooktacular Halloween season. Penned by Adam-Troy Castro, this suspenseful novel tells the tale of Fernie What, a courageous girl who moves with her family to a home across the street from Gustav’s creepy mansion, wonderfully rendered in “Corpse Bride”-esque illustrations by Kristen Margiotta.
Fernie barges into Gustav’s house in pursuit of her cat, Harrington, and soon finds that it is filled with doting aunts, criminals, hilarity, and horror. She does her best to make sense of the shadows with minds of their own as she attempts to find her feline and get out before the deadly People Taker can wrap his hands around her throat.
“Gustav Gloom” is part cautionary tale encouraging kids to tell their parents where they are going and part rousing endorsement of the power of friendship that has us looking forward to the sequel, “Gustav Gloom and the Nightmare Vault”!
“Gustav Gloom and the People Taker” by Adam-Troy Castro, $12.99, www.barnesandnoble.com.
