Publishers Weekly - Audio
09/28/2015
Beatty’s suspenseful debut opens in 1899 in Asheville, N.C., at the historic Biltmore Estate. Twelve-year-old Serafina and her father secretly live in the basement of the Biltmore, where he keeps the mansion’s many mechanisms in working order. One night while hunting rats, Serafina witnesses a young girl getting swallowed up by a black cloak worn by a mysterious man. Soon other children who are visiting the mansion begin to disappear, and Serafina vows to fight the man and save the children. Listening to this audiobook is like hearing your favorite teacher read the class a story, switching voices and keeping everyone’s attention riveted. Voice actress Campbell’s pacing is perfect—sometimes the writing draws moments out, but she keeps everything moving along. Serafina sounds plucky and determined, with a slightly growly voice. The rich adults sound haughty and aristocratic. Her voice for the supernatural bad guy is menacing and otherworldly, with low tones and a hint of sibilance. Campbell’s Southern accents are subtle, befitting the narrative. This is a wonderfully sinister middle-grade horror story, and Campbell seems to delight in performing the creepiness. Ages 8–12. A Disney-Hyperion hardcover. (July)
Publishers Weekly
08/31/2015
Beatty's suspenseful debut opens in 1899 in Ashville, N.C., at the historic Biltmore Estate. Twelve-year-old Serafina and her father secretly live in the basement of the Biltmore, where he keeps the mansion's many mechanisms in working order. He forbids Serafina—who was born with four toes on each foot, golden eyes, and other physical peculiarities—from wandering upstairs among the Vanderbilts or into the woods, where he found and rescued her as an infant. One night, Serafina sees a man capture a girl, who vanishes into his cloak. With more children disappearing, she teams up with fellow loner Braeden Vanderbilt, nephew of the estate's owner, to search for the so-called Man in the Black Cloak, leading them deep into the forest. Serafina's quest to understand herself and her unknown family history, along with some truly creepy moments and imagery (during one encounter, the Man in the Black Cloak "seemed to float on the violence of the battle, his decaying, blood-dripping hands reaching outward as he came upon Braeden"), makes for an eerie historical mystery. Ages 8–12. Agent: Bill Contardi, Brandt & Hochman. (July)
From the Publisher
AccoladesSouthern Independent Booksellers Association: OKRA Pick for representing the "best in Southern Literature"
2017-18 Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice List, selection
"Beatty spins an enchanting mystery through lonely Serafina's golden eyes. Each new clue adds another brush stroke to this keenly perceptive portrait of a young girl searching for answers about herself and the world around her. The book leaves readers satisfied with the plot but hungry for more about its unusual heroine. Adults and children will eagerly follow Serafina from the basement into a world of self-discovery, justice, and new friendships."—Kirkus
"The story drips with suspense, wrapping readers into the narrative just as easily as the man in the black cloak binds his young victims. Serafina’s friendship with Braeden is heartfelt and believable... mystery fans will enjoy this book."—School Library Journal
“An entrancing historical, mystery thriller, Beatty tells the story through Serafina’s searching and inner dialogue. A finely detailed setting, strong characterization, rich foreshadowing, and haunting imagery, all work to build suspense throughout.”—SLC
“Serafina narrates with an engaging voice that draws the reader into her world. The setting is just as engaging: the Biltmore drips with opulence and the surrounding forest with sufficient eeriness… Serafina has enough mystery and fantasy (with a fair amount of creepiness) to satisfy young readers.”—Historical Novel Society
“Serafina’s quest to understand herself and her unknown family history, along with some truly creepy moments and imagery… makes for an eerie historical mystery.”—Publishers Weekly
“The chills and adventure will… surely please.”—Booklist
“The vast estate with a haunted past and a creepy present makes for an atmospheric setting, and Serafina’s multiple narrow escapes from her enemy are absolutely thrilling. Serafina herself is an enchanting heroine, brave and determined, and her attraction to the dark forest adds another layer of suspense and mystery.”—BCCB
School Library Journal
06/01/2015
Gr 5–7—A mystery set at a sumptuous estate, featuring a courageous female protagonist entangled in a hair-raising adventure. It is 1899 and 12-year-old Serafina lives with her Pa in the basement of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. Pa had come to Asheville years ago to help with construction and stayed on as a fixer of all things mechanical in the 250-room mansion. For reasons unknown to Serafina, they must keep their nightly lodgings in the basement a secret as well as the existence of Serafina herself. She has developed catlike skills in exploring the vast Biltmore estate and enjoys sneaking through heating vents and other small spaces in order to eavesdrop on staff and inhabitants. Her quiet existence is shattered when she witnesses a strange man dragging a tearful young girl down into the bowels of the vast home. The man is wearing a large black cloak and reassures the young girl that everything is okay. Suddenly, the captive struggles to get away from the man and his cloak appears to come alive. It wraps itself around the terrified child as she calls out for help. Serafina is frozen with fear and before she can react, the girl has vanished. Serafina escapes, thanks to her agility, and discovers the next day that a visitor of the Vanderbilts by the name of Clara has disappeared during the night. More children disappear and it becomes increasingly obvious that Serafina's new best friend, Braeden, is the man in the black cloak's newest target. The story drips with suspense, wrapping readers into the narrative just as easily as the man in the black cloak binds his young victims. Serafina's friendship with Braeden is heartfelt and believable. The ending is tied up too neatly, but that's a minor quibble; most horror and mystery fans will enjoy this book. VERDICT A creepy, suspenseful read that's not quite as dark as the works of Neil Gaiman or Adam Gidwitz.—Julie Shatterly, W. A. Bess Elementary School, Gastonia, NC
AUGUST 2015 - AudioFile
This audio tale blends mystery and fantasy with a heavy dose of horror. Strong descriptive language brings the Biltmore Estate of Asheville, North Carolina, to life. Cassandra Campbell keeps the listener engaged in this spooky story in spite of stilted dialogue and choppy transitions. Her voice for the Black Cloak is perfectly creepy; however, her portrayal of Serafina is inconsistent. She sometimes sounds more like a cultured child of the plantation than the Chief Rat Catcher of the basement. Parents, beware! Sensitive listeners at the lower end of the middle-grade target audience may find this story to be more horror than mystery. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2015-04-15
Serafina mostly enjoyed her life at the Biltmore Estate until the other children started disappearing at night. Motherless Serafina has grown up isolated and in secret in the basement of the Vanderbilts' Biltmore Estate. It is close to the machines her father repairs and the rats she catches nightly. As the Chief Rat Catcher, Serafina has uncanny physical abilities that match her peculiar looks and allow her to hunt these sneaky vermin. She applies these talents to find out who or what is snatching children staying at Biltmore, a terrifying encounter with the cloaked child thief forcing her out of hiding to save the other children and herself. The Vanderbilts' orphaned nephew, Braeden, proves to be a great ally, and they work together to stop the kidnapper before they become the next victims. Beatty spins an enchanting mystery through lonely Serafina's golden eyes. As she begins to defy her loving, protective father and involve herself in the estate's doings, she comes ever closer to uncovering the villain and the secret behind her own origins. Each new clue adds another brush stroke to this keenly perceptive portrait of a young girl searching for answers about herself and the world around her. The book leaves readers satisfied with the plot but hungry for more about its unusual heroine. Adults and children will eagerly follow Serafina from the basement into a world of self-discovery, justice, and new friendships. (Fantasy. 8-12)
