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Blight Harbor #1
The Clackity
Reminiscent of Doll Bones and Small Spaces , this “delightfully eerie” (Erin A. Craig, New York Times bestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrows ) middle grade novel tells the story of a girl who must rescue her aunt by entering a world of ghosts, witches, and monsters to play a game with deadly consequences.
Evie Von Rathe lives in Blight Harbor—the seventh-most haunted town in America—with her Aunt Desdemona, the local paranormal expert. Des doesn’t have many rules except Stay out of the abandoned slaughterhouse at the edge of town. But when her aunt disappears into the building, Evie goes searching for her.
There she meets The Clackity, a creature who lives in the shadows and seams of the slaughterhouse. The Clackity makes a deal with Evie to help get Des back in exchange for the ghost of John Jeffrey Pope, a serial killer who stalked Blight Harbor a hundred years earlier. Evie reluctantly embarks on a journey into a strange otherworld filled with hungry witches, penny-eyed ghosts, and a memory-thief, all while being pursued by a dead man whose only goal is to add Evie to his collection of lost souls. Will she ever find Des, or is The Clackity planning something far more sinister?
Evie Von Rathe lives in Blight Harbor—the seventh-most haunted town in America—with her Aunt Desdemona, the local paranormal expert. Des doesn’t have many rules except Stay out of the abandoned slaughterhouse at the edge of town. But when her aunt disappears into the building, Evie goes searching for her.
There she meets The Clackity, a creature who lives in the shadows and seams of the slaughterhouse. The Clackity makes a deal with Evie to help get Des back in exchange for the ghost of John Jeffrey Pope, a serial killer who stalked Blight Harbor a hundred years earlier. Evie reluctantly embarks on a journey into a strange otherworld filled with hungry witches, penny-eyed ghosts, and a memory-thief, all while being pursued by a dead man whose only goal is to add Evie to his collection of lost souls. Will she ever find Des, or is The Clackity planning something far more sinister?
288 pages, Hardcover
First published June 28, 2022
173 people are currently reading
9470 people want to read
About the author
Lora Senf
8 books263 followersHi, I'm Lora Senf!
I'm a reader and writer of dark and twisty stories for all ages. I owe my love of words to my parents and to the public library that was walking distance from my childhood home.
I find inspiration for my writing all over the place - from my kids' retellings of their dreams to road trips through Montana, and often in lonely buildings.
I love the reading and writing communities. I'm a member of Authors Guild and Horror Writers Association.
PENNIES - a Blight Harbor prequel - is coming September 23, 2025. I have a YA horror novel, UNNAMED BONES, coming out summer 2026 and more on the way.
I no longer review books, but I do yell about the books I love on social media - mostly Instagram.
I live in Washington State with my husband, our twins, and two cats who think they're people.
I'd love to hear from you! 🖤
I'm a reader and writer of dark and twisty stories for all ages. I owe my love of words to my parents and to the public library that was walking distance from my childhood home.
I find inspiration for my writing all over the place - from my kids' retellings of their dreams to road trips through Montana, and often in lonely buildings.
I love the reading and writing communities. I'm a member of Authors Guild and Horror Writers Association.
PENNIES - a Blight Harbor prequel - is coming September 23, 2025. I have a YA horror novel, UNNAMED BONES, coming out summer 2026 and more on the way.
I no longer review books, but I do yell about the books I love on social media - mostly Instagram.
I live in Washington State with my husband, our twins, and two cats who think they're people.
I'd love to hear from you! 🖤
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 788 reviews
August 5, 2025
**4.5-stars rounded up**
After a childhood tragedy, Evie Von Rathe moves to the town of Blight Harbor, the 7th-most haunted town in America, to live with her Aunt Desdemona, the local paranormal expert.
When we meet Evie, she is a happy little girl, on the cusp of her summer holiday. She enjoys working at the local library with her Aunt's best friend, Lily, and has a fantastic relationship with her Aunt Des. These things help her deal with the pain of her earlier trauma.
Additionally, Evie is quite interested in paranormal goings-on, so the fact that this is her Aunt's line of work excites her to no end. Frankly, I get it. Desdemona is intriguing.
One rule Des has always had is to not hang around the local abandoned slaughterhouse. Makes sense to me. Apparently, once upon a time, a local serial killer John Jeffrey Pope worked there. It's not giving off good vibes.
When Evie discovers her Aunt is exploring the old slaughterhouse for work, she wants in on it and promptly follows Des there.
Over the course of their investigation into the slaughterhouse and it's sordid history, Aunt Des disappears and shortly thereafter Evie meets the Clackity.
The Clackity tells Evie that Des has been transported into a dangerously magical other realm and only Evie has the power to save her.
It offers up a deal, saying if Evie retrieves the spirit of serial killer John Jeffery Pope for it, Aunt Des will be saved. The killer is also in this magical other realm, putting Aunt Des in terrible danger. The clock is ticking.
Even though it is quite clear that the Clackity isn't something you want to be making any sort of a deal with, what choice does she have? That's right, none.
Thus, Evie begins her dangerous quest to save Aunt Des, meeting challenges, obstacles and scary beings head on. Evie is one strong and determined little girl. We love to see it!
The Clackity is such a fun Middle Grade story; non-stop spooky goodness from beginning to end. It channeled heavy Neil Gaiman vibes for me and I was eating it up.
Quests are one of my favorite tropes and I would argue this fits the bill perfectly. Add in the level of eeriness carried throughout and you pretty much have a perfect story for me.
I loved how the quest was presented. There were different steps, or challenges, Evie had to pass before moving on to the next. It was simple and easy to understand, while also being ridiculously well-imagined and described.
This story absolutely filled my heart. I loved the characters, relationships, humor and horror-filled imagery so much. It's incredibly dark and creepy, the perfect example of why I love this subgenre of Middle Grade with my whole being.
I definitely recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a classic-feeling Spooky Middle Grade story. The Clackity is an absolute gem.
Thank you so very much to the publisher, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, for providing me with a copy to read and review. It was an true delight!!
🦇❤️🖤💀❤️🖤🦇❤️🖤💀❤️🖤🦇❤️🖤💀❤️🖤🦇❤️🖤
After a childhood tragedy, Evie Von Rathe moves to the town of Blight Harbor, the 7th-most haunted town in America, to live with her Aunt Desdemona, the local paranormal expert.
When we meet Evie, she is a happy little girl, on the cusp of her summer holiday. She enjoys working at the local library with her Aunt's best friend, Lily, and has a fantastic relationship with her Aunt Des. These things help her deal with the pain of her earlier trauma.
Additionally, Evie is quite interested in paranormal goings-on, so the fact that this is her Aunt's line of work excites her to no end. Frankly, I get it. Desdemona is intriguing.
One rule Des has always had is to not hang around the local abandoned slaughterhouse. Makes sense to me. Apparently, once upon a time, a local serial killer John Jeffrey Pope worked there. It's not giving off good vibes.
When Evie discovers her Aunt is exploring the old slaughterhouse for work, she wants in on it and promptly follows Des there.
Over the course of their investigation into the slaughterhouse and it's sordid history, Aunt Des disappears and shortly thereafter Evie meets the Clackity.
The Clackity tells Evie that Des has been transported into a dangerously magical other realm and only Evie has the power to save her.
It offers up a deal, saying if Evie retrieves the spirit of serial killer John Jeffery Pope for it, Aunt Des will be saved. The killer is also in this magical other realm, putting Aunt Des in terrible danger. The clock is ticking.
Even though it is quite clear that the Clackity isn't something you want to be making any sort of a deal with, what choice does she have? That's right, none.
Thus, Evie begins her dangerous quest to save Aunt Des, meeting challenges, obstacles and scary beings head on. Evie is one strong and determined little girl. We love to see it!
The Clackity is such a fun Middle Grade story; non-stop spooky goodness from beginning to end. It channeled heavy Neil Gaiman vibes for me and I was eating it up.
Quests are one of my favorite tropes and I would argue this fits the bill perfectly. Add in the level of eeriness carried throughout and you pretty much have a perfect story for me.
I loved how the quest was presented. There were different steps, or challenges, Evie had to pass before moving on to the next. It was simple and easy to understand, while also being ridiculously well-imagined and described.
This story absolutely filled my heart. I loved the characters, relationships, humor and horror-filled imagery so much. It's incredibly dark and creepy, the perfect example of why I love this subgenre of Middle Grade with my whole being.
I definitely recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a classic-feeling Spooky Middle Grade story. The Clackity is an absolute gem.
Thank you so very much to the publisher, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, for providing me with a copy to read and review. It was an true delight!!
🦇❤️🖤💀❤️🖤🦇❤️🖤💀❤️🖤🦇❤️🖤💀❤️🖤🦇❤️🖤
June 29, 2022
Welcome to Blight Harbor, the seventh most haunted town in America (per capita).
After the mysterious disappearance of her parents, Evelyn moved there to live with her aunt Desdemona. Aunt Des is something of a local paranormal expert, offering advice to those with "otherworldly concerns." Lately she's been quite interested in the abandoned slaughterhouse on the edge of town, and when Des disappears, Evie has a sinking feeling she knows exactly where her beloved aunt may be. When Evie goes to the spooky abattoir, she encounters the Clackity, a shadowy creature with a Cheshire grin, and one eye sewn shut.
If she wants to get her aunt back, Evie must search for clues in seven houses, and then bring back the ghost of a serial killer who's been dead for one hundred years. Oh, is that all? As the Clackity himself warns her, "Bad, bad, bad men make bad, bad ghosties."
This is one creepy read, and some scenes are pretty intense. Though it's recommended for ages 10-12, I'd suggest it for the older end of that range.
Other than that, all ll I can say is if Blight Harbor is only the seventh most haunted town in America (per capita), I'd hate to visit the first . . .
And, bring on the sequel!
Thanks NetGalley and Atheneum for allowing me to read this one.
After the mysterious disappearance of her parents, Evelyn moved there to live with her aunt Desdemona. Aunt Des is something of a local paranormal expert, offering advice to those with "otherworldly concerns." Lately she's been quite interested in the abandoned slaughterhouse on the edge of town, and when Des disappears, Evie has a sinking feeling she knows exactly where her beloved aunt may be. When Evie goes to the spooky abattoir, she encounters the Clackity, a shadowy creature with a Cheshire grin, and one eye sewn shut.
If she wants to get her aunt back, Evie must search for clues in seven houses, and then bring back the ghost of a serial killer who's been dead for one hundred years. Oh, is that all? As the Clackity himself warns her, "Bad, bad, bad men make bad, bad ghosties."
This is one creepy read, and some scenes are pretty intense. Though it's recommended for ages 10-12, I'd suggest it for the older end of that range.
Other than that, all ll I can say is if Blight Harbor is only the seventh most haunted town in America (per capita), I'd hate to visit the first . . .
And, bring on the sequel!
Thanks NetGalley and Atheneum for allowing me to read this one.
April 4, 2022
"Bad, bad men make bad, bad ghosties.”
Coraline meets Monster House in this story about a brave girl who will do anything to protect the family she loves.
This was one of those books that instantly caught my attention with its amazing cover. Even though it's dark, it stands out and calls for your attention. And then I read the synopsis. I became obsessed after I read the part about a haunted slaughterhouse. I just adore haunted locations and here we get something a little different from what we're used to. Instantly sold!!
The story was a really quick read and it gave off Coraline vibes, which I loved. Evie was a great character. She never gave up and always had hope even in the darkest and toughest of times. She is one character that I would love to have in my corner. She was a fighter and didn't stop at anything that got in her way. The family aspect was adorable. We all wish for family in our lives that would be willing to go to the ends of the earth for us and we find that here with Evie and her Aunts. It was amazing.
The Clackity was a decent middle-grade read. The story and characters were great. I loved that the entire town was haunted by ghosts and every resident was okay with that. The slaughterhouse being the residence of something dark and evil was genius. We usually don't get locations like that being haunted and Lora changes that. It was awesome. Middle-graders who love spooky tales will love this one. Hell, even I enjoyed this one and I'm in my thirties.
Coraline meets Monster House in this story about a brave girl who will do anything to protect the family she loves.
This was one of those books that instantly caught my attention with its amazing cover. Even though it's dark, it stands out and calls for your attention. And then I read the synopsis. I became obsessed after I read the part about a haunted slaughterhouse. I just adore haunted locations and here we get something a little different from what we're used to. Instantly sold!!
The story was a really quick read and it gave off Coraline vibes, which I loved. Evie was a great character. She never gave up and always had hope even in the darkest and toughest of times. She is one character that I would love to have in my corner. She was a fighter and didn't stop at anything that got in her way. The family aspect was adorable. We all wish for family in our lives that would be willing to go to the ends of the earth for us and we find that here with Evie and her Aunts. It was amazing.
The Clackity was a decent middle-grade read. The story and characters were great. I loved that the entire town was haunted by ghosts and every resident was okay with that. The slaughterhouse being the residence of something dark and evil was genius. We usually don't get locations like that being haunted and Lora changes that. It was awesome. Middle-graders who love spooky tales will love this one. Hell, even I enjoyed this one and I'm in my thirties.
May 9, 2022
I knew from the first page that this book had the potential to be a new favorite…. and it definitely is!
LIKES
✍🏼 I fell in love with Lora’s writing style! It’s fast-paced, whimsical, and the similes/metaphors she used were beautiful.
🌙 She also wrote the atmosphere so well! I could easily visualize every step of Evie’s journey to rescue her Aunt Des.
👩🏻🦰 Evie was such a great character! She was someone I could relate with on so many levels. I enjoyed watching her character develop throughout the story. The way she faced her fears and persevered through so many obstacles!
💕 I also loved the relationship Evie has with her Aunt Des. I hope to see more of Des in the future, too. I love the banter between them and how Des is just trying to be the best she can be for Evie.
👻 The Clackity and John Jeffrey Pope were so spooky! These were great characters to haunt you in your sleep. And the thought that both were watching/after Evie at all times. 👀
🏚 I don’t want to spoil the journey… but I loved all the different places Evie had to go and the steps she took to rescue her aunt. It was so whimsical and adventurous!
✝️ The subtle faith tie-ins were so great. These are my favorite spooky stories to read and ones I aspire to write myself someday!
🕸 At times this story reminded me of another favorite spooky book of mine, Coraline by Neil Gaiman. So, I would definitely go as far to say that if you liked that one, you will probably enjoy this one, too!
🖤 I could go on and on, but we would be here all day. Clearly I loved this story, and I highly recommended preordering it!
I have no qualms with this story, but if I had one small critique it would be that I would have loved to see more quotable messages/lessons. I knew exactly what the author was going for in the message that she wanted to portray. I knew it in my head. I would have just loved to see it explored more deeply in text. Like to just have more beautiful quotes with the lessons. I hope that makes sense!
Regardless, I loved this story so much! Thank you, again, to Lora Senf for sending me an ARC and bookmarks. I am so grateful Karina connected us. I can’t wait to read more of your work in the future! 🤍
LIKES
✍🏼 I fell in love with Lora’s writing style! It’s fast-paced, whimsical, and the similes/metaphors she used were beautiful.
🌙 She also wrote the atmosphere so well! I could easily visualize every step of Evie’s journey to rescue her Aunt Des.
👩🏻🦰 Evie was such a great character! She was someone I could relate with on so many levels. I enjoyed watching her character develop throughout the story. The way she faced her fears and persevered through so many obstacles!
💕 I also loved the relationship Evie has with her Aunt Des. I hope to see more of Des in the future, too. I love the banter between them and how Des is just trying to be the best she can be for Evie.
👻 The Clackity and John Jeffrey Pope were so spooky! These were great characters to haunt you in your sleep. And the thought that both were watching/after Evie at all times. 👀
🏚 I don’t want to spoil the journey… but I loved all the different places Evie had to go and the steps she took to rescue her aunt. It was so whimsical and adventurous!
✝️ The subtle faith tie-ins were so great. These are my favorite spooky stories to read and ones I aspire to write myself someday!
🕸 At times this story reminded me of another favorite spooky book of mine, Coraline by Neil Gaiman. So, I would definitely go as far to say that if you liked that one, you will probably enjoy this one, too!
🖤 I could go on and on, but we would be here all day. Clearly I loved this story, and I highly recommended preordering it!
I have no qualms with this story, but if I had one small critique it would be that I would have loved to see more quotable messages/lessons. I knew exactly what the author was going for in the message that she wanted to portray. I knew it in my head. I would have just loved to see it explored more deeply in text. Like to just have more beautiful quotes with the lessons. I hope that makes sense!
Regardless, I loved this story so much! Thank you, again, to Lora Senf for sending me an ARC and bookmarks. I am so grateful Karina connected us. I can’t wait to read more of your work in the future! 🤍
March 31, 2022
When I received this book I was going to give it to my grandchildren to read. They are in 6th and 7th grade. I read the first page and was captivated. Forget the grandchildren, I couldn't put this book down. I did give it to them after I finished it and they loved it as much as I did. The Clackity is a creepy story about Evie Von Rathe who lives with her aunt Desdemona in Blight Harbor. Something strange happens when Aunt Des begins to investigate the local abattoir. Only Evie can bring her aunt back. You will love the characters and the journey you travel through with Evie. I felt like I knew every character in the book and the plot is full of suspense. You become part of the story. I caught myself holding my breath. Highly recommend for all ages old and young. I am sixty-three and I loved every minute of it. Ready for your next great book Lora Senf.
May 18, 2022
A fantastic, fast-paced book that anyone who likes a little bit of mild creep will enjoy! The Clackity is definitely a great YA read, so I highly recommend it to YA and middle grade!
Note: Thank you to Netgalley & publishers for allowing me access to this arc in exchange for an honest review! Please note that all opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Note: Thank you to Netgalley & publishers for allowing me access to this arc in exchange for an honest review! Please note that all opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
April 10, 2023
I am judging judged the Middle Grade Speculative Fiction division of the Cybils Awards and this book is one of seven finalists. Announcement of the winners in all divisions will be was made on Feb 14 after which I’ll post full reviews.
https://www.cybils.com/
I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this one. It’s more horror-leaning than the others on the short list, which were all Fantasy, and I’m not usually a fan. I found this book to be very clever, entertaining, genuinely scary, but not overly so, and looked at anxiety and panic attacks with compassion. The female main character was on her own to fix the problem, except for various adults that crossed her path. She had difficulties and moved through them and the associated despair in a way that seemed plausible.
I alternated listening to and reading this book and can recommend the audio.
https://www.cybils.com/
I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this one. It’s more horror-leaning than the others on the short list, which were all Fantasy, and I’m not usually a fan. I found this book to be very clever, entertaining, genuinely scary, but not overly so, and looked at anxiety and panic attacks with compassion. The female main character was on her own to fix the problem, except for various adults that crossed her path. She had difficulties and moved through them and the associated despair in a way that seemed plausible.
I alternated listening to and reading this book and can recommend the audio.
July 10, 2025
(Rounded from 3.5)
This whimsical and dark fantasy has an incredibly compelling main character in a captivating and exciting world. I appreciate that the story is exploring genuine fears and anxieties, not shying away from the realities of loss and grief, and the separation anxiety along with other {TSD responses that can result. Yet those are presented as realities our main character is navigating, with the help of loving family and friends, and it offers a model of resilience and courage that is really heart-warming and empowering. Additionally, the story offers the characters the freedom to be weird, to live in a place that isn’t normal and to be okay with that, and to recognize that fitting in isn’t as important as being true to yourself.
The writing itself is inviting and moves the story along at a really nice pace, keeping enough tension to be engaging but not overwhelming for the target audience, with enough moments of levity and success to keep the mood positive if slightly ominous. I will say that I didn’t feel like the narrative lived up to the other really wonderful aspects of the story (such as writing, characters, pacing, and ideas). Once our main character was on her journey it was fine, but why The Clackity sent her on that journey seemed paper thin, if existent at all. There are what feel like pretty hefty logic gaps in the why and how of certain aspects of the main rationale behind the quest and the antagonists’ motivations and actions. Obviously I am reading this as an adult and not the intended audience, but some of these gaps (and to go into more detail about them would spoil parts of the story, so I have to leave it vague, here) are big enough that it feels like a middle-grade audience would be asking “Why?” again and again. This was a shame, because it feels like loose ends that could have been tweaked just a little and the result would have been more cohesive.
That criticism aside, I still recommend this story. For an adult audience it will be predictable and expected, but still insightful and a joy to read. For the intended audience it is a wonderful combination of mystery and emotion and adventure, exploring important themes and ideas in accessible, and most importantly enjoyable, ways.
This whimsical and dark fantasy has an incredibly compelling main character in a captivating and exciting world. I appreciate that the story is exploring genuine fears and anxieties, not shying away from the realities of loss and grief, and the separation anxiety along with other {TSD responses that can result. Yet those are presented as realities our main character is navigating, with the help of loving family and friends, and it offers a model of resilience and courage that is really heart-warming and empowering. Additionally, the story offers the characters the freedom to be weird, to live in a place that isn’t normal and to be okay with that, and to recognize that fitting in isn’t as important as being true to yourself.
The writing itself is inviting and moves the story along at a really nice pace, keeping enough tension to be engaging but not overwhelming for the target audience, with enough moments of levity and success to keep the mood positive if slightly ominous. I will say that I didn’t feel like the narrative lived up to the other really wonderful aspects of the story (such as writing, characters, pacing, and ideas). Once our main character was on her journey it was fine, but why The Clackity sent her on that journey seemed paper thin, if existent at all. There are what feel like pretty hefty logic gaps in the why and how of certain aspects of the main rationale behind the quest and the antagonists’ motivations and actions. Obviously I am reading this as an adult and not the intended audience, but some of these gaps (and to go into more detail about them would spoil parts of the story, so I have to leave it vague, here) are big enough that it feels like a middle-grade audience would be asking “Why?” again and again. This was a shame, because it feels like loose ends that could have been tweaked just a little and the result would have been more cohesive.
That criticism aside, I still recommend this story. For an adult audience it will be predictable and expected, but still insightful and a joy to read. For the intended audience it is a wonderful combination of mystery and emotion and adventure, exploring important themes and ideas in accessible, and most importantly enjoyable, ways.
October 30, 2022
I bought The Clackity because it's a middle grade horror novel and the synopsis sounded awesome. In The Clackity, Evie's aunt has disappeared and Evie must enter a supernatural world filled with challenges to get her back.
I had managed to talk myself into thinking The Clackity had something to do with Halloween. I guess because it has the perfect Halloween cover with orange and black and greys and a wonderfully spooky illustration. The Clackity can definitely be read at any time, though. It's not set at Halloween, it just has a wonderful vibe to the book that does make it perfect for spooky season.
The illustration isn't limited to just the cover. The entire book has those awesome spooky illustrations sprinkled throughout the chapters. It really is a beautiful book.
As for the story, The Clackity is creepy and imaginative. In fact, The Clackity is so imaginative, I think it would appeal to fans of Catherine M. Valente. In the world that Evie enters, she has to go through all of these different settings and encounter different ghosts and monsters. It reminded me quite a bit of Coraline as well.
In the end, my rating for The Clackity is entirely subjective. I feel like I need to offer up some bigger explanation for why I'm only giving this three stars, but the truth is I loved getting to enter Senf's imaginative world and I loved the relationship between Evie and her aunt. Three stars means I liked it, and it just fits for me here.
Source: preordered purchase. This is a review of my reading experience.
I had managed to talk myself into thinking The Clackity had something to do with Halloween. I guess because it has the perfect Halloween cover with orange and black and greys and a wonderfully spooky illustration. The Clackity can definitely be read at any time, though. It's not set at Halloween, it just has a wonderful vibe to the book that does make it perfect for spooky season.
The illustration isn't limited to just the cover. The entire book has those awesome spooky illustrations sprinkled throughout the chapters. It really is a beautiful book.
As for the story, The Clackity is creepy and imaginative. In fact, The Clackity is so imaginative, I think it would appeal to fans of Catherine M. Valente. In the world that Evie enters, she has to go through all of these different settings and encounter different ghosts and monsters. It reminded me quite a bit of Coraline as well.
In the end, my rating for The Clackity is entirely subjective. I feel like I need to offer up some bigger explanation for why I'm only giving this three stars, but the truth is I loved getting to enter Senf's imaginative world and I loved the relationship between Evie and her aunt. Three stars means I liked it, and it just fits for me here.
Source: preordered purchase. This is a review of my reading experience.
March 26, 2023
It was a cute story. I just didn't connect with it as much as I'd hoped I might.
August 14, 2024
I loved the Tim Burton vibes! This was such a fun little middle grade horror novel! I’m excited to continue the adventures with Evie and Bird in Blight Harbor 😁
June 23, 2022
This middle grade novel gave me some serious shivers - this may actually be the spookiest book I read all year because the creep/dread factor here is exceptionally high!
Evie lives in Blight Harbor (the seventh-most haunted town in America) with her Aunt Desdemona, who happens to be the local paranormal expert. When Aunt Des goes missing at the abandoned slaughterhouse on the edge of town, Evie begins a search (even though Aunt Des’s only strict rule is to stay out of the slaughterhouse!)
It’s here that Evie meets The Clackity, a strange creature living in the shadows and speaking in riddles, who strikes a “good and fair deal” to help get Des back …in exchange for the ghost of Blight Harbor’s infamous serial killer, John Jeffrey Pope.
Evie’s journey leads her to a row of seven houses: she must find the key to each and enter, where she encounters hungry witches and penny-eyed ghosts as the serial killer pursues her, hoping to add Evie to his twisted collection.
I mean, just writing that summary out makes me think, “How in the world was this a middle grade novel??!” but somehow it works well with spooky Coraline vibes and the atmosphere was pitch-perfect. I absolutely loved this book and have no doubt that my ten-year-old self would’ve devoured it, too!
Thanks to Atheneum Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The Clackity is scheduled for release on June 28, 2022.
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
Evie lives in Blight Harbor (the seventh-most haunted town in America) with her Aunt Desdemona, who happens to be the local paranormal expert. When Aunt Des goes missing at the abandoned slaughterhouse on the edge of town, Evie begins a search (even though Aunt Des’s only strict rule is to stay out of the slaughterhouse!)
It’s here that Evie meets The Clackity, a strange creature living in the shadows and speaking in riddles, who strikes a “good and fair deal” to help get Des back …in exchange for the ghost of Blight Harbor’s infamous serial killer, John Jeffrey Pope.
Evie’s journey leads her to a row of seven houses: she must find the key to each and enter, where she encounters hungry witches and penny-eyed ghosts as the serial killer pursues her, hoping to add Evie to his twisted collection.
I mean, just writing that summary out makes me think, “How in the world was this a middle grade novel??!” but somehow it works well with spooky Coraline vibes and the atmosphere was pitch-perfect. I absolutely loved this book and have no doubt that my ten-year-old self would’ve devoured it, too!
Thanks to Atheneum Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The Clackity is scheduled for release on June 28, 2022.
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
March 21, 2025
Reread 2025 - rereading to read the whole trilogy since I just got book three!
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Rtc! (SO STINKIN CUTE!!!!!)
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→The Clackity←
Author: Lora Senf
Genre: Children's horror
Age Rating: 12+
Spice: 0🌶/5
Content Warnings: horror, a little creepy
Will I read more books by this author if they have any? Yeah!
~Thoughts~
⟶Evie⟵
Such an amazing character!!! Evie had such depth and personality. She has panic attacks, but doesn’t want to talk about them. She is written so well to be a relatable character and super fun to go through the story with!
I loved the little illustrations throughout the book, they added so much charm and helped with the imagination!! The Clackity was a well-written character that was spooky but still almost a fun character! (i am probably just crazy lol)
–Quotes–
I couldn’t see her face, but the terror in my aunt’s voice told me everything I needed to know.
Desdemona was gone. My aunt, my best person, my everyone was gone. But the thing in the churning shadows was still there.
“Oh, pretty girl child with the pretty wheat-penny hair. We wouldn’t hurt her yet. We will call her Pretty Penny and she will call us The Clackity. We will talk and make a good, fair deal.”
Here’s the thing: witches might eat you, but other than that, they generally respected your boundaries.
I sat for a few minutes, slowly unwrapping the fingers of a panic attack from around my brain and lungs, recovering from whatever had happened to me at the edge of the sky.
————————
Rtc! (SO STINKIN CUTE!!!!!)
-----------------------
→The Clackity←
Author: Lora Senf
Genre: Children's horror
Age Rating: 12+
Spice: 0🌶/5
Content Warnings: horror, a little creepy
Will I read more books by this author if they have any? Yeah!
~Thoughts~
⟶Evie⟵
Such an amazing character!!! Evie had such depth and personality. She has panic attacks, but doesn’t want to talk about them. She is written so well to be a relatable character and super fun to go through the story with!
I loved the little illustrations throughout the book, they added so much charm and helped with the imagination!! The Clackity was a well-written character that was spooky but still almost a fun character! (i am probably just crazy lol)
–Quotes–
I couldn’t see her face, but the terror in my aunt’s voice told me everything I needed to know.
Desdemona was gone. My aunt, my best person, my everyone was gone. But the thing in the churning shadows was still there.
“Oh, pretty girl child with the pretty wheat-penny hair. We wouldn’t hurt her yet. We will call her Pretty Penny and she will call us The Clackity. We will talk and make a good, fair deal.”
Here’s the thing: witches might eat you, but other than that, they generally respected your boundaries.
I sat for a few minutes, slowly unwrapping the fingers of a panic attack from around my brain and lungs, recovering from whatever had happened to me at the edge of the sky.
Read
July 3, 2022Dnf 34%
October 11, 2022
Spooky, thrilling, and fun! and the mention of John Bellairs's books in this was an awesome touch.
October 4, 2023
Perfect for #SpookySeason, this creepy, middle grade fantasy/mystery sees Evie, an orphan girl who lives in the seventh most haunted town in America, Blight Harbor, battle a toothy monster in an attempt to rescue her missing Aunt. Great on audio and highly recommended for fans of Garth Nix or Katherine Arden's Small spaces series. I'm excited to see what happens to Penny in the next book!!
April 5, 2022
My 10-year-old and I both read this. Her opinion probably matters the most, since she's in the book's target demographic and all, and she loved it (gobbled it all up in one afternoon). She didn't find it scary, which was a plus in her mind as she's not fond of scary books, and thought it was very original.
I'm not so sure on that last point. Reviewers are comparing The Clackity to Coraline, which is fair, because in both books a spunky female protagonist must rescue her parental figure(s) from a creepy, slightly-off version of our world using her wits and a few supernatural gifts, with the help of an animal companion, while avoiding creepy bad guys with weird eyes. And the fact that Neil Gaiman also has a creepy short story called Click-Clack the Rattlebag...it feels a little derivative, right?
But I'm being nit-picky. It was a cute story, gently and respectfully handling heavy topics like grief and faith. The illustrations are fantastic, and it's just the right amount of spooky for kids who don't want to have trouble falling asleep later. Nothing is too lurid and the child's own imagination supplies most of the tension. It's a keeper.
(I received this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway.)
I'm not so sure on that last point. Reviewers are comparing The Clackity to Coraline, which is fair, because in both books a spunky female protagonist must rescue her parental figure(s) from a creepy, slightly-off version of our world using her wits and a few supernatural gifts, with the help of an animal companion, while avoiding creepy bad guys with weird eyes. And the fact that Neil Gaiman also has a creepy short story called Click-Clack the Rattlebag...it feels a little derivative, right?
But I'm being nit-picky. It was a cute story, gently and respectfully handling heavy topics like grief and faith. The illustrations are fantastic, and it's just the right amount of spooky for kids who don't want to have trouble falling asleep later. Nothing is too lurid and the child's own imagination supplies most of the tension. It's a keeper.
(I received this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway.)
January 22, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up? I felt it was a little wordy in places.
But the illustrations were lovely. The tone really kind of wholesome for a horror book. Not too scary but kinda creepy.
My daughter and I both enjoyed it, for the most part.
Will probably check out book 2!
But the illustrations were lovely. The tone really kind of wholesome for a horror book. Not too scary but kinda creepy.
My daughter and I both enjoyed it, for the most part.
Will probably check out book 2!
November 1, 2023
I just feel like Evie didn’t really do anything herself
November 5, 2023
I was bored. She’s already left my brain. Poof.
November 2, 2023
I loved the world more than I could ever care for the girl.
bonus points for the alliteration & ghosties.
bonus points for the alliteration & ghosties.
July 4, 2022
A spooky middle-grade ghost story about a young girl who enters a haunted abattoir to rescue her aunt from the ghost of a serial killer
November 15, 2023
This was our Halloween read aloud this year. I was worried it'd be too scary and it definitely was a bit creepy but no one ever felt scared by it.
July 8, 2022
This isn't quite what I thought or hoped it would be.. However it is a very unique twist on a haunted house. I don't think I've read about a haunted house like this but it was very entertaining and fun.
Although there were spooky elements, it wasn't as spooky as I expected it to be. I've read middle grade books creepier than this one. So with that being said, I think this is a great starter book for anyone interested not just in getting into spooky middle grade but horror in general.
I also think my enjoyment of this book would have been a lot better had I read it physically rather than listening to the audio book. 🤷🏼♀️ But it was still an enjoyable read and I do recommend.
Although there were spooky elements, it wasn't as spooky as I expected it to be. I've read middle grade books creepier than this one. So with that being said, I think this is a great starter book for anyone interested not just in getting into spooky middle grade but horror in general.
I also think my enjoyment of this book would have been a lot better had I read it physically rather than listening to the audio book. 🤷🏼♀️ But it was still an enjoyable read and I do recommend.
July 15, 2022
The Clackity was the cozy, spooky book I needed. The cover is amazing and really does the story and vibe of the book justice.
Evie lives in Blight Harbor with her Aunt Desdemona who is a Paranormal expert. One day her Aunt goes missing and it's up to Evie to find and rescue her. I don't want to give too much away as it's best to go in not knowing a lot.
This book talks about anxiety in a relateable, clever way. I would have loved having a book like this in my younger years.
The town of Blight Harbor and the characters were my favorite parts of the book. The atmosphere was spooky and creepy at times but, there was such heart that I can't help, but feel cozy after reading this.
So glad I took a chance on this book and I hope there are more books set in this world in the future.
Evie lives in Blight Harbor with her Aunt Desdemona who is a Paranormal expert. One day her Aunt goes missing and it's up to Evie to find and rescue her. I don't want to give too much away as it's best to go in not knowing a lot.
This book talks about anxiety in a relateable, clever way. I would have loved having a book like this in my younger years.
The town of Blight Harbor and the characters were my favorite parts of the book. The atmosphere was spooky and creepy at times but, there was such heart that I can't help, but feel cozy after reading this.
So glad I took a chance on this book and I hope there are more books set in this world in the future.
February 9, 2025
This is a perfect book for spooky season. It’s a middle grade book, but some of the parts were pretty scary to me! I think this would’ve been too scary for me as a kid, but it’s the right level of scary for me now. This was such a compelling story; I wanted to keep listening/turning the pages. The audiobook narrator, Kimberly Woods, is great, but the print book has some wonderful illustrations, so you’ll win with either version.
UPDATE: After the second read, I really think this is a good book for kids to explore horrible concepts and get a little thrill. Senf balances providing the scary things some kids crave within safe boundaries.
UPDATE: After the second read, I really think this is a good book for kids to explore horrible concepts and get a little thrill. Senf balances providing the scary things some kids crave within safe boundaries.
December 3, 2024
oh man i love middle grade horror/spooky books a lot its just the writing style on this one was not my favorite
May 27, 2022
Absolutely adored this creepy middle grade horror adventure from author Lora Senf!
Giving vibes of Coraline and a studio ghibli movie, The Clackity transports you to a town you almost recognize, and then to another world you recognize from your nightmares.
Haunting but grounded from likable heroine Evie, you will remember this story long after you close the book. Also loved the illustrations throughout!
Now excuse me, I need to go get a sparrow tattoo.
Giving vibes of Coraline and a studio ghibli movie, The Clackity transports you to a town you almost recognize, and then to another world you recognize from your nightmares.
Haunting but grounded from likable heroine Evie, you will remember this story long after you close the book. Also loved the illustrations throughout!
Now excuse me, I need to go get a sparrow tattoo.
May 24, 2022
Full review to come closer to publication!
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