Award-winning author Adam-Troy Castro evokes Roald Dahl and Tim Burton with this spooky favorite about a gloomy boy raised by shadows and his cheerful best friend who joins him on adventures.
THE GUSTAV GLOOM SERIES
by Adam-Troy Castro
illustrated by Kristen Margiotta
Grosset & Dunlap, 2012-2016
(via JABberwocky)
Book 1: GUSTAV GLOOM AND THE PEOPLE TAKER – August 2012
Fernie What finds herself lost in the Gloom mansion after her cat appears to have been chased there by its own shadow. Fernie discovers a library full of every book that was never written, a gallery of statues that are just plain awkward, and finds herself at dinner watching her own shadow take part in the feast!
Along the way Fernie is chased by the People Taker who is determined to take her to the Shadow Country. It’s up to Fernie and Gustav to stop the People Taker before he takes Fernie’s family.
Featuring a unique cover and beautifully dark full-page illustrations by Kristen Margiotta, Gustav Gloom is sure to be a hit with fans who love a little darkness in their lives.
• A Scholastic Book Fair selection, complete with animated promo video!
• Selected following a 25,000 copy initial special market sale to Scholastic
• An Amazon Best Book of the Month
• A Costco selection for Fall 2017
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adam-Troy Castro has said in interviews that he likes to jump genres and styles and has therefore refused to ever stay in place long enough to permit the unwanted existence of a creature that could be called a « typical » Adam-Troy Castro story. As a result, his short works range from the wild farce of his Vossoff and Nimmitz tales to the grim Nebula nominee « Of a Sweet Slow Dance in the Wake of Temporary Dogs. » His twenty prior books include a nonfiction analysis of the Harry Potter phenomenon, four Spider-Man adventures, and three novels about his interstellar murder investigator, Andrea Cort (including a winner of the Philip K. Dick Award, Emissaries from the Dead). Adam’s other award nominations include eight Nebulas, two Hugos, and three Stokers. Adam lives in Florida with his wife, Judi, and three insane cats named Uma Furman, Meow Farrow, and Harley Quinn.
Skylar’s got ambitious #goals. And if she wants them to come true, she has to get to work now. (At least she thinks so…) Step one in her epic plan is showing everyone that her latest app is brilliant. To do that, she’s going to use it to win State at the Scholastic Exposition, the nerdiest academic competition around. First, she’ll need a team, and Skylar’s not always so good with people. But she’ll do whatever it takes to put one together … even if it means playing Cupid for her teammates Joey and Zane, at Joey’s request. When things get off to an awkward start for them, Skylar finds herself stepping in to help Joey. Anything to keep her on the team. Only, Skylar seems to be making everything more complicated. Especially when she realizes she might be falling for Zane, which was not a #goal. Can Skylar figure out her feelings, prove her app’s potential to the world, and win State without losing her friends 
Readers will be taken on a riveting, chilling, and alluring adventure led by a shape shifting, mischief making creature who promises Melony the world and often delivers. But with that comes a price to pay, and readers will be shocked when they find out what that is!
A motley crew of ghosts, some friendly and others curmudgeonly, bring comic relief as Alice repairs the House. This suspenseful, action packed mystery will keep readers guessing as Alice uncovers the secrets of the House and its ghosts. A spooky yet heartwarming and funny tale that delivers just the right amount of spine tingling scares. Perfect for fans of Mary Downing Hahn and The Vanderbeekers series.