mrs_mander_reads
Written on Jul 6, 2017
In 1899, a twelve-year-old rat catcher on North Carolina's Biltmore estate teams up with the estate owner's young nephew to battle a great evil and, in the process, unlocks the puzzle of her past.
- ISBN10 1484709012
- ISBN13 9781484709016
- Publish Date 14 July 2015
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Disney Hyperion
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 304
- Language English
- URL https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9781484709016
Reviews
inlibrisveritas
Written on Sep 29, 2015
Serafina is a unique little girl who prowls the grounds of Biltmore while everyone else is asleep. She looks a bit different than most, has too few toes and bones, and can hunt rats better than any cat. She’s spunky, curious, smart and brave; and being inside her mind was a real treat. I loved how innocent she is but how well she understands surviving, she knows how to be a predator but this book shows her what it’s like to be prey. Her story is one of courage and self acceptance, and I really loved seeing her learn what it’s like to be a friend and how to celebrate her differences instead of fear them. Braedon was a great counterpoint to her wildness, with his calm demeanor and well mannered ways, but I do wish we would have been able to spend more time with him as I felt I didn’t quite get to see what he was like without Serafina around.
I really loved the way this one was written. It has an almost light nature to it at times, but the detail and wording was so perfect that it could turn chilling and scary in an instant. I will say that while this is definitely a middle grade novel, it is more of a horror novel and I would only feel comfortable giving it to a more mature middle grade readers as opposed to the younger end. Overall I really loved it though, and it made me remember why Middle Grade is such a fantastic age range for reading.
tweetybugshouse
Written on Jul 28, 2015
lindsey
Written on Jun 21, 2015
Serafina lives in the basement of the Biltmore Estate with her father. Though she's the C.R.C., an important job, according to Serafina's father, no one else in the manor even knows she exists. She can move throughout the manor without being noticed, and she is usually content to watch the residents without being discovered. Lately, however, she has wondered what it would be like to have someone besides her father to talk to for a change.
One night, while carrying out her C.R.C duties, she witnesses something disturbing. A man in a black cloak chases a little girl down to the basement. After he captures her, she disappears into the cloak. Serafina manages to escape, but her father doesn't believe her tale. As more children start to disappear, she decides she must do something to help, even if she has to finally reveal herself to the inhabitants of Biltmore Estate.
Serafina and the Black Cloak is an intriguing and eerie story. Though marketed as a children's book, I think this would probably be better for older middle-grade readers. However, it would depend on the individual child. There are some dark and intense moments which might be too much for some younger readers.
Serafina and the Black Cloak is remarkably written, the characters are interesting, the plot is original, and the setting is delightfully ominous.
I would recommend this for middle-grade readers who enjoy well-written stories with just a touch of supernatural mystery.
limabean74
Written on Jun 11, 2015
cornerfolds
Written on May 31, 2015
Middle grade books are not regular fare for me, but when I saw the cover of Serafina and the Black Cloak, I just HAD to know more! And when I found out it was a "spooky mystery-thriller" with the Biltmore Estate as its setting I was all but jumping up and down in anticipation! The premise of this book is so exciting and unique and I had to know what was going on with the Man in the Black Cloak!
---Characters---
The main character is, as you may have guessed, Serafina. She lives in the basement of the Biltmore Estate with her Pa, and has for as long as she can remember. Serafina is also the Biltmore's Chief Rat Catcher, which she is actually amazing at because of her amazing senses and cat-like reflexes. Unfortunately, her Pa won't let her interact with anyone, mostly because he'll lose his job if it's discovered that he's been mooching in a basement for years with his kid. Eventually, though, it was bound to happen. Serafina meets two individuals - the Man in the Black Cloak and Braeden, the nephew of the Vanderbuilts, who own the home.
I absolutely loved every character I met in this book! Serafina was so unique and all of her quirks really came across in the writing. Every strange thing about her was written so nonchalantly as if it was no big deal at all that she only had eight toes. I loved the way she saw the world and the people in it. She was incredibly intelligent and brave throughout the book, taking on baddies that I would run from!
Braeden was another really fun character. I wish a little more had been revealed about his unique ability to communicate with animals, but he was a fantastic character even without that. I enjoyed watching him befriend Serafina and help her in solving the mystery.
The Man in the Black Cloak was sufficiently elusive and terrifying! It was so scary to read about his levitating pursuits and the abilities his cloak gave him. I don't want to give away too much, but this guy is honestly more creepy than some Big Bads I've read about in adult horror!
---Setting---
Having this story take place at the Biltmore Estate was brilliant! It's not very often that I read a book set in a location I'm familiar with, so I expect this must be how people who live in big cities feel since there are books set in Chicago and New York all the time. I've never actually been inside the Biltmore, but I was planning to get married there once, so I know a little.
I loved learning little tidbits about the house itself. Following Serafina around in secret passages made me really want to go do some sneaking of my own to see if they're all really there! The descriptions of some of the rooms in the house were spectacular as well. Now I'm really considering taking a visit before I move out of state next year!
The locations outside the house were equally amazing! I especially loved the graveyard and the path leading to it. It felt incredibly spooky! As did most of the locations, really.
---Plot---
There are actually two separate mysteries going on here. The first is obviously who the Man in the Black Cloak is and what he's done with the children who've gone missing. The second is who Serafina's mother is. I had a pretty good idea about the mother about halfway through, but the Man was a different story.
This was a mystery that was actually quite mysterious, which is not always the case when it comes to the mystery genre. I was pretty surprised to be 60% through the book and still not have it figured out. I thought that it would be pretty simple, being written for a much younger audience, but Robert Beatty really did a wonderful job!
My only tiny issue is the way the book is written, but I kept reminding myself that it's written for twelve-year-olds!
---In Closing---
Even though Serafina has not been shelved as "horror" very often, that's what I'm calling it. Quite frankly, it was horrifying! And I loved it! Overall, this book was freaking amazing! I've already recommended it to quite a few people and now I'm recommending it to anyone who is a lover of mystery, thrillers, or horror (as long as you don't mind middle-grade writing)!