Room of Shadows

Gr 4–6—Kidd's latest historical fiction novel mixes the macabre world of gothic horror with middle school angst. After David Cray's dad ran off to New York, David and his mother were forced to move into an old spooky house in Baltimore. When David's anger bubbles up and leaves a classmate injured, he is grounded and discovers a mysterious room. There he finds inspiration and an outlet for his rage. Strange mishaps start occurring all around the school. David and his only friend, Libby, must establish whether these events are just horrible coincidences or if something else escaped from the Room of Shadows. There are numerous references to Edgar Allan Poe's famous stories throughout. The action scenes are appropriately horrific but never overly gory. David's anger and isolation are relatable, and his relationships with Libby and his mother are realistic and well grounded. Kidd's attempts at bringing Poe into David's reality are forced at times, but the lush descriptions of the classic horror author's life and tales more than make up for this flaw.