Fiction Book Review

Title of Book: Serafina and the Black Cloak

Author: Robert Beatty

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.

Year: 2015

ISBN: 978-1-338-03765-4

Format: Print; paperback

Summary:  In this fantasy set in the famous Biltmore Estate, an odd little girl named Serafina must come to terms with her true identity, figure out why children keep disappearing from the estate, and ultimately defeat the creature in the Black Cloak. Her adventures teach her about friendship, courage, and self-acceptance.

Audience: According to the School Library Journal, this novel is intended for students grades 5-7. The vocabulary, plot sequencing, themes, and general content support this categorization. The story's protagonist is a 12-year-old girl who undergoes a coming-of-age experience (although highly magical and fantastic) that has components to which "tweens" could relate. 

Strengths: The story's strengths largely lay in its fast-paced, "who-dunnit" plot, imaginative characters, and magical elements. The following bullet points highlight some areas of unique interest that are bound to attract young readers:

• Serafina has golden eyes, 4 toes on each feet, an exceptional ability to see at night, a keen sense of predator/prey relationships, and is the chief "rat-catcher" at the estate. (What a cool protagonist!)
• The black cloak "absorbs" its victims and lures them into its trap by urging them to try it on (much like the ring of power in Tolkien's trilogy).
• Catamount: A large, wild cat that also transforms into a human being (Serafina's mother is one--a key element in explaining her childhood mysteries...)
• The Vanderbilt family: They are famous, highly interesting, and supremely rich. Braeden, their nephew, soon befriends Serafina, which introduces a theme of friendship, perhaps a bit of young love, and adds some interesting ideas that deal with class issues.
• The many guests and employees staying at the estate throughout the novel: Mr. Thorne, Mr. Crankshod, Mr. and Mrs. Brahms, Mr. Rostonova, Mr. Bendel. The array of guests and their talented children add suspense to the novel since the reader must try to figure out which person is guilty of the abductions. The large estate and its many guests is reminiscent of Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians and the popular board game Clue. 

Another strength for some readers is the potential familiarity they may have with the Biltmore Estate, the French Broad River, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and Asheville in general. 

Weaknesses: The novel's greatest weaknesses involve gaps of logic and relationships that are underdeveloped:

• Braeden's relationship with the Vanderbilt's is not developed, so their concern for him at the end of the novel is a stretch.
• Serafina's limited childhood experiences that confine her to hiding in the estate hardly prepare her for the level of problem-solving and social interaction with which she engages.
• Serafina's relationship with her Pa needs some work. Pa is quite short and harsh with Serafina. A more sympathetic father figure would help explain why Serafina longs to find her way home after getting lost in the woods.
• The whole Catamount concept is underdeveloped. The last two chapters of the novel introduce the most magical elements and ask readers to seriously suspend judgment for the story's resolution. 

Programming Connections: This novel would pair well with nonfiction studies on the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville, and the Biltmore Estate since it references those settings and introduces a bit of folklore with the catamount. It would also work well in an exercise where students are learning about and working with various genres. For example, would students classify this novel as fantasy or historical fiction? 

Read-a-Likes: 
Some similar titles to Serafina and the Black Cloak include the following:

• Calpurnia Tate (Evolution of and Curious World of)
• The Accidental Afterlife of Thomas Marsden
• Nooks and Crannies
• Book Scavenger series
• Wollstonecraft Detective Agency series
• Twelve Minutes to Midnight series
• Gabriel Finley and the Raven's Riddle
• The Jumbies
• A Curious Tale of the In-Between

 * There is also a sequel, which is Serafina and the Twisted Staff.
Awards:
Serafina and the Black Cloak has received the following:

• NYT, Barnes and Noble, USA Today, and Publisher's Weekly Bestseller Lists
• #1 Middle Grade Novel of 2015 by Goodreads
• OKRA Pick for "best Southern literature" by Southern Independent Booksellers Association 
• Favorable reviews from Kirkus, Publisher's Weekly, School Library Journal, and Historical Novel Society
• Amazon Bestseller for mysteries, historical fiction, and spine-tingling tales categories
• Nominated for SIBA Pat Conroy Book Prize  

Overall Rating:
On the whole, I would give this novel a 3.5 out of 5 stars. While it is certainly an entertaining and fun read, it lacks true depth when it comes to character development. It is more commercial fiction than true literature. Regardless, it is definitely a must-have for the library collection because of its mass appeal with young readers (as evidenced from so many best-seller lists).