Gallowgate cover

Reading Metrics

Grade Level Middle Grades (MG 4-8)
Book Level 5.3
Points 12.0
Fiction/Nonfiction Fiction
Word Count 79998
Points per Word 0.00015
Page Count 352
Points per Page 0.034091

Description

Sixth-grader Sebastian Wight is cursed with the ability to see the dead, but now a nasty spirit, the shadowman, is determined to claim him for the dead. Text contains violence, bullying and disturbing imagery.

Quick Summary

Sebastian Wight is a sixth-grader who can see dead people, and his ordinary life quickly turns into a nightmare when a vengeful spirit called the shadowman starts hunting him. The story mixes everyday middle-grade concerns friendship, school drama, and bullying with genuinely creepy supernatural stakes, so readers get both heart-pounding scares and laugh-out-loud moments as Sebastian tries to outwit the shadowman and protect his friends. If you enjoy stories like "The Night Gardener" or the spooky-but-fun vibe of the "Goosebumps" series, you'll probably love this one, especially if you're into mysteries with a hint of dark humor. Parents should know that the book contains some violence, a bully subplot, and a few graphic ghost scenes, so it's best for kids who can handle a moderate level of creepiness. The plot is driven by Sebastian's clever problem-solving and his growing confidence, making the scares feel earned rather than gratuitous, and the final showdown is both thrilling and satisfying.