Common Sense Media Review
By Myiesha Speight
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Simple and beautifully written horror story about family.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In GALLANT, orphaned Olivia Prior has lived at the Merliance School for Independent Girls for as long as she could remember. She remembers nothing about her father, and the only thing she has from her mother is a journal filled with ink illustrations and entries to a mysterious you. One day, Olivia gets a letter from her uncle inviting her to Gallant, the Prior family estate. But when she arrives at Gallant she finds out that no one's expecting her. She meets the caretakers, Hannah and Edgar, as well as her cousin Matthew, who for some reason wants her gone. Soon Olivia discovers a family secret, a curse that has left Matthew and Olivia as the only surviving members. There are two Gallants, one is the shadow of the other. The Master of the House from the other Gallant wants to get to this side, and he needs Olivia to help him. Will she be able to keep The Master from escaping and protect her new home and family?
Is It Any Good?
This haunting fantasy is a beautifully written and atmospheric piece of work. The metaphors and descriptions in Gallant do a great job of creating a spooky atmosphere. The ink illustrations from Olivia's mom's journal are a mystery in themselves. Readers can try to figure what the images represent. The mysterious dark splotches also add to the ghoulish atmosphere.
The pacing of the story takes a back seat to the descriptions, so it feels like there's long stretches with not much happening. Though there isn't edge-of-your-seat, fast-paced action, there are suspenseful moments in Olivia's confrontations with the Master of the House.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about communication in Gallant. Olivia is unable to talk to people, so she finds other ways to communicate. How does her inability to communicate affect how she sees herself and her interactions with others? What can we learn about communication from Olivia, her attempts to communicate with people, and their attempts to understand her?
A girl at the Merilance School bullied Olivia and she responded with violence. What are some nonviolent ways she could've responded with instead?
Doors and what they represent are a prominent theme in Gallant. Why are doors significant? How would you describe what doors represent, both in the book and in your life?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Manuel Sumberac
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Greenwillow Books
- Publication date : March 1, 2022
- Number of pages : 352
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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