Serafina and the Black Cloak
Common Sense says
- Robert Beatty
- Mystery
- 2015
Parents say
Kids say
Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Get it now on
Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...
A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Serafina and the Black Cloak is a dark thriller that takes place in 1899 North Carolina. Children at the wealthy Biltmore estate are being abducted during the night. The adults are terrified yet clueless; only 12-year-old Serafina, who lives secretly in the basement with her mechanic father, knows that a mysterious man in a black cloak is taking them. Serafina and Braeden, the estate owners' nephew, set out to solve the mystery and save the remaining children, including themselves. This scary story is not for the faint of heart; the abduction scenes are graphic as children scream out in terror and seemingly vanish into the foul-smelling cloak. Serafina and Braeden are often under attack from the man in the cloak and other supernatural beings.
Wondering if Serafina and the Black Cloak is OK for your kids?
Set preferences and get age-appropriate recommendations with Common Sense Media Plus. Join now
Stay up to date on new reviews.
User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
Nope!
Agree - BIG NOPE!
Amazing!
One of my favorite books, don't listen to weird adults who get nightmare easily...
What's the story?
Twelve-year-old Serafina, who lives in the boiler room in the basement of the wealthy Biltmore estate with her pa, longs to know the truth about her life: What happened to her mother, why she must stay hidden away, and whether -- with only eight toes and unusual golden eyes -- she isn't fully human. At night, Serafina stealthily walks about the mansion, borrowing books from the immense library and, as a self-appointed "Chief Rat Catcher," traps rats that roam the mansion. One night, she sees a mysterious and foul-smelling man in a black cloak abducting a child and making her vanish. Serafina, along with the Biltmore's owners' nephew Braeden, sets out to solve the mystery of the man -- and uncovers the truth of her own past in the process.
Is it any good?
This terrifying thriller is more than a great story; it's also a portrait of a brave, intelligent, and cunning girl. Despite a very difficult upbringing where she must stay hidden away, she's filled with compassion for the rich children who are in danger. With tantalizing clues dropped throughout, SERAFINA AND THE BLACK CLOAK is sure to appeal to mystery lovers and anyone who loves a good yarn -- and doesn't mind being scared!
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about scary stories. Why do we like them so much?
What are the ways that you feel different from other people?
Was Serafina's father right to hide the secret of her birth? Is it OK for parents not to tell the truth sometimes?
Book details
- Author: Robert Beatty
- Genre: Mystery
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Friendship, Great Girl Role Models, Misfits and Underdogs, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
- Publication date: July 14, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 293
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: January 30, 2019
Themes & Topics
For kids who love scary stories
Our editors recommend
Top advice and articles
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.