Darkness at Dreamer Mountain

Abandoned theme park Dreamer Mountain, located north of Toronto, looms like “an enchanted kingdom/ picked to its bones/ by the vultures/ of time.” After having been in operation for decades, the park closed following the emergence of an ethereal hum and visitors’ experiencing macabre visions. Now the small film crew of TV show Shiver Search determines to investigate the defunct attraction, where legend says a person’s deepest fears become manifest. Tagging along is the military veteran showrunner’s nephew Teddy, 13, who’s navigating complex emotions surrounding changing familial dynamics with his mother and stepfather, and the imminent arrival of his yet-to-be-born sister. Upon entering the park, the crew’s Electronic Voice Phenomena device explodes, and their nightmare begins. Terrors abound, the worst of which is an entity dubbed Mr. Pangolin, whose “twiggy fingers/ unfurled/ like talons./ Tickling the dark.” Chronicling paranormal activity no longer matters—Teddy and the crew’s only goal is to escape alive. In this pulse-pounding read, Wolf (Moving Through Walls) rachets up tension using visceral verse that renders Teddy’s at-home challenges as palpably arresting as the park’s frightening horrors. Teddy is depicted as white on the cover. Ages 10–13. (Apr.)