Sunday, August 22, 2004
The Game of Sunken Places by M.T. Anderson
The Game of Sunken Places is a scary book. Opposite but complementary friends, Gregory and Brian, are invited to Strange Uncle Max's creepy mansion for a two week vacation. Though the audience yells at them not to go, they go. Though the villagers warn them away, they step into the quickly locked carriage. Though they are asked to change into clothing better suited for an earlier century and their own clothing is incinerated, they do no more than ask a cursory question.
Things get stranger. The boys are drawn into an unexplained game where they must choose and complete different tasks while competing against a creepy stranger who plays with knives. Sweet Cousin Prudence seems to something of what is happening but is unable to aide them. The game is a mix of fairy and techno with a little horror thrown in; there are trolls, world gates, different alien species battling, and time travel. Will they survive the game? Can they rescue Prudence from the drudgery of Uncle Max' house?
I would recommend this to middle school readers who like solving puzzles and don't mind the creepiness and tension of a knife weilding villain chasing you over the rain slicked roof of a mansion.
Things get stranger. The boys are drawn into an unexplained game where they must choose and complete different tasks while competing against a creepy stranger who plays with knives. Sweet Cousin Prudence seems to something of what is happening but is unable to aide them. The game is a mix of fairy and techno with a little horror thrown in; there are trolls, world gates, different alien species battling, and time travel. Will they survive the game? Can they rescue Prudence from the drudgery of Uncle Max' house?
I would recommend this to middle school readers who like solving puzzles and don't mind the creepiness and tension of a knife weilding villain chasing you over the rain slicked roof of a mansion.
# posted by JJ @ 7:34 PM 
