You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
I was probably about 10 the first time I picked this up. Then I read it a squillion times. Now I just read it again, as an adult, and I'm pleasantly surprised how well it holds up. 5 teens thrown into a room with nothing but stairs, as far as they can climb in any direction, plus one landing with a little machine on it. The machine will dispense food occasionally, if the teens do exactly what they're supposed to--a series of coordinated movements, from a complicated dance to assaulting each other. But maybe there's a way to beat the machine. Maybe there's a point to all of it. Or maybe there's not.
This isn't quite as gripping or fast-paced as I remember it being, possibly because I've read an awful lot more psychological thrillers since being 10 years old, but the ideas are still pretty sharp. And it was still compelling. And, let's face it--it's stuck in my head well enough over these past 20 years that I can recite the final creepy line from memory, and that's not something you can do with a forgettable book.
This isn't quite as gripping or fast-paced as I remember it being, possibly because I've read an awful lot more psychological thrillers since being 10 years old, but the ideas are still pretty sharp. And it was still compelling. And, let's face it--it's stuck in my head well enough over these past 20 years that I can recite the final creepy line from memory, and that's not something you can do with a forgettable book.
This book was honestly chilling. I saw where it was going and it still effected me pretty deeply.
This book is incredibly creepy. The writing style is very simplistic (from what I understand the author is a favorite among reluctant readers) but the story is fast paced. It's pretty disturbing, so I wouldn't recommend it to anyone squeamish, but the protagonists are really good strong characters. I'm guessing most adults could get through this in no more than 2 hours.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I especially enjoyed the traffic lights at the end.
I remembered they were coming, and they did not disappoint.
I remembered they were coming, and they did not disappoint.
I think I picked this up at a book sale or a thrift store a couple of years ago and just decided to grab it off my shelf the other day. I get why, now, it's a cult classic. Wow. This book is nuts and I loved it. I will forever think "stairs and beef jerky".
First of all, teenagers in the late 70's and early 80's were badass. I already knew this from reading The Outsiders and every Kristy McNicol movie ever but damn. The five 16-year-olds trapped in the house of stairs are mini-adults. I can totally see Matt Dillon playing Oliver and C. Thomas Howell playing Peter in my head.
I was fascinated by everything Sleator WASN'T telling us: What was the world outside like? What the hell is up with Peter's "trances"?
This is a psychological study of 5 people who are thrown together in a giant space made of staircases, a flowing toilet, and a red machine that dispenses meat pellets-sometimes. Imagine if one of the teens had been vegetarian? Lol. It gets crazy. I found it to be borderline sinister because Sleator has this cut and dry, straight style of writing. The characters really reveal themselves via their actions. We are rarely in their heads.
This book brings up some very interesting questions. It also wraps up with a conclusion I didn't see coming. I wonder if it inspired The Maze Runner?
Now I must hunt down the rest of Sleator's works.
First of all, teenagers in the late 70's and early 80's were badass. I already knew this from reading The Outsiders and every Kristy McNicol movie ever but damn. The five 16-year-olds trapped in the house of stairs are mini-adults. I can totally see Matt Dillon playing Oliver and C. Thomas Howell playing Peter in my head.
I was fascinated by everything Sleator WASN'T telling us: What was the world outside like? What the hell is up with Peter's "trances"?
This is a psychological study of 5 people who are thrown together in a giant space made of staircases, a flowing toilet, and a red machine that dispenses meat pellets-sometimes. Imagine if one of the teens had been vegetarian? Lol. It gets crazy. I found it to be borderline sinister because Sleator has this cut and dry, straight style of writing. The characters really reveal themselves via their actions. We are rarely in their heads.
This book brings up some very interesting questions. It also wraps up with a conclusion I didn't see coming. I wonder if it inspired The Maze Runner?
Now I must hunt down the rest of Sleator's works.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Confinement, Fatphobia
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Violence
Minor: Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent
I read this book for the two Young Adult Dystopia Reading Challenges that I'm participating in for the next few months. Ann Kingman from Books on the Nightstand talked about this book during the podcast where she introduced the challenge and I thought it sounded intriguing. It sounded vaguely familiar but I had not read it when I was younger.
This was a very quick read and it is written in a very simplistic style. But, the content is incredibly creepy and disturbing. As I read the book, I sometimes felt a bit claustrophobic, imagining a world of stairs all around me. Very creepy.In addition to the creepy factor, I loved how it also intertwined a very clear message without feeling didactic. I remember being a pre-teen/teenager and being amazed at how cruel the other kids could be to each other and how difficult it can be to rise above that with the pressure there is to 'go with the crowd.'
The idea of a house of stairs with a small machine conditioning kids to behave in a certain way is rather creative and an interesting world to be involved in during the read. I enjoyed the psychological aspects of the novel and how the author introduces them to the young adult reader throughout the novel.
I'd definitely recommend this to young adults because it has a very interesting story that is both compelling and educational. I also think this might be a good book to give a reluctant reader as its very simplistic and might draw in those who aren't as compelled to read on their own.
This was a very quick read and it is written in a very simplistic style. But, the content is incredibly creepy and disturbing. As I read the book, I sometimes felt a bit claustrophobic, imagining a world of stairs all around me. Very creepy.In addition to the creepy factor, I loved how it also intertwined a very clear message without feeling didactic. I remember being a pre-teen/teenager and being amazed at how cruel the other kids could be to each other and how difficult it can be to rise above that with the pressure there is to 'go with the crowd.'
The idea of a house of stairs with a small machine conditioning kids to behave in a certain way is rather creative and an interesting world to be involved in during the read. I enjoyed the psychological aspects of the novel and how the author introduces them to the young adult reader throughout the novel.
I'd definitely recommend this to young adults because it has a very interesting story that is both compelling and educational. I also think this might be a good book to give a reluctant reader as its very simplistic and might draw in those who aren't as compelled to read on their own.
I think I read this book more than 20 years ago, as a fairly young girl. I've been trying to remember the name for years, and much to my delight, I just saw it in the "What's the name of that book??" group discussion.
I have a terrible memory, so the fact that I have remembered this book so vividly for so long is truly amazing. I even remember the last sentence!
I have to give a book that stays with me so long 5 stars, even though at the time I read it I probably would have given it 4 because it really disturbed me.
I have a terrible memory, so the fact that I have remembered this book so vividly for so long is truly amazing. I even remember the last sentence!
I have to give a book that stays with me so long 5 stars, even though at the time I read it I probably would have given it 4 because it really disturbed me.