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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
Quick easy read with a very simplistic plot. Intriguing enough that it kept me reading, but nothing groundbreaking. Would probably be good for a tween with an interest in horror.
I really didn't care for this one. There are some good things sprinkled here and there, but not enough to make up for the rest of the rushed, slipshod story. Harvey acts way older than his age of 10. The relationships are rushed, the villains not nearly fleshed out enough for the reader to be afraid of them. The children are all stolen from different time periods in the past, but what time periods? What do they remember? What was their life like? Why did they go to the Holiday House? These questions are never answered, and the only children Barker scratches the surface of are Lulu and Wendall, and we don't even know much about them. There's no development of friendships or characters, here. We don't even truly know what Hood is capable of. Sure, he provides gifts the children want and he can control the seasons. What else? In order for the reader to be truly afraid of a villain, you need to know the extent of their evil and what they are capable of. Can an entity that evil and that old be tricked by a ten year old? Highly doubtful. We see a little of the house and the grounds, but again, Barker only scratches the surface. Tell me more about the house. Tell me more about Hood and his goonies. Have Harvey stumble upon something in the attic that reveals something about his past or the nature of his character. Or belongings from past children. There's nothing, and we're told everything, not shown. The "plot twist" with the fish in the pond you could see from space. My ten year old figured it out before it was revealed.
There's some good stuff here, but it desperately needs to be elaborated on. There's too much here that we're left in the dark about. I wasn't impressed.
There's some good stuff here, but it desperately needs to be elaborated on. There's too much here that we're left in the dark about. I wasn't impressed.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
I first bought this book in a sixth-grade book sale. I just picked it up from the library and read it today. So it either took me one day or eighteen years to read. Either way, it reminded me of a much darker and scarier Never-ending Story. I like it very much.
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This book!It's so freakin amazing and it'll keep you guessing until the end!Baffling and Hauntingly creepy, with so many scary pics in the books!Mystery and Horror lovers will dig into this book!I give this book a 10 out of 10
Harvey is a 10-year-old boy who is bored with life. When a man named Rictus flies up to Harvey's window to tell him about a magical paradise for children, he jumps at the chance to go. At the Holiday House they experience all of the seasons in a day, every day is Christmas, and every night is Halloween. Harvey makes friends with other children at the house, and they eat all of the junk food they want. It isn't long before the children start to get suspicious, and suspect a darker side to the Holiday House.
I read this book originally in high school, and read it again every few years. It's one of my favorites of all time. If you enjoy dark fantasy, you will enjoy this book.
I read this book originally in high school, and read it again every few years. It's one of my favorites of all time. If you enjoy dark fantasy, you will enjoy this book.
This was a fine Young Reader book. I don't think I would call it Young Adult because it isn't quite at that level but I still found it fun. I would put it in the same category as maybe "Coraline" by Neil Gaiman if not as scary. It would make a good Halloween TV movie or cartoon. Would really love to see it animated.
This is my second favorite all time book. Amazing story and very fun. Kind of like Harry Potter before Harry Potter even existed. But better.