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A review by library_brandy
Blackbriar by William Sleator
3.0
I loved William Sleator's books as a kid, and I read this one several times, always hoping that it would finally make sense and be enjoyable. Thirty years later, it's perfectly understandable and I have no idea why I struggled.
Boy and guardian move to secluded country house that's been empty for ages; house has a Bad Vibe to it and townspeople refuse to talk about it; Boy researches and gets half the story; townspeople still creepy about the house; Bad Vibes take over; Boy and friend solve mystery and put an end to house shenanigans.
This book has atmosphere up the wazoo. What it lacks is. .. I don't really know. A compelling plot? Characters I care much about? A friend character who doesn't change from Strong Independent Girl to Simpering Damsel to contrast Boy's arc of growing independence and freedom (a heavy-handed metaphor for adolescence if ever there were one)?
So, yeah, I don't know why this never made sense to me. But I do understand why I never loved this one like I did House of Stairs.
Boy and guardian move to secluded country house that's been empty for ages; house has a Bad Vibe to it and townspeople refuse to talk about it; Boy researches and gets half the story; townspeople still creepy about the house; Bad Vibes take over; Boy and friend solve mystery and put an end to house shenanigans.
This book has atmosphere up the wazoo. What it lacks is. .. I don't really know. A compelling plot? Characters I care much about? A friend character who doesn't change from Strong Independent Girl to Simpering Damsel to contrast Boy's arc of growing independence and freedom (a heavy-handed metaphor for adolescence if ever there were one)?
So, yeah, I don't know why this never made sense to me. But I do understand why I never loved this one like I did House of Stairs.