A casual yet crafty interplay of fantasy and sibling psychology: disturbing, funny, and occasionally even touching.
More wonderful weirdness from the author of Interstellar Pig and The Green Futures of Tycho.
Harry and Barry Krasner of Boston are 16-year-old identical twins; Barry is domineering, boastful, and hates being a twin; Harry (the narrator) is timid, thoughtful, and—despite everything—devoted to Barry. So, when the Krasner family inherits an old house in Illinois from a virtually forgotten great-uncle, Barry immediately comes up with a plan for the twins to spend two weeks checking out this new acquisition. Harry, as usual, passively agrees. And soon the boys are prowling around Uncle Ambrose's creepy manse, viewing his enormous collection of odd animal-skeletons ("Hey! This thing has six legs!"), and finding the key to the strange "playhouse" out in the back yard. Could any of these discoveries be connected to nasty local rumors—involving disappearing animals—about the late Uncle Ambrose? They could indeed—especially when freshly shaved Barry gets locked in the playhouse for a few seconds. . . and emerges with five-o'clock shadow, sure that a whole day has passed!! The explanation? "Time goes faster in there," of course. (There's further, sad proof when Harry's dog Fred, accidentally locked in the playhouse for a few minutes, dies of starvation.) But why does time go faster inside the playhouse? Because the star-rock beneath the playhouse is a "singularity" (a.k.a. black hole); furthermore, on the other side of the rock is another universe; and, from time to time, matter from this other universe (bizarre creatures, mundane garbage) is thrown into our universe—via the plumbing pipes in the playhouse. Wisely, however, Sleator doesn't allow whimsical sci-fi speculation to overwhelm this shrewdly balanced novel. Instead, the focus remains on the Barry/Harry tension—which escalates when Barry threatens to lock himself in the playhouse long enough to age a year (and escape twinship)! But, asserting himself for once, it's Harry who secretly, as Barry sleeps, undertakes the playhouse ordeal: while only a couple of hours pass outside, Harry survives the boredom and panic of a year inside the play-house—watching the approach of a scary creature from that other universe, reading Moby Dick, Anna Karenina, and The Way of All Flesh. ("There was a certain satisfaction in the knowledge that I was doing a significant amount of the rest of life's homework.")
A casual yet crafty interplay of fantasy and sibling psychology: disturbing, funny, and occasionally even touching.Pub Date: April 1, 1985
ISBN: 0140375988
Page Count: 180
Publisher: Dutton
Review Posted Online: May 9, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1985
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.
The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.
Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9798987380406
Page Count: 538
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
A lushly written story with an intriguing heart.
After praying to a Fate for help, Evangeline discovers the dangerous world of magic.
When her father passes away, Evangeline is left with her cold stepmother and kind but distant stepsister, Marisol. Despite inheriting a steady trust in magic, belief in her late mother’s homeland of the mystical North (where fantastical creatures live), and philosophy of hope for the future, her dreams are dashed when Luc, her love, pledges to marry Marisol instead. Evangeline desperately prays to the Prince of Hearts, a dangerous and fickle Fate famed for his heart that is waiting to be revived by his one true love—and his potentially lethal kisses. The bargain they strike sends her on a dark and magical journey throughout the land. The writing style fluctuates from clever and original to overly verbose and often confusing in its jumble of senses. While the pervasive magic and concept of the Fates as a religious system add interest, other fantasy elements are haphazardly incorporated without enough time devoted to building a cohesive world. However, the themes of love, the power of story, family influence, and holding onto belief are well rounded and add depth. The plot contains welcome surprises, and the large cast piques curiosity; readers will wish more time was spent getting to know them. Evangeline has rose-gold hair and, like other main characters, reads as White; there is diversity among the fantasy races in this world.
A lushly written story with an intriguing heart. (map) (Fantasy. 12-16)Pub Date: Sept. 28, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-26839-6
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
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