House of Secrets

Off to a bad start when I pulled it off the shelf and spotted it was blurbed by That Woman. I tried not to let that prejudice me unduly.

I am not the target audience. It was fine for the genre, but not a great fit for me personally. Kids move to a creepy house, magic happens and they're isekai'd to deal with monsters and hazards brought right out of books - specific books they have available. There's a plot here about an evil tome of temptation which they could give to an evil witch to get home, if they just act selfishly enough for it to manifest.

So it's an okay teenage adventure book, a genre where it isn't reasonable to expect wildly original plots or extreme subtlety. Characterisation is very thin given the hefty page count of the show more book - then again, there's a lot of adventure to cram in. So much, in fact, that they have no time for much reflection, even when they get a vision of their home with indication their parents are dead - there's a brief scene of sadness but we're quickly back to the next big action scene. All a bit flimsy, honestly, with little time for any particular set of problems to sink in. We leap from mundanity to witch to banishment to evil raiders to giant to pirates to witch again to weird supervillain battle in a conveyor belt of action sequences with no breathing space. In fairness, the premise of "three books mashed together" and magic makes me willing to accept the implausible way these all link together. Similarly, they're in a book world, so some things working on book logic does make sense. A stronger writer would have perhaps made it more obvious what was working on *diagetic* book-logic, what was working on book-logic we're meant to accept within the genre, and what was meant to be convincing.

Given the theme of temptation to bad impulses, it's a bit hard to tell in places whether characters are doing unwise things because they're human, because they're teenagers with poor impulse control, because of the Evil Book's influence, or if the writing's just unconvincing. Do we really stop to eat the obviously enchanted evil food that little sister is warning us explicitly not to eat, while we are supposedly trying to rescue our two friends from being tortured to death? Do we give a grenade to the tween in case he happens to need a grenade?

It's quite cinematic, to the point that at times I felt scenes weren't really working when written down, but would on-screen. I see other reviewers have pointed out that Columbus is a director and that makes sense - I suspect they are fishing for a film adaptation.

I haven't read a book for this age group in a while, and I do remember there being lots of menace and fairly detailed threats even in decades-old books, so "I'm going to cut off and eat your fingers" isn't too out there, nor is the room made from human bones or the references to torture. However, there's an explicit description of an eye being ripped out (and several mentions of eye-violence), and I was surprised by the actual on-page murders. There's one line that vaguely felt like a hint at sexual violence, but on rereading I think it's meant to be more generic menace but at the girls specifically. So I don't think it's more *violent* than other modern books of the genre, but it did feel more gory. Maybe I'm just out of touch.

The ending of the book is a bit weird, in that it turns out the solution to all their problems is simply to use the evil book of evil to bring them safely home and restore their parents from the dead. I might have missed something, but it was specifically stated that the original Evil(?) Guy got horribly disfigured from overusing the evil book - our heroes have no such downsides. It does make sense that they might resort to it given the desperate situation.

I can't help but notice also that while wishing for things to be restored, they bring back from the "dead" the *entirely fictional* boy that Girl A had a crush on, but don't bring back the *actual living woman* who had been murdered *twice*. I mean, it's a children's book, but that feels like one heck of an oversight. show less

There is so much to say because a LOT of things happened.

Did you ever want to live inside a book? Did you ever want to take your house along with you like a turtle, for your adventures? Do you want to do the above-mentioned adventures with your siblings? Do you want to battle bloodthirsty knights and mad medical pirates? Do you want to nearly die multiple times? Do you want to see ur friends die?

NO. Not anymore. Not after reading this book. Not unless I am equipped with magic and hundreds of weapons. And a book that makes all wishes come true.

Even then, I don't want my brother tagging along because I don't want to die saving him or worry myself to death thinking about his safety. Although I have to agree that he is a very good show more companion and is honed with better survival skills than me.

Coming over to the book, there was no lack of action. Something was always happening in this book. There was literally no breathing space. God. I love action and adventure, but this book just did not snare me.

This was a sibling adventure book, and coming over to that genre of middle-grade adventure, I have a serious problem with it. I have always felt that the sisters are always put down, especially the elder ones. These girls always felt.... sissy?

For example, let's take The Chronicles of Narnia. The 4 siblings, I don't recall their names, though I think the girls were Susan and Lucy. Even though Susan was good at archery, the way she played out was kind of disappointing, right? I had so much hope for her. But she was overshadowed by both her brothers? I don't recall much of that series. I read it back in 2015 or 2016.
However, I remember feeling extremely put down and angry about how Susan (or was it Lucy?) turned out and was seething inside about those stupid patriarchal societies of old ages.

Coming over to this book, it was kind of very similar. Cordelia, the elder sister, at once took interest in the pilot Will and kissed him in what? Within 15 chapters?? I mean, what the hell?? Why not bring a female character, let's say a deadly she-pirate or a female assassin and make Brendon fall for her?? Why is this done to the older sister?? And why were the girls so captivated by the book? Why was Cordelia manipulated and taken control of so easily?? Yea I can see that the witch took advantage of the rage Cordelia was feeling- angry at Will for being egoistic, angry at the fact that she was undermined because she was a 'female'. Cordelia was at her weakest, but so was Will. He was on top of his head, from being the captain and the oldest, all the time thinking less of the strengths of little girls, and on the brink of sinking into power. The witch could have just as easily brainwashed Will. It would have made things far easier for her, in fact. And why do we even need that boy Will? Just throw him along with the pigs.

Now, now, now. I agree, Brendon might have had a crush on that girl, but why don't you compare? Who is being the least likeable from the beginning and the no-fun?
The elder sister, of course! the bookworm, the second mother, oh-my-God-is-that-boy?-let-me-fall-in-love kind of girl, the always-angry, you name it.

I agree, elder sisters are like that. I am one too. We just can't stop finding faults in what our brothers say, we always want to be in charge and sadly, also a worrywart. But is that all there is? There are cool older sisters, tomboy ones, childish ones, etc., Why keep this cliche elder sister personality? And for heaven's sake, stop making the girl fall in love first, especially at the very start of the book. please.

Now, after writing all these, I have realised that all four characters are literal rip-offs from Narnia. Will here is the elder brother from Narnia, Cordelia is Susan, Brendon is Peter(?), and Nell is Lucy.

Ok, let's take a deep breath and relax. Enough of this angst. Let's talk about something much better.
Which book would you want to live inside?

I realised all my favorites was very.... messed up, or dangerous, or at constant restlessness.

let's see..
Harry Potter? hmm yes maybe
Percy Jackson? only if i took a bath in river styx.
Bunny? i want to exist bro, as human, not mud.
The poppy war? hell no.
...
....
.....
You know what? I found the one- the faraway tree.
Judge me all you want, i just want to be alive and happy.
yup.

Haiku that i came up with-
Old house full of books
Wind witch and bloody battles
Please book, make it stop show less

The Walker family has fallen into a bit of hard luck. Dr. Walker has lost his job after an embarrassing incident, and the family is hoping to relocate, but homes in San Francisco are mostly far out of their price range. When the real estate agent shows them Kristoff House, a lovely Victorian in a prestigious neighborhood, they jump at the property when they learn that it is inexplicably well within their price range. Of course, if something seems to good to be true, it probably is. Shortly after they move in, the Walkers are visited by an old witch who has a grudge against their family, and nefarious plans for them that cause the Walker children, Cordelia, Brendan, and Eleanor, to be trapped in a fictional fantasy world peopled by show more barbarians, giants, and pirates. She will only let them escape if they obtain for her the mysterious Book of Doom and Desire that appears at key points during their adventure. However, giving the book to the witch might just plunge the entire world into chaos. Is there any way that the Walkers can find their own way back to their world?

This book has a promising plot, and the sort of cinematic sensibilities you'd expect from Chris Columbus, who has directed his share of epic fantasies. Unfortunately, the book is marked by a lack of character development and a tendency to rush from one far-fetched adventure to another, to the point that the story didn't feel like it was progressing at all, just running along like a hamster on a wheel. This is another juvenile fantasy that may appeal to young readers who are enthusiastic about fantasy and adventure, but is unlikely to find many fans among more discerning readers. show less

This is the first book in the House of Secrets series. The best thing about this book were the illustrations and the quality of the book; it is a beautifully constructed book with deckled pages and thick high quality paper.

The story itself was pretty shallow and empty; there is a lot of action and things move quickly but somehow it just wasn’t engaging. There just didn’t seem to be much of a bigger picture with this story. The family of kids are just running frantically from one event to the next.

Given the above, despite all the action, things ended up feeling repetitive. By the end, although it wasn’t written awfully or anything, I just wanted to be done with this book and move on to something else.

I was a bit surprised at show more how vicious the story was at points. This is a middle grade story yet the kids were beaten, tortured, and very violent at times. The level of violence seemed a bit over the top for a middle grade read.

Overall this was an okay fantasy adventure story. Younger kids, who are less critical than me, might enjoy the fast-pace...however the level of violence might be too much for them. This is one of those books where I struggle to see what audience the authors were aiming for. The story is too shallow for the YA/adult reader but a bit too vicious for kids. I don’t plan on continuing the series. show less

Magic Tree House meets Harry Potter in Chris Columbus's literary debut, which just so happens to be co-written by one of my favorite YA authors, Ned Vizzini. Both Columbus and Vizzini contribute immensely to the story; House of Secrets is swash-buckling action and magical diversion blended with humor and real-life dilemmas that made us fall in love with both authors' works in the first place.

The premise of the eerie Kristoff storybooks coming to life is thrilling and enchanting. I love the fantastical elements including pirates, monsters, and a very wicked witch that each find their way to wreak havoc in the Walker children's lives. This novel is suspenseful and thoughtful to its core, and watching the Walkers grow and face their fears show more was a wonderful, highly illuminating experience.

Since this book is targeted for younger teenage readers, there are some aspects that I found a bit childish. For instance, the ending is really quick and insta-happy; I would have liked to see a little more struggle—or at least a little more excitement—in the tangled plot's solution. Our three main characters, Cordelia, Brendan, and Eleanor, are likable, but hardly relatable; they tend to bicker amongst themselves a lot (annoying, but not unrealistic) and afterwards almost immediately come to sappy reconciliation (annoying, and very unrealistic).

As expected from a middle-grade novel, House of Secrets moves very quickly and easily, and has a predictable, victorious flourish of an ending. All the while, I was happy to see darker, more serious undertones plague the situation in which three otherwise unworldly children from our much too comfortable day and age find themselves. The gravity isn't too harsh, and there's always a lesson at the end, so in prevalent Lemony Snicket-esque gloom, I am confident middle-age readers will delight.

Pros: Original premise // Comical // Imaginative cast of fantasy characters introduced // Light, but doesn't skimp on values // Fast-paced // Funny, well-balanced protagonists // Cliffhanger ending

Cons: No real climax // A bit disorienting... nothing in particular stands out because the story is just a jumble of random events that lead up to a disappointing final "battle" // Idealistic, predictable ending

Verdict: House of Secrets is a rip-roaring, action-packed, child-approvable ride of a novel that still contains sentiments on courage and on the importance of family. Recommended for children ages 9-12, Columbus and Vizzini's adventure-packed collaboration will teach, entertain, and be a hit among young readers, as well as encourage them to believe in the sheer power—and magic—of the written word.

Rating: 7 out of 10 hearts (4 stars): Not perfect, but overall enjoyable. show less

There are some middle grade books that have a larger audience, and there are some middle grade books that are just perfect for 9-13 year olds. This is the second.

It is an action-packed tale of three siblings, a magical house, pirates, an evil witch, and so much more. The character development could have been better, but that isn't always what books are about.

This is a fantasy adventure novels that kids will really enjoy. The three siblings are different enough that most kids will be able ot relate to at least one of them.

The blurb of the book says that when 'Brendan, Cordelia and Nell move to Kristoff House they have no idea that they are about to unleash the dark magic within.' I am thinking that this could be a lot of fun as there are 'deadly pirates, bloodthirsty warriors, and a bone-crushing giant.' It is sounding like this could be a fun read.

I have to come to the end and I have to be honest I was disappointed with this novel. The story is as the covers boasts 'a breakneck, jam-packed, roller coaster of an adventure' and that is the the sole problem with the book. It is all action, all the time and a let down.

As a reader, I never get enough time to know the characters in the book. You are given a brief introduction that Mr Walker is some kind of show more difficulty, the family have had to downsize and that times are little bit tough. Mind you I would not find life tough if I could afford a $300 000 house!

You are given cliched characters with no depth and it is so disappointing. Cordelia, who I think is 15 or 16, has dirty blonde bangs and is a bookworm. Surely there more to 15 year old girls than that! Brendan, again I think is 11 to 13 years of is into lacrosse and video games and I am not sure what he looks like, Eleanor, I think is 7 to 9 is single minded about horses, still loves her toys and suffers dsylexia. That is all we get as readers. I struggled to like the characters as they showed next to no emotion about the what was happening to them. I mean a character who has been very close to them dies and what do they do? Cordelia has a mini melt down for a couple of pages but then is it is back to saving the day. I just do believe that any of the characters had grown through the book, had learnt anything. I supposse they became friendlier as siblings but that was about it.

The ending. I am not going to give anything, however it was too contrived and completely unbelievable. What was more annoying was that the three heroes were not really apart of the solution.

Both authors have a strong background in script writing and in some ways the book to me was like a film script padded out with some additional descriptions.

I am not sure I could read the second book in the series as I was disappointed by this effort. show less