Blackbriar

I read this in fourth or maybe fifth grade, and remembered it ever since as a vague haunting recollection. My daughter has inherited my liking for ghostly and horrible stories, so I got it for her birthday -- happily, it was the same edition I read, with the very affecting surreal black and white illustrations. But she wouldn't read it! So I grabbed it and read it myself. Like most things from your childhood, it's a little smaller and less scary when you go back to it -- but still quite good enough! If you have a little Blair Witch rattling around your brain, that adds something extra. The story is nothing too surprising, and the climax is slightly contrived, but Sleator's control of mood is great. The book is just what it should be, show more and that's saying something. show less

Genuinely creepy. End wraps up too quickly, but generally atmospheric and suspenseful. Beautifully evocative of spare landscape.

I think that this book was a unique, one of a kind thriller which lead to the far ends of England to discovered the untold truths. If I would give this book a number of stars I would give it 4/5. I would recommend it for a audience of 13-16 year old people. If you like books with haunted houses and thrilling adventures this would be the right book for you! The characters in the book are about 14 year olds who explore a haunted house in England. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who loves reading a breathtaking quest in search of the truth.

Carl 9C