Blackbriar [Hardcover]

William Sleator (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 20, 2009

Danny can feel something sinister about his new home, Blackbriar, an old, abandoned cottage in the English countryside. The residents of a nearby town refuse to speak of the house and can barely look Danny in the eyes. Then Danny begins to have strange dreams of fires and witches, and awakes to shrieks of laughter that seem to come from another time and place.With help from his friend, Lark, Danny begins to unravel the mysteries of Blackbriar and its frightening past, through the discovery of an ancient doll and a chilling list of names and dates carved on the cellar door. But what might be most terrifying of all is the mystery that does not lie in the past but in the here and now. . . .

Editorial Reviews

Review

Bolt the cellar door, watch your cat closely for personality changes,
and follow him--vicariously. --Kirkus Reviews

A spellbinder for readers of ghost and witchcraft stories. --Booklist

About the Author

William Sleator lives in Massachusetts and Thailand.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 215 pages
• Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Childrens Books; Reprint edition (October 20, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076145585X
• ISBN-13: 978-0761455851
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #706,800 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Long search finally over., November 9, 1998

By 

Gary Thompson (Arnold, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blackbriar (Library Binding)

Blackbriar is one of the best books I have ever read. I picked it up in the 4th grade and was totally blown away by the mystery and intregue. Needless to say, ever since I finished reading it I have looked for it non-stop for years. The skilled way that it is written, the dark foreshadow and evil overtone of the whole thing just made me want to turn pages all night long. It is the reason that I started to enjoy reading as much as I do now and has influenced my taste in the books that I do read to this day. Since it was the 4th grade when I read it the fine details escape me, but the general impression will live forever. The old house and the names carved into the door. The midnigt bonfire ceremony. It all ties together to make a excellent dark novel in which even the masters like Stephen King and Chris Carter would be proud to have attached to their correspondence.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Ever, June 19, 2005

By 

Deanna Anderson "Author" (South Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blackbriar (Paperback)

I have to agree with the other reviewers, I read this book when I was in Junior High (some 20 years ago) and I still remember it. It is a favorite of mine and still gives me chills late at night!

It is hard to know what is the character's imagination and what is really happening, and when the Reader finds out what is really going the scare intensifies instead of lessening!

I have been searching for this book forever and cannot wait until I get it and can read it again! It will never leave my collection again.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, June 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Blackbriar (Library Binding)

I'm 33 and I STILL remember this book 20 years later. I enjoyed reading the other reviews to reaquaint myself with the plot (of which I had absolutely No memory, but hey, it was 20 years ago). What I did remember was the atmosphere. This story is so well done it stays with you. A phenomenal read!