The Boxes [Mass Market Paperback]

William Sleator (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Annie's Uncle Marco goes on one of his mysterious trips, leaving her in charge of two sealed boxes on one condition: she must not open either one while he is away. But she is tempted...and soon she has unleashed the unspeakable. The creatures inside the box are crab-like and grotesque. And they possess a power Annie could never have imagined: the power to transmute time.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Like Pandora, 15-year-old orphan Annie has been given a box she is forbidden to open, opens it nonetheless and unleashes something horrible. But Sleator adds a twist: Annie has a second box. Moreover the telepathic crab-like beasts that came out of the first box may appear to be the evils of the world but turn out to be the protagonist's only hope for self-actualization. As in The Beasties, Sleator creates a community of strangely empathic monsters and a teenager who, when pressed into their service, discovers the mission isn't noxious but fulfilling. The creepy-crawlies worship a god/plant/clock that lives in the second box. They build a subterranean palace, order Annie about and enact enigmatic rites, saying things like: "The Lord will be very happy about the swing ritual, and the two more who are sacrificed to the Lord's goodness" (in reference to two creatures who are swung in a suspended boat and fall to their deaths). Unfortunately, a stereotypical crew of evil land developers and a less than compelling wizard figure (Annie's nearly absentee Uncle Marco) keep the tale on a superficial level. And readers may be disappointed in the ending, which sends Annie off on a cliffhanger of an adventure and never explains the process between creatures and clock, or Uncle Marco's role in it. Perhaps Sleator has a sequel in store; in the meantime, this is his signature high-style ick and suspense, but without sufficient payoff. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8AOrphan Anne Levi tolerates her distant Aunt Ruth, with whom she lives, but adores her mysterious Uncle Marco, who flits in and out of their lives at irregular intervals. When he gives Anne two unusual boxes with strict instructions not to open them, curiosity gets the better of her. Opening the first one, she releases an unusual crablike creature that grows and reproduces rapidly; the life form and its offspring construct a fantastic palace in the basement and communicate with Anne telepathically. Dismayed by what she has done, Anne opens the second box, which she had hidden in her closet, revealing a clocklike object that has the ability to slow down time at the basement creatures' request, but only when Anne agrees to carry messages between the creatures and the clock. Unfortunately, the owners of a suspicious development company are intrigued by the time slowdowns and increase their ominous efforts to control Anne, her home, and the strange devices within it. Through her adventures, Anne grows into a self-confident teenager who is able to stand up to her overbearing aunt and trust her own instincts. Reminiscent of the complexity of Sleator's early science fiction, The Boxes introduces intriguing characters and unique situations but it leaves many loose ends and unanswered questions. Readers never find out just who or what Uncle Marco is, where he and Anne go when they enter the palace at the end, or where the boxes came from in the first place. The Boxes may be popular with Sleator's fans, but be prepared for requests for a sequel.ASusan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (August 7, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0141308109
• ISBN-13: 978-0141308104
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #464,053 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For My 8th Grade English Class, November 3, 2003

By 

jc (MN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Boxes (Hardcover)

Before Uncle Marco goes on another of his constant trips, he leaves Annie two mysterious boxes. Like Pandora, she must keep them safe and never open them. But curiousity gets the better of her. Soon the unspeakable occurs. Grotesque, crablike creatures come out with the ability to communicate to Annie telepathically. Annie could never fathom the power they have. . .

This was a good book, partly, because I'm a fan of sci-fi/fantasy books. I couldn't put it down. There was a lot of action and cliffhangers near the end. You never knew what was going to happen next. The creatures and their customs were very creative. It's easy to read for all ages from kids to adults. The only problem was that it ended with a cliffhanger even though all of the problems have been solved by the protagonist.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Marvelous Sleatorian Fun, February 24, 2001

By 

"carolyn5000" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Boxes (Mass Market Paperback)

"The Boxes" is a thoroughly enjoyable fantasty fare from my beloved W. Sleator. This book is a sort of reworking of Pandora's Box with some neat elements thrown in. A great book for elementary school kids, even has some sort of ethnocentrism type elements included. Entertaining!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fast-paced, page-turner--take this one to the beach!, June 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Boxes (Hardcover)

William Sleator is one of my favorite authors. Although this is not one of his best, I couldn't put it down. Annie is an orphan who is sent to live with her Aunt Ruth--not a very pleasant person. Annie's only bright days are spent with her Uncle Marco, when he returns from his frequent mysterious trips abroad. When Marco entrusts his niece with two mysterious boxes and the warning never to a) open them or b) put them in the same room, Annie's resolve to keep them safe lasts for only one day as her curiousity gets the better of her. Once the boxes are opened, there is no going back. This is not a book to read before you go to sleep! The ending was not as satisfying as his other books; it seems like Sleator left it open for a possible sequel. Well-drawn characters let you step right into the story! When will the movie-makers (e.g. Disney) see that Sleator's books would be great for the screen!!