The House on the Gulf [Turtleback]

Margaret Peterson Haddix (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 24, 2006

[If only] Bran would stop acting weird....Probably he had a perfectly reasonable explanation for everything.

I just couldn't imagine what it would be.

When Britt's older brother, Bran, lands a summer job house-sitting for the Marquises, an elderly couple, it seems like a great opportunity. Britt and Bran have moved to Florida so their mother can finish college, and the house-sitting income will allow their mom to quit her job and take classes full-time. Having never lived in a real house before, Britt is thrilled. There's only one problem: Britt starts to suspect her family isn't supposed to be there.

She's been noticing that Bran is acting weird and defensive -- he hides the Marquises' mail, won't let anyone touch the thermostat, and discourages Britt from meeting any of the neighbors. Determined to get to the bottom of things, Britt starts investigating and makes a startling discovery -- the Marquises aren't who Bran has led her and their mom to believe. So whose house are they staying in, and why has Bran brought them there?

With unexpected twists and turns, award winner Margaret Peterson Haddix has again crafted a thriller that will grip readers until its stunning conclusion.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8–Twelve-year-old Britt's older brother has helped watch over the family for as long as she can remember. So when Bran tells Britt and her mother that he's convinced a family to let them house-sit for the summer, no one questions the arrangement. This house-sitting job will give their mother the chance to go to school full time and try to get a scholarship to finish. However, when they move in, Bran starts acting strange, and Britt discovers that the owners really didn't give them permission to live there, only for Bran to mow their lawn. She also learns that they are her maternal grandparents, estranged from her mother. Bran explains that because their grandparents disowned her when she eloped, using their house is simply a long overdue payback. Britt isn't sure that she buys this, but goes along until they are discovered. Lo and behold, the owners of the house aren't their grandparents at all, and they are all in deep trouble. This novel starts out as an interesting and lightly suspenseful mystery but becomes too far-fetched to be believed with the "happy ever after" ending. Britt's character is the only one with depth; the supporting characters, especially the mother, are rather shallow. Not a bad read, but for books with more character depth try Avi's Midnight Magic (Scholastic, 1999) or Wolf Rider (Bradbury, 1986).–Saleena L. Davidson, South Brunswick Public Library, Monmouth Junction, NJ
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-7. Twelve-year-old Britt lives with her mother and her older brother, Bran, in a small, dismal apartment. Then Bran announces that he has a summer house-sitting job, enabling the family to live in a better neighborhood. When they move into their temporary home, Britt notices that Bran's recent, uncharacteristic rudeness is matched by a newfound mania for secrecy. Impelled by the dreadful certainty that Bran is concealing something, Britt discovers what she thinks is the truth, then what Bran believes to be true, and, finally, the one dreadful secret that neither of them had guessed. Like the books in Haddix's Shadow Children series, this story propels readers along on a strong current of narrative and jolts them with unexpected twists. One unusual addition is a sympathetic older character who is dealing with her son's long-term incarceration, a subject seldom acknowledged in books for young people. Though at times the story stretches credibility, Britt's first-person narrative makes riveting reading. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Turtleback
• Publisher: Demco Media (January 24, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0606350152
• ISBN-13: 978-0606350150
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)

More About the Author

I grew up on a farm outside Washington Court House, Ohio. As a kid, I liked to read a lot, and was also involved in 4-H, various bands and choirs (I played flute and piano), church youth group, the school newspaper, and a quiz-bowl type team. I was pretty disastrous as an athlete, although I did run track one year in high school. After graduating from Miami University (of Ohio), I worked as a newspaper copy editor in Fort Wayne, Indiana; a newspaper reporter in Indianapolis; and a part-time community college instructor and freelance writer in Danville, Illinois, before my first book was published. I've moved around a lot as an adult, having also lived in Luxembourg (during a college semester abroad) and in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. Several years ago, I moved back to Ohio with my husband and kids; we now live in Columbus, Ohio. My husband trains investigative journalists, and my kids are in high school, so there's always a lot going on around our house.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The House on the Gulf BY Willis Magahee, October 28, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The House on the Gulf (Hardcover)

16 year old Brandon Lassiter has stumbled upon something so great that it almost seems unreal. He gets a house sitting job in this great neighborhood in Florida for the whole summer-rent free. Brandon, his 12 year old sister Britt, and his mom all move there. That way, his mom can finally finish college and get a decent job after a not so good past with her parents. But something is definately wrong with Brandon and Britt is determined to find out. With something as great as this just falling into their laps, how could he possibly be so paranoid? With suspense and mystery lurking with every turn of the page, Haddix will have you on the edge of your seat!

Margarett Peterson Haddix does and outstanding job of combining suspense and mystery, creating the perfect balance for a sure to be bestseller. This book will have you begging for more!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Margret Peterson Haddix is a the Best Author in the WORLD!!!, August 25, 2004

By 

E. Fraenkel "the Only11" (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The House on the Gulf (Hardcover)

Every single book Margret writes is amazing!!! Especialy the Shadow Children Series!!!!!!!!READ you won't be let down. Now it's a fad at my school! :)

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars THEE MUST READ THUS BOOK!!!!!, March 8, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The House on the Gulf (Hardcover)

Could you trick your mom and sister into staying in a house you weren't supposed to be in? Bran is trying to find his moms parents. First they disowned her because she got married to a guy they don't like. Then Bran gets his mom and sister to move to Florida where he found where his grandparents live on the computer. Bran thinks he found his grandparents, but hasn't told his mom yet because she doesn't like her parents anymore. Also Bran started to mow his grandparents grass, but his grandparents never found out that that he is their grandson. Then Bran told his sister "Britt" and his mom that the people that own the house said that they could watch the house for them while they were gone. When they move into the house to watch it Britt notices that Bran keeps acting strange. Like he never lets them use their silverware he never lets his mom and Britt turn up the AC when its about 94 degrees out. This is a good suspenseful and mysterious story called "The House on The Gulf" By Margaret Peterson Haddix. Can Bran get his mom and his grandparents to like each other again? And what is Bran hiding from his sister and mom. Read this book to find out!