Customer Reviews

The House on the Gulf

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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!

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! :)

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!

I LOVED Double Identity and Running Out of Time by Haddix so I gave this book a shot. It's worth the reading.

Britt and Bran have been living with only their mother, barely being supported. But then they move to Florida and Bran is offered to house-sit for an old couple he's been mowing for. When they move in to the home Bran starts acting weird...why?

Okay so you might read that and think, I know why he's acting weird because I sort of thought the same thing. But trust me you would never expect what happens.

The only reason it didn't get five stars was because Britt seemed childish at times and it got annoying but truely over-all is a worth-while read for 5th, 6th and 7th graders.

Bran has always been the perfect brother and son; Britt and her mom look to him like a dad-figure. So when Bran finds a housesitting job for them all over the summer, they're thrilled. The arrangement is just what they need to make it through the summer, while Mom goes to college and Bran works to make a little money. It seems like the perfect setup...until Bran starts to change. Britt watches as his behavior becomes stranger and stranger...and whenever she tries to talk to him about it, he becomes defensive and angry. Very unlike her protective, kind brother. Britt decides she must discover on her own the reasons for her brother's sudden change. Read it to find out Bran's terrible secret that could leave his whole family in danger.

Just when you think you've got it all figured out, Peterson will take you for a twist you never expected! I highly recommend this book for those enjoying a suspenseful, creepy plot!

When 12-year-old Britt's older brother, Bran, gets a housesitting job for the summer, it seems perfect. Bran, Britt and their mother will get paid to live there for three months. Their mom will be able to quit waitressing and go to college full-time, thereby qualifying her for a badly needed scholarship.

But things don't seem quite right when Britt and Bran accidentally meet up with the owner of the house, Mr. Marquis. In fact, Bran cuts off Britt's attempts to introduce herself and sends her away so he can speak with Mr. Marquis in private. Bran even sweats, which is totally unlike her cool brother.

Britt can't help but noticing more and more ominous signs after the family moves into the house. Bran instantly puts away the Marquises' plates after Britt comments on how old they are. He asks them not to use the air-conditioning (in scorching Florida summer heat) or the washer and dryer. A neighbor comments that Bran had secretly moved boxes into the Marquises' shed before they moved into the house, which explains why there are no pictures or knick-knacks inside. When Bran says he wants to be sure nothing is broken or stolen, Britt notes that a VCR is still in the house. Strangely, Bran seems to have only put away older possessions.

Bran's personality changes, too. He appears panicked much of the time. His normally sweet temperament is mostly missing in action, leaving an unusually mean attitude. What could be going on with him? Britt's attempts to speak with her mother are unsuccessful, since Mom is overwhelmed with her college load. Britt is sick with worry because obviously something is seriously wrong. When she does solve the mystery, Britt's world is rocked. And it will never be the same.

THE HOUSE ON THE GULF is truly suspenseful and is paired with a sensitive exploration of some major issues --- family, loyalty, and forgiveness --- making for an excellent read.

--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)

The House on the Gulf is one of the best books I probably ever read. It is such an amazing book and I could never put it down! It's filled with suspenseful events and you think you know what happens next, but then something else suddenly happens. I love how Margaret Peterson Haddix handled this book and I recommend it to anyone. I love how Margaret Peterson Haddix ended the book, too. The fact that the mom had a horrible life when she was in high school was very sad, but this book shows how the mom, Bran and Britt stick together without fighting or showing hatred towards each other. It shows how even though a family might not see each other every minute of everyday, but they still stick together and help each other out. Definitely a 5-star book!

Imagine being caught in a sticky situation...a strange situation that was not your fault, that your rotten older brother got you into. One that made what you thought was going to be the best summer of your life, the worst! Brit Lassiter was caught in a big, confusing problem that she had to get to the bottom of, ASAP!

The House On The Gulf, is a 201 page, fictional novel. It was written by Margaret Peterson Haddix, the author of the Shadow Children series, who keeps you turning the pages `till your done. The story contains the poor and falling apart Lassiter family. The Lassiter family is made up of 12-year-old Brit Lassiter, her 16-year-old brother Bran, and their single mother, struggling to finish college. All three of them live in a dangerous trailer park and are trying to hold their life together...Until Bran gives them some good news just before summer begins, leaving his sister and mother jumping for joy. He tells them that the Marquises, an elderly couple who's been paying Bran to mow their lawn for a couple months, asked him to housesit for them the whole summer! Brit and her mother are ecstatic...but soon Bran starts acting strange.

When the Lassiter family arrives at their new "summer house" Bran acts very cautious, maybe a little TOO cautious. First of all, he doesn't let his mother talk to the Marquises about the whole house sitting gig, doesn't let any of the Marquises silverware, pots, and pans be touched, goes to the shed often with mysterious brown boxes, gets a new lock for his temporary closet, and always stutters when asked a question. Brit knows that her brother is losing his "Mr. Cool" personality, along with his mind, and starts to wonder if her and her family are supposed to be there...

If you like stories that have an awesome plot, along with a surprising ending, this book is for you. I strongly recommend every one looking at this review to read "The House On The Gulf" by the award-winning author, Margaret Peterson Haddix and find out what happens to Brit and her family in the end!

House on the gulf is a very good book; but not perfect. The house on the gulf it was about a poor family that is house-sitting. In the story there are so many clues that aren't needed to put the reader to think in the wrong light. Also the ending was great, but completely unexpected; that was cool! It could have been better but it was still a rather darn good mystery novel.

This story is narrated by a 12 year old girl named Britt Lassiter. Her older brother gets a summer house sitting job on the Gulf Coast of Florida for her and her monm, who is studying to eventually become a doctor.

But Britt becomes suspicious of the circumstances surrounding the house sitting situation, and eventually, she discovers the truth.

But it takes a long time for the truth to become revealed, the plot is slow and sluggish, and at the end of the book, the author (through the storytelling of Britt) tries too hard to make didactic and thematic points.

But the book is redeemed by two wonderful characters, the gracious, hospitable, and forgiving neighbor Mrs. Stuldy, and Britt herself, a conscientious young girl.

Although God and Jesus are not mentioned by name or title, it is clearly evident that Mrs. Stuldy is guided by her biblically based values, and she is a wonderful role model for both the young and the mature. God's unconditional love for others is manifest in her life.

I give the book four stars for its shining character development and its abstention from bad language and its extollation of good moral values. My only wish is that the story could have been more engaging and interesting, Britt often comes across as overly paranoid, and you keep thinking, "When is this story ever going to become interesting? When will the writer get to the point? When will it be over?"

I recommend this book for parents who want to buy something that teaches kids the values of grace, hospitality and forgiveness. But not everyone will be enthused by the story. My niece liked it. I thought it was OK.

Rev. Marc Axelrod