The Light on Hogback Hill (Hardcover)

~ Cynthia De felice (Author) "Hadley Patterson turned to see if someone was standing behind her, but there was no one there..." (more)
Key Phrases: horrible hag, Hogback Hill, Angus Tull, Possum Hollow (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Despite a tie-in to Halloween, an eerie setting and a creepy character or two, there's little suspense or mystery in this flimsy novel. Hadley and Josh, the new sixth grader at Possum Hollow School, goad each other into exploring Hogback Hill, purportedly the home of a hunchbacked old woman who turns trespassers into black cats. The so-called hag turns out to be sweet and timid, the victim first of a tragic accident and then of her ill-tempered brother, who has spent decades stoking her fears of the outside world. The plot seems especially contrived given DeFelice's ( Devil's Bridge ; Weasel ) skill in capturing the everyday--her portraits of Hadley and her single mother and of Josh and his cheerful family demonstrate perceptiveness and a talent for creating recognizable milieus. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-Hadley and her friend Josh are consumed with curiosity over a mysterious light on the hill nearby. Their imaginations are fanned by gruff old Angus Tull, who tells stories about a hag on Hogback Hill who turns people into cat monsters. In spite of his horrifying tales, the children decide to see for themselves who or what lives in the house. There they meet Netta, Angus's reclusive humpbacked sister, who has lived there alone for 57 years. The children befriend her, and with their support she is able to return to the village to make a life for herself. This plot has some weaknesses. The most serious is that a woman who has not seen a human other than her brother for over half a century simply climbs down from her hill and takes up where she left off. Angus Tull is cast as a major villain. As the person who caused Netta's crippling accident, he feels guilt and shame, but the lengths to which he has gone to keep her hidden strain credibility. Further, Hadley, who has been having nightmares about Hogback Hill, decides to pay her initial visit there on Halloween. The children do exhibit genuine caring for Netta, but their personalities never come fully to life. The quiet, gentle woman seems almost too good to be true. Hadley all too perceptively realizes that her mother, like Netta, has been isolating herself from a world she fears will hurt her. In spite of its flaws, this book will find an appreciative audience. The initial mystery and developing themes of friendship and caring will appeal to readers looking for an easy-to-read story with some substance.
Bruce Anne Shook, Mendenhall Middle School, Greensboro, NC
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin (October 31, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 002726453X
• ISBN-13: 978-0027264531
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,512,090 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Review Of Hogback Hill, August 6, 2001

A Kid's Review

Author: Cynthia DeFelice Genre: Adventure and Mystery The Light on Hogback Hill

This story takes place on Hogback Hill. The main characters are Hadly and Josh. Hadly is fun, talkative good-natured and sometimes can be a scared of things until she faces her fears. Then she is ok. Josh is fun, adventurous and loves to explore. The plot of the story is that Josh wants Hadly to go up on Hogback Hill with him to see if the stories are true about Hogback Hill. (The story about Hogback Hill is that if you go up there the hunchback will turn you into a black cat.) Hadly finally agrees to go up Hogback Hill with him. On Halloween night they go up and find out that the stories are not true! They want to find out who and why someone made up the stories. They find out that there is a nice hunchback on Hogback Hill and that the person who made up the stories was her brother. They soon became friends with Netta, (the hunchback) and they break the spell. Then she comes down after a sad accident and meets new people. My favorite scene was when Hadly and Josh went up to Hogback Hill for the first time. My favorite character is Hadly. I think people should read this book if they like adventure and mystery. I think The Light on Hogback Hill should get a rating of an 8. I think it gets an 8 because it started out good then it got better and better and better but the and was not very good.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My point of view on a great book!, September 4, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Light on Hogback Hill (Paperback)

What really stood out for me in this book were scenes that could really affect people in real and true life. Like people judging other people from the way they look. I would give this book a
5 rating because I love mystery and adventure and that is what this book is about. It has a lot of exciting and horrifying cliffhangers that leave you dying if you don't read on! So I would recommend this book to people who love mysteries and adventures just like me!

4.0 out of 5 stars The Light on Hogback Hill, January 18, 2000

By A Customer

I recommend this book to someone who has interest in action and mystery because this book has a lot of it. The end also was such a surprise. How would you like to live in a house by yourself for 54 years?