A review by the_fabric_of_words
The Game of Sunken Places by M.T. Anderson
5.0
The book starts with the murder of a real estate developer who's wandering in the forest around Gerenford, Vermont, dreaming of the suburb he plans to build, when he stumbles on an ancient rite with runes and chanting over a flaming snowmobile and finds himself -- the required sacrifice.
Shortly after, 11-year-old Gregory Buchanan receives an invitation from his Uncle Maximilian Grendle (like the beast, from Beowulf) and cousin Prudence to visit their huge mansion for summer vacation. He invites his best friend, Brian Thatz, to come along.
Creepy weird things start happening right away, on the train and at the station. Uncle Max is bizarre and doesn't behave quite right. The butler burns all their belonging and the boys have to dress in "knickers."
They're encouraged to roam the forest, even though the residents of the town warn the boys not to -- citing the real estate developer who disappeared, of course.
There's a game board in their shared room, The Game of Sunken Places, and as the boys explore, more "places" appear on the board.
At this point, you kinda clue in that this is, essentially, an outright creepier-than-Jumanji gaming book. The boys aren't big on strategizing, so it's not a role playing game, not per se.
But the boys have to
1) discover they're playing a game,
2) discover people are not who or what they seem,
3) figure out the objective of the game.
There's two sides to this game -- the Norumbegans, a sort of elf-race that used to live in the mountain, before the Thusser invaded and they came to a stalemate.
The game rules remain sketchy right up to the end, and frequently change beneath the boys' feet.
There's a troll, Kalgrash, who's anything but the expected hideous and enjoys a spot of tea, and Jack Stimple, who isn't at all what he seems.
I can't say more, I'd ruin it, so read and enjoy this thoroughly creepy sci-fi / fantasy read.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
Shortly after, 11-year-old Gregory Buchanan receives an invitation from his Uncle Maximilian Grendle (like the beast, from Beowulf) and cousin Prudence to visit their huge mansion for summer vacation. He invites his best friend, Brian Thatz, to come along.
Creepy weird things start happening right away, on the train and at the station. Uncle Max is bizarre and doesn't behave quite right. The butler burns all their belonging and the boys have to dress in "knickers."
They're encouraged to roam the forest, even though the residents of the town warn the boys not to -- citing the real estate developer who disappeared, of course.
There's a game board in their shared room, The Game of Sunken Places, and as the boys explore, more "places" appear on the board.
At this point, you kinda clue in that this is, essentially, an outright creepier-than-Jumanji gaming book. The boys aren't big on strategizing, so it's not a role playing game, not per se.
But the boys have to
1) discover they're playing a game,
2) discover people are not who or what they seem,
3) figure out the objective of the game.
There's two sides to this game -- the Norumbegans, a sort of elf-race that used to live in the mountain, before the Thusser invaded and they came to a stalemate.
The game rules remain sketchy right up to the end, and frequently change beneath the boys' feet.
There's a troll, Kalgrash, who's anything but the expected hideous and enjoys a spot of tea, and Jack Stimple, who isn't at all what he seems.
I can't say more, I'd ruin it, so read and enjoy this thoroughly creepy sci-fi / fantasy read.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/