- Paperback: 208 pages
- Publisher: Puffin; Reprint edition (Aug 10 2000)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0141308109
- ISBN-13: 978-0141308104
- Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 13 x 1.5 cm
- Shipping Weight: 363 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,761,866 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Product Details |
Product Description
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.
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.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
Inside, almost filling it, was what looked more than any else like a kind of propeller. Read the first page
Front Cover | Excerpt | Back Cover
Inside, almost filling it, was what looked more than any else like a kind of propeller. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Excerpt | Back Cover
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent and worth the time,
By SmokeyMicStalker "Austin" (Little Rock, AR) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Boxes (Hardcover)
"The Boxes" was quite simply an excellent book. The plot is well thought out and the book flows well. It has a fairly good ending which is something that I find rare for Sleator's books. It is worth the time.
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Boxes,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Boxes (Paperback)
The book The Boxes is a non-fiction book. I don't really know the theme of the book cause it doesn't really have a theme. This book is about a girl, Annie, that has a very mysterious uncle, Uncle Marco, that leaves on these mysterious trips and doesn't tell anybody were he's going or when he's getting back. One time when he goes he leaves these two boxes under her control and tells hers not to open them. She becomes extremely curious about what is in the boxes and decides to open them. What is in the boxes are mysterious things that now she has to deal with. At the same time she has to deal with a construction that is trying to tear down her neighborhood to build a mall. Another problem is that the construction company wants what is in the boxes and they try to take it. This book is very interesting, and it is really weird and sometimes confusing. I liked this book because it was creative and the plot of the story was different from most books I have read.
4.0 out of 5 stars
For My 8th Grade English Class,
By jc (MN USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: 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.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
Most recent customer reviews |
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Children's Books > Literature > Action & Adventure
- Books > Children's Books > Literature > Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror > Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
- Books > Children's Books > Literature > Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror > Spine-Chilling Horror
- Books > Kids & Family Store > Ages 9-12
- Books > Kids & Family Store > Teens
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
