Take 5: Mind Bending Reads

When Alice went down the rabbit hole, she entered a world full of twists and turns and the things that make you go hmmmmmm.  That is also what happens in More Than This by Patrick Ness, which I reviewed earlier today.  Here are 5 other awesome tales that keep you guessing as to what, exactly, is going on here.

The Thief of Always by Clive Barker

I love this book, love it.  A boy wishes for a different life and finds himself at a place called the Holiday House, where it always seems to be some holiday.  Christmas comes every night.  But what do you have to sacrifice to make every day a holiday?

The Game of Sunken Places by M. T. Anderson

Brian and Gregory go to visit a distant relative and find themselves playing a twisted board game.  Suddenly, they are now playing the Game of Sunken Places – the question is, will they win and what happens if they don’t?  This is an amped up version of Jumanji and Zathura for middle grade readers. 

Full Tilt by Neal Shusternman

A sinister carnival appears and two brothers find themselves trapped inside.  They have until sunrise to ride – and survive – seven deadly rides, each of which represent a personal fear.  This book is so much fun.

Interstellar Pig by William Sleator

Sleator actually has several books that would fit right at home on this list, but we’re going to go with arguably the most popular: Interstellar Pig.  Barney’s boring summer vacation gets very interesting when he starts playing a game with his neighbors next door.

The Wonder Show by Hannah Barnaby

“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, step inside Mosco’s Traveling Wonder Show, a menagerie of human curiosities and misfits guaranteed to astound and amaze! But perhaps the strangest act of Mosco’s display is Portia Remini, a normal among the freaks, on the run from McGreavy’s Home for Wayward Girls, where Mister watches and waits.” Dark, haunting, and compelling.  If you haven’t read this book yet, you should.

And if I was going to expand the list to 10, I would include:
The excellent and classic Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradburdy
Coraline by Neil Gaiman (also Neverwhere by the same)
The Vampire’s Assistant by Darren Shan
Saving Thanehaven and The Paradise Trap, both by Catherine Jinks

Do you have titles to add to our list?  Please do and share in the comment.

Filed under: Clive Barker, Collection Development, Mindbending Reads, Reader's Advisory, Take 5, The Thief of Always