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15th out of 124 books
—
22 voters
Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library!
by
Eth Clifford
Two girls spend an adventure-filled night trapped inside the public library. "Clifford's extraordinary talents as a writer who keeps the action and surprises coming underpin her new antic adventure, its many moods ably depicted in Hughes's 15 drawings." -- Publishers Weekly
Hardcover, 96 pages
Published
February 1st 1991
by Turtleback Books
(first published October 24th 1979)
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I hadn't realised they were making Apple Scholastic paperbacks as far back as 1979! That little revelation was the most exciting thing about this book.
ISBN 0590443518 - The book cover says this book is for ages 9-12, and that's the first mistake, in my opinion. I can't imagine a child over 10 enjoying it. Younger children, especially those whose parents will read it to them, are a more likely audience. The surprises and scary moments aren't going to impress older kids. That doesn't make it a bad book, it just makes it more appropriate for a younger group.
Serious, sensible Mary Rose kept pointing out gas stations to her father, but she was out-...more
Serious, sensible Mary Rose kept pointing out gas stations to her father, but she was out-...more
Small little chapter book about two girls stuck in a library during a big snowstorm. Very nice characterization and detail for a book only 95 pages and written for young readers. The big problem though is the book is premised on some very bad advice. The two girls leave their car while it's out of gas during a snowstorm to find a bathroom. It turns out all right, but it's not the best way to start.
It's also not the type of story I'd write. I picked it up because of research, and because it has a...more
It's also not the type of story I'd write. I picked it up because of research, and because it has a...more
Apr 07, 2009
Dolly
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
parents reading with their children
Our girls liked this story about a couple of sisters who are locked inside a library after closing. It's a little bit scary, but not overly so. It's a suspenseful tale and it shows the two sisters cooperating and helping one another in their difficult predicament (although of course, there are a few moments of sisterly bickering too.) It's a fairly fast read, with enough excitement to keep them wanting more. I like that it's set in a library, one of our favorite places to visit.
Ever wonder what goes bump in the night? Well when two sisters wonder away from their dad on a snowy night, they find out what goes on in a library after hours. Mary Rose and Jo Beth only wanted to use the bathroom of the creepy, old mansion that is now a library. They did not expect to get locked in, even worse to get trapped there by a blizzard with no way out! While trying to get help, they realize they are not alone in this dark place, not at all.
This is a great book for children who love a...more
This is a great book for children who love a...more
This book is less than a 100 pages long, it's a good easy read, can't say it's great just because of irritating the younger sister is. I don't have a younger sister, but I gather they act similar to the the younger sister in this book, which is why I've never wanted a little sister.
I actually wonder if the author didn't have an older sister who she hated or had a younger sister who she hated, just saying :P
Basically the two sisters end of locked in the library, which is really an old mansion,...more
I actually wonder if the author didn't have an older sister who she hated or had a younger sister who she hated, just saying :P
Basically the two sisters end of locked in the library, which is really an old mansion,...more
The main characters are Maryrose and Jo-beth. Maryrose is older then Joe-beth and they are sisters.The plot of this story is for Maryrose and Joe-beth to find a way out of the library. When Maryrose, Joe-beth, and their father ran out of gas in the middle of a blizzard, their father has to go get help. He tells them to stay in the car but Joe-beth says she has to go to the bathroom really bad so, Maryrose brings her to the closest place the public library. Once they get into the library the lig...more
OK, I am an adult (former children's librarian) who is reviewing a children's book. But still, this was a very shallowly written book. Why should the girls' parents be referred to as "Mr. ___" and "Mrs. ___"? Couldn't a better character name be selected than "Vilmor Finton"? And that younger sister was just irritating. And expressions such as "hal-loo! hal-lay!"? What century was that from?
Sisters Mary Rose, 10, and Jo-Beth, 8, are with their father in the family car in a blizzard when the car r...more
Sisters Mary Rose, 10, and Jo-Beth, 8, are with their father in the family car in a blizzard when the car r...more
Just read this with my son. He thought it was funny. I on the other hand wasn't to thrilled by the plot. The title Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library, had such promise to be more exciting. Yet, this is a children's book, and I had fun reading it to him.
2 likes · like · see review
I remember that in third grade our school librarian read this whole book out loud to us. I loved it then and I love it now! Only now, I am the one reading it out loud to kids.
May 07, 2012
Heather Williams
marked it as to-read
I chose this book as one of the books on libraries. It's an intermediate books for grade 4th and on. I haven't read this book or perhap I did, but I do not remember because the cover of the book looks familar. The reason for choosing this book is because by reading its summary it looks interesting and suspense. It talks about how two young children went to the library to use the restroom and they are locked in the library. The librarian staff was unaware of anyone is left in the library. For me...more
Jul 14, 2012
Tina
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
kids-lit,
livres-de-mon-enfance
This is surely the book i read, (among others), during primary school, where i spent how many hours? in the library, even becoming, in 1981, year 6 a library assistant, with all the perks!
there would have to be a seriously serious! reason for me to cry help if i was stuck in a library...couldn't think of a better place to be stuck...well, maybe, but if there are books involved could it really be that bad?
the title has stuck in my head over the years, most of my young reader titles forgotten in t...more
there would have to be a seriously serious! reason for me to cry help if i was stuck in a library...couldn't think of a better place to be stuck...well, maybe, but if there are books involved could it really be that bad?
the title has stuck in my head over the years, most of my young reader titles forgotten in t...more
I read this in third grade (many, many years ago) and it has just stuck with me. I probably read it a few times through elementary school. It was a fun, not-too-scary, scary story. It's just one of those stories I enjoyed as a kid and I hope my daughter will read when she's older. So what if the story is flimsy, the characters have unusual names or are irritating. It's a book for kids and I think a kid would love it!
I was surprised at how entertaining this story actually was. Many books of this short length speed through and leave out as much as they can in order to get to the end, but this one managed to be well rounded in its own way. There is humor for older readers or adults reading to younger children and the plot includes just enough suspense to keep the story going in a realistic way. There are times when things happen quickly for plot purposes, but again one must consider the length of the book. Rea...more
Rather implausible, but still fun and satisfying. Better for ages 8-10, or younger if you're reading it to them. Too bad the girls don't actually wind up spending that much time among all the books - I would have preferred a book about them enjoying staying up reading and sharing conversations about what they read, maybe inventing some make-believe from the stories or histories.
Two sisters seek shelter and a bathroom in a snowstorm and are accidentally locked into a old home turned children's library. The girls find all kinds of thing that seem scary in a dark building. The hear a thud and a groan and shakily climb the stairs to investigate. A slightly scary story for 2-3 grades.
Oct 02, 2011
Tia
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Kids, Teens, Adults
Recommended to Tia by:
No one
I read this book when I was younger, and I loved it so much. I wanted to read it to everyone, and I certainly tried. I thought it was fantastic. if I read it today, I don't know for certain that I would like it as much, but I think that I would. This is a great read for kids, teens, and adults alike.
This story is about young children that get trapped in the library and are chased by various monsters. It could be a little scary for some children. The writing is simple and entertaining, but I would not recommend this book for all children, because some will be scared more easily than others.
i remember reading this book in like fifth grade and loving it. I don't know what i would rate it now if i were to read it again, but i remembered i really liked it and still to this day i remember little bits and pieces, but not many.
Sep 01, 2010
Ghislaine
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Ghislaine by:
found it on the shelf
Shelves:
children-s-books,
juvenile-fiction
Cute story about two sisters, 10 and 7, who get locked in a library during a blizzard. My question is, who wouldn't want to get locked in a library in a blizzard, especially since there is a comfy couch and a blazing fireplace upstairs.
i was okay..the story was sort of pathetic. 2 girls get locked in the library which they think is haunted in stormy and snowy night. no elctricity, no phones, no light, scary noises, freaky dolls, dead woman,.....
This book is pretty much a "we're trapped" horror movie for the Scooby-Doo set. Teens and adults might not think much of it, but young kids that love reading and libraries will likely enjoy it.
Wow, reading a Scholastic Book brought me back to my elementary school days! I enjoyed this tale, and if I had read it as a child, I am sure I would have loved it! Who wouldn't have wanted an adventure with the storybook people?
It's been ages since I've read this. But I remember really loving it. Still have it on my shelf actually. May have to dust it off again and see how it reads now that I'm "all grown up".
Nov 12, 2007
Kimberli
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
3rd & 4th graders
If you believe in banshees, ghosts, and fortunetellers you will definitely want to read Help! I’m a Prisoner in the Library by Eth Clifford. One stormy and blizzardy night, ten year old Mary Rose and her seven year old sister Jo-Beth get locked in at the "Finton Memorial Library for Children" and their lives are forever changed. When they finally stumble upon the librarian they think they are in luck, however it’s possible that their troubles have just begun. It’s possible that there is a logica...more
My daughter didn't love this book. It was too long and the story-line was not too interesting but I made her finish the book which was exhausting for both of us.
Ooh! Dad leaves the girls alone in the car, during a blizzard, while he leaves to get gas for the car. An adventure ensues when the girls,too, leave the car.
Don't read it at night to young kids! However, even though it is "scary" for little kids, we find ourselves laughing and laughing in parts of it! As I read aloud I softened a little bit of the bantering for the first 40% of the book between the two sisters!
I don't really remember this book, but what I do remember is that i thought it had a wierd concept to it and i remember being VERY confused.
This book is a great first introduction to suspense. Almost every chapter ends with some sort of cliffhanger, which is then resolved in the following chapter. The explanations for many of the scary things the girls encounter are disappointing, and maybe even cheesy from an adult perspective, but for early chapter book readers, they are exciting without being terrifying, which is something I would have appreciated (and presumably did appreciate, given my need to finish the book ahead of the class...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What's The Name o...: Girl locked in library (or museum?) overnight [s] | 5 | 132 | Aug 12, 2012 03:19pm | |
| What's The Name o...: Children/YA book: Two girls who are travelling in the car through snow [s] | 4 | 28 | Nov 07, 2011 03:19pm |
Mar 07, 2011 12:48am
Hm, we shall see then. :D
Mar 07, 2011 12:50am