Behind the Attic Wall (Avon Camelot Books)
by Sylvia Cassedy
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 325)
Read in October, 2007
I have mixed feelings about this book. I tried to think if I would have liked it better if I had read it as a child. Probably a bit, but I don't think it would have been one of my favorites. The author is good at sustaining the suspense, the desire to find out what is going on, but my grown up self felt it dragged a bit. I liked the story ok, and was glad the author didn't end with some "it had a sensible explaination, and there was no magical happening" kind of ending. I a...more
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I read this book about 50 times in elementary school. I loved ghost stories and mystery books so much, thats all I ever read. I found this in my school library in a solid dark green hardback cover (I thought it was so mysterious) and then later my mom ordered the paperback for my birthday.
Behind the Attic Wall is magical and sad, about being accepted and needed. Maggie's loneliness and anger made me want to befriend her and go with her through the secret passage way to visit the dolls everyt...more
Behind the Attic Wall is magical and sad, about being accepted and needed. Maggie's loneliness and anger made me want to befriend her and go with her through the secret passage way to visit the dolls everyt...more
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Read in January, 1991
This is one I believe my dad gave me. I remember that it was a little weird. The girl was trying to be all tough--an effect from a neglecting family. That part made me sad. But I found it hard to believe that some dolls could help her soften up, mellow, relax, and become a nicer person. Perhaps its because I was the oh-so-typical little girl: loved wearing dresses, having my hair played with, playing with toys. Yet I also grew up with a bunch of brothers and went to school with plenty of tomboy ...more
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Read in January, 2004
I loved this book when I read it. Which is odd....Because this is the kind of book I usally hate. It's about this girl (I don't remember her name) who has gone from boarding house to boarding school to another school to another house. She has never fit in and she has a 'chip on her shoulder'. She goes to this mansion and as the days go by she hears talking behind the walls about her. At first she think it's other school girl hiding from her. But then one day she goes into the attic and discovers...more
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Read in January, 1988
I was just telling Cindy about this book over dinner, telling her how much I had loved it, trying to remember what it was called. I Googled "talking dolls, attic, children's book," and behold!
In keeping with the orphaned-children theme books I seemed drawn to as a child, I loved this book. I have no idea how many times I read it, but it was more than a few, which is surprising because I was scared to death of porcelain dolls (I still wouldn't want to be alone in a room with...more
In keeping with the orphaned-children theme books I seemed drawn to as a child, I loved this book. I have no idea how many times I read it, but it was more than a few, which is surprising because I was scared to death of porcelain dolls (I still wouldn't want to be alone in a room with...more
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4 comments
A favorite from childhood: protagonist, young and rebellious Maggie, encounters a fantastical world in the attic of a familial home where she's sent after being kicked out of more boarding schools than she can remember. There, she encounters dolls who can live and breathe when she's around them. Through encouraging her to take part in their world of imaginary teas and walks in gardens of flowered wallpaper, Maggie learns to let go of her previous resentments and embrace her life. An absolutel...more
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Read in May, 1986
recommends it for:
Ages 9+
Conceivably my favorite book from childhood. Maggie is a young orphan who finds herself parked with her great-aunts for lack of any closer relations. After being moved around with great frequency, she develops an acidic attitude towards the world, which mellows as she finds new friends behind the attic wall, and learns to deal with the loss of her parents. The prose is fluid, and Maggie is quite believable, as is her great-uncle Morris. Touching and whimsical, yet accurrate and grounded.
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Read in March, 2008
recommended to Nikki by:
Atali
"I don't play with dolls. Every morning, in fact, the first thing I do is not play with dolls. Sometimes, late into the day as well....although by evening I am busy not doing other things."
Atali got this from her class library and passed it on to me. This book made me feel both that I would like to adopt a child with low self esteem and show that child unconditional love, and that I would like to be a child again myself when it was okay to live in a dream world.
Atali got this from her class library and passed it on to me. This book made me feel both that I would like to adopt a child with low self esteem and show that child unconditional love, and that I would like to be a child again myself when it was okay to live in a dream world.
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ok, so i was only in jr high when i read it but, being the black sheep of the family, stories with misunderstood children resonated a lot with me and still do. it's one of the first novels i read that was full of magic-realism. the dolls move and talk to her like people, for goodness sake. it was CHOCK full of it. and there's even a message of family being the people you choose to be happy with, not necessarily blood-relatives. that's pretty cool for a kid's book.
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Read in January, 1984
I'm not about to add every book I read in my youth (even if I could remember them all), but this one has stuck with me through the years and still invades my dreams from time to time. Do I remember every element of the story? Hardly. I don't even recall the protagonist's name. But I do remember the feeling of reading the book, of being (perhaps for the first time) so completely engrossed in a story that I wanted to be a part of it, somehow.
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recommends it for:
everyone, esp. tween girls
I still remember when I picked out this book in Waldenbooks when I was in the sixth grade. Ah...memories. It is such a beautiful book about an outcast girl who finds friendship and hope when she discovers magical dolls in her aunts' attic. (It is on the cover of the book, so I guess I'm not giving anything away.) The ending is great, and I cry every time. I highly recommend this to anyone.
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Has a copy to sell/swap
One of my favorite childhood stories. It is so difficult to tell exactly when the events in this book are taking place - this gives the story a sense of timelessness. If you can imagine a hidden place - just for you - the discovery of that place, then this book will truly capture your imagination. A love of tea parties and dolls is not a prerequisite for enjoying this book, but it doesn't hurt either!
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Read in January, 1994
I read my copy for the first time when I was in grade school, but I only appreciated it when the pages had turned yellowish and I was already in college.
Behind the Attic Wall is magical and sad. It's about being accepted and needed, as much as it is about accepting and needing. Maggie's loneliness and anger, made me want to befriend her and stay away from her at the same time.
Behind the Attic Wall is magical and sad. It's about being accepted and needed, as much as it is about accepting and needing. Maggie's loneliness and anger, made me want to befriend her and stay away from her at the same time.
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this was my 2nd favorite book as a kid. it's about an orphan who moves into this creepy old house and is pretty much unattended. she ends up hearing voices which turn out to be DOLLS THAT LIVE IN THE ATTIC. i don't want to ruin the end but let's just say i read this like 30 times and it probably scarred me. it's really well-written and creepytown central.
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recommends it for:
everyone!
I read this book for the first time in probably sixth grade. I have re-read it every few years since. It's definitely one of my faves. Not my usual genre though, as it kind of toys with fantasy and...mystery/weirdness. But it is a fantastic read. Adventurous, imaginative, and dramatic. With a hint of humor too, if you're careful enough to catch it.
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Read in January, 1986
I read this on the plane when my family flew to Switzerland to live for almost a year. Then, I read it again and again since I had limited access to English books. I really liked it and the ending is unexpected. An unusual story...good for junior high. I also vividly remember wanting to know what a Dresden ballerina was too....
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Creepy but compelling. When I think back on it, I don't remember liking it too much. However, I read this book at least 10 times as a kid so there must have been something redeeming. It was a neat story, despite the creepiness. I wouldn't go out of my way to find it again, but would probably read it if it turned up and I was bored.
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recommends it for:
everyone
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Just enough magic to keep you guessing, and enough sadness to draw you into this very lonely girls' world. I still cry reading this book, my well worn copy has a special place of honor on my shelf, and I try to pick it back up once a year... so as not to forget.
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Read in March, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Okay, I gave this 4 stars but it really deserves 5. I read this about 50,000 times as a child (I was obsessed). I am giving it a 4 though because I reread it as an adult and found it totally creepy - - but I will respect my childhood self and admit that I did LOVE it at one time.
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