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The House on the Corner: First Person Edition
Three siblings have their plans for the summer ruined as they move across country as soon as school is out. The new house has been mostly vacant for the previous two decades, when the previous owners mysteriously vanished. The kids in the neighborhood believe the house is haunted, and even the adults can't deny that strange things happen around the creepy, old house on the corner. The Howards think these are no more than stories springing from overactive imaginations. That is until they discover a cache of ancient weapons. And what does the crazy old man across the street with his dire warnings have to do with it? Tom, Sam, and Ruth are convinced that things are anything but normal. All children dream the improbable; some dream the impossible. What happens when three children stumble into the impossible? Will it bring them together, or will it tear them apart?
- GenresFantasy
354 pages, Paperback
First published February 6, 2011
About the author
Andrew Leon
62 books48 followersThe author has often been told that he does things the wrong way. For instance, he could walk before he could crawl. His parents were also informed that he went about reading the wrong way. Already reading before kindergarten, he went on to delve into texts about dinosaurs and astronomy by 1st grade as opposed to the regular story books everyone else was reading. At least one school counselor labeled him as "delayed" because of this. Of course, this happened at the same time he was winning the school reading contest.
After years of wanting to, he's finally writing books of his own.
After years of wanting to, he's finally writing books of his own.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 28, 2011
Andrew Leon's novel, The House on the Corner whisked me away to when I was kid. Specifically, at an age when I thought I was going to find a Tyrannosaurus Rex skull just under the dirt at my feet if I would just dig a little deeper, or that I would discover a secret formula for super strength by mixing my mom's household cleaners together in a mad chemistry experiment (didn't work FYI - but I did discover a powerful grass killer). That's what this book is, it's a big what if. What if something amazing like that really did happen? What if that feeling we all had when we were kids wasn't just an overactive imagination, what if there really was something waiting to be discovered? I get it. And I loved it.
To be honest, it left me sighing with relief. I know Andrew well enough that I was afraid I might not like it - and was struggling to try to think of a way to put a positive spin on something I might not enjoy. But when got sick just as I was starting it meant I ended up in bed with nothing else to do for the most part. I read the whole thing in about two extended reading sessions while cooped up and hidden from the world.
The story is set pretty firmly in the summer and fall of 1983, not too long after Return of the Jedi hit the theaters. It's the story of three siblings, Tom, the eldest, Sam, the middle child, and Ruth, the youngest, as they move into their new home that a few of the neighbors think is haunted.
The author has clearly made this novel a heartfelt homage to his youth, and his influences. I haven't read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, since I was probably 9, but even I got excited when the kids found a wardrobe in the attic and they got their hopes up that they would be transported to another world. I loved the references to Star Wars, to D&D, to everything a boy would have loved at that time. For a while, I was living through those kids as they discovered what was really going on with the house.
It was refreshing to read about an entire family that all loved one another, the kids weren't orphans, abused, or runaways. It was a family that was full of love for one another, and how they relied on one another when it mattered. We alternate POV's from chapter to chapter with each of the children. Tom's POV was my favorite. He was the most conflicted of the three siblings and had the most baggage to deal with. It was him that I latched onto and I really felt anchored me to the larger story.
But, the story wasn't perfect, and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention a couple of things.
1) The pacing. I think it took too long to really start getting into the meat of the plot. As much as I loved Tom, Sam, and Ruth, after a while I was losing faith that anything at all was going to happen. Part of the story's charm is the siblings interaction with one another, but at the same time, that lack of a conflict, at least early on, makes it hard to sustain the story while they explore and learn about their new home.Yes, they bickered, a lot, but I never got that there was anything menacing or threatening as an undercurrent, it was just kids being kids. So part of that charm I mentioned earlier is also part of the pacing problem. There isn't a real sense of physical danger, or emotional turmoil, at least not enough to carry the story as long as it did. I think I understand why the author chose to reveal so slowly, it was after all, an exploration novel more than anything, but as a reader, I'm not sure it worked as effectively as he intended.
2) This is more of quibble, but through the book a theme of trust that the family has with one another was developed, the mother and father were the kind of parents every child should dream of having. They paid attention to their kids, they spent as much time together as they could. They loved being parents and loved their children, they addressed their kids with respect and were honest with them. Then, in my opinion, that was betrayed, I thought, late in the book. I won't spoil it but giving away details, but the scene leading up to the climax of the novel left me a bit flummoxed, as I couldn't understand why the adults would do what they did to the children. I understand their motivations, but again, I thought it was woefully out of character for everyone. It left me a bit frustrated.
But those are not show stoppers. My second complaint might be alleviated if there had been a rationale put forward to explain - a rationale I could believe given the characters as they were established earlier in the book.This was a marvelous novel and had a magical feel to it, as soon as I finished I wanted to go watch E.T., The Goonies, and any other 80's flick I could think of about kids discovering that the world was stranger than anyone ever dreamed of.
It was a great novel and belongs in everyone's library. Especially if you grew up as a child of the 80's.
To be honest, it left me sighing with relief. I know Andrew well enough that I was afraid I might not like it - and was struggling to try to think of a way to put a positive spin on something I might not enjoy. But when got sick just as I was starting it meant I ended up in bed with nothing else to do for the most part. I read the whole thing in about two extended reading sessions while cooped up and hidden from the world.
The story is set pretty firmly in the summer and fall of 1983, not too long after Return of the Jedi hit the theaters. It's the story of three siblings, Tom, the eldest, Sam, the middle child, and Ruth, the youngest, as they move into their new home that a few of the neighbors think is haunted.
The author has clearly made this novel a heartfelt homage to his youth, and his influences. I haven't read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, since I was probably 9, but even I got excited when the kids found a wardrobe in the attic and they got their hopes up that they would be transported to another world. I loved the references to Star Wars, to D&D, to everything a boy would have loved at that time. For a while, I was living through those kids as they discovered what was really going on with the house.
It was refreshing to read about an entire family that all loved one another, the kids weren't orphans, abused, or runaways. It was a family that was full of love for one another, and how they relied on one another when it mattered. We alternate POV's from chapter to chapter with each of the children. Tom's POV was my favorite. He was the most conflicted of the three siblings and had the most baggage to deal with. It was him that I latched onto and I really felt anchored me to the larger story.
But, the story wasn't perfect, and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention a couple of things.
1) The pacing. I think it took too long to really start getting into the meat of the plot. As much as I loved Tom, Sam, and Ruth, after a while I was losing faith that anything at all was going to happen. Part of the story's charm is the siblings interaction with one another, but at the same time, that lack of a conflict, at least early on, makes it hard to sustain the story while they explore and learn about their new home.Yes, they bickered, a lot, but I never got that there was anything menacing or threatening as an undercurrent, it was just kids being kids. So part of that charm I mentioned earlier is also part of the pacing problem. There isn't a real sense of physical danger, or emotional turmoil, at least not enough to carry the story as long as it did. I think I understand why the author chose to reveal so slowly, it was after all, an exploration novel more than anything, but as a reader, I'm not sure it worked as effectively as he intended.
2) This is more of quibble, but through the book a theme of trust that the family has with one another was developed, the mother and father were the kind of parents every child should dream of having. They paid attention to their kids, they spent as much time together as they could. They loved being parents and loved their children, they addressed their kids with respect and were honest with them. Then, in my opinion, that was betrayed, I thought, late in the book. I won't spoil it but giving away details, but the scene leading up to the climax of the novel left me a bit flummoxed, as I couldn't understand why the adults would do what they did to the children. I understand their motivations, but again, I thought it was woefully out of character for everyone. It left me a bit frustrated.
But those are not show stoppers. My second complaint might be alleviated if there had been a rationale put forward to explain - a rationale I could believe given the characters as they were established earlier in the book.This was a marvelous novel and had a magical feel to it, as soon as I finished I wanted to go watch E.T., The Goonies, and any other 80's flick I could think of about kids discovering that the world was stranger than anyone ever dreamed of.
It was a great novel and belongs in everyone's library. Especially if you grew up as a child of the 80's.
February 21, 2012
I really enjoyed this story and the fact that it is set in the 80's was a little extra special to me as I was a child in the 80's. Andrew has a way with telling a story from a kids perspective. My nine year old son really enjoyed this book as well.
November 18, 2011
I liked this little yarn spun by Mr. Leon. It took me back to the eighties, had plenty of nerdy D&D references, and really made me remember how cool Star Wars was as a kid. I mean...it was pretty cool (especially the whole Hoth sequence).
I think that the first third of this book will appeal to people who just like to hang out with screaming kids (let's call it "character building") for lack of a better description. If asked for a synopsis of these chapters, I would say "a family with three loud and annoying kids moves into a house". Personally, I could have done with a hundred less pages of "character building" since the story for me didn't start until Chapter 15 entitled "the imagination room".
That's where the story finally got interesting. The imagination room is kind of like a gateway to another world, similar to the wardrobe in Narnia. And there is magic, monsters, strange food, and Arthurian legends enough to make any kids' eyes pop. Now, I LOVE all things Arthur. As a caveat to the naysayers who groan at Arthurian stuff, I know it's been done to death, and I too borrow from the legend in my own writing. But I never get tired of it. Does any guy NOT like knights in shiny armor and magic swords? If you answer yes to this question then WE CANNOT BE FRIENDS :P. Just kidding, but be careful what you say.
Morgana is watching!
We find out later that although there is something special about the imagination room, the true magic resides in a very rare bloodline that produces one wizard and one guardian to a mystical tower that has a lot to do with King Arthur, Merlin, and the sword Excalibur (how's that for a kickass legacy). When I was 7-years-old, I wanted nothing more than my own Excalibur. I read bunches of knight stories and wanted so much to see the movie called Excalibur (it was rated-R). My parents refused to take me because it was "smutty".
The book doesn't have any bad language. I would rate it PG-13 because there is a death in it, but only after a nifty fight scene with a troll named Scromb. The book is also written in first person up to Chapter 22. I don't mind reading first person, but Andrew chose to alternate points-of-view in each chapter to one of three children (their names being Tom, Ruth, and Sam) and you never have any idea who is talking until halfway down the first page of each chapter. Then the book shifts into full-blown third person omniscient in Chapter 22 without any warning to prepare the reader.
Maybe this is artistic expression? It doesn't work for me. But I think 13-year-olds and younger won't care, and these are the people for whom I believe the book is aimed. And the content of the story is pretty good. You've got magic, monsters, wizards, a spooky house, mysteries, old books, strange neighbors, and a lot of pop culture references, including the old G.I. Joe dolls from the sixties.
So if you're looking for a book that you can read out loud to your class or to your children, you might want to give House on the Corner a try.
I give this book 3-1/2 stars.
I think that the first third of this book will appeal to people who just like to hang out with screaming kids (let's call it "character building") for lack of a better description. If asked for a synopsis of these chapters, I would say "a family with three loud and annoying kids moves into a house". Personally, I could have done with a hundred less pages of "character building" since the story for me didn't start until Chapter 15 entitled "the imagination room".
That's where the story finally got interesting. The imagination room is kind of like a gateway to another world, similar to the wardrobe in Narnia. And there is magic, monsters, strange food, and Arthurian legends enough to make any kids' eyes pop. Now, I LOVE all things Arthur. As a caveat to the naysayers who groan at Arthurian stuff, I know it's been done to death, and I too borrow from the legend in my own writing. But I never get tired of it. Does any guy NOT like knights in shiny armor and magic swords? If you answer yes to this question then WE CANNOT BE FRIENDS :P. Just kidding, but be careful what you say.
Morgana is watching!
We find out later that although there is something special about the imagination room, the true magic resides in a very rare bloodline that produces one wizard and one guardian to a mystical tower that has a lot to do with King Arthur, Merlin, and the sword Excalibur (how's that for a kickass legacy). When I was 7-years-old, I wanted nothing more than my own Excalibur. I read bunches of knight stories and wanted so much to see the movie called Excalibur (it was rated-R). My parents refused to take me because it was "smutty".
The book doesn't have any bad language. I would rate it PG-13 because there is a death in it, but only after a nifty fight scene with a troll named Scromb. The book is also written in first person up to Chapter 22. I don't mind reading first person, but Andrew chose to alternate points-of-view in each chapter to one of three children (their names being Tom, Ruth, and Sam) and you never have any idea who is talking until halfway down the first page of each chapter. Then the book shifts into full-blown third person omniscient in Chapter 22 without any warning to prepare the reader.
Maybe this is artistic expression? It doesn't work for me. But I think 13-year-olds and younger won't care, and these are the people for whom I believe the book is aimed. And the content of the story is pretty good. You've got magic, monsters, wizards, a spooky house, mysteries, old books, strange neighbors, and a lot of pop culture references, including the old G.I. Joe dolls from the sixties.
So if you're looking for a book that you can read out loud to your class or to your children, you might want to give House on the Corner a try.
I give this book 3-1/2 stars.
June 3, 2012
My main problem with The House on the Corner is I keep wanting to call it House on Pooh Corner.
And while Andrew Leon's novel is aimed at younger folk, it's certainly no Winnie the Pooh. Nor is it any kind of nursery tale. Despite the fact that 'House' is a fantasy, it's as real as real gets. The three heroes - siblings Tom, Sam and Ruth – behave like real kids. Which means they fight (a lot). I loved this. I've read way way too many books where the kids are all perfect angels (gak) and, having two boys of my own, I can tell you it's just baloney. Obviously Leon has kids of HIS own, or he vividly remembers what kid-life was like back in the day. To me, this is where 'House' really shines – the children's characters are fleshed out with distinct personalities. This means a lot because the vast majority of the book is told in first-person, with each of the children taking a turn telling chapters. Leon doesn't say "this chapter is told by Ruth" because it's immediately clear from his no-nonsense, detailed writing who is speaking. Ruth eats all the time and, if she's not eating, she's running all around the neighborhood at top speed, making room for the next meal. Sam, he's a practical boy and, as it turns out, a bit of a star. Tom's a deep pool of water, full of doubts, who is a hero despite what he thinks.
The kids, with their parents, move into a decrepit old house – which really makes me wonder about the parents. I mean, who in their right mind moves their family into the creepiest house in town? Haven't they seen any horror movies? Don't they know this is going to turn out badly?
Things don't turn out badly, per se – exciting is more like it. The kids discover a secret about the house, something to do with the "imagination room," and soon the whole family is involved in the adventure of their lives.
There are so many bad YA books out on the market. This is one of the good ones.
Even if it does make me think of that honey-obsessed little bear.
And while Andrew Leon's novel is aimed at younger folk, it's certainly no Winnie the Pooh. Nor is it any kind of nursery tale. Despite the fact that 'House' is a fantasy, it's as real as real gets. The three heroes - siblings Tom, Sam and Ruth – behave like real kids. Which means they fight (a lot). I loved this. I've read way way too many books where the kids are all perfect angels (gak) and, having two boys of my own, I can tell you it's just baloney. Obviously Leon has kids of HIS own, or he vividly remembers what kid-life was like back in the day. To me, this is where 'House' really shines – the children's characters are fleshed out with distinct personalities. This means a lot because the vast majority of the book is told in first-person, with each of the children taking a turn telling chapters. Leon doesn't say "this chapter is told by Ruth" because it's immediately clear from his no-nonsense, detailed writing who is speaking. Ruth eats all the time and, if she's not eating, she's running all around the neighborhood at top speed, making room for the next meal. Sam, he's a practical boy and, as it turns out, a bit of a star. Tom's a deep pool of water, full of doubts, who is a hero despite what he thinks.
The kids, with their parents, move into a decrepit old house – which really makes me wonder about the parents. I mean, who in their right mind moves their family into the creepiest house in town? Haven't they seen any horror movies? Don't they know this is going to turn out badly?
Things don't turn out badly, per se – exciting is more like it. The kids discover a secret about the house, something to do with the "imagination room," and soon the whole family is involved in the adventure of their lives.
There are so many bad YA books out on the market. This is one of the good ones.
Even if it does make me think of that honey-obsessed little bear.
June 6, 2012
The mostly first person edition and the start of an intended series. So, I want to start off by saying something that is probably going to sound horrible (though I don't mean it to be) but it was a prevalent thought in my head at the start of this book, so I'm going to do it. This book made me glad I am just an aunt and not a parent because at the start of this book, the kids are annoying.
That said, let me add that they're very well written because I know siblings are like that. I have three of my own (siblings) and we were like that growing up and we're occasionally still like that even though we're all in our thirties now. Anyway, each chapter rotates between the three kids. At first I didn't realize the narrative had switched from Tom to Sam and spent a little time confused as to why Tom was referring to himself in the third person but then I caught on that the shifts were in order: Tom, Sam, Ruth until a switch to the third person POV near the end of the book.
In the author's note following the story, he says scenes in between each chapter featuring the three kids arguing amongst themselves as they tell the story were cut because many of the adult readers found these scenes to be jarring. Without having read them, I have to say I likely would have found them jarring as well.
The story does start off slow but I knew it would and so was fine with it. The action picks up with the chapter called "The Imagination Room". After that, it feels like a sprint to the end. I read a review of this book that called it "Speilbergian" which I found to be a perfect description. I believe the target audience is the young adult crowd but it will definitely appeal to adults— especially those with a love of Star Wars, Narnia, Dungeon & Dragons, Lord of the Rings, and the like.
That said, let me add that they're very well written because I know siblings are like that. I have three of my own (siblings) and we were like that growing up and we're occasionally still like that even though we're all in our thirties now. Anyway, each chapter rotates between the three kids. At first I didn't realize the narrative had switched from Tom to Sam and spent a little time confused as to why Tom was referring to himself in the third person but then I caught on that the shifts were in order: Tom, Sam, Ruth until a switch to the third person POV near the end of the book.
In the author's note following the story, he says scenes in between each chapter featuring the three kids arguing amongst themselves as they tell the story were cut because many of the adult readers found these scenes to be jarring. Without having read them, I have to say I likely would have found them jarring as well.
The story does start off slow but I knew it would and so was fine with it. The action picks up with the chapter called "The Imagination Room". After that, it feels like a sprint to the end. I read a review of this book that called it "Speilbergian" which I found to be a perfect description. I believe the target audience is the young adult crowd but it will definitely appeal to adults— especially those with a love of Star Wars, Narnia, Dungeon & Dragons, Lord of the Rings, and the like.
May 8, 2015
This starts off like the stereotypical haunted house story. The Howard family (Air Force master sergeant Will, his wife Claire, 12-year-old Tom, 10-year-old Sam, and 6-year-old Ruth) move from Denver to Shreveport, Louisiana. The house they move into is old and spooky-looking with a lot of flaking paint, dusty, and overly large rooms. Some of those rooms have strange things in them. Oh, and the house's last inhabitants disappeared.
So through 40% of the book I kept waiting for there to be the bumps in the night and such that you would expect in a haunted house story. But then the book does a 180 from that and becomes more like "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." There becomes a lot of talk about fairies, Guardians, Towers, wizards, and a magic sword. Which is a little surprising because there are so many Star Wars references.
The book gets much more interesting once that stuff comes into play. Unfortunately at that point there's only 60% off. I think the author bit off more than he could chew at that point. It made for a rushed ending that wasn't extremely satisfying to me.
Also, the book is in dire need of a real editor. A lot of typos. Also, I'm not fond of authors who use the word "suddenly" a lot.
There are still a lot of good things about this book. The first-person narration between Tom, Sam, and Ruth is a little confusing at first but gets easier as it goes on. I liked the kids, especially Sam and Ruth. The relationship between the kids was well-drawn. And once the book really gets going it's hard to put down--or shut off the Kindle.
That is all.
So through 40% of the book I kept waiting for there to be the bumps in the night and such that you would expect in a haunted house story. But then the book does a 180 from that and becomes more like "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." There becomes a lot of talk about fairies, Guardians, Towers, wizards, and a magic sword. Which is a little surprising because there are so many Star Wars references.
The book gets much more interesting once that stuff comes into play. Unfortunately at that point there's only 60% off. I think the author bit off more than he could chew at that point. It made for a rushed ending that wasn't extremely satisfying to me.
Also, the book is in dire need of a real editor. A lot of typos. Also, I'm not fond of authors who use the word "suddenly" a lot.
There are still a lot of good things about this book. The first-person narration between Tom, Sam, and Ruth is a little confusing at first but gets easier as it goes on. I liked the kids, especially Sam and Ruth. The relationship between the kids was well-drawn. And once the book really gets going it's hard to put down--or shut off the Kindle.
That is all.
May 6, 2013
Written from the point of view of three children, The House on the Corner is a tale filled with adventure and mystery. Leon is a master of pacing, building the tension slowly, and revealing the magic of his world in just the right amount of flow, so that as your curiosity grows and grows, you begin to forget you're actually still just reading a book.
Dungeons and Dragons, Star Wars, and plenty of pizza don't hurt either, especially if you happened to grow up in the 80s.
Dungeons and Dragons, Star Wars, and plenty of pizza don't hurt either, especially if you happened to grow up in the 80s.
June 24, 2013
Great eighties all-Americana vibe, with kids as protagonists and written from their point of view. I prefer third person with novels, and would've rated 5 stars if this had been the case with House on the Corner. This is an opinion and opinion notwithstanding, Leon tackles the perspectives of the children as if he is recalling his very own childhood.
November 25, 2012
I am not the target audience for this book, but I really enjoyed it anyway. The beginning was a little slow, but once 'things' start happening, the story is incredibly compelling. This could spawn quite a few sequels.
July 22, 2012
This was a great book. I really enjoyed the way the story came about and how it gave a new twist to things we have all read about before.
August 20, 2013
Another great twist, Leon's mind must be a clone of S. King's. One to not let get away!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews