The If Game

by Catherine Storr

Stephen can't remember his mother, and no one will talk to him about her. He knows she left when he was four years old, but he's not sure why - she could be dead for all he knows. Things take a strange turn when Stephen starts finding keys which open mysterious doors - doors which lead into a
strange world where everyone knows Stephen, and calls him by name, but he doesn't recognize anyone.

Eventually Stephen works out the secret behind the doors - and also finds out the very surprising truth about his mother.

* Catherine Storr is the author of such classic titles as "Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf" and "Marianne Dreams". Some of her children's books have been in print for nearly 50 years.
* An intriguing story with an effective blend of reality and fantasy.
* Deals with parent-child relations in an unusual and interesting way.
* Author lives in Hampstead, London.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Author Catherine Storr was educated at St. Paul's Girls' School and went on to study English at Newnham College, Cambridge. She then went to medical school and worked part-time as a Senior Medical Officer in the Department of Psychological Medicine of the Middlesex Hospital from 1950 to 1963.

Her first book was published in 1940, but was not successful. It was not until the 1950s that her books became popular. She wrote mostly children's books as well as books for adults, plays, short stories, and adapted one of her novels into an opera libretto. She published more than 30 children's books, but is best known for Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf and Marianne Dreams, which was made into a television series and a film.

Reviews

[Kimberley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pre-teen book with Storr's recognisable surreal elements. Adult readers are left thinking about the mind spaces of children, whereas children just appreciate the magic that Storr weaves. Saying that I'm not sure how many children nowadays this book would appeal to. It feels dated for it's 2001 publication. Although seeing as this was published right before her death (or after I'm not sure) this may have been taken from her notes, or old work. I feel that whilst she deals well with some difficult issues in the book, that Stephen doesn't feel like a real kid who's come from a poor home. Especially not one with a fairly emotionally absent father. Even if they do come to some understanding later in the novel. Storr was from a firmly middle class upbringing, trained as a doctor and married a Lord, so I don't think she quite had the experience of poverty that would give Stephen verisimilitude. His attitudes towards work, luxury items and the necessities of life don't ring true. In particular, the cashmere cardigan that Stephen works to buy. Or the fact that Stephen's dad is so poor he can't afford proper Christmas presents, but then wants to buy his own business. Perhaps things were just easy for babyboomers!

For primary to early secondary age, vocabulary quite straightforward.

[Farah Mendlesohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the fantasy of this story which is mostly unexplained, but it's definitely of another time. I can't give this away without a spoiler, but this book is about exactly why a policy changed.

It is, however, a very passive story. The protagonist is barely.

[Bernadette Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable enough read that I felt handled the subject matter well. Stephen was an 11 year old only child being cared for by his Dad. He was wanting to find out the truth about his Mum and why she wasn't in his life. In a quite unique way the secrets began to be revealed slowly.

If this had been an adult book there were avenues that I felt could have been developed further. A well written very easy read that I read in a few hours.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very easy read probably meant for pre-teens taking the language, length of chapters and that it is only 184 pages into consideration. An 11 yr old who lives with his Dad searches for the truth about his mother.