What's the Name of That Book??? discussion
This topic is about
Vinegar Street
SOLVED: Children's/YA
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SOLVED. YA/Middle School creepy arty girl doesn't like her perky blonde new neighbour changing the town [s]
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*********spoilers**********Just remembered a few more things. The blonde neighbour has a son who she keeps locked up because she's ashamed of him (because he is 'strange' like the protagonist). At the climax of the book, right before the end, the girl is destroying her town with magic and her pieces of art have come to life and she's controlling the bats and the wind and everything and then the boy stops her with a kiss. And then that's the end.
The climax of the book has the text spiralling around the page with embellishments of leaves and things, if that helps anyone.
It might've been more of a Middle School reading level than YA, come to think about it, as I could read it all in one easy sitting.
It does sound like a neat little story. Is 'creepy' the word you want, though? I mean, that's just such a negative word - and that's the girl who is the main character, right?Do you have any guess whether this was a UK book, or do you think it was popular enough to be international?
Sorry - just went to your profile and see you're actually Australian. My bad for guessing UK from your spelling & vocabulary. So, maybe it was just an Australian book?
It might've been Australian, but I did used to live in England when I was younger so who knows! I feel like it could've easily been an American book though.And yep definitely creepy is the right word! That was the purpose of her character. She liked weeds and bats and spiders and things and when her new neighbour moved in, who was all blonde and manicured, she reacted badly.
If it helps anyone... I think she had a mother whose name started with 'M' and who said "ooo" a lot.
No leads? Oh man :(The book was illustrated as well, and I vividly remember one page with the blonde neighbour doing a really wide evil smile. She had an exaggerated hourglass figure and a very low-cut top, and super long and pointy nails.
Ok that's a big clue. :)Sometimes it takes awhile for books to get ID'd. And by 'awhile' I mean it can take years. Bump this every month or two and someone will know it eventually.
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Lobstergirl wrote: "Stephanie, are you still looking for this book?"I sure am!
If it helps, I think the illustrations were kinda Chris Riddell-esque.
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Stephanie, what genre did it seem to fit in? Fantasy, horror, mystery, etc?
It was middle school or YA, and I guess kinda fantasy?
Here's a bump for summer. Come back in a couple of months and bump it again, ok?
I'm pretty sure it's not this book, but I will throw this out there. Emlyn's Moon Do you know if it was part of a series?
Wasn't that one, and don't think it's part of a series.The evil blonde neighbour starts taking everyone jogging, tidying up everyone's lawns, and she locks up her son in his room because he isn't her idea of perfect.
https://www.goodreads.com/series/6036... ?It's a series, however. And, I'm not sure if there is a book that has a blonde neighbor. But, the girl is described as liking creepy things, like bats, snakes and poison ivy.
What year did you read this?
Unfortunately not this series, but thank you. The illustrations were most Chris Riddell-esque. I must have read it in 2001.
I can't remember exactly what happens because I read it so long ago but could it be Vinegar Street by Philip Ridley? I think Chris Riddell might have illustrated it.https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
OMG!!YOU DID IT!!!
You solved it! Thank you so much! :)
I think this book had a purple cover... I read it around the same time the first Harry Potter book came out and I remember getting excited when I saw a person with Harry Potter because I thought it was this book! So it might have had those colours.
If anyone could help that would be amazing!