SOLVED. A number of kids isolated in an empty building, must make faces at a machine to receive food [s]

[Liav]

Probably read this when I was ten. The kids must debase themselves further and further to amuse the machine whenever it flashes a green light. Two of the kids refuse to participate, and starve. When they are let out, the kids who had been getting food spotted a green traffic light and instantly started to hit each other and make faces. The other two kids looked on, understanding dawning on them.

[bookel]

House of stairs by William Sleator?

[bookel]

The cage by Roy Brown?
A group of teenage boys plan an escape when they realize their imprisonment is part of an experiment to repattern their personalities.
Cover 1, Cover 2

[Liav]

About 8, 9 years ago?

[Liav]

YES IT WAS HOUSE OF STAIRS. Thank you.

[bookel]

Awesome, yes I think I recall that scene you described at the end. It's another frequently requested book.

[Leonie]

I read this years ago! It was probably one of the first books I'd read that was more than "just a story."

[Liav]

It was one of those rare reads that left me with something more, you know?

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Liav, you are the 7th person to remember this book well enough to want to know the title.

Congrats on finding it. I've shelved it with the tag for your thread and moved this down to Solved for you.

[Liav]

Fantastic. Thank you!