Behind the Bookcase

September 24, 2012
In Steensland’s lackluster debut, 11-year-old Sarah, who identifies herself as “cautious”—maybe even “a scaredy-cat,” as her annoying eight-year-old brother taunts—shows her courage when her late grandmother’s house turns out to be as haunted as it appears. Arriving from California with her family to prepare Grandma Winnie’s dilapidated house for sale, Sarah discovers an unfinished letter from her grandmother, which expresses the worry that “Strange things are happening behind the bookcase” in her bedroom. Intrigued, Sarah begins exploring, and falls into the land of Scotopia, “where shadows come from,” peopled by such creatures as a one-eyed giant hand and ruled by Balthazat, a talking cat. Adventures come fast and
furious as Sarah—who instantly and inexplicably morphs into an adventurous, brave, and steadfast child—travels between reality and a trio of fantasy lands (eerily imagined by Murphy in b&w spot art), narrowly escaping dangers as she strives to secure the balance of the world. While Steensland’s story has a quick pace and occasional surprises, there’s little to distinguish it from others in the genre. Ages 8–12. Agent: Jenny Bent, the Bent Agency.

September 1, 2012
What is behind the bookcase? A black tunnel that is a secret portal to an adventure for a girl and her younger brother. When Sarah's family arrives at her grandmother's house to get it ready to sell, strange sounds and sensations begin immediately. As she's packing boxes, Sarah discovers an unfinished letter from her grandma with the words, "Strange things are happening behind the bookcase." Of course, Sarah investigates the tunnel and lands in Scotopia, which is ruled by the talking King of the Cats, Balthazat. She becomes the key figure in a battle of good versus evil as dangerous creatures attempt to foil Sarah's efforts to keep the malignant cat from unleashing the sleeping souls locked inside the house. The fantasy characters are inventive: an enormous hand on legs called Lefty; sentinels whose eyes and mouths are stitched shut and carry heads for lanterns; a boy with half his face missing; and a giant bat with a boy's face. However, the humans are stock figures, and plot elements are derivative. The black-and-white drawings attempt to be Gorey-esque but fail to meet that standard. Though the title and cover are promising, the writing is muddled with too many conveniently trumped-up figures. Stick with any of John Bellairs' books for a skillful gothic tale. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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December 1, 2012

Gr 4-7-When her grandmother dies, Sarah's family spends a week traveling by car from California to get the dusty and smelly house cleaned up and ready for sale. Sarah's mother has no fond memories of her childhood home or her mother, and the dark corners and strange noises spook timid Sarah. When she finds an unfinished letter written by the grandmother she never knew that refers to "strange things happening behind the bookcase," she is curious and shimmies the bookcase from against the wall and travels to a strange land called Scotopia, where she meets a talking cat, a boy with half a face, a walking hand, and all sorts of strange creatures. This fantasy takes the creepiness of Neil Gaiman's Coraline (HarperCollins, 2002), mixes it liberally with the surrealism of Alice in Wonderland, and adds a dash of Edward Gorey through moody black-and-white illustrations. Readers who are patient with the seeming randomness will soon be rewarded with a suspenseful, magical adventure that, while there is resolution, ends with a promise of a sequel. Sarah and her brother bicker constantly and initially work against each other but soon join forces to prevent the destruction of both our world and Scotopia.-Brenda Kahn, Tenakill Middle School, Closter, NJ

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2013
Eleven-year-old Sarah discovers a secret entrance into a world where a black cat king has devious plans. Sarah's journey through Scotopia introduces creatures both grotesque and amusing, as well as a worldwide network of record keepers who aid the dead. Steensland's prose is vivid and imaginative, though the plot lacks precision and the conclusion is too plainly poised for a sequel.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)