The Vine: November 6, 2013
There is a book that has haunted me on and off for a couple years now.
Every now and then my husband and I get to reminiscing about books we read and enjoyed as kids. Every time we get into one of these conversations, I recall a mere whisper of a book I must have read somewhere between age 10-14 — so say late ’80s to early ’90s.
All I can remember is that there are a couple of kids traveling with their uncle or dad — some adult male figure. The car they are in breaks down or runs off the road, causing them to be walking along the highway. They end up at a large mansion of sorts set in a field and when they enter the house, the room they enter is upside down. They are standing next to ceiling light fixtures and looking up at armchairs bolted to the ceiling. The house has a funhouse feel and they are searching for something.
On a whim, I called my younger brother and he also remembers reading a book that fits that description but can’t recall much else. He thinks they were following or searching for a large rabbit or a guy in a rabbit suit. I can recall a rabbit aspect but not much else. Maybe a kind of funhouse/Willy Wonka thing without the sugar? I have tried Google but “upside-down rooms” only brings up Roald Dahl’s Twits, and “large rabbits” Donnie Darko. Neither fits. I am at my wit’s end!
Does anyone recall this book? I would be forever in your debt!
McKenzie
Tags: Ask The Readers popcult Roald Dahl
Don’t know this book but the first thing I always think of when I hear upside down house is Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle.
I think I know this one- my sister and I were talking about it last year. We found it, but I can’t remember the name right now. The cover showed two girls- one brunette, one blonde- on the floor by an upside down light fixture. Off to see if she remembers.
I thought of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle too! Which this… totally is not.
It’s either Help! I’m a Prisoner in the Library! or its sequel, Scared Silly, possibly both conflated into one. Two of my favorites as a kid. :)
Maren beat me to it; it’s Help! I’m a Prisoner in the Library! BUT, I never knew it had a sequel! Now I have to go search for that! :D
Doesn’t sound like ‘Help!’ from what I remember, but it has admittedly been a while. And I’m not familiar with the sequel, so the elements I don’t recognize could be from there.
OP: was there a creepy-ass scene with mannequins on a bus?
Scared Silly, that’s the one I was thinking of.
http://www.amazon.com/Scared-Silly-Eth-Clifford/dp/0590423827/ref=la_B001HN3JD4_1_15?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1384198532&sr=1-15
Sorry to all that I’m finally getting back to writing about this. In my defense, I had minor surgery, the holidays, and a kid so I’m finally back to the living lately. I *think* it’s Scared Silly – the cover looks SO familiar! I’ve reserved both from the local library to read them and confirm. I want to report back to my brother when I see him on a trip coming up.
Thanks so much all!