Thirteens
Ratings5
Average rating3.6
15
Ratings5
Average rating3.6
Neil Gaiman's Coraline meets Stranger Things in a dark and twisted story about a sleepy town with a dark secret--and the three kids brave enough to uncover it. Every thirteen years in the town of Eden Eld, three thirteen-year-olds disappear. Eleanor has just moved to the quiet, prosperous Eden Eld. When she awakes to discover an ancient grandfather clock that she's never seen before outside her new room, she's sure her eyes must be playing tricks on her. But then she spots a large bird, staring at her as she boards the school bus. And a black dog with glowing red eyes follows her around town. All she wants is to be normal, and these are far from normal. And worse--no one else can see them. Except for her new friends, Pip and Otto, who teach her a thing or two about surviving in Eden Eld. First: Don't let the "wrong things" know you can see them. Second: Don't speak of the wrong things to anyone else. The only other clue they have about these supernatural disturbances is a book of fairytales unlike any they've read before. It tells tales of the mysterious Mr. January, who struck a cursed deal with the town's founders. Every thirteenth Halloween, he will take three of their children, who are never heard from again. It's up to our trio to break the curse--because Eden Eld's thirteen years are up. And Eleanor, Pip, and Otto are marked as his next sacrifice.
Reviews with the most likes.
Thanks to Penguin and Netgalley for an arc of this book.
I had a great time with this book. To fully give this book justice I suggest reading it at Halloween if you can. It's pitched as Coraline x Stranger Things. To me, it reminds me much more of Sawkill Girls but for a younger audience.
I appreciate that this book moves so fast and keeps you so engaged. It easily falls into the MG ranks of Small Spaces and Ghost Squad.
I didn't realize it would be a series when I picked it up but I would definitely like to revisit these three!
After a traumatic event with her mother, Eleanor moves in with her aunt and uncle that live in a small, pleasant town. It's the town her mother said never to go to, but after recent events Eleanor isn't feeling very trusting towards her mother. The town seems pleasant even though she keeps seeing things she shouldn't. Things that shouldn't exist and no one else sees. Until she meets Otto and Pip who happen to share the same birthday, Halloween and who happen to see the “wrong things” too. So Eleanor, Otto, and Pip are learning about the town's sinister secret and how they fit into it and it's up to them to stop it.
This was a great adventure but also heartbreaking in so many ways. The book tackles some big feelings and tough subjects that many kids face which made me love it more. The friendship that starts to form between the three has me excited to see where the three go in the next book. And the imagery of the wrong things and some of the characters is so well done.
4.5 on storygraph
i really enjoyed this one!!! the vibes were spot on and i felt for a middle grade it really show complex emotions through the loss/grief elements the characters face
parts of the lore were a bit confusing but im hoping the next two books help to remedy that factor!!
i'm definitely gonna read on and i definitely recommend!!
Series
2 primary booksThirteens is a 2-book series with 2 primary works first released in 2020 with contributions by Kate Alice Marshall.
