# data[].attributes.body
“It delighted his senses with warmth and color and the scents of summer; it cooed softly in his ear and played its gentle airs against his face.”
“The attic was all the House was not: filthy, murky and cobwebbed.”
“...his enemy was surely lurking in the maze of rotting pictures and mildewed furniture.”
“..the half-rotted wings; the tiny black eyes; the teeth, the endless teeth.”
“His eyes were dark pits gouged into the timbers; his nose was flared and flattened grotesquely, like the nose of an enormous bat; his mouth was a lipless slit that was surely ten feet wide, from which issued a voice that was like the creaking of doors and the howling of chimneys and the rattling of windows.”

# data[].attributes.body
“The wind was gusty, and chilled the sweat of fear and exertion on his face and spine.”
“His head began to spin, his legs buckled beneath him, and he fell down on the sidewalk, exhausted.”
“There were several kite-flyers plying the wind at the top of the ridge; a dozen or more dogs romping around; children laughing as they rolled down the slope;”
“hopes like birds on a spring branch; happiness like a warm summer sun; magic like the rising mists of autumn.”

# data[].attributes.body
His eyes were made of broken mirrors, and his face of gouged stone. He had a mane of splinters, and limbs of timber. He had shattered slates for teeth, and rusty screws for fingernails, and a cloak of rotted drapes that scarcely hid the darkness of his heart from sight.

It flew up into the air like an unknotted balloon, giving off a farting sputter as it looped the loop and finally fell, emptied, to the ground.

His mouth grew wide as a tunnel, and a blast of sour, icy air rose from his belly.

It swept him away from the rocks, drawing him toward its center, where the waters were spiraling down into the earth.

Then the ferocity of the waters began to rip at his makeshift body, tearing out his nails and rattling out his teeth, washing away his mane of splinters, and shaking his limbs apart at the joints.

# data[].attributes.body
He'd no sooner made his final offer to Harvey than the balmy wind grew gusty, carrying off the lamb's wool clouds that had been drifting through the summer sky.

A thunderhead the size of a mountain, which loomed over the House like a shadow thrown against Heaven.

It had the light rains that came at early morning to coax forth the seeds of another spring; it had the drooping fogs of autumn, and the spiraling snows that had brought so many midnight Christmases to the House.

It would have killed the flowers on the slope with cold, had the wind not reached them first, tearing through the blossoms with such vehemence that every petal and leaf was snatched up into the air.

Standing between this fragrant tide and the plummeting curtain of ice and cloud, Harvey was barely able to stay upright.

Snows melted into rains as they fell; rains were boiled into vapor; and sweated new shoots out through the rot of their brothers.

But its voice-which had once carried such terrible authority had grown weak.

The chimneys were wracked by thunder, and toppled; the lightning rods struck so many times they melted, and fell through the slateless roof in a burning rain, setting fire to every floorboard, banister and stick of furniture they touched. The porch, pummeled by hail, was reduced to matchwood. The staircase, rocked to its foundations by the growth in the dirt around it, collapsed like a tower of cards.

# data[].attributes.body
“its once placid waters now a raging spiral.”
“which flickered as though it held a dozen candle flames”
“a hand with foot-long fingers reached up from the rubble and snatched hold of his throat, dragging him down into the dirt in one swift motion.”
“the ground gaped and a form appeared, hunched over as it climbed out of its tomb in the rubble”

# data[].attributes.body
“The roof and walls darkened, and the entire House seemed to swell like a monstrous fungus. It was alive! From the eaves to the foundations, alive!”
“The lawn began to tremble as though a minor earthquake were underway,”
“...species that only bloomed at night on the High Himalayas, or on the windswept plateaus of Tierra del Fuego; flowers with blooms as big as his head, or as small as his thumbnail; blooms that stank like bad meat, or smelled like a breeze from Heaven itself.”
“...the doors were peeling and hanging from their hinges; the porch boards were twisted and blighted.”

# data[].attributes.body
You've done well," said the smiling face awaiting him at the top of the stairs.

He was plastering on a smile, and smothering his words in butter and honey, but it was the sour smell of fear that oozed from his sickly skin.

He took a step toward Rictus, who retreated as if in fear of his life, which perhaps he was.

Rictus came after him down the flight, chattering like a clockwork salesman.

The wall in front of him lifted like a great brick curtain, revealing shelf upon shelf of leather-bound volumes.

Rictus was down the flight in two springs, and at the table in another two.

He had no weapon against the enemy but his wits, and his wits were about at an end.

# data[].attributes.body
“doubt running a cold finger up his spine.”
“The mist closed around them like a waterlogged blanket,”
“the sun was beaming down on the House”

# data[].attributes.body
His face, when his teeth no longer dazzled, was like a mask made of dough.

Two thumb-holes for eyes, and a blob for a nose.

The pie was golden brown and dusted with sugar, the ice cream melting in a sweet, white pool!

The pie was golden brown and dusted with sugar, the ice cream melting in a sweet, white pool!

The pie was golden brown and dusted with sugar, the ice cream melting in a sweet, white pool!

He stared at Jive between his fingers, his teeth chattering as he voiced the horrid truth.

Touched by the dust his fingers began to crumble in their turn, and as they dropped, the same whisper of decay spread to his thighs and knees and feet.

The dying creature reached up with an almost fingerless hand, still hoping-even as its life drifted away-that its creator would come to save it.

# data[].attributes.body
Wendell was off at a sprint, into the kitchen.

Wendell was off at a sprint, into the kitchen.

He took himself up the stairs two and three at a time, whistling tunelessly through his teeth as he ascended.

Blue sparks flew as he struck at the metal, but he seemed to be making no impression until, all of a sudden, the lock gave a loud crack and fell to the ground.

# data[].attributes.body
“her hair pulled out in clawfuls, her face purple with bruises.”
“greasy green eyes swiveled back in Harvey’s direction”
“There’s such a terrible emptiness inside him. He wants to fill it with souls, but it’s a pit. A bottomless pit”
“Her fat face began to soften and run like melting wax”
“She was oozing down the stairs.”
“Harvey reached for them like lightning,”

# data[].attributes.body
Then he headed out into the passageway, and-slipping like a thief from shadow to shadow-hurried down the stairs and out into the night.

Her mouth had lost its lips and her blue eyes turned to swivelling silver balls, lidless and lashless.

# data[].attributes.body
The front door was open, and a light was burning in the hall, throwing into silhouette the figure rushing down the porch steps.

They pierced the murk, skewering Harvey's thoughts the way its teeth would skewer his head if the beast caught up with him.

Its skin rotted and stretched over barbed and polished bone, its throat a nest of snaky tongues, its jaws set with hundreds of teeth.

Its blazing eyes fixed on him and it came down like a thunderbolt, its shriek echoing through the midnight streets.

# data[].attributes.body
One neighborhood was extremely fancy, the houses and the cars parked outside them slicker than anything he'd set eyes on.

Another was virtually a wasteland, the houses half rubble, the streets strewn with garbage.

As the East began to pale, and the birds in the trees started their twitterings, he rounded the corner of his street.

His weary legs broke into a joyful dash, and brought him to the step panting for breath and ready to fall into his parents' arms.

She was old, this woman, her hair almost as colorless as her husband's, and her face even more lined and sorrowful.

"Oh my Lord," he said, his voice dropping to a hoarse whisper.

All he could do was stumble into his mother's arms. It was wonderful to feel her hands stroke his hair and her fingers wipe his cheeks.

And those haunted twilights, which had seemed so brief, had been another span of months, as had the Christmas nights, full of snow and presents.

# data[].attributes.body
“a hard March rain that beat against the window and slapped on the sill.”
“His words were punctuated by hiccups.”
“...his face red and wet with tears and sweat.”

# data[].attributes.body
He was dressed in a windbreaker and boots, even though it was swelteringly hot, and he was stamping around like a madman.

"I want to get out of here," Wendell said, tears running down his face.

Now, though she was shaking with fear from head to foot, she dared to make a tiny nod of her head.

# data[].attributes.body
Another day, in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner, Mrs. Griffin called them through into the living room, where the flames of the fire had taken on the shapes of dragons and heroes, and were doing fiery battle in the grate.

And in the heat of one lazy afternoon, Harvey was wakened from a doze by a chorus of shouts and found a troupe of mechanical acrobats performing clockwork-defying feats on the lawn.

Even his hair, which was a mass of oiled curls, seemed to hear some crazed rhythm. It writhed on his scalp in a knotted frenzy.

She had not a single tooth in her mouth.

"Yeah, I want to have fangs, like a wolf, and a red throat, and white skin, like I've been dead for a thousand years."

To his astonishment he found his fingers were gnarled and sharp, and leathery flaps were hanging from his arms. The wind gusted against them, threatening to carry him off the roof then and there.

# data[].attributes.body
“plummeted like a slate tossed from the gables,”
“fuming his wings like leathery sails he swooped down on his prey.”
"blubbery belly"

"wolfish fangs"

"wild, lunatic laughter"

“tear-stained face and trembling hands.”

# data[].attributes.body
“the sun was once again pouring through a crack in the curtains, but this time it lay in a warm pool on the pillow beside him”

“His possessions had gone into a nightmare place, full of monstrous things, and he felt as though a little part of himself had gone with it, down into the dark.”

“The water was icy cold, and eager.”

# data[].attributes.headline
The purpose of this padlet is  to be a resource for:                   a) examples of figurative language such as similes and metaphors                               b) examples of descriptive vocabulary such as sensory words and amazing phrases and sentences                                c) important but difficult words and provide their meaning

# data[].attributes.subject
The purpose of this padlet is  to be a resource for:                   a) examples of figurative language such as similes and metaphors                               b) examples of descriptive vocabulary such as sensory words and amazing phrases and sentences                                c) important but difficult words and provide their meaning

# data[].attributes.body
d) summary

# data[].attributes.body
“A Christmas tree—so tall that the star at its summit pricked the ceiling—stood in the hallway, the colors of its twinkling lights seeping into every room. There was a smell of chocolate in the air, and the sound of carols being sung. In the living room, Mrs. Griffin was sitting beside a roaring fire, with Stew-Cat purring on her lap.”

# data[].attributes.body
“It was a proud house, certainly, but there was nothing wrong with that; it had much to be proud of. It stood four stories high, and boasted more windows than Harvey could readily count. Its porch was wide, as were the steps that led up to its carved front door; its slated roofs were steep and crowned with magnificent chimneys and lightning rods.”

“He looked harmless enough. He was no more than six inches taller than Harvey, his frame scrawny, his skin distinctly yellowish in color. He was wearing a fancy suit, a pair of spectacles and a lavish smile.”

“The House was more welcoming than ever today, the flowers Mrs. Griffin had set on every table and sill singing with color.”

“The breeze was warm, and smelled of the green scent of growing things; the perfect sky was full of swooping birds.”

“That was why the sky was so faultlessly blue, and the birds making such music.”

“The leaves rustled underfoot as though snakes were swarming through them;"

# data[].attributes.body
“...body as ragged as a moldy rug,”
"...and his teeth sharp as razors.”
"...voice that was like the creaking of doors"

# data[].attributes.body
“hopes like birds on a spring branch; happiness like a warm summer sun; magic like the rising mists of autumn.”

# data[].attributes.body
gouged - rough hole
shattered - broken
splinted - small & thin (glass)
perished - to die
billowed - large mass of something
enormity - extremely big
illusion - false belief
flailed - to swing wildly
vortex - strong swirl in the water
ferocity - violent
blithe - casual & cheerful
perpetual - never ending

# data[].attributes.body
balmy - pleasant warm weather
juggernaut - a powerful force
vehemence - very strong feeling
spectacle - strong performance
pierced - go through something
rallies - a big group coming together in support
feints - big blow (with force)
rare - does not happen often
perished - die
warring - in conflict with another person

# data[].attributes.body
bafflement - confusion
conceal - hide

mesmerized - spellbound
rubble - what remains when a building is demolished

vortex - whirlpool

# data[].attributes.body
"flowers with blooms as big as his head, or as small as his thumbnail"
"...the entire House seemed to swell like a monstrous fungus."

# data[].attributes.body
unctuous - over flattering
plastering - fake / to paste
smothering - to cover
dabbed - press against
grin - smile
retreated - to back away
gleamed - shine brightly
exotic - unique and special
hauling - open
wit - ability to think and act quickly

# data[].attributes.body
Personification- mouth watering; skin crawling; stomach grumbling;

# data[].attributes.body
illusions - a false belief / not real
dazzled - shine brightly
plunged - jump quickly
slam - shut loudly
retreating - withdraw / to back away
gullet - body part (food passes through to the stomach)
grinned - smile widely
demise - death

# data[].attributes.body
satisfied - pleased
mewling - cat's cry
ascended - to go up
averting - turn away
murk - darkness
hauled - pull with force

# data[].attributes.body
Similes
“Harvey reached for them like lightning,”
“Her fat face began to soften and run like melting wax”

# data[].attributes.body
astonishment - great surprise
panic - sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety
audience - people who are watching the scene
shuddering - to tremble
rustle - a soft moving sound
crackled - sharp noises
murk - dark mist makes it difficult to see
conceal - to hide
thicket - a group of bushes or tress
teetered - unbalanced, sway back and forth
freakishness - scary looking

# data[].attributes.body
waylaid - got stopped
transpired - to be found out
remote - far away
crumbling - break apart
summons - to order
traipsed - walk away reluctantly
humiliation - embarrassed
agonized - suffering in pain

# data[].attributes.body
doubtful - not sure
trudge - slow and draggy walk
astray - wrong direction
furrow - wrinkle
frown - looking unhappy
stumble - fall
sorrowful - very sad
distracted - not able to concentrate

# data[].attributes.body
Personification - “a hard March rain that beat against the window and slapped on the sill.”

# data[].attributes.body
vex - annoyed / frustrated
snapped - lose control
emerge - to come out
brimming - almost overflowing
goading - to provoke
exasperated - frustrated
persistence - not giving up

# data[].attributes.body
rhythm - a sound pattern
succulent - juicy
anticipate - to look forward
counterattack - response to an attack
nimble - quick action
whim - sudden change of mind
maw - throat of a fierce animal
gnarled - rough

# data[].attributes.body
“plummeted like a slate tossed from the gables,”
“fuming his wings like leathery sails he swooped down on his prey.”

# data[].attributes.body
ark - see pic below
devoured - eat hungrily or quickly
flailed - waved wildly

glutton - greedy eater

peered - look closely; squint

precarious - not steady; likely to fall

suppress - put an end to; stop

tedious - boring and long

# data[].attributes.body
“Some were as bright as parrots,”

“hanging between the bare branches of the trees—was a moon as wide and as white as a dead man’s smile.”

# data[].attributes.body
agape - mouth wide open in surprise
ascended - went up
bereft - sad and lonely, without something
deceit - cheating
mangled - damaged very badly
masquerading - pretending
pursuit - chase
squalid - very dirty

# data[].attributes.body
conjure - make something appear by magic
domain - kingdom
dispersed - scattered
eclipsed - blocked or covered
endured - suffered patiently
incredulous - disbelieving
nudged - poked
ruins - the broken remains of something

# data[].attributes.body
Mr. Hood’s eyes are made of broken mirrors, his face of stone. His hair is made of splinters,

and his limbs are made of timber. Rictus tells Mr. Hood that he will kill Harvey, but Mr. Hood blames Rictus for bringing Harvey to the house in the first place. At that moment, Mr. Hood twisted Rictus’s head right off, and he falls apart to nothing. Mr. Hood tells Harvey that he is about to see power. Mr. Hood takes off chasing after Harvey, who runs in the other direction. Lulu calls Harvey toward the lake, which is their only escape. At the edge of the lake, Mr. Hood tells Harvey to choose his death – either go down the vortex in the lake or be killed by The Vampire King, who promises to rock him to sleep on a bed of illusions. At that moment, Harvey grabs the creature’s coat and pulls it off him, exposing the void underneath. Lulu has found a

weapon, and whacks Mr. Hood in the back of the knee, throwing him off balance. Mr. Hood frantically grabs for his coat, but Harvey flings it into the water. Mr. Hood dives into the frenzied waters. Mr. Hood finds himself pleading for help, as the vortex is too strong and is taking him under. At that moment, Wendell appears, curious about what he has missed.

# data[].attributes.body
Four seasons at once is a sight to behold. Harvey plants his feet wide and holds his stance while

the wind knocks him around. Hood-House yells “Enough!” However, its voice is now weak and likely unheard by the seasons who are raging on, throwing themselves against one another. Harvey finds himself in the middle of a battlefield. The chimneys on the house fall apart, and lightning strikes set fire to the floors and furniture. Harvey can’t believe that he has found a way to bring the house down, as it turns to dust in front of his eyes. Harvey watches as the souls of children float away and Mrs. Griffin disappears with tears of joy on her face.

# data[].attributes.body
“it shattered like a sphere of spun sugar,”

# data[].attributes.body
apprentice - assistant, student
Bloom - Flower
Disgust - feeling of hatred
Imbecilic - Idiotic, stupid
melodious - sweet sounding. musical
noxious - poisonous
tantalizing - teasing, torturing
teetering - wobbly, unsteady
shams and hoaxes - fake

# data[].attributes.body
Rictus greets Harvey at the stairs. He offers him anything he wants to stay in the house, but

all Harvey wants is his years back. Harvey asks Rictus if the children in the lake would be set

free if he were to agree to stay. Rictus assures Harvey that the children in the lake are happy;

however, Harvey knows this is not true. Harvey tells Rictus that he will just go to the lake and

free the children himself. As he storms outside, Rictus desperately tries to convince Harvey to

stay by offering him a motorcycle, a dog, all the books in the world, the state of Alaska, a

medal from the President and tigers. But, nothing will stop Harvey from helping the children.

Harvey suddenly wonders where Wendell is, and Rictus tells him that he has turned into another

lake fish like the other children.

# data[].attributes.body
blandishments - favors and charms used to persuade
dappled shade - shady part marked with spots of sunshine
eaves - the part of a roof that hangs over the wall
faltered - hesitated
seductive - tempting
tantalising smells - smells that tease and tempt

# data[].attributes.body
Harvey walks Mrs. Griffin upstairs and tells her to warm up. Rictus tries to give Harvey a hard

time, but Harvey tells Rictus that he has an appointment with Rictus’s master in the attic.

When Harvey gets to the bottom of the stairs, Jive stops him and tries to tempt him with

warm pie and ice cream; however, Harvey will not fall for this ploy. Jive tells Harvey he will prove

the food is not poisonous by eating some. Jive takes a large bite despite Rictus’s warning. Jive

immediately becomes sick and tries to rid himself of the food he just ate. Instead, he starts

spitting dust. Rictus retreats and Jive slowly turns to dust, calling up to Mr. Hood before he

disappears into a heap of dust. Wendell appears, happy and full. Harvey knows that Wendell

cannot help him, as the House has claimed him entirely. So, he tells Wendell that Mrs. Griffin is

outside, Wendell heads out to see her as Harvey begins to climb the stairs.

# data[].attributes.body
Rictus offers food to Wendell and Harvey, and Wendell gladly accepts. Harvey asks Rictus where

Mrs. Griffin is, and Rictus explains that they have laid her down somewhere safe and sound

since she is getting old. Stew-Cat rubs herself against Harvey’s legs. Harvey tells Rictus that he

isn’t happy because he cannot remember where he left his presents. Rictus offers to find

them. Harvey enters the kitchen to check on Wendell and finds Jive cooking a buffet full of

delicious foods. Harvey has to remind himself that the foods are not real - they’re just dust.

Stew-Cat gets Harvey’s attention again, so he follows her. She leads him down a narrow

passage to a door he had never noticed before. The door is locked, but Stew-Cat directs him

to a small table with a wooden box on it. Inside the box, Harvey finds a key for the door. The

door leads to a wooden staircase. Harvey follows Stew-Cat down the 52 stairs, into the gloom.

The only thing Harvey sees in the cavernous basement is a large wooden box. Stew-Cat jumps

onto the box and begins to claw at it. The box is more of a coffin, and it is locked shut. Harvey

sees an apron string hanging out of it and assumes Mrs. Griffin is inside. He finds two rocks to

break the lock and opens the lid.

# data[].attributes.body
bafflement - sense of confusion
clogging - blocking
defiantly - daringly

humble - respectful and meek
wrest - forcibly take away

# data[].attributes.body
Harvey finds Wendell in his room. Since Harvey knows the house is probably listening, he tells

Wendell that they should just relax and enjoy themselves. At the same time, Harvey hands

Wendell a secret note for him to read that tells him to meet Harvey at midnight to plan an

escape. For the rest of the day, Harvey and Wendell felt like actors, pretending to enjoy their

day as usual. Then, at midnight, Harvey got dressed and snuck out the kitchen door, hoping

that the house, or whoever controlled it, was “asleep.” As he turns the corner, he hears

someone calling his name. It turns out to be Lulu, but she is shimmering and keeping her

distance. She tells him she cannot go with him, as it is too late for her. Lulu wants to give him a

gift before he leaves, and she makes him close his eyes as she comes close to place three

items in his hand. They are three survivors from his ark. Harvey realizes that there is no way

she is human if she was able to swim to the depths of the lake to retrieve these toys. Lulu

was slowly becoming a sister to the strange fish that swam in the lake. As Lulu retreats, she

reiterates to Harvey that it is too late to save her; however, Harvey follows her, determined to

get her out of the Holiday House. He believes that if he can get her away from the house, it’s

magic will no longer have a hold on her. Or, perhaps he could find a doctor for her. He catches

up to her as she transforms into a fish and jumps into the lake.

# data[].attributes.body
When Harvey meets up with Wendell, he decides not to tell him about Lulu, since he is nervous

enough already. Harvey explains that they must get through the misty wall to escape, so his

plan is to hold hands to make sure the wall does not turn them around in the process of

walking through. As Wendell begins to walk through, the front door of the house bursts open,

and Harvey can see Mrs. Griffin coming down the stairs after them. She is yelling at him to

come back to the house, quickly. Then, Harvey looks up to find Carna, the beast from the roof

coming down upon him with its wide jaws, ready to bite. Harvey yells at Wendell that the beast

is after them, but Wendell explains that he cannot find a way out. From the corner of his eye,

Harvey sees Mrs. Griffin reaching into the mist and dropping Blue-Cat to the ground. Blue-Cat

has a great sense of direction, so they follow him. Blue-Cat helps them find their way out, but

then they realize that Carna has followed them out into the real world. Right when they think

there is no way they will survive, Carna begins crying and falling to the ground. Carna’s wings

begin to disappear, and it becomes clear that Carna cannot survive out in the real world. Carna

disappears completely. Wendell wonders if he will even remember the Holiday house after a

week. Harvey says that he will definitely remember because he brought souvenirs – the ark

pieces. As soon as he takes them out of his pocket, they crumble and turn to dust.

# data[].attributes.body
Harvey and Wendell walk to the center of town, where they part ways to walk home. They

exchange addresses so they can keep in touch and support each other’s accounts of what

happened in the Holiday House. Wendell finally makes it to his house and knocks on the door. It

takes a while for anyone to answer, which is logical as it is still nighttime. An old man answers

the door, and Harvey realizes that he has the wrong house. The old man’s wife appears at his

side, and Harvey realizes this is his mother. His father refuses to believe it, as Harvey has been

missing for 31 years, so he should be a man now, not a boy. After a few minutes, Harvey’s dad

begins to believe that Harvey really is his son; however, he doesn’t understand it and considers

the fact that Harvey may be a ghost. Harvey realizes that for every day he spent at the

Holiday House, a year went by in the real world. His parents welcome him into the house and his

mother offers to make up a bed for him right away. Harvey tells his parents that he wants to

share his story first.

# data[].attributes.body
deceived - cheated/swindled
forlorn - lonely and unhappy
illusion - a false or mistaken idea
trudged - walk slowly due to tiredness
veil - face covering

# data[].attributes.body
The next morning, Wendell and Lulu are nowhere to be found. Harvey contemplates what Jive

meant when he said this was an “education.” He wonders what lesson he was supposed to learn

by jumping off the roof and scaring Wendell. He also wonders what all the stuff about soulstealers

means, and why these soul-stealers need to be “served.” He has so many questions,

but no answers. Later in the afternoon, when Harvey is lounging in the shade of the treehouse,

he sees Wendell racing across the lawn. When Harvey catches up to him, Wendell explains that

he has been trying to leave for hours and hours, but the mist keeps sending him back the way

he came. Wendell says that there have been other children who have disappeared, and he thinks

that if he stays in the Holiday House, then he will either die or lose his mind like Lulu. Harvey and

Wendell walk to the wall. Harvey attempts to walk through it, just as he entered. However, each

time he tries to walk into the wall, he is turned around without evening being aware of it, finding

himself facing the house again. Harvey tells Wendell that they must pretend they’ve given up on

trying to leave. In the meantime, Harvey plans to do some investigating. He goes up to Lulu’s

room and finds it empty. The bathtub is almost full and her clothes are scattered on the

ground in puddles. Harvey finds Mrs. Griffin and asks if she has seen Lulu. Mrs. Griffin reminds

Harvey that Mr. Hood does not like “inquisitive guests,” and Harvey tells her that he doesn’t

believe that Mr. Hood exists. Mrs. Griffin finally breaks down and tells Harvey that they’re all

stuck in this house forever, and to enjoy himself for the short time that is left. She tells

Harvey that if he tries to escape again, Carna will come after him. She tells Harvey that Mr.

Hood is dead, and he never wants to meet Carna, who lives on the roof with Jive, Marr, and

Rictus.

# data[].attributes.body
Harvey continues to enjoy Christmas every night and the many gifts the Holiday House offers.

One day, one of Rictus’s siblings shows up. His name is Jive, and he had many tics, jigs, and jitters

that make it seem as if his body is always in motion. Jive checks on Harvey to make sure that

he is still happy. Jive reminds Harvey that he never got back at Wendell for the trick he pulled

on him. Jive suggests they “cook something up” between the two of them. Jive asks Harvey

what his favorite monster is, and Harvey tells him he likes vampires. Jive tells Harvey to meet

him on the roof where Marr will help him transform into a vampire. On the roof, Harvey meets

Marr for the first time. Marr is grossly fat and seems to have slug blood in her somewhere.

Marr asks Harvey if he has ever flown before, and Harvey admits that he has dreamt about it

before. Harvey notices that Marr has no teeth. Marr explains that Carna took her beautiful

teeth. Marr touches Harvey and molds his face into a vampire as if his face is made of clay.

Harvey asks for wings, fangs, a red throat, and white skin, too. As she finishes his

transformation, Marr warns Harvey that he is playing a dangerous game, as he will either

break his head or scare the life out of Wendell. Or both. Jive reassures Harvey that he will be

fine, as he’s “got the knack of this.” Jive points out that Wendell is down below, and Harvey

realizes that he can see Harvey perfectly, even though it is pitch dark out. He can hear his

heart beating and his breathing, too. Jive shoves Harvey off the edge of the roof.

# data[].attributes.body
contemptuous- disrespectful/insulting

fair-weather friend-a person who’s only your friend in good times

morsel- a small amount of food

mourned- felt sorrow for, cried for

nimble- quick and light in action

pounce- jump on

retreated- pulled back/fled

supplications- action of asking or begging

thicket- dense bushes

unpalatable- bad tasting

whoop- a loud cry of joy or excitement

# data[].attributes.body
The days in the Holiday House followed the same pattern. The mornings would start with spring and Harvey and Wendell worked on the tree house. Afternoons would change to hot summer, while evenings were autumn with Halloween adventures. The day would end as winter nights when they would have fun in the snow and celebrate Christmas.
One day Harvey decided to take his ark to the lake. It floated well but then he saw a fish ready to swallow the ark and in his attempt to save the ark, he fell into the water! He managed get out of the water but the ark was lost. He was very upset at the though that his ark was in a deep, dark place filled with monstrous things.
Harvey realized that even though Holiday House was full of entertaining things, it had a ghost and he was determined to find out what haunted the place.

# data[].attributes.body
immense

gusted

peered

transformation

hollered

ark

eerie

steeple

# data[].attributes.body
After Harvey succeeded in getting rid of Marr, he went up to the attic to look for Mr.Hood. There he found Carna, wounded and mangled. Trying to get out of the attic, Harvey stumbled and fell and as he looked up at the ceiling, he saw Hood, his face spread over the entire roof! Hood tried to persuadeHarvey to agree to come back to the house and leave peacefully. He told Harvey he only stole from him the time that Harvey didn't want in the first place, the rainy days...the gray days. Hood said, "We're both thieves. I take time. You take loves. We're both Thieves of Always!"
When Harvey still insisted that he wanted his years back, Hood told Carna to devour him. But quick thinking Harvey, realized that Carna was suffering and just wanted to die. So instead of trying to escape, he touched her gently and comforted her and instantly Carna collapsed into a heap of bones.
Hood was shocked and confused. Harvey turned and left the attic.

# data[].attributes.body
The children gather at the edge of the mist to say their farewells. Harvey suggests they continue to tell this story, even if people don’t believe them so that they will always remember the Holiday House. Wendell heads home through the mist making Harvey promise to remember him. Lulu hesitates, saddened that she will likely go back to a time when Harvey was not even born yet. Harvey and Lulu are grateful that they got to be friends as children, but they’re both ready to go back home. They hold hands through the mist. By the time Harvey makes it all the way through, Lulu has disappeared. Back at home, Harvey is thrilled to learn that his

parents are back to their younger selves again. They look the same way they did the day Rictus flew into Harvey’s window. Harvey’s parents demand an explanation regarding where Harvey has been. Harvey decides to tell them the whole truth and offers to take them to the site of the house. Of course, his parents do not believe his story. So, Harvey takes them to the location of a house, which is now a grassy hill. Once there, an older man finds him and talks

about Hood’s buried memories. The old man tells Harvey’s parents that the stories their son

has told them are all true. He had heard about them from his wife, Lulu. Lulu, a much older woman now, stands at the bottom of the hill. Her husband explains that she wants Harvey to remember her as a young child rather than as an elderly woman. From then on, Harvey lives his life differently. He does not waste it with sighs and complaints. Instead, he fills every moment

with happiness and love.

# data[].attributes.body
"You're dirt and muck and bits and pieces."

The rags that clung there billowed, and spread like the wings of some ancient vampire.

# data[].attributes.body
The thunderhead softened its furies, and dispersed.

The fierce sun grew watery, and veiled itself in mist.

# data[].attributes.body
When Harvey realized that theHouse itself was Mr. Hood, he finally figured out how to defeat him! He was going to pretend that he would stay in the house and be an apprentice to Hood if Hood would fulfil his wishes. Hood agreed. So Harvey asked for the most outrageous wishes and as the House fulfilled Harvey's wishes, he could see that it was getting weaker. The windows were broken, the doors were hanging loose and the porch boards were twisted. Hood realized that Harvey was just testing him, but Harvey said he couldn't be his apprentice if he didn't know how powerful he was. Hood agreed to grant him one final wish after which, Harvey would have to accept Hood as his master. For his final wish, Harvery asked Hood to create all the seasons, at once!

# data[].attributes.body
Two white tigers, with eyes like polished gold.

# data[].attributes.body
As soon as Harvey and Wendell set out, it is as if their feet know where to go. Strangely Harvey doesn't feel scared. Harvey has to remind Wendell that whatever they see in the house is an illusion...all made up to tempt them. None of it is real and the house should not be trusted. But Wendell falls for the magic of the house and has trouble remembering their mission. As soon as they enter the house, the door shuts behind them and they turn around to find Rictus!

# data[].attributes.body
His face was like a mask made of dough.

The hiss of dust as it ran away down the stairs.

# data[].attributes.body
After Harvey finds Mrs. Griffin and frees her from the box, she tells him how she’d run away from home at the age of 9 because her cat had died and her father refused to buy her another one. After she arrived, Rictus had given her three cats. That’s how the House worked. It tempted kids by giving them what they wanted. While she never met Mr. Hood, she’d heard his voice. He promised that if she stayed, she’d never cry and never die. That’s why she’d never  cried until today when Harvey broke the curse.
She told Harvey she didn’t want to live for ever. She wanted to die. Harvey promised her he’d help her escape but she didn’t think Hood would let them go.
Just as they’re headed upstairs, Marr blocks their way. She tries to tempt Harvey by offering to transform him into anything he wants, but he turns the tables on her and tricks her into dissolving into nothing because she had no dreams! Mrs. Griffin is beginning to believe that maybe Harvey will be able to beat Hood.

# data[].attributes.body
The snow no longer sighed at the sill, nor the wind in the chimney.

# data[].attributes.body
Personification - They turned to dust and ran away between his fingers.

# data[].attributes.body
Harvey realizes that he was trapped in the house for 31 years! He and his father try to find the house but they are unsuccessful. Harvey meanwhile can't bear the thought that he left Lulu trapped inside the Holiday House. Harvey draws a picture of the house but they're still not able to find anybody who's ever seen a house like that. And then Wendell shows up at his house. Wendell is upset because things have changed dramatically at home while he was away. As they're talking, they realize that the only way to find the house is if they go back. They decide they're going to go back to the house and take back the years they've lost.

# data[].attributes.body
As Harvey falls off the roof a gust of find lifts him up and he’s flying! He sees Wendell running towards the house, terrified of this flying creature with wings like leathery sails, wolffish fangs, red throat and sharp claws. Harvey wants to torture Wendell so he lands in front of him. Wendell begs him not to kill him and tells him that there’s another kid in the house called Harvey who would make a better meal. Jive tells Harvey to kill Wendell. But Harvey refuses and lets Wendell go. Marr and Jive are disappointed that Harvey doesn’t have the killer instinct. Marr takes back the spell and Harvey changes back to his normal self. Harvey feels a strange sense is loss but comes back to the house and sits down to eat with Wendell - his so called friend who had tried to trade him to the monster.

# data[].attributes.body
The sun lay in a warm pool on the pillow.
The wind blew out the flames.

# data[].attributes.body
Harvey and Wendell come in the house for dinner, where a Thanksgiving feast awaits them.

Harvey asks about the winged creature he saw outside and Wendell refuses to talk about it,

going back to his usual, “Who cares?” reaction. Harvey gets frustrated when Wendell refuses to

admit what he saw, even though he knows that this House is filled with illusions. He gets up

from the table angrily and goes upstairs to his room to change. On his way upstairs, he comes

across Lulu who is staring out the window of the landing. Lulu tells Harvey that it will be

Christmas soon, so he should be wishing for things. She no longer has to wish for things

because she has been there so long that she has everything she has ever wanted. Lulu takes

Harvey to her room to see all her treasures. She has many boxes, dolls, and friendly lizards. On

his way out of her room, Lulu tells Harvey that she likes him. Harvey admits he likes Lulu, as

well. He also warns her to stay away from the lake. He explains that she might slip in, and he

doesn’t want her to get hurt. As he goes back to his room, Harvey tries to think up a gift he’d

like for Christmas – one that would be difficult for the House to give him. He comes up with

something he knows will be impossible to duplicate - the ark his father had made him for him.

He goes back downstairs to see that everything is decorated for Christmas. Wendell is playing

outside in the snow, but Harvey is too tired to join him. Mrs. Griffin tells Harvey that there is

something for him under the tree. He is shocked to unwrap a perfect copy of the ark his

father made for him. Mrs. Griffin explains that Mr. Hood knows every dream in Harvey’s head.

# data[].attributes.body
Harvey Swick sits in his room, complaining about how the “gray beast of February” has eaten

him alive. He complains to his mother, so she suggests he cleans his room. Just when Harvey

thinks he might die of boredom, a gust of wind blows his bedroom window open, and a man

appears. This man, slightly taller than Harvey, seems somewhat harmless. He introduces

himself as Rictus. He wears a suit, spectacles, and a “lavish” smile. Rictus tells Harvey that he

flew threw his window when he heard him sigh from a mile away. Rictus knows that Harvey

could use a vacation, and he knows just the place. In this place, the days are always sunny and

the nights are full of wonders. Rictus explains that he cannot promise anything, but he’ll find

out if this special place has room for one more guest. Harvey has the urge to ask questions,

but Rictus tells him he may not ask questions. Rictus leaves, telling Harvey, “Keep your mouth

shut and we’ll see what comes your way!”

# data[].attributes.body
Mrs. Griffin disappears and Lulu comes running up to Harvey for a hug. She is human again and

is being followed by Wendell and a crowd of children who are now free from the lake. Suddenly,

Rictus appears in the rubble. He explains that he stole a piece of Hood’s magic just in case. Now,

he has enough magic to stick around for a long time. Rictus shares his plans to rebuild the

house and pick up where Hood left off. Just then, long fingers reach up from the rubble and

snatch hold of his throat, dragging him down into the dirt. Harvey knows this is Hood, who has come to seek revenge against Rictus who had stolen some of his magic. Hood demands his magic back, and Rictus gives in. Then, the form of a man (made of pieces of the house) appears out of the rubble.

# data[].attributes.body
After a few days, Harvey began to think he had dreamed up Rictus. He had kept this secret

from his parents, but Harvey still hoped that Rictus would return. About a week after Rictus’s

first visit, Harvey heard his voice flying above his head as he was walking to school. Rictus

shares that he has spoken to his boss, and there is enough room for Harvey at the Holiday

House. At first, Harvey is hesitant, as he does not want his parents to worry about him;

however, he knows he does not want to pass up this opportunity, so he goes with Rictus. As

they walk through Harvey’s hometown, Millsap, Rictus chats about many different topics,

including the weather and how dirty the city is. They finally arrive at a tall stone wall that turns

transparent as you stare at it. Rictus tells Harvey to walk straight toward the wall to enter

the Holiday House. Harvey excitedly walks through the shimmering stone wall toward the house.

# data[].attributes.body
Harvey marvels over the house with its many windows, wide porch, and magnificent chimneys.

The highest point on the house is an elaborate weathervane. Mrs. Griffin, who looks older than

Harvey’s grandmother, welcomes him. As they enter the house, Harvey watches a gleeful boy

named Wendell chasing a cat. He realizes that the inside of the house is even more wonderful

than the outside. It seems as though it was built for games, chases, and adventures. Harvey

tells Mrs. Griffin that the house is perfect. However, she responds, “Nothing’s perfect because

time passes. And the beetle and the worm find their way into everything sooner or later.”

Harvey wonders why Mrs. Griffin is so mournful. Mrs. Griffin apologies for sharing her dirges

and makes Harvey a table full of delicious treats, including fried chicken, buttered potatoes,

pies, and ice cream. A freckled girl enters the kitchen and introduces herself and Lulu. She tells

Harvey that he’ll meet Rictus’s sister and two brothers at some point, and Harvey tells her

that he’ll likely not stay long since his parents don’t know he’s there. She reminds him that his

parents do know, and suggests he calls them if he wants to be sure. Harvey calls his mother

and is shocked that she is already aware that he is at the Holiday House. Harvey’s mother

explains that she had asked Rictus show him the Holiday House since he deserves a break from

school. Mrs. Griffin shows Harvey to his room. She introduces him to multiple cats along the

way and explains that he is a special boy since Mr. Hood is allowing him to stay in the Holiday

House. Mr. Hood is the one who built the house, and he is a very private man. Harvey must be

relaxed because when his head hits the pillow, he falls asleep.

# data[].attributes.body
Harvey wakes up, full of energy. He goes outside and notices that it seems like spring outside

because the trees which were heavy with leaves yesterday afternoon were now budding.

Wendell, the boy who was chasing the cat the night before, introduces himself to Harvey.

Wendell asks Harvey if he will help him work on the treehouse. Harvey agrees but decides to

eat breakfast first. While having breakfast, Harvey notices that one of the cats, Clue-Cat, is

walking on the table with all the food. Mrs. Griffin explains that Clue-Cat, who has a tail shaped

like a question mark, does what he wants. Harvey goes out to the treehouse to help Wendell

for the rest of the afternoon. At one point, when Harvey is at the top of the treehouse

overlooking the city, he realizes that everything outside the Holiday House property disappears

into grayness. By noon, the boys are ready for lunch. They go back into the house to eat. While

they wait at the table, Harvey asks if they can go fishing. Mrs. Griffin shouts and drops a plate

after hearing what Harvey said. She tells him that the fish are poisonous, and she does not

want him to get sick. When Mrs. Griffin leaves the kitchen to put on a new apron, Clue-Cat

jumps up on the stove to sniff the food. His tail catches fire from the burner, and the cat

goes up into flames and falls to the floor, dead. Wendell panics and runs away while Harvey

stands there in disbelief, wanting to cry. Mrs. Griffin is devastated but admits that she cannot

cry. Instead, she finds Harvey’s tears to be comforting. Harvey offers to help Mrs. Griffin

bury the cat, but she insists that he go outside to enjoy himself, as the sun won’t last forever.

# data[].attributes.body
After lunch, the outside temperature rises. It is clearly summer at Mr. Hood’s Holiday House.

Harvey searches for Wendell and finds him reading comics in the shade of the trees. Harvey

suggests they go to the lake, but Wendell says it’s no fun. Harvey decides to go by himself and

works his way through the prickly bushes to get there. He quickly realizes it wasn’t worth the

trouble. The lake is large, gloomy, and drear. There is a film of green scum on top, and the fish

are as big as Harvey. Harvey notices that Lulu is sitting on rocks next to the lake, but when he

attempts to talk to her, she runs away. Harvey makes his way back to Wendell, who says that

nobody in their right minds ever goes to the pond. Harvey remarks that he saw Lulu there,

which just proves Wendell’s point. Harvey tells Wendell that he wants to know everything about

the Holiday House, but Wendell doesn’t seem to care. Wendell tells Harvey to look through the

comics in search of a monster costume idea for that night since it will be Halloween. Harvey

looks through the comics, enjoys a sweet cherry soda, and falls asleep. When he wakes up, it’s

autumn, and the leaves are falling from the trees. Harvey heads back into the house, but

before he enters, he asks the house, “You’re real. You are, aren’t you?” Out of nowhere, Harvey

hears a whisper in response, “What do you think, child?”

# data[].attributes.body
Wendell wants to dress as a hangman for Halloween, and Harvey wants to wear a vampire

costume. Wendell takes Harvey to a large, musty room that is filled with costumes and masks.

Wendell explains that Mr. Hood collects them. They each find a costume and head to the back

of the House. (Since it is not Halloween anywhere else, they can’t go trick-or-treating. As they

make their way through the darkness, Wendell spots something and tells Harvey to look up.

When he does, he notices a strange bat-like creature moving across the sky. When he looks

back down, Wendell has disappeared. Harvey believes that Wendell is just trying to scare him, so

he follows a creaking noise. Harvey’s sure that noise is Wendell climbing up to the tree house. He

stumbles upon something hanging from a tree and grabs onto it. This large thing falls out of

the tree and a firework in the distance lights up the yard for just long enough for Harvey to

see that he is holding a dead body with a noose around its neck. Another firework reveals that

the body is fake, and it has a pumpkin head. Harvey is furious with Wendell for tricking him.