Annotation:
Hannah
thinks that a weekend away with her boyfriend, Colin, is just what they need
before he goes off to college. When she surprises him with a road trip to his
family’s old vacation home on a remote lake, however, things don’t go according
to plan.
Personal
thoughts: As someone with a more than slight fear of the woods, I found
myself utterly creeped out at various moments in this novel. I really admire
Emma Carlson Berne’s ability to create such a spooky feeling in such a short
story. I think this novel would make a great pick for a reluctant teen reader
who wants something exciting but to the point. I would also recommend it to
anyone who just likes a good, creepy read.
Plot
summary: Hannah and her boyfriend, Colin, have been dating for a year, but
she still cannot seem to open up to him completely. A self-proclaimed “queen of
nerds,” Hannah can’t imagine why the gorgeous and popular Colin would like her,
let alone tell her he loves her on a regular basis. Hannah wants nothing more
than to be able to say those three words back to Colin, but something is
keeping her from expressing how she feels. Now Colin is going away to college
next week, leaving Hannah to finish her senior of high school wondering if he
is going to fall in love with someone else. When Hannah learns that his family
owns an old vacation home on a remote lake, she decides to take Colin on a
surprise road trip: a getaway where she can truly be herself and let him know
how she feels. When Hannah and Colin arrive at Pine House, however, things don’t
go according to plan. Even though Colin’s family hasn’t been to the house in
years, it looks as if someone was just there, with things scattered as if
whoever it was left hastily. The closest town is 20 miles away, and is full of
abandoned, broken down buildings. And Colin has begun to act strange, having
bouts of rage and violence that shock Hannah. Was the trip to Pine House just
what Hannah and Colin need to cement their relationship, or will it be the
biggest mistake they have ever made?
Review: Creepy and
atmospheric, this novel from veteran author Emma Carlson Berne is reminiscent
of Stephen King’s The Shining while
still being appropriate for a teen audience. The story is both short and
uncomplicated, but manages to invoke a feeling of dread the moment the main
character, Hannah, discovers an old photo of her boyfriend’s family vacation
home. The author excels at enhancing this feeling of dread throughout most of
the story, from the descriptions of the decrepit Pine House to the almost
abandoned neighboring village of Oxtown. When Hannah’s boyfriend Colin begins
to act strangely, the creepiness factor increases several notches, culminating
in an exciting if slightly suspected conclusion. Apart from the mystery that
drives the plot, there is another element to the story that will resonate with
many teen readers: Hannah’s inability to tell her boyfriend that she loves him.
The author does a good job of portraying this common problem, making both
Hannah and Colin identifiable for readers who have been on both the giving and
receiving ends of those three little words. Overall, Still Waters is a spooky and enjoyable read that many teens are
sure to enjoy.
Genre: Fiction
Reading
level: Grade 7+
Similar
titles: The Shining
by
Stephen King, After the Fire by Becky
Citra, Tighter by Adele Griffin.
Themes: Relationships, vacation, mystery, love, possession.
Awards/Reviews:
Positive reviews from School Library Journal and Kirkus.
Series
Information: N/A
Discussion
questions:
-
Why do you think Hannah couldn’t tell Colin
that she loved him? Has that ever happened to you or someone you know?- Do you think that it was a good idea for Hannah to surprise Colin with a trip to Pine House? Why or why not?
- Would you want to stay in Pine House for a weekend? Why or why not?
- What do you think was happening to Colin in the novel?
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