What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

Please help! The setting of a particular childen's or young adult book, which I read when I was about 8 or 9, has been stuck in my head since the 80's. I would really like to locate the book to try understand why it was so compelling to me.

I believe the book prominently featured a staircase inside of a house with a window alongside it, which overlooked a courtyard in back of the house. It seems that the staircase may have led to a landing that had something important on it, like a table with an important vase or a mirror on it.

The rest of my impressions are very fuzzy and could be a patchwork memories from different stories. The courtyard seems to have been fairly gloomy and filled with disparate smaller trees. The somewhat gloomy setting seems to have been central to story. I think there was a younger protagonist/narrator too and possibly a metaphysical element.

I also feel that there was something beyond the confines of courtyard, perhaps a natural wilderness. There may have been a backstory of following a father figure there due to some buried elements.

Over the years, I have been inclined to look up "Jacob Have I Loved" several times, in hopes that that was the title of the book. Unfortunately, that book seems totally unrelated.

Thanks very much in advance for any assistance.

Did the book have a fantasy element or was it realistic fiction? Your description of the staircase and mirror reminded me somewhat of The House with a Clock in its Walls by John Bellairs. The mirror, located at the top of a coat rack, is enchanted and shows different scenes at different times.

This is a really long and unlikely shot, but depending on how advanced a reader you were at such a young age could it possibly be 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn' by Betty Smith.

'I believe the book prominently featured a staircase inside of a house with a window alongside it, which overlooked a courtyard in back of the house'

The above part of your description made me think of this ...sorry if it's not the one and it's probably too 'old' for some (okay, maybe a lot) of children, but I was recently chatting to someone who'd read 'The Exorcist' at age 10!!!

Thanks, Angela. I do associate a fantasy or metaphysical element with the book and will definitely look into the Bellairs book. Thanks again for the lead.

Hi Karen,
Your suggestion is perfect. My memory surrounding this read is so loose that I really appreciate you sharing the book it brought to mind for you. I look forward to checking out 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn'.

Could it be Marianne Dreams? There is a two-story house with stairs and various objects; I don't remember a vase but there might have been a mirror the boy and girl used to try to see out the window without actually putting their faces up to it, because there was something mysterious or scary outside.

Have you tried this site;

http://www.librarything.com/groups/na...

it compliments 'goodreads' beautifully. I love them both.

Thanks, Miriam. Marianne Dreams sounds interesting, but less than familiar unfortunately.

Possibly The Court of Stone Children? It involves time travel and a courtyard.

And the staircase--only what's at the top is a painting that provides the clues to solve the mystery and to finally free the ghost that is involved. Plus it starts a further search for diaries by one of the museum people where the story starts. (er, I'm talking about The Court of Stone Children, btw.)

Diana, are you still looking for this book?

Lobstergirl wrote: "Diana, are you still looking for this book?"

Yes, unfortunately. My search continues.

Diana, when you first read the book, did it seem contemporary or old-fashioned?
If it was somewhat contemporary at the time, it could possibly be Wait Till Helen Comes. The setting is (mostly) that of an old church, being refurbished as a house. It looks out over a graveyard and is surrounded by forbidding woods and, farther on, a pond and the burnt ruins of an old home. The narrator is generally fearful of the area, the cemetery in particular. I can't remember how prominently (or if) a staircase featured, but there is a significant paranormal element involved with a mystery that gets solved.

Diana--if you bump up your thread periodically (every 1 or 2 months) then it will be seen again, and people will keep it in mind when they are out and about, scouting out new reading material.

I know I've picked up books a time or two at yard sales and book sales that I thought might be one that someone was looking for. (So far, I haven't found one that way--but it has provided me with new reading material that I normally wouldn't have read.)

Still looking?

Bumping because it sounds interesting, although I doubt I've read it.

No response. Moving to Abandoned.