My favorite book of all time would have to be House of Stairs by William Sleator. I read and did a book report on this in 7th grade, and it continues to be a memorable book for me.
It is a story about five teenage orphans who are taken from their orphanage and put in a place with no visible walls, ceiling, or floor; only endless staircases. Their only source of food is a little red machine that requires the kids to do certain activities in order for them to receive food. At the beginning of the story, the machine gives the teenagers food whenever they stick their tongues out at it. As the story advances, they are forced to do more elaborate things to receive food. Eventually, the machine only gives the orphans food when they treat each other cruelly. It progresses to the point where some of characters are physically harming each other in order to obtain food. Other characters reject the pressure to give in to the machine’s inhumane requests.
I like House of Stairs because it shows how terrible some human beings will treat each other in order to satisfy themselves. It offers an important life lesson and reminds readers to maintain good character even in difficult situations.
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