Forgotten YA novel (1970?)
There was a novel I read as a tween which I found on a friend’s shelf in the 70s. It had originally been published under another title so maybe was from the late 60s. It was in that type of paperback Scholastic Books format, but I’ve never seen it in their old catalogues online.
A boy and a girl’s parents die in a foggy car accident (I think) and the boy is sent to live with a very conventional, aunt or uncle, who have a son. The girl is bitter because she wants a typical suburban life like that yet is instead sent to live with a more Boho artist aunt. She paints flower imprinted tiles in splotchy blues and splotchy greens.
Later the aunt gets a boyfriend and plans to marry and the girl realizes she’s come to like a looser lifestyle. The aunt puts on a suit and tells a social worker the couple wants to adopt the child after the wedding.
Does this ring a bell with anyone? It might have been set in Canada because they drink mugs of tea… but I don’t remember the book being UK-ish.
I don’t even know why I want to find this book, it’s just been on my mind lately! One of its titles might have been “The House on the Cliff” or something, but nothing like it comes up as a Google search : (
| by Anonymous | reply 14 | July 12, 2023 7:43 AM
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The book is "The High House" by Honor Arundel. I also loved it as a tween—and was so inspired by the city aunt's boho lifestyle that I emulated it myself later on. It's set in Edinburgh—that's why you are thinking cliffs. This book haunted me, too, and I also could not remember the title, so I posted on an online forum in the early 2000s and someone wrote in the info, based on my description, which sounds a lot like yours. The girl character's name is Emma and there are a couple of sequels--I liked "Emma In Love" the best.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | July 12, 2023 2:53 AM
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I read it as well in the mid Seventies. Your description hit me immediately.
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | July 12, 2023 3:05 AM
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Wow, I definitely remember that author’s name—how can you forget “Honor Arundel” ?? That must be an anagram. I looked through the titles of her books and I don’t recall reading any of them.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | July 12, 2023 3:26 AM
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[quote] Wow, I definitely remember that author’s name—how can you forget “Honor Arundel” ?? That must be an anagram.
That's what Hutch said: The name is an anagram. That's all he said.
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | July 12, 2023 3:31 AM
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You remember Honor Arundel now, but not as a tween.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | July 12, 2023 3:39 AM
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[quote] Wow, I definitely remember that author’s name—how can you forget “Honor Arundel” ?? That must be an anagram.
It is! It is an anagram! I used an anagram solver and I think it’s a message meant specifically for us!
Honor Arundel = [bold][italic]Annul her odor[/bold][/italic]
*gasp* 🫢
It’s about CHERYL!
The author must have had a prophecy and you are our anointed guide. She’s telling us to stop Cheryl from doing something truly awful, something so awful it could result in the entire destruction of the world or undo the entire fabric of space and time!
Why Cheryl could be sitting at home as we speak getting ready. She’s figured out how to finally remove the panties that were blessed by Jesus Christ himself and sewn from a piece of a simple dress of Mary Magdalene. The panties that the church imprisoned her in and forced to wear since the Dark Ages. And when she gets them off. And she sloooowly starts to spread open her knees…
NO! I can’t even think about it!
But what can we do?? R1, R2, you’ve read the book. You are our warriors! Guide our OP, our anointed prophet and savior and help him stop whatever she has planned before it’s too late!
But tell us more about the book because some rando coming off a BRF thread probably has some obscure piece of knowledge that will be the key to stopping this impending apocalypse! That’s how it always works in the movies!
But hurry!!
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | July 12, 2023 4:10 AM
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R9, …yeah… 😞
I must have gotten into yours again
| by Anonymous | reply 10 | July 12, 2023 5:16 AM
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OP, glad you got the title.
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | July 12, 2023 6:53 AM
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Any Judy Blume fans present?
| by Anonymous | reply 13 | July 12, 2023 7:34 AM
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[quote][R7] is obviously unwell.
This is datalounge. EVERYONE HERE is unwell.
| by Anonymous | reply 14 | July 12, 2023 7:43 AM
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