The Strangers: Greystone Secrets, Book 1
Kids travel to another dimension in clever sci-fi adventure.
Parents say
Based on 3 reviews
Kids say
Based on 10 reviews
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Strangers: Greystone Secrets, Book 1 is a science fiction adventure novel about siblings discovering another dimension and working together to find their missing mom. The first in a series by Margaret Peterson Haddix (The Always War), it presents a sensitive and supportive portrait of family life. There's a low level of violence, more implied than shown, that includes one of the kids throwing smoke bombs at some guards.
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What's the Story?
At the start of THE STRANGERS, the Greystone kids -- Chess, Emma, and Finn -- see their mom react to news of a kidnapping involving kids with similar names and ages as themselves. Before they can question her, she suddenly leaves on a business trip, leaving them in the care of a neighbor, Ms. Morales, and her teen daughter Natalie. The Greystone kids notice strange clues left behind by their mom, and when they suspect she's in danger, their quest to solve these puzzles grows ever more urgent. Soon they're exploring a mysterious passageway beneath their house and wondering where they'll end up.
Is It Any Good?
Wondering what might have been fuels the plots of many science fiction novels, but this book keeps the alternate-world premise feeling fresh and exciting. The Greystone kids are a well-realized set of siblings, immediately recognizable as types, but with plenty of other layers to keep them interesting. Author Margaret Peterson Haddix sets up a captivating series of puzzles regarding their mother's whereabouts, and the solutions are riveting and smart. Suspenseful all the way through, The Strangers ends on a cliffhanger, and young readers will be clamoring for more.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the alternative universe in The Strangers. Why are stories about alternate universes popular? Why is it appealing -- or scary -- to wonder if someone very similar to you lives in another dimension?
What do you think about the puzzles in The Strangers? Do you think you could solve a mystery by solving puzzles?
In times of trouble, how can family members work together to keep one another safe? What practical steps can you take to prepare for a disaster?
Book Details
- Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Topics: STEM, Adventures, Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
- Publication date: April 2, 2019
- Number of pages: 420
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: November 4, 2019
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For kids who love science fiction and mysteries
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