Edgar Allan Poe Award
1974 · Juvenile · Nominee
About This Book
Imagine being so lucky! When Jan goes to spend the Christmas holidays with her grandparents in their chalet near the ski slopes in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains she discovers that her favorite movie star, Alanna Graham, is visiting next door!
Naturally, Jan, who wants to be an actress herself, is determined to get to know Alanna. Steven, Alanna's son, looks like the first step. But he is scowling, unfriendly, and strangely resentful of his beautiful mother. And Jan soon discovers that as far as Alanna's cousin, the housekeeper, and her business manager go, she is definitely not welcome. Why?
Alanna is wonderful, as warm as the image she projects on the screen, but something in the dark, turreted, old house seems to be frightening her. The weird statues of tortured-looking people locked in an upper room are supposed to come to life at night. Is some dreadful secret hidden there with them? And what is Alanna's feeble grandfather trying to tell Jan and her brother?
Naturally, Jan, who wants to be an actress herself, is determined to get to know Alanna. Steven, Alanna's son, looks like the first step. But he is scowling, unfriendly, and strangely resentful of his beautiful mother. And Jan soon discovers that as far as Alanna's cousin, the housekeeper, and her business manager go, she is definitely not welcome. Why?
Alanna is wonderful, as warm as the image she projects on the screen, but something in the dark, turreted, old house seems to be frightening her. The weird statues of tortured-looking people locked in an upper room are supposed to come to life at night. Is some dreadful secret hidden there with them? And what is Alanna's feeble grandfather trying to tell Jan and her brother?
