Tucker Reed

The book Amber House, was first thought of by author Kelly Moore in the 1980’s but it stayed just a draft for many years. Later on her children Larkin and Tucker Reed decided to get with their mom to finish and publish this extraordinary piece . This novel is the first in the trilogy, and is a young adult mystery with just the right amount of romance.
From beginning to end this book kept me engaged and on my toes. The story was so very well thought out and written that it made it very painless to follow the storyline. The book was packed with just enough of everything from mysteries and treasures to unexpected plot twists and a sort of love triangle. Amber House was also not hard to get into like most mystery and young adult novels I have read in the past, the book kept my interest the whole time and didn’t feel like a chore to try to finish.
Sarah and her younger brother Sammy, have to go to the Amber House after their grandmother passed away. Soon after they arrive, they realize the house is a lot more than it seems. From rumors to lost diamonds, to secret staircases there is so much that they try to explore before their mother sells the house and everything inside. Sarah begins to unpack the rich history of the house and its concealed memories of the past, and from this develops a deep connection with the house.
This story is a great reminder that demasking the past can help you see why people or things turned out the way they did, how the past can affect future generations. For example Sarah’s mother has always been cold hearted and angry, since she could remember but never knowing why. Not until Sarah began to search and discover secrets of the house, and the tragedies that caused her mother to be the way was. She then felt compassion for her mom, by knowing what she went through and it changed how she saw her mother, but it didn’t take away the things her mom had said and done. If Sarah never dug up the past, she would probably spend her whole life never truly understanding her mother. I think that a lot of people myself included, can relate to not being able to understand how someone is until after you learn what they have been through. It can change your whole outlook on the person, and like Sarah, have sympathy.… (meer)

This is the 2nd book in a trilogy. Sarah has moved from Oregon to Maryland with her family to take over her grandmother’s old house (from book 1). It’s been too long since I read book 1 to remember what led to the current “situation”, and I don’t want to give too much away, but Sarah seems to be seeing things. Her best friend since childhood (and a neighbour), Jackson, also sees things, but different things.

Ok, I was confused through parts of it, and kind of lost interest a bit (mostly in the things Sarah was “seeing”, but not as much in her “here and now”), and I’m sure the losing interest helped with the confusion. Ultimately, I decided on an “ok” rating, simply because I’m still interested enough to find out what happens in the last book. This one isn’t nearly as good as the first book, though.… (meer)

Sarah is almost 16 years old when her grandmother, who she really didn't know very well, dies. She, her mother and her younger brother, Sammy (who is mildly autistic) all head out to Maryland from Seattle for the funeral and to sell the estate, Amber House. However, while there, both Sammy and Sarah form a strange attachment to the house. Sarah partners up with Jackson, the grandson of Rose, who was a good friend of Sarah's grandmother, to search Amber House for the rumoured treasure hidden somewhere. But weird things are happening, as Sarah seems to have some kind of odd connection with some of her women ancestors who lived in the house...

I really liked this, overall, but wasn't crazy about the ending, which left me slightly confused. However, it wasn't enough for me to lower my rating. I really liked Sarah and Sammy's relationship. It is meant to be a trilogy, and I will continue on.… (meer)