The 13th Floor this question feed

asked by porsche on November 7, 2006 1:13 AM

There's a mile-long word for the fear (and magic) of the number thirteen-triskaidekaphobia. In this comic fireworks of a novel, newly orphaned Buddy Stebbins stumbles onto the 13th floor of a shabby old building and finds himself transported aboard a leaking pirate ship in a howling storm--300 years in the past! Cast adrift, he washes up in New England where his plucky ancestor, ten-year-old Abigail, is caught up in the witchcraft mania and is about to be hanged. Firing off surprises like Roman candles from almost every page, award-winning novelist Sid Fleischman tells a many-mirrored tale of ghosts, witchcraft, razzle-dazzle treasure, and the mischief of illusion and delusion.

There's a mile-long word for the fear (and magic) or the number thirteen - triskaidekaphobia.

In this comic fireworks of a novel, newly orphaned Buddy Stebbins stumbles onto the 13th floor of a shabby old building and finds himself transported aboard a leaking pirate ship in a howling storm - 300 years in the past! Cast adrift, he washes up in New England where his plucky ancestor, ten-year-old Abigail, is caught up in the witchcraft mania and is about to be hanged. Firing off surprises like Roman candles from almost every page, award-winning novelist Sid Fleischman tells a many-mirrored tale of ghosts, witchcraft, razzle-dazzle treasure, and the mischief of illusion and delusion.



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Any superstitious person knows that the number 13 does nobody any good. Buildings don't have thirteenth floors, and nobody seats thirteen for dinner. Bakers however, have been known to prefer bad luck over the consequences of being caught short with the dough, but that's another story.

This book explores the popular plot of the mysterious floor between twelve and fourteen, and this time it's a portal to the bad old days of privateers and witch hunts.

Lured by a weird message on their answering machine, Buddy Stebbins and his older sister Liz make separate quantum leaps (via elevator) three hundred years into the past, and join their ancestors on a dangerous but funny adventure.

It's up to Buddy to find Liz, provide legal aid to his ancestors - an accused witch and a pirate Captain - and find a way back to the 13th floor, preferably with all their limbs intact. However, time is running out and the ship that houses the portal is about to sink.

A clever and fast moving time traveling tale, but not at all scary or ghostly.

Amanda Richards, February 24, 2005
reviewed by bricktop on November 21, 2006 12:01 AM

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The book The 13th Floor written by Sid Flieshman was good. The story was a mystery. Also it was good because it was a ghost story. I didn't like the story because it was very predictable. Over all the book was ok. I wouldn't recommend this book to a frien
reviewed by redapple on November 29, 2006 4:18 PM

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I liked this book because it is sort of a mystery and history book. This book is about two kids who owe money because their parents were poor and owed money but they died. When the kids, Bud and his older sister Liz, get a telephone message from a person who works on a 13th floor of a building, they think it is a prank. When his sister goes to work and doesn't come back, Bud thinks that she when to the 13th floor. When he opens the door to the 13th floor, he finds himself on a ship with an ancestor! Bud figures out that he traveled 300 years back in time! From there it goes on from Bud learning about a ship to Liz saving the ancestor who called them from accusement of witchcraft. I am not going to tell you the rest of the story. You are going to have to read it!!!
reviewed by fusionz on November 29, 2006 6:59 PM

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This book has alot of really interesting things in it. Like how a ton of women were being tried as a witch. Very good!
reviewed by nat on November 29, 2006 7:33 PM

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