The Season of Passage is one of my favorite books from my teen years. I had always loved Christopher Pike as a teen, because he felt a little more sophisticated than R.L.Stine, who was the other “horror” author for my age group.
I guess I probably loved this book from the beginning because the main character’s name is Lauren, which is also my name. It’s just a great book overall though. You get to know the characters enough to care about them before anyone is put in peril, which I appreciate it. Also, there’s a huge horror component along with the character building and backstories and relationships.
I never thought of myself as claustrophobic, but I think I might be a little bit. Let me explain. I’m not super into flying, because I don’t really like being restrained inside something I can’t get out of. In this book, they’re in a rocket ship flying to Mars. Holy crap is that restrictive. They’re supposed to be there for two years too. I just know that I wouldn’t be able to hack it. I’d probably jettison myself into space fairly quickly. Also, once they’re on Mars, they go UNDERGROUND into a freaking cave. I DO NOT LIKE CAVES. My favorite horror movie / scariest movie I’ve ever seen is The Descent, which takes place nearly 100% in a cave.
Anyway, Mars…
I don’t know why anyone would ever want to go to Mars. It’s red and dead. Or so we’re supposed to think. Apparently there’s lava and maybe monsters underground.
I love that there’s a story within a story in this book. It’s basically history repeating itself, but in an awful way. You’re not thrown straight into the madness either. It’s like boiling a frog, you slowly increase the temperature of the water until it’s boiling. I know that’s a gross comparison, but you get my meaning. You get a few weird things, they open your mind a little bit, then things get weirder. Finally you’re open to the idea that there are alien monsters and magical rings. I love this book, and I’d recommend it to anyone!