The Thief of Always, by Clive Barker

When Harvey Swick meets Rictus, Harvey is deep into the mid-winter blues. He’s desperate for some fun. So when Rictus offers to take Harvey to a place where children can have as much fun as they want, perhaps he doesn’t question the offer quite as much as he should. Rictus and Harvey travel to Mr. Hood’s Holiday House, where children can have anything they wish. Each day sees the passing of all four seasons, with trick-or-treating every evening, a Thanksgiving meal for every dinner, and Christmas presents every night. The only thing Harvey can’t have? He can’t go home. At least not to the home he’s always known.

There is a price for Mr. Hood’s magic, and the children are paying it without even knowing. It is only when Harvey attempts to return home that he discovers what he has sacrificed for his fun at Holiday House. For every day that has passed while Harvey was at Holiday House, a year has passed for those who exist outside its walls. Mr. Hood has taken his payment in time. Now Harvey must determine how to get it back.

Although this title is technically an adult book, it was assigned in school for my seventh grade class and my classmates and I enjoyed it very much. Harvey is ten when he has his adventures, but as it has crossover appeal, this title could be read by both young adult and adult readers.

Check the WRL catalog for The Thief of Always