43 pages 1 hour read

William Sleator

House of Stairs

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1974

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Part 2, Chapters 11-15Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 2, Chapter 11 Summary

As the days go by (or appear to), the teenagers’ dance becomes more and more refined and intuitive. They gradually become able to sense the machine’s shifts and adjust their movements until it gives them food. However, they are not always successful, so they grow hungrier and hungrier. In the meantime, they also tell each other anecdotes and memories from their previous lives. Blossom, for instance, tells them that she knows some of the highest-ranking officials in the country. Peter also shares his love of books, which leaves the others perplexed since they all much prefer pre-programmed electronic entertainment. The machine also grows more capricious, giving them less and less food. Once, they notice that its lights have changed to green but are unable to make sense of it. The teenagers are now more desperate and irritable than ever, which leads to some altercations. They often involve Blossom and Lola, but Oliver is now acting cruelly as well and seems to revel in having power over Abigail and Peter.