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What happens to ordinary families into whose midst a child serial killer is born? This is the question at the center of William March's classic thriller. After its initial publication in 1954, the book went on to become a million-copy bestseller, a wildly successful Broadway show, and a Warner... read more

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Characters/People edit see section history

  • Rhoda Penmark: appears to be a polite, conservative eight-year old girl, but her mother soon realizes that Rhoda is capable of horrible things
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “Children can be nasty, don't you think?”
    Hortense Daigle
  • “I like apricot juice, it doesn't even need ice.”
    Rhoda
  • “I thought I'd seen some mean little gals in my time, but you're the meanest. You wanna know how I know how mean you are? 'Cause I'm mean. I'm smart and I'm mean, and you're smart and you're mean. And you never get caught and I never get caught.”
    Leroy

First Sentence edit see section history

LATER THAT SUMMER, when Mrs. Penmark looked back and remembered, when she was caught up in despair so deep that she knew there was no way out, no solution whatever for the circumstances that encompassed her, it seemed to her that June seventh, the day of the Fern Grammar School picnic, was the day of her last happiness, for never since then had she known contentment or felt peace.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. William March (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co
Country: USA
Publication Date: June 1954
ISBN: 978-9997405753
Page Count: 217

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More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • The Fifth Child
  • The Doll Who Ate His Mother
  • The Amulet
  • Tengu
  • The Haunting of Hill House
  • We Have Always Lived in the Castle
  • The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
  • The Stepford Wives

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