Room 13 (Swindells novel)
Room 13 is a horror children's novel written by the acclaimed award-winning children's author Robert Swindells. Published in 1989, it was awarded the Red House Children's Book Award.[2] The novel centres around a group of friends on a school trip, who stay in a creepy guest house on Whitby's West Cliff. The novel takes advantage of Whitby's sinister and Gothic ties and weaves a story of suspense that has earned its place as a firm favourite of children wanting the thrill of a little horror and suspense. Once again Whitby finds itself inextricably connected to a vampire encounter. Ellie-may has fallen sick like so many before her, can Flisses and her friends save their mates!
 First edition | |
| Author | Robert Swindells |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Mark Robertson[1] |
| Genre | Gothic Horror |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
Publication date | 1989 |
| Media type | Print (paperback) |
| Pages | 347 pp |
| ISBN | 0-385-26967-6 |
Plot summary
Fliss Morgan has a nightmare on the night before her school trip, to Whitby. Every night Ellie-May Sunderland is drawn to the landing outside the mysterious Room 13, which does not seem to exist during the day. Fliss and her friends attempt to unravel the mystery of the room, and determine the identity of its sinister inhabitant.
Characters
Felicity "Fliss" Morgan: The main character. Fliss begins observing strange events in the hotel at night, and becomes determined to get to the bottom of what is going on.
Lisa Watmoug: Felicity's best friend. A loud boisterous girl who always gets into trouble with her teachers. She helps Fliss discover and kill the vampire lurking in Room 13.
Ellie-May Sunderland: A girl in second year who begins acting strangely
David "Trot" Trotter: A loudmouthed boy
Gary Bazzard: One of Trot's friends
Mr. Hepworth: A teacher
Mrs. Marriott: A loud military style teacher.
Sall Haggerlythe: An elderly woman who sits in the bus shelter near the children's hotel, and is widely believed to be insane.