Slake's Limbo

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Overview

An ALA Best Books for Young Adults
An ALA Notable Children's Book
An ALA Best of the Best Books for Young Adults
The Horn Book Fanfare List

Desperate, driven, harassed to the breaking point, Slake decides to go underground—into the sheltering depths of the New York City Subway where he ends up staying for one hundred and twenty-one days. This is the story about survival, and about a 13-year-old misfit's attempts to find footing in a hostile and threatening world.





Thirteen-year-old Aremis Slake, hounded by his fears and misfortunes, flees them into New York City's subway tunnels, never again--he believes--to emerge.

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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780689710667
  • Publisher: Aladdin
  • Publication date: 5/28/1986
  • Edition description: Reprint
  • Edition number: 1
  • Pages: 126
  • Age range: 9 - 12 Years
  • Product dimensions: 5.20 (w) x 7.60 (h) x 0.40 (d)

Meet the Author

Felice Holman is the author of numerous books for young readers including several volumes of poetry.  She divides her time between Connecticut and California.
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 28 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(11)

4 Star

(10)

3 Star

(3)

2 Star

(1)

1 Star

(3)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 29 Customer Reviews
  • Anonymous

    Posted March 16, 2008

    NOT GOOD!

    I had to read this for a school assignment. This might have been the worst book I have ever read. It is sad, and extremely depressing. I actually had trouble understanding what the author was trying to say because the author jumps from subject to subject. My advice, DO NOT waste your time on this book.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 28, 2007

    sad but good

    this book was very sad and depressing, but the way the author describes everything makes the stry worthwhile. i also thought it was a good book and it taught me to be thankful that i have a home.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 12, 2006

    A reviewer

    I hated this book sooo much. It made no sense and cunfused me the whole time. Slake is a poor child who's life suck and made me more and more depressed at i continued reading. If your goning to buy this book, put it back on the shelf and buy an R.L stine book. :-)

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 2, 2011

    HORRIBLE

    Reading this book is a waste of time. I felt as thought the author was taking out all her frustration on this "Slake" character; creating an unrealistic and completely pathetic life for him. Little background information is provided about Slake and it's just annoying trying to read the book.
    Don't buy this for your kids. Yo wife. Yo mama.
    Just throw it in the trash! BLAH

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  • Posted October 21, 2010

    one of the most profound books i have ever read

    who can't relate to living in a world that seems devoid of love, compassion and empathy? on a mythological level, slake is the hero who survives his decent into the underworld; he returns noble and complete. but then again, he's always been those things...in stark contrast to the human monsters who attempt to destroy others to mask the empty ugliness inside. are you a slake or a monster? you can only be a slake after reading this.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 7, 2006

    Great

    It was great. The author described it with feeling and described in a great way. It was an awesome awesome book. It will always be my favorite.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 6, 2004

    Horrid!!!!!!!!

    This is definitly the worst, most depresssing book I`ve ever read. It sucked. Really this was about a sad, bummy foster child who ran away from home. He was depresssing, the book was depresssing, in fact I never want to mention it again because it was so bad. Plus the ending was bad.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 15, 2003

    Slakes Limbo

    This book is the greatest. She keeps you on your feet and wondering, what will happen next. Slake will show his emaotions, fears, and most of all, problems and the ability to cope. In this, you will be moved with slake and all his misfortunes.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 5, 2003

    Slakes Review

    In ``Slakes Limbo,¿¿ written by Felice Holman, a thirteen year old boy (named Aremis Slake) runs off in to the subway to get away from all his problems in his life. The main reason (at the time) that he ran off was because a park patrol person was going to call the police on him since he was on private property. Another reason of why he stayed there was because he didn¿t want to go back to living with his aunt. Through his journey in the subway certain events happen which cause Slake to be aghast. Although Slakes life isn¿t doing all too well at the time, Slake begins to find amazing opportunities at hand. I feel``Slakes Limbo¿¿ is the kind of book which gives a realistic and adventurous experience. Also, the story itself is very inspiring with interesting characters. It is especially exciting since in it the main character, Slake becomes a dynamic character. He becomes this because at the beginning of the story he is very tense and skittish, but through his journey he is not as worried and has a better perspective of what he will do in life. In my opinion, this is a great story to read, especially if you have some spare time on your hands. I especially enjoyed the part where Slake found a way to make a living by selling the newspapers he found. I found that it was very surprising. The ending is also interesting but I won¿t explain what happens since you¿ll have to figure what goes on for your self. If I had to rate this book I¿d give it 4 out of 5 stars which is pretty descent.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 5, 2003

    Slake's Limbo is a very outstanding book!!

    Slakes Limbo a book by Felice Holman is a struggle of a 13-year-old boy. He had to beg for food, tries to make money, and had to live in a cave by the subway tracks. He left his left his aunt¿s house because she was a very abusive person. Slake had found ways to make money, his first way is to sell newspapers that were left behind by commuters. Another way he made money is cleaning the floor at luncheonette. He eats his food at the luncheonette. Slake was very brave living on the streets of New York City. It was a very hard time for him. He made a few friends and enemies. He met a guy named Willis Joe who saved slakes life. Willis Joe had an idea of becoming a sheep hand in Australia. Some times he would walk down the streets, playing a game he liked- looking in windows of stores and choosing the thing, he were allowed only one thing he liked best, but nothing appealed o him as much as a wide brimmed hat he thought he might wear when riding a horse in Australia. While he drove people on the subways he would think that the people would be the sheep and he would be the leader. Slake had a really good relationship with him. This book is very interesting because it is about a young boy surviving on the streets. If I were in his shoes, I know I can¿t live with out my family. I would be skittish to stay by my self out in New York. He was brilliant no his ideas of making money. My favorite part in the book is when Slake gets his first greeting card for Willis Joe. From then on he knew he had one family member and hope. From his perspective we saw a horrible life.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 5, 2003

    Slake's Limbo

    Slake¿s Limbo was written by Felice Holman. This novel is about a boy named Aremis slake. He was 13 years old and lived in the subway for 121 Days. Two Construction men, that were drinking on the job , used too much dynamite to blow a hole in the subway. This hole was slake¿s home located in the subway tunnel . slake came from a hard and difficult home. The author made this story sound real to life. This could really happen to any 13 year old living on the streets. It was difficult to get food , money, clothes, and a place to live. He was very intrigue. He struggled to survive in a large city all alone. I liked the book because when they described slake they used good details. The author Described slake like a real 13 year old kid alone on the streets. But at the end, I really didn¿t like it. It ended bad to me. There wasn¿t enough details at the end of the story and it was interesting then at the beginning of the story. The author did not tell us where slake went after all of what he went through for those 121 days as a13 year old boy in New York City.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 5, 2003

    Slake's Limbo Is A gReAt Bo0k

    The story ¿Slakes Limbo¿ by Felice Holman is a novel about a kid named, Aremis Slake who has been harassed during his life with his aunt, school kids, and even the teachers in his school. On the other hand, Slake was very tactless. The main points in this story are when Slake gets lost after he gets off a transfer point, when he sells newspapers to make money, when he gets saved by Willis Joe Whinney, and then he gets a job with the counter girl, and when Collins and Mughes dynamited the wall and made a hole in the Commodore Hotel. First what happened was that Slake goes on a transfer point. He walks around and finally realizes he is lost. He goes into a tunnel to look for an alcove but instead he found the extra hole in the tunnel wall. Slake had amassed things on the ground and in the garbage cans to make the hole into his new home. Aremis sells papers at first, and then he works at the luncheonette. There is one humongous part that happens, but to find out you must read the story. Secondly, Slake had gotten free food he hadn¿t ordered for a low price by the counter girl. the people that had felt pity for Slake was the counter girl, the pink faced lady or the cleaning lady, and the man with the turban. The most important person that felt pity for Slake is also the actual reader. In my perspective I liked the story because it shows how a teenager kid can survive the jungle by himself. In the story Slake thinks the city is the jungle. The other reason why I liked it was because he had two perspectives, one in the beginning and one at the end of the story. This means he is a dynamic character, a character that changes their personalities, attitude, and their perspectives. I likes the rising action because it showed suspense throughout the story. Slake was also a well developed character. My favorite parts of this story is when he gets free food from the luncheonette because if you get free food when you aren¿t paying for all that, I would call that luck. Also, when Slake sneaks into the hole or his new home and stays in there for 121 days.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 5, 2003

    Slake's Limbo is a very awsome book.

    Slake¿s Limbo is written by Felice Holman. This author represented a lot of metaphors that focused on a bird that represented fear and the sky that represented a boy¿s life (from his perspective.) The bird and the sky were an immense part of the story because they represented symbolism. The main character Aremis Slake is not healthy at all, because he doesn¿t have any food for him to survive and no place to stay. He escaped from his abusing aunt and ran off to the subways. For 121 days Slake was all alone, with fear, in anguish. I really enjoyed reading this novel. It taught me a lot about real life and real situations in the city. I learned how poor people do, how they get money, clothes, food, etc. Another reason I enjoyed this book was because it kept me wanting to read the book and finish it quickly. My favorite part of this book was when Slake was eating at the Diner for the first time. I really like this part because we never was Slake eat and now he finally has a hot meal to fill his warm, empty stomach. I would recommend this book to any seventh grader. It represents the life of a 13 year old and the struggles he faces in a big city, in New York. This book is interesting because he is the same age as I am, but his life is tough and depressing. The ending will surprise you.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 5, 2003

    Slake's Limbo

    Slake¿s Limbo is an unbelievable book! It is a very enjoyable book because it is actually possible for it to occur and it is very interesting. I thought it was very interesting because it hooks you on to the story. The author also characterizes Slake so well that you can relate him to yourself. There were also many conflicts in the story such as Slake not having any friends. The story is about a boy who has a very bad life because he is a nonentity, he doesn¿t have any friends, and his aunt doesn¿t treat him well. His teachers all hate him and kids would always steal things from him. He would always cower away from everybody. He only had one friend, but something happened to him so Slake didn¿t have any friends. He ends up living in the subway. During his time in the subway he goes through many different obstacles that he needs to find his way through. He gets jobs and is able to accomplish many things, but then one day something happens to him. I won¿t tell you because I don¿t want to ruin the book for you. This book can also give you advice if you were, are, or will be homeless. It has a lot of suspense in it. I also think that this is a very ¿easy to read¿ book. I highly recommend this book. I think that you should listen to me because I am a kid that doesn¿t like too many books. If I like this one, I guarantee that you will like it too.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 5, 2003

    Great book

    The book Slake¿s Limbo is a book fill with amazement. It contains some strange ideas like a bird in the stomach, and think people as a sheep. I enjoy this book a lot, because this novel has two different characters¿ story. Then they are connected as the story come closer to the end. The author was Felice Holman. The story was about Slake who was a boy that no one liked. One day, Slake found a sweater and wore it to school. Other kids took his sweater and Slake went to the congested subway. He did that when he needed a safe place. However, he ran out of the subway tokens. Therefore, he could not go home. He found a hole, and it was his new home. He sold secondhand newspapers to got money to sustain his new daily life. He met friends like the man with the turban, the waitress, and the cleaning lady. Slake also made friends with a small sized rat. He shared his meal with it. Suddenly, the workers were going to renovate the tunnel where Slake¿s home was. Therefore, Slake¿s home entrance would be blocked. Like a flock of birds mustering as one, Willis Joe¿s story was also moving along. Slake was making his new glasses while Willis Joe drove the trains. It was very hard to found the main conflict since there were myriad of conflicts. It is also interesting that the juncture of the stories is about the climax of the story. In my perspective, this is a great book. The author creates dynamic character like Slake and Willis Joe. This way we can understand more about the main characters. I can also relate to them easier since they are changing. I am relevant to Slake is that we both have glasses, and we both read newspapers. The characterization of Slake is he has finesse in creativity. Like Thomas Edison builds his outstanding inventions, Slake amass people¿s garbage and turn it into his treasure. In conclusion, this book is terrific. I recommend this book to 6-8 graders who like to read about the subway. Hopefully, this book will catch your attention as fast as the predatory jaguar attack its prey.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 5, 2003

    Slakes Limbo Pro review

    Slake¿s Limbo is a book with adventure, suspense, and a book that has realism. The book is great because the author, Felice Holman, wrote it with examples of life-threatening situations. I liked this book because it was different then any other book I have read. This book was different This book is different because I never read a book about a homeless boy that made fantastic decisions. Slake almost seemed so real it felt like a movie. This book is about a boy that runs away from his abusive aunt. Slake¿s aunt doesn¿t even feed him. Unfortunately, now Slake has no home, but he sees running away as freedom. Finally, Slake finds a home in the congested subway. Slake is a great character because he acts exactly like a lonesome boy. The author, Felice Holman, even included, symbolism which makes Slake more mysterious because the bird represents his loneliness, and fear. Slake in the book is really quiet, and belittled by kids that chase, and bother him. Slake is a person that is scared of the world. Slake feels his life is improving when he starts selling newspapers, but is it really? For all these years Slake has been cowering from all the other kids in school, and strangers from the outside. Is Slake ever going to change his perspective on life? Still Slake will always be a nonentity in the eyes of others. The conflict of Slake having a rough life is a problem that goes on and never really gets resolved but he is able to improve his life.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 5, 2003

    'Slakes Limbo' is a book full of adventures.....

    In the novel 'Slakes Limbo the author Felice Holman presents a thirteen year old boy named Slake. Slake has the uncontrollable habit of running away from his fears. After his mother and father died, Slake had to live with his aunt that did not take that great of care of him. the poor boy did not have any friends and he tried to take care of himself. At school, Slake was made fun of and he ate whatever was in his pocket for lunch. Once in a while, Slake would feel an imaginary bird pecking on his ribs, and that put Slake into alot of pain. One day Slake was getting chased my a group of kids. Slake ended up running down into the subways and staying there for 121 days. Slake started his new life with 2 jobs and a hole in the wall made as his home. Near the end of the novel, the bird starts acting up again and he ended up having to go to the hospital. Slakes Limbo has some surprising adventurous, and some suspenseful parts. Slake is a dynamic character because he changes from the begining to the end of the novel. Slake over came his fears and now he dicided he wants to live above ground to be with the blue sky. So in the end, 'Slakes Limbo' is an adventure full of surprises and it is an enjoyable book to read.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 5, 2003

    Slake's Limbo is a Great Book

    This book is about a boy who cowers and lives in the subway. After a while he gets to meet some people in the subway and begins to like his surroundings. After a few days he started to sell newspapers, eat lunch and dinner, and collect useful junk in the subway. This now became his daily schedule. Then he realizes he wants to see the blue sky, bask in the sun, and live a life close to the sky. Slake is a boy who lives in an abusive life with his aunt because his parents died. He use to live an anguish life in a poor house and has no friends. My favorite part in Slakes Limbo is when he started to explore the city. I disliked the story when the bullies were chasing Slake. The bird inside Slake symbolizes his sorrow and fear. I would characterize Slake as a creative and shy boy because he created useful items out of scrap. I can relate to Slake because I also feel neglected and lonely. He reminds me of when I felt abused and depressed last year. Yes, I do agree with the decisions he made because those decisions led him to a good life. Slake has many conflicts inside him. This includes conflicts inside and conflicts over other individuals that he met in his life. I suggest to people who have a poor life, like drama or just read for the enjoyment to read this book.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 5, 2003

    Slake's Limbo

    The book ¿Slake¿s Limbo¿ by Felice was a superb book for children ages 10-12. Aermis Slake is a young boy whose life has been full of abuses. Soon he has enough of his life and goes into the subway. Slake stays for an extensive amount of time. Eventually slake finds a cave in the subway tracks decides to make this his new home. Slake comes to love his new home, he is alone; he has total and complete freedom and is able to express himself the way he wants. He enjoys being alone subway he collects objects of no meaning and makes it into art. Slake¿s art helps him to express himself in ways he could not living with his aunt. Slake has many dreams. Slake dreams that the leaves will stay on the trees. Meaning he want something in his life to stay the same. All of Slake¿s dreams have some kind of symbolic meaning. Slake also has an imaginary bird inside him that pecks at his ribcage. The bird also has a symbolic meaning, it represents Slakes fears. The bird pecks at Slake only when he perturbed because the author wants you as the reader to realize that Slake is afraid of something about to happen or already happened. Slake skittish very often in this story so you will hear a lot about the bird. Digging further in, we see that there were many conflicts in this story. The main conflict was the fact that Slake is mistreated and teased by all who know him well. The resolution in Slake¿s perspective would be that he started a new life for himself underground in the subway. You will just have to read the book to find out the real resolution. Additionally, we distinguished that Slake is a dynamic character. A dynamic character is a character that changes from the beginning of the story to the end. Slake is a dynamic character because in the beginning he thinks the world is out to get him but his perspective veers when he gets out into the city and begins to the way people treat him nicer. The book ¿Slake¿s Limbo¿ was a magnificent book. I really felt I could relate to the main character even though I have never been in his situation. There was also a lot of rising action, the rising action helped the story a lot at its peak and also made the book even more interesting. The end of the book was fantastic and it made you feel it was the right thing to do. Yet again you must find out for yourself what the right thing to do would be. The book ¿Slake¿s Limbo¿ really gives you an idea on how people live and what obstacles some people have to deal with everyday. I liked the book so much I hope the author come out with a sequel to the book. I feel that more people should read this book because it will be worth reading.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 24, 2002

    slake is the coolest

    Felice Holman is the author of the adventurous book Slake¿s Limbo. This book is action packed with metaphors, foreshadowing, and more. Thirteen year old, Aremis Slake the main character of this book is a boy with a lot of problems on his back. For example, his elders don¿t like him that much, he has no friends, can¿t see that well, and the list just goes on. To get away from these problems he runs away to the underground mysterious subway. During his adventure he finds answers to his problems. He also finds the meaning of being a part of society. In the end...oh yeah, this is a review can¿t tell you the rest.

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