There is a book I read a few years ago about a group of students that were specially skilled in something like art, writing, music, etc. They go to this special school in the middle of nowhere, and it's really creepy and all. Their rooms lock from the outside, and gradually their paintings, poems, or whatever gets more and more violent. I remember at the very end the power goes out, and then the school catches on fire, and the main character barely escapes.
What is it called? It's driving me crazy!
tiandron2012-01-13T12:50:35Z
Favorite Answer
Down a Dark Hall by Lois Duncan "After her mother gets re-married and plans a honeymoon, Kit is forced to attend Blackwood Boarding School, run by Madame Duret, although Kit feels something dark coming from the school. She was originally planning to attend with her best friend, Tracy, but Tracy didn't get accepted even though she had better grades. When Kit arrives, she immediately confirms something evil about the house. She sees her personal room but is disturbed by the locks only usable from the outside, and meets the teachers: Madame Duret, Professor Farley, and Jules. Jules is the son of Madame Duret, and teaches piano, who seems very interested in Kit. The following day three other girls arrive, Lynda, Ruth, and Sandy.
At Blackwood, each student is taught according to their 'level of learning and ability', independently of the other students. Only three other students show up: Lynda, blonde, beautiful, and rather ditzy, her best friend Ruth, lonesome and rather plain-looking, but smart, and friendly, redheaded Sandy, Madame Duret stating that the school is very exclusive. Each girl held some talent in addition to their imaginations. Lynda Hannah transforms into the next Van Gogh, Ruth can perform and solve complicated math problems, and Sandy writes detailed poetry, this being odd because none of them had been able to do these things before. Kit discovers her inner specialty as well: composing wonderful piano music. Ruth identifies this as "ESP" or extra-sensory perception, and is excited, but Kit is further disturbed, especially after waking up to playing the piano with Jules recording it, confirming her earlier suspicions of hearing music she recognized from somewhere else. After investigating, Kit learns that former students at Blackwood were famous artists who died young and continue their contributions of creativity by using the current students as puppets"