The Well

By A.J. Whitten

Book Overview

If Hamlet thought he had issues, he should have talked to Cooper Warner.

His mother's normally sunny demeanor has turned into something--homicidal.

And what's worse, she has help in her hunt for Cooper: A ravenous monster living at the bottom of the old well in the woods behind their house. She's determined to deliver her 14-year-old son straight into the creature's eager clutches. Cooper turns to his girlfriend, Megan, for help, but then, to his horror, the creature takes her prisoner.
Now, it's up to Cooper to fend off his murderous mother, finish his Hamlet paper, and enter the putrid lair at the bottom of the well to rescue Megan. And when he confronts the creature, Cooper must make the toughest decision of his life: kill, or be killed.

Inspired by Hamlet, THE WELL puts a terrifying twist on the Shakespearean classic.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0547232292
• ISBN13: 9780547232294
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.1" x 7.0"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

One Day Cooper's Mother Threw Him in a Well

Cooper was out by the old well behind the place they lived in Maine when his mother threw him in. Needless to say this came as a surprise. The well is cold, damp and slimy, but Coop's in for an even bigger surprise, because there is something down in the well with him. Something not human. Something hungry. And it can read his mind. Coop is in trouble deep. He kicks and struggles and would have been troll-like-monster lunch had not his older brother Faulkner tossed down a rope. Cooper got away, but that thing that lives in the well gets in his head. It wants Cooper, wants him bad. Who can he turn to for help? Certainly not Mom, who doesn't seem to remember what she'd done. And his step dad doesn't seem to like him very much. Can he turn to his girlfriend Megan? He's got problems, Cooper does and it puts a strain on his relationship with Megan, who winds up in the clutches of the thing in the well. Now Coops gotta go down there again. Brrr. What is the thing down there? Why is it so intent on Cooper and only Cooper? Why does his mother seem to want him dead one minute and seem to love him to death the next? These are all questions that run through Cooper's young brain and they'll run through yours too as you burn through the pages of this excellent horror story. Yes it was written for a young adult audience and I'm supposedly a big adult, but nevertheless this story got me in its grips and it held on tight till I finished. This is a very good read, a scary story for kids and big people too.

My granddaughter loved this book

It only took two days for her to finish and she said she really enjoyed the story.

gripping and scary tale

As if teenagers don't have enough to deal with, Cooper's mother are out to kill him, there's a monster at the bottom of the well determined to make him dinner and he can't talk to his father, who probably wouldn't believe him anyway. And that's only the beginning of Cooper's trouble. The monster's powers reach far beyond the well, into Cooper's world, even infiltrating his mind and endangering his girlfriend. I found A.J. Whitten's The Well gripping and scary, relieved by Cooper's humor and a cast of very normal teens. The horror and mystery of the curse kept me turning pages to a satisfying ending.

Guaranteed to Give You a Few Frights

What if your mother wanted you dead? What if she threw you into a well? What if there was a monster down there who wanted to eat you? These are a few of the problems that plague fourteen-year-old Cooper. Plus, he's failing English and his dad is the teacher. So after he fights off that monster and is rescued by his older brother, he still has to deal with Homicidal Mom, Teacher Dad and a step father who wants him dead as well. So what's a boy to do? Cooper plods on, that monster never far from his mind. He's never far from the monster's mind either. Nor from his step-dad's, who really, really wants him down in that well. His mother, well, she's been possessed, so it's not her fault. So just what is that monster? Why does he want Cooper? Why do Sam the step-dad's grapes grow so well in a land where they shouldn't? Sam makes fine wine, but there is a price to be paid and that price is Cooper. However, Cooper has a problem with that. I'd have a problem with that as well if I were Cooper. I bet you would, too. But you won't have any problems with this story. It's a fine and scary horror story, one guaranteed to give you a few frights. Reviewed by Stephanie Sane

Outstanding Mother & Daughter Writing Debut!

"The Well" drew me in because Cooper is going through a really tough time and is totally freaking out, but he has a sweet personality underneath it all. He knows his mother tried to kill him, but even though he has had disagreements with her, he still loves her. He can't believe she's doing this to him. Many times, I shuddered and a chill went down my spine while reading this book. The monster's voice is really creepy. Even though I'm not normally a horror reader, I enjoyed this. I liked the sweet relationship going on with Megan and Cooper and how they are able to work together. It's very accurate for kids this age. The plot was complex and satisfying. I didn't know how it would end. I was worried because I don't remember the story of "Hamlet" but it didn't matter. The story stands on its own. Although this is horror, there is some comic relief that I enjoyed and some quirky turns of phrases made it an enjoyable read. Obviously, it's horror so there are some things that could never be real, but his everyday life seems real. His thoughts seem real. So, the whole thing seemed believable, somehow. I can't wait to see what these talented women come up with next.