Lost Books

[#1]

I read this in middle school so it would have been in the mid 80's.  It's about a group of kids, all have been deemed "bad kids" for one reason or another.  As a result of some crime or other bad deed they are all sent to live in an experimental house.  The interior of the house consists of staircases that lead to different landings with no real rooms or living spaces.  Throughout the house there are machines that provide food and beverages, but the kids have to figure out how to make the machines work by doing different tricks like making faces or dancing.  I have been trying to find this book for years and no one seems to have read it.  I'm beginning to think I may have made it up.  Maybe I dreamed it!

[#2]

Nooo your not dreaming because I remember that book as well. My old school used to show us video reviews of books and this book was one of them. I read it after seeing the review but sadly I don't remember what it was called either.  Sorry.

[#3 · Accepted solution]

House of Stairs  It sounds like House of Stairs by William Sleator.  I remember the characters having to do things to get pellet like food.

[#4]

YES!!! That's it!  It's so weird because I have searched for "book about a house with stairs" so many times I thought my eyes would bleed and that book never came up.  It seems like with a title like that, it would have come up.  Wow!  Thank you so much!

[#5]

Hey thanks, after talking about this I want to re-read it as well. My to read pile is getting short.