Great fun to read, a novel protagonist and plot, but even better are the lovable and hilarious supporting characters. The mix of witty, realistic humoGreat fun to read, a novel protagonist and plot, but even better are the lovable and hilarious supporting characters. The mix of witty, realistic humor and traumas just this side of visceral horror make for a hell of a read, with some brilliant interpretations of classic fairytale tropes. ...more
Stakes get even higher, and the twists will knock the socks off even a mature and jaded reader! An excellent middle-school fantasy, I'm eager to read Stakes get even higher, and the twists will knock the socks off even a mature and jaded reader! An excellent middle-school fantasy, I'm eager to read the next (and final) book in the series....more
Shirley and Jamila work to stop a sleazy blackmailer at their junior high. Based on a Sherlock Holmes short story, this book lacks a lot of the creatiShirley and Jamila work to stop a sleazy blackmailer at their junior high. Based on a Sherlock Holmes short story, this book lacks a lot of the creativity of the first book, and also suffers from a lot of padding as the story take a long time to go anywhere. The characters are still likable, and the book raises some good questions about breaking rules/laws for the greater good. Still, it was not nearly as clever as the first book, and if there is a third I hope the writer goes for an original plot-line, and puts a little more pep into it!...more
Shirley and Jamila have practically nothing in common except for their desires (though sometimes they deny it) to make a friend, and to do the right tShirley and Jamila have practically nothing in common except for their desires (though sometimes they deny it) to make a friend, and to do the right thing. Socially awkward Shirley solves mysteries for the local kids, and Jamila gets pulled into helping her as she tries to figure out if they are actually friends or not. This was a fun book, besides the mystery in it, the characters are fun, and there are some thought-provoking moral quandaries about hiding the truth and frustration making us do the wrong thing. Well worth a read and a talk about with any kid....more
The first book in this series was clever and exciting, but this one is even better - the same dynamic and relatable (and flawed) characters, but even The first book in this series was clever and exciting, but this one is even better - the same dynamic and relatable (and flawed) characters, but even higher stakes. The plot directions were a bit predictable, but not as glaringly so as the first book. ...more
Misha is a successful screenwriter for a streaming TV series. He plans to have the show's leads revealed as homosexual, but the studio tells him that,Misha is a successful screenwriter for a streaming TV series. He plans to have the show's leads revealed as homosexual, but the studio tells him that, according to the studio algorithm, the best financial returns require them to either be heterosexual, or for the reveal to be the precursor to their tragic deaths. Misha fights back, but as he is stewing on how to force big Hollywood to allow some gays in their scripts to be people instead of plot devices, the plot of his own life is turned upside down. He is stalked by a series of characters from his own horror shows and movies. What at first seems a marketing stunt or over-the-top stalker fans soon crosses the border into the impossible, and the very deadly.
Chuck Tingle dishes out some clever, passionate writing, telling an emotional story at the same time he makes some heart-felt arguments about the state of entertainment and public perceptions of LGBT+ people and personas. The story is often insanely strange, but even when it's at its most demented, the book is still smart and emotionally rewarding. The varied homages to horror classics are clever and feel like little easter eggs for the reader.
While much of the horror (one body horror scene in particular!) is well done, a few scenes feel pretty lackluster. One scene that was an apparent homage to slasher films felt like reading the script of a low quality slasher film. I don't know if Tingle was writing it intentionally dull, but that's what it was. The real weakness of the book was how contrived so many things were. Misha felt bad about going to a high school reunion without his boyfriend, but he was not ready to come out of the closet to the people in his home town. So, why not just NOT go to the reunion? Even before the plot went totally crazy, Misha had dozens of things on his plate, why would he want to go to this reunion in the first place. Well, he didn't have much realistic motivation, BUT the reunion led to a relevant flashback, and then to a scary scene on a plane. So, in other words, Misha's motivation was flimsy, but for the WRITER it was a good opportunity. There were a lot of incidents like this, where decisions and actions felt contrived for the writer's benefit. And ultimately, the climax had a contrived feeling of the main villain being pretty damned stupid with their precautions.
I mean, I still liked it. Please put on your 'live with contrivances' blinders when reading, because for the clever horror and the bold message it is definitely worth a read!...more
Suee is intellectually sharp and socially withdrawn. Weird things happen at her school, and while she starts to investigate out of curiosity and self-Suee is intellectually sharp and socially withdrawn. Weird things happen at her school, and while she starts to investigate out of curiosity and self-preservation, when she finally makes some friends, desire to protect them makes her develop and take risks.
This was a clever book, the message was good, and while the pacing was slow it built up to some high stakes and good (but age appropriate) scares.
Unfortunately the sequel was a let-down, but this one was definitely worth a read. ...more
A group of kids try to solve bizarre intertwined, possibly supernatural, mysteries. Though odd, the start of the book had some promise. but after a whiA group of kids try to solve bizarre intertwined, possibly supernatural, mysteries. Though odd, the start of the book had some promise. but after a while the kids just repeatedly got rescued by someone else, and started to feel like supporting characters in their own book. While there initially felt like some really high stakes, by the end it felt clear that someone was always going to pop up and solve any dangers or complications for the group. There was also a fair amount that was just baffling, but that might make more sense for anyone who read the first book. I'm so confused that I'm going to give that book a try, and who knows, maybe that'll affect my score of this one?
Having read the first book just made this book more disappointing. The first book was clever and the main characters really had to pull together and take risks to protect each other. I'm glad I read the first one, but in comparison book 2 is tepid, even a little goofy....more
The third book in the series - Kendra, Seth and their allies continue trying to figure out who they can trust, and gain some advantage against their eThe third book in the series - Kendra, Seth and their allies continue trying to figure out who they can trust, and gain some advantage against their enemies. This book is grimmer than the previous two, but the writing is excellent and the higher stakes make it all the more enthralling. Excellent story-telling and world-building, I'm eager to see what twists and turns the next book brings. ...more
Mia's parents are divorced, and it is a struggle for her to connect to her heritages on either side. I appreciate the message of this book, but the deMia's parents are divorced, and it is a struggle for her to connect to her heritages on either side. I appreciate the message of this book, but the delivery was rough around the edges. It's a little hard to be sympathetic for someone who makes as many big lies as Mia does. The art is not that good, in either quality or choices - one time there was a panel with a close up of a pattern, I had no idea that I was looking at shoes until one of the characters mentioned it! The speech seldom felt authentic, sometimes being slightly stilted, sometimes forced and awkward. Overall it's worth a read at least once, and I feel kids who are similarly torn between cultures might be able to draw some inspiration or comfort from it. ...more
Eric Ross and his two daughters are on the run from a secret they can share with no one. Eric takes a job documenting strange activity in a house withEric Ross and his two daughters are on the run from a secret they can share with no one. Eric takes a job documenting strange activity in a house with a dark past of death and hate.
This was a good read, enjoyable prose, full characters, and a lot of twists. The set-up and initial style felt a lot like Steven King, but it didn't take too long for it to develop its own unique voice and characters. The ideas for ghosts and other supernatural occurrences also had a unique approach that I liked. The depiction of spite as something that could be pleasant but horribly destructive was especially well thought out.
Maybe the only weakness I found was that things ended up happening too quickly. What was causing the haunting came out of left field, and the climax was somewhat unsatisfying with how abrupt it was.
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