Returning to Fear Street: In which I revisit my favorite childhood book series.Well, here we are, back on Fear Street. We barely made it out alive last time, but we're older and wiser now. Will Fear Street finally get the best of us?The Good: One of my favorite things about the Fear Street books is that none of these kids live in a vacuum. Just because a character manages to get to the end of a book alive doesn't mean Fear Street is done with them. These kids continue to show back up, mostly in supporting roles, but still there, still being effected by the Fear curse. This time Deena Martinson is back as the only friend Lea's managed to make. I also loved that, despite Lea being one of Stine's shy mousy girls, she manage's to keep her cool several times (interspersed with every time she acts weak or spazzy, but still). Most of Stine's shy girls are limp noodles 100% of the time. It was nice to see a little bit of backbone from Lea...a very little bit.The Bad:Flat, stock characters. The mean girl has no identity beyond being mean, Lea is the shy nice girl that fronts so many of Stine's novels, and the parents seem to be oblivious to everything that isn't new paint samples and cabinetry. Then there's Don, the sort of love interest. He's weak, mean and seems to have no personality and yet, Lea keeps forgiving him! She continuously blames Marci and forgives Don. That kid is not worth her time. The Scary: The imagery and language did not do much to add tension or atmosphere to the ghosts in Lea's house. I'm not sure this booked creeped me out, even as a child. On the other hand, there is something quite terrifying about having another being control your body. Plus, the thought of something scary happening to me and having nobody believe it is quite a frightening idea. I think these concepts were much scarier than any ghosts or murders that happened.
A present from a professional creep. I was a die-hard Christopher Pike fan back in the great 90's, so I was eager to see what my man's rival had to offer me in the super 00's. A "superchiller" may be a little strong of a description but the story is pretty sweet, complete with some feverish nightmares, broken spines, creepy attic secret rooms (my personal fave), and some raggedy skeleton parents. A couple of completely ridiculous moments (yes, I am doing this for a young adult horror novel):1. A real estate agent showing this house on FEAR STREET, tells the prospective buyers that the crazily boarded up room in the creepy attic has been like that for a hundred years because a MURDER happened in there. What real estate agent would be so candid? And how could a murder happen and for a hundred years no one bothered to check that shit out?2. The main character is asked out on a date by a popular boy who she is told is dating the most popular girl at school. She waits for him to pick her up on Saturday night and when he stands her up, she calls his house then calls his girlfriend at her house. And guess what? He's there. HANGING OUT WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND. When the girlfriend starts to torment her in school the main character is all like "why is she deliberately hurting me? she's so mean!" You're trying to steal a lady's boyfriend and you're gonna whine about your feelings?What did I learn from this book? That my new term for things that are creepy or scary, ie a really heinous outfit or way someone is acting, is to call it FEAR STREET.
What do You think about The Secret Bedroom (1991)?
The never-ending fun of R.L.Stine reads.I must say the little girl Lea did had a lot of guts to fight a ghost and finally win. Amazing story and the best part is your always curious to know, "what happened next?".The curiosity of Lia to figure out the secrets of Catherine, the beautiful ghost in her house, drives curiosity within you and compels you to keep turning pages, hoping Lea wins. Although what you expect is not what really happens over the next few pages, and that's the best thing about the way R.L.Stine writes. What you assume is not what happens and that's where you can't stop reading. And its a credit to the author that he can explain horror so well.I totally enjoyed reading it.
—Anamica
The Secret Bedroom was a creepy read about a girl named Lea Carson who moves into a house on Fear Street. When she and her family move in the house, they are told not to open the door of the bedroom that is boarded up. Rumor has it that someone was murdered in that room. One day Lea gets curious and opens up the bedroom only to be greeted by a ghost. Lea and the ghost become friends, but a tragic thing happens. That’s when everything goes bad and you have to read the book to find out what happens. I would recommend this book to anybody of all ages who enjoys a scary story.
—Axel Kim
I'm pretty bummed to report that this is my last Fear Street of the year. You know, I don't recall ever enjoying them quite this much. I actually ordered the next four the other day and then made myself cancel the order because there's a stack of other books on my desk that is getting out of control. October is the perfect time for some Fear Street. I'm still waiting for those movies, world. They would be so much more entertaining than the crap that's out there right now.The Secret Bedroom is the story of Lea. Lea's parents love old houses and purchase one of Fear Street when her father gets transferred for work. Lea is used to her parents renovating old houses and then moving right away. All of the houses on Fear Street have secrets and the secret of Lea's new house is a mysterious, boarded up room in the attic. The room has been closed for over a hundred years and the rumor is that a murder was committed there. The stress of a new house, a new school, a bully, AND a secret room? It's too much, right?Parents are great in these books. Lea's parents are just like, "We'll just buy this house and ignore that room altogether! Hyuck!" Also, if my kid started acting weird and telling me that she was seeing ghosts and there's a secret room in the attic, I'm going to believe her.Eventually, Lea cannot handle the sounds she hears coming from the attic. Someone is pacing back and forth. Lea lets herself into the boarded up room and discovers Catherine, a young girl who claims that her parents murdered her when she tried to escape the room that they had imprisoned her in. It doesn't take long to figure out that Catherine may not be who she appears to be but could it be too late?I enjoyed this one a lot. Then again, I enjoyed them all. I can't help it.
—Rachael Quinn
