Reviews

The Wrong Number by R.L. Stine

writtenbyatticus's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

2.0

I thought that this book dragged and I was bored throughout most of it. I really only enjoyed the ending.

combepherre's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

bwaybexy's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

4.5

manwithanagenda's review

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tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Fear Street # 4

Deena Martinson's half-brother is coming to stay with them. He'll be a senior at Shadyside High and Deena is curious to get to know the son from her father's (presumably disastrous) first marriage, but Chuck is odd. At times he's kind and has a "goofy" grin on his face, and others he'll get cold and blank and give Deena the creeps. Deena's best friend Jade thinks Chuck's super hotness cancels out any personality flaws and shamelessly flirts with him. It's Jade, too, that has the idea to use Deena's new private phone line for prank phone calls. Jade and Deena enjoy talking in breathy voices with various hunks, but Chuck has bigger ideas. His phone calls are more mean-spirited, even criminal. but it's when they dial a number on Fear Street that things get dangerous.

This was a quick, fun read. The actions of these kids are pretty hard to believe - going over the line of being too dumb to live in some cases - but at least the plot has a nice momentum and gets somewhere. I don't know, I felt pretty good about it 

Note 1: In Fear Street's spookiest twist book #4 'Missing' was published, or at least copyrighted, two months after #5 'Wrong Number'. Editorial oversight?

Note 2: Deena and Jade get some mentions in other books, but I'm short on time to look it up. The important thing is that 'Wrong Number' gets a direct sequel in 'Wrong Number 2'.

Fear Street in Publication Order

Next #5: 'Missing', Fear Street #4 (or Fear Street #27 'Wrong Number 2')

Previous #3: 'The Overnight', Fear Street #3

myonna's review

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3.0

this book just feels very 90s and i thought that was so interesting. i was expecting more of a plot twist but that’s okay i still enjoyed it.

booksandbrews's review

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3.0

This book was pure nostalgia and I only read it for a podcast! Still, it takes me back to elementary school and trying to read as mean Goosebumps/RL Stine books as I could.

pawsitivelybookish's review against another edition

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dark mysterious

3.0

clarag's review

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2.0

This was a fun little jaunt down memory lane, I used to devour these as a teen! It is poorly written and so full of plot holes, but still a hilarious read.

fatalamelia's review against another edition

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dark mysterious fast-paced

3.0

roxiethebookslayer's review against another edition

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4.0

One of my fondest memories was spending my summer between 7th and 8th grade at my bestie's house. We listened to the Spice Girls, played Super Nintendo, and we made prank calls. Well not like most people...We would dial a random number and just start talking to the person. We actually found a few "friends" that way. This was 1993, so *69 and caller ID were not a thing yet, luckily.

The Wrong Number brought back those awesome memories. Deena and Jade decide to prank call boys from their school. Nothing crazy, just a Oh you're so hot kind of call, leaving the boy wondering who it is. But Deena's brother (half brother that just moved in, but I don't feel that is a necessary detail), Chuck, catches them and begins to make threatening calls to random people. One of those is a house on Fear Street.

"Please! Please come quickly! He's going to kill me!"

Chuck springs into hero mode. Sure calling the police would be the logical thing to do, but see Chuck doesn't want to get in trouble for the previous calls he made. So they speed over to Fear Street and find a woman dead and her murderer still in the house. After a chase, they get home safely and call the police only for them to link Chuck to the murder!

The police don't seem to listen so Deena must now prove her brother is innocent. She begins to investigate and finds the killer's identity, but she needs proof. Eventually she gets what she needs.

This one was a great read. Deena's dedication to her brother is touching and she fights for what is right.