Scan barcode
tcgarback's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
⭐️⭐️
Critical Score: D
Personal Score: B
Basically braindead, but fun. The twists were successful, even if plot twists aren’t worth much in a nonsensical story. I also don’t appreciate how classist the ending is.
But this does its job for some thoughtless entertainment. The plot holes are almost charming. And the plot is exciting enough to sustain the length. Is there any critical merit here? Not at all, honestly. But it’s got some memorable scenes throughout—in particular the one with the cheerleader on fire.
Critical Score: D
Personal Score: B
Basically braindead, but fun. The twists were successful, even if plot twists aren’t worth much in a nonsensical story. I also don’t appreciate how classist the ending is.
But this does its job for some thoughtless entertainment. The plot holes are almost charming. And the plot is exciting enough to sustain the length. Is there any critical merit here? Not at all, honestly. But it’s got some memorable scenes throughout—in particular the one with the cheerleader on fire.
mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
The cheerleaders are back, and they are here for a K-I-L-L, what does that spell? Murder, mean girls, and much much more! *cheers*
Before I start, I first have some things I need to say. For starters I just had a laugh at the blurb that is on Goodreads and that on my book copy. Is that a pre-blurb, and did things get changed? If yes, then then I love the nod on page 15 towards the old name (Heather).
Also the blurb is pretty much incorrect even the new one that is on my book's back. Lack of funds? No more cheerleading because of that?
Whut? No. Yes funding does have a roll in the book, it isn't what the blurb makes it out to be. So I am bit disappointed at that, eh, then again I am kind of used to blurbs not being correct/not entirely correct.
I found an error on page 29, Devra calls her dad and he calls her Gretchen. What? Why would you call your daughter Gretchen, and why doesn't Devra mind considering that Gretchen is her rival?
Now for the rest! Gretchen, ah Gretchen. At times quite the favourite girl of mine, but at times I just hated her attitude. The way she treated people, like she was always better. Or how she treated her mom (though I have to say I can slightly imagine that she might get pissed, I would also get pissed if my mom was just riffling through my stuff, cleaning up, checking up on stuff, we do later find out why the mom is overprotective though, but it still frustrated me and at those times I could understand why Gretchen acted the way she did).
I also didn't like how she was cheating with Sid (no, I wouldn't call this a spoiler, come on it happens quite fast). Even later I was just screaming at her to tell Stacy, to be honest about it, but oh no, this girl just kept it all bottled up. *sighs*
But she was a great cheerleader, and I wouldn't have minded seeing her awesome tricks. See her tumble and fly around. She also did have a sweet side to her, she was pretty kind to quite a few people, including Madison.
The Polly thing?
Devra was just a terrible girl, and I disliked her from the start. Her attitude is even worse than Gretchen. Yes, I can imagine that it must hurt that you may not get a cheerleader position, and I agree that it was unfair, especially since you have been promised this, and it is your last year. But that is no need to act like this.
The gruesomeness of some events was typical Stine, and I just adored it. It was creepy, but also a bit hilarious because of how over the top it was. Of course, murder isn't good, people hurting is not good, but the way Stine writes them, wow. I am sure if people read that one scene that they will also be like me.
The whodunnit, not only who is bullying Gretchen, and what is going on with the squad? I had a lot of suspects, I was eyeing a lot of people. Closer to the end and with the revelations there I had 2 clear suspects and I was eager to find out who of the two was the real one. And then I was just squealing in delight at finding out.
The ending was perfection, of course in typical Stine fashion, we have a twist or something at the end, and sometimes I find them annoying, as for me the book is over, but this time I just didn't mind/care.
This book will keep you on your toes, toss all sorts of things at you that will make you doubt everything, and then flip it all over again. It has murder, cheerleaders, and of course lots of Fear Street and Shady Side. Highly recommended. I hope that R.L. Stine will write more books about the cheerleaders, I just love their stories.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Before I start, I first have some things I need to say. For starters I just had a laugh at the blurb that is on Goodreads and that on my book copy. Is that a pre-blurb, and did things get changed? If yes, then then I love the nod on page 15 towards the old name (Heather).
Also the blurb is pretty much incorrect even the new one that is on my book's back. Lack of funds? No more cheerleading because of that?
Whut? No. Yes funding does have a roll in the book, it isn't what the blurb makes it out to be. So I am bit disappointed at that, eh, then again I am kind of used to blurbs not being correct/not entirely correct.
I found an error on page 29, Devra calls her dad and he calls her Gretchen. What? Why would you call your daughter Gretchen, and why doesn't Devra mind considering that Gretchen is her rival?
Now for the rest! Gretchen, ah Gretchen. At times quite the favourite girl of mine, but at times I just hated her attitude. The way she treated people, like she was always better. Or how she treated her mom (though I have to say I can slightly imagine that she might get pissed, I would also get pissed if my mom was just riffling through my stuff, cleaning up, checking up on stuff, we do later find out why the mom is overprotective though, but it still frustrated me and at those times I could understand why Gretchen acted the way she did).
I also didn't like how she was cheating with Sid (no, I wouldn't call this a spoiler, come on it happens quite fast). Even later I was just screaming at her to tell Stacy, to be honest about it, but oh no, this girl just kept it all bottled up. *sighs*
But she was a great cheerleader, and I wouldn't have minded seeing her awesome tricks. See her tumble and fly around. She also did have a sweet side to her, she was pretty kind to quite a few people, including Madison.
The Polly thing?
Spoiler
Ah, I can just say right from the bat I knew something was up! I knew something was going on. Something to do with the one-sidedness of the conversations. Later on I had some doubts, because, yay for R.L. Stine, but then later on it all confirmed. I was right!Devra was just a terrible girl, and I disliked her from the start.
Spoiler
Of course later we learn a bit about her and we see that in the end it wasn't her.The gruesomeness of some events was typical Stine, and I just adored it. It was creepy, but also a bit hilarious because of how over the top it was. Of course, murder isn't good, people hurting is not good, but the way Stine writes them, wow. I am sure if people read that one scene that they will also be like me.
The whodunnit, not only who is bullying Gretchen, and what is going on with the squad? I had a lot of suspects, I was eyeing a lot of people. Closer to the end and with the revelations there I had 2 clear suspects and I was eager to find out who of the two was the real one. And then I was just squealing in delight at finding out.
The ending was perfection, of course in typical Stine fashion, we have a twist or something at the end, and sometimes I find them annoying, as for me the book is over, but this time I just didn't mind/care.
This book will keep you on your toes, toss all sorts of things at you that will make you doubt everything, and then flip it all over again. It has murder, cheerleaders, and of course lots of Fear Street and Shady Side. Highly recommended. I hope that R.L. Stine will write more books about the cheerleaders, I just love their stories.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
paulabrandon's review
3.0
Gretchen Page is the new girl at Shadyside High and really wants to get on to the cheerleading team, despite the last spot just being taken by spoiled rich girl Devra Dalby. However, Gretchen is really good and the coach agrees to let her try out, meaning Devra has to try out again too! Devra is pissed. Her rich father contributes a lot of money to the school, so she gets him to threaten to withdraw his money if she doesn't get the spot!
That doesn't seem to be the end of it. Gretchen is the victim of vicious pranks and incidents and it looks like Devra is the one behind it! Why does she seemingly want to kill her?
Finally! A Fear Street relaunch book that actually feels like a Fear Street book! Female protagonist, third-person narration and no supernatural elements to be found. Hooray!
However, nostalgia isn't all it's cracked up to be! Although this is by far the best book so far in the relaunch (and sadly probably the last), I can't bring myself to give it more than 3 stars (3.5 is probably more fitting). Firstly, it was just too predictable! Also, the book lays it on so thick to try and make it look like Devra is guilty that you just know something else nefarious is going on! But I didn't spot the identity of the killer, so there are still some surprises!
Secondly, we don't really have any likeable characters. Gretchen is our nominal heroine, but she's awful to her mother and actively chases after a boy that she knows is already dating somebody else. This being a Fear Street book means the secondary characters are only thinly sketched.
Oh yeah, and the stuff with lighting the batons on fire - it would never happen in real life. No school would ever let students do that!
But all in all, I had a good time with this one. It's the best one in the relaunch by far, and it actually feels like a Fear Street book! Unfortunately, I have a sinking suspicion it's the last one, too. I can't find any information about any more being released, and this one only cost me $5 when the others cost $10, leading me to believe they're possibly not selling all that well....
What a pity! Just when the series was hitting its groove.
That doesn't seem to be the end of it. Gretchen is the victim of vicious pranks and incidents and it looks like Devra is the one behind it! Why does she seemingly want to kill her?
Finally! A Fear Street relaunch book that actually feels like a Fear Street book! Female protagonist, third-person narration and no supernatural elements to be found. Hooray!
However, nostalgia isn't all it's cracked up to be! Although this is by far the best book so far in the relaunch (and sadly probably the last), I can't bring myself to give it more than 3 stars (3.5 is probably more fitting). Firstly, it was just too predictable!
Spoiler
I knew from the opening chapter that Polly was already dead.Secondly, we don't really have any likeable characters. Gretchen is our nominal heroine, but she's awful to her mother and actively chases after a boy that she knows is already dating somebody else. This being a Fear Street book means the secondary characters are only thinly sketched.
Oh yeah, and the stuff with lighting the batons on fire - it would never happen in real life. No school would ever let students do that!
But all in all, I had a good time with this one. It's the best one in the relaunch by far, and it actually feels like a Fear Street book! Unfortunately, I have a sinking suspicion it's the last one, too. I can't find any information about any more being released, and this one only cost me $5 when the others cost $10, leading me to believe they're possibly not selling all that well....
What a pity! Just when the series was hitting its groove.
maggieluong's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
itputsthebookupontheshelf's review
3.0
Ok, I've been loving the Fear Street Re-launcehes lately, but this one wasn't my fave. I kind of knew going in that it might not be as I'm not a huge "chearleader" story kind of person, but I wanted to give it a chance since it's horror.
The story wasn't terrible, it was good for what it was. The characters were not quite as hashed out as in some other books and I'll just go ahead and assume it was for the "mystery" of it. I'm also not sure why it's calling the MC Heather in the Synopsis, since the MC's name is Gretchen Paige.... I was just about to say that Gretchen was the most interesting one, but became very confused by the synopsis, so be aware there is something misleading here or I'm completely clueless. lol
Anyway, I liked the little twist with Gretchen and what we find out about her best friend she left behind. However, I did not think that the other twist was the best. I mean, I didn't see it coming at all and I felt like it didn't quite make as much sense as it could have. Could just be me...
Still a great read for a young reader, just not for me.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
The story wasn't terrible, it was good for what it was. The characters were not quite as hashed out as in some other books and I'll just go ahead and assume it was for the "mystery" of it. I'm also not sure why it's calling the MC Heather in the Synopsis, since the MC's name is Gretchen Paige.... I was just about to say that Gretchen was the most interesting one, but became very confused by the synopsis, so be aware there is something misleading here or I'm completely clueless. lol
Anyway, I liked the little twist with Gretchen and what we find out about her best friend she left behind. However, I did not think that the other twist was the best. I mean, I didn't see it coming at all and I felt like it didn't quite make as much sense as it could have. Could just be me...
Still a great read for a young reader, just not for me.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
beastreader's review
1.0
I can remember growing up reading R.L. Stine. I have read a couple books in this relaunch series. They were alright but they have not really brought back the warm fuzzes of my childhood. I thought I would try this book. It was pretty apparent right away that this book was written very childish. All of the cheerleaders annoyed me. I felt no connection with Gretchen. I tried to stick with this book in the hopes that it would get better. Yet, the more I read the more I did not like the book. After getting a third of the way into the book, I put it down and moved onto a different book. Not, sure I will be reading more books in this series.
kamillebee's review against another edition
3.0
I just wanted to read this book for nostalgia reasons.
Took me back to my middle school days when I spent most of my after-school days in the library. I could even smell that place
Took me back to my middle school days when I spent most of my after-school days in the library. I could even smell that place
thejoellachapter's review
3.0
I bought this on a whim because *halloween*. I used to love reading RL Stine’s Goosebumps and Fear Street series, and can vividly remember how much they scared me when I was younger.
I liked the overall premise of this book, and the ending made sense. I do think the final confrontation happened way too quickly after such a long build up. Unfortunately, just like in the first book, the teen main character kind of sucked. Her completely unwarranted hatred of her mother was annoying to read, and I feel like was never really explained. This ends on a bit of an unfinished note with a final twist, which is typical of RL Stine, and is a turn I did not see coming at all.
I liked the overall premise of this book, and the ending made sense. I do think the final confrontation happened way too quickly after such a long build up. Unfortunately, just like in the first book, the teen main character kind of sucked. Her completely unwarranted hatred of her mother was annoying to read, and I feel like was never really explained. This ends on a bit of an unfinished note with a final twist, which is typical of RL Stine, and is a turn I did not see coming at all.