A review by blogginboutbooks
Only If You Dare: 13 Stories of Darkness and Doom by Josh Allen

4.0

R.L. Stine was a bit after my time, so I wasn't sure what to expect from a collection of spooky stories aimed at middle-schoolers. Turns out, they're a lot of fun! While some of the tales center around familiar frights—clowns, dolls, and things that go bump in the night—others turn less obvious subjects (oatmeal, ice cream, bed pillows) spooky. As with all short story collections, some of the selections are more clever and entertaining than others. Personally, I most enjoyed "The Substitute" and "Scrabbled." While younger/more sensitive readers may want to steer clear of ONLY IF YOU DARE, all in all, the book offers an easy, enjoyable reading experience that chills without getting too graphic or gory (with the maybe exception of "My Hand. Right There," which is a *little* gruesome).

If I could, I would give this book 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I'm rounding up.