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A review by manwithanagenda
Ski Weekend by R.L. Stine
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
3.0
Fear Street # 10
It only took until book ten for Stine to throw his hands up in the air and move the action away from Fear Street and Shadyside altogether.
Ariel Munroe, her best guy friend Doug Mahr and HIS girl friend Shannon Harper (from 'The Surprise Party') are on their way back from a ski weekend. Ariel had a fight with her boyfriend Randy when he bailed on their trip early to play basketball. In the aftermath of the fight, Ariel had been befriended by Red Porter, a nice young man (who may not be in high school anymore) who hitches a ride with them from the lodge as they'll pass his town on the way back to Shadyside. Unfortunately, there's a blizzard and Doug drives like a maniac so the group elects to get off the highway and Red spots a house where they can seek shelter.
The house is spectacular, but a toxic male caricature named Lou lives there with his mousy wife Eva. Lou tells stories of deadly hunting mishaps, challenges the other men to prove their manhood, and leers at Shannon for good measure. How is teenage Shannon to know she's pretty if a man in his 30s doesn't tell her she is? The blizzard just won't quit and the gang finds themselves trapped in the house while even more sinister events begin to stack up.
The only redeeming factor of this book is Ariel. She's devoted to being a scientist and provides first aid, meteorological information, and would even provide an autopsy if it would at all help her friend's situation. She was fun. The rest of it was a convoluted mess. Let's hope we get back to Fear Street soon.
Uh-oh. 'Ski Weekend' was published just before Stine's first spin-off series: the Fear Street Super Chillers. It's time to see what Stine can do with an extra 50 pages.
Fear Street in Publication Order
Next #11: 'The Fire Game', Fear Street #11
Previous #9: 'The Stepsister', Fear Street #9
It only took until book ten for Stine to throw his hands up in the air and move the action away from Fear Street and Shadyside altogether.
Ariel Munroe, her best guy friend Doug Mahr and HIS girl friend Shannon Harper (from 'The Surprise Party') are on their way back from a ski weekend. Ariel had a fight with her boyfriend Randy when he bailed on their trip early to play basketball. In the aftermath of the fight, Ariel had been befriended by Red Porter, a nice young man (who may not be in high school anymore) who hitches a ride with them from the lodge as they'll pass his town on the way back to Shadyside. Unfortunately, there's a blizzard and Doug drives like a maniac so the group elects to get off the highway and Red spots a house where they can seek shelter.
The house is spectacular, but a toxic male caricature named Lou lives there with his mousy wife Eva. Lou tells stories of deadly hunting mishaps, challenges the other men to prove their manhood, and leers at Shannon for good measure. How is teenage Shannon to know she's pretty if a man in his 30s doesn't tell her she is? The blizzard just won't quit and the gang finds themselves trapped in the house while even more sinister events begin to stack up.
The only redeeming factor of this book is Ariel. She's devoted to being a scientist and provides first aid, meteorological information, and would even provide an autopsy if it would at all help her friend's situation. She was fun. The rest of it was a convoluted mess. Let's hope we get back to Fear Street soon.
Uh-oh. 'Ski Weekend' was published just before Stine's first spin-off series: the Fear Street Super Chillers. It's time to see what Stine can do with an extra 50 pages.
Fear Street in Publication Order
Next #11: 'The Fire Game', Fear Street #11
Previous #9: 'The Stepsister', Fear Street #9