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A review by manwithanagenda
Bad Dreams by R.L. Stine
dark
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
4.0
Fear Street # 33
After Maggie and Andrea Travers' dad passed away, money has been tight and it has led their mother to selling their posh North Hills home and moving them to a Victorian dump on Fear Street. So gentile are these ladies, they don't even know where Fear Street is! The pearls are in hock, or I would clutch them in sympathy.
Maggie is out heroine here, she is the elder of the two and the sister that seems to have a bit more of a grip on reality. Her and Maggie have fights for most of the book and it is so exhausting it's hard to believe the ghost doesn't off both of them and spare us all. Andrea is jealous that Maggie is prettier and has a boyfriend and has a popularity that wasn't tied in to her North Hills identity. Maggie is tired of Andrea being a crybaby all the time, but honestly does want to keep her sister in her rightful place at the bottom of the swim team rankings. A lot of family love.
A lovely Easter Egg for close readers of the series (and, boy, does this series reward a close reading) is that Andrea's boyfriend is Justin Stiles. Andrea's friend Dawn Rodgers dated Justin before, just one date, but it didn't work out so its not a problem for Andrea to be dating him. Which is awesome, however, no one talks about how that ONE DATE was part of the inspiration for the student body bloodfest that was 'The Prom Queen' and Dawn - spoiler alert - gets stabbed. Are we not going to talk about that? No? OK, fine. That's cool. I just think that would be a major talking point for a long time. I'm just saying that MY high school was abuzz for years when Ryan punched Jay in the face during drama club practice. I think a stabbing would have some traction.
But that was last year. THIS year we're talking about swim team tryouts and, weirdly, someone else is gonna get stabbed. Oh yeah, sorry, I got sidetracked from the main plot: Maggie keeps having bad dreams. An antique canopy bed had been left in the house when the Travers moved in and Andrea was furious that Maggie gets to sleep in it. Maggie hasn't had a full night's sleep since moving in and she's beginning to put two and two together: her sister is a bitch!
Also, there might be a ghost.
There are twists and turns to this one, and it was very silly, but I will always give extra credit to a supernatural Fear Street and the family dog Gus doesn't die!
Fear Street in Publication Order
Next #34: 'Double Date', Fear Street #23
Previous #32: 'The Dare', Fear Street #21
After Maggie and Andrea Travers' dad passed away, money has been tight and it has led their mother to selling their posh North Hills home and moving them to a Victorian dump on Fear Street. So gentile are these ladies, they don't even know where Fear Street is! The pearls are in hock, or I would clutch them in sympathy.
Maggie is out heroine here, she is the elder of the two and the sister that seems to have a bit more of a grip on reality. Her and Maggie have fights for most of the book and it is so exhausting it's hard to believe the ghost doesn't off both of them and spare us all. Andrea is jealous that Maggie is prettier and has a boyfriend and has a popularity that wasn't tied in to her North Hills identity. Maggie is tired of Andrea being a crybaby all the time, but honestly does want to keep her sister in her rightful place at the bottom of the swim team rankings. A lot of family love.
A lovely Easter Egg for close readers of the series (and, boy, does this series reward a close reading) is that Andrea's boyfriend is Justin Stiles. Andrea's friend Dawn Rodgers dated Justin before, just one date, but it didn't work out so its not a problem for Andrea to be dating him. Which is awesome, however, no one talks about how that ONE DATE was part of the inspiration for the student body bloodfest that was 'The Prom Queen' and Dawn - spoiler alert - gets stabbed. Are we not going to talk about that? No? OK, fine. That's cool. I just think that would be a major talking point for a long time. I'm just saying that MY high school was abuzz for years when Ryan punched Jay in the face during drama club practice. I think a stabbing would have some traction.
But that was last year. THIS year we're talking about swim team tryouts and, weirdly, someone else is gonna get stabbed. Oh yeah, sorry, I got sidetracked from the main plot: Maggie keeps having bad dreams. An antique canopy bed had been left in the house when the Travers moved in and Andrea was furious that Maggie gets to sleep in it. Maggie hasn't had a full night's sleep since moving in and she's beginning to put two and two together: her sister is a bitch!
Also, there might be a ghost.
There are twists and turns to this one, and it was very silly, but I will always give extra credit to a supernatural Fear Street and the family dog Gus doesn't die!
Fear Street in Publication Order
Next #34: 'Double Date', Fear Street #23
Previous #32: 'The Dare', Fear Street #21