A review by monsterofidaho
Don't Turn Out the Lights: A Tribute to Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by R.L. Stine, Jonathan Maberry

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

What a glorious tribute to the eponymous Alvin Schwartz! Don't Turn Out the Lights is an excellently collected anthology from some of the best authors in middle grade fiction right now. Every single story hails back to the creepiness and dread that any fan of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark will find familiar, but this book does more than that. Instead of simply imitating a well-loved style, Don't Turn Out the Lights expands upon what makes middle grade horror work so well. As an adult, these stories still make me wince and gasp, which is how I know they truly do their work well. (Also, definitely turn out the lights before you listen to the audiobook. You are not prepared to hear these stories told directly in your ears.)
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