Book Review: A New Fear by R.L. Stine

A New Fear (Fear Street Sagas #1) by R.L. Stine
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Published:  March 1st 1996

Review by: Anonymous Entrant

Have you ever wondered how R.L. Stine's Fear Street series began? How the "Street" became "Fear Street"?  The Fear Street Sagas gives a glimpse into the history of the Fear family and Fear Street of Shadyside.  A family feud between the Fears and the Goodes, have created a long history of fear, hate, mystery and wonder.  Nora Goode and Daniel Fear had hoped to put their families' feud to an end through their marriage.  Unfortunately, the night of their marriage announcement a fire rages through Fear Mansion, killing everyone except Nora and her unborn child, Nicholas. 

After escaping an asylum, Nora finds a new beginning for herself and Nicholas, until she can no longer keep her son away from learning about the Fear family.  Nicholas embarks on a journey to Shadyside to inherit his dead father's legacy, which in turn will allow his to marry the girl of his dreams.  What waits for Nicholas is a legacy of secrets and death which he discovers rather quickly, a legacy that does not stay in the past but becomes his present and future.  

This place calls to me, Nicholas thought.  But why? For what purpose? For good...or evil?

R.L. Stine has created a haunting world for his characters, where ghosts, magic, good and evil roam free.  He wonderfully creates some of the most memorable haunting scenes in young adult horror literature:

A large scorch mark covered the drapes.  A scorch mark in the shape of a human body. 

Nicholas edged closer to the drapes.  the scorch mark grew darker. Thicker. It bulged out, straining away from the fabic.

Nicholas heard a tearing sound.  The body is ripping through the drapes!

Growing up, I could not get enough of this series.  R.L. Stine's writing is simple while at the same time heavy with meaning and mystery, making it very unique.  This series is a perfect introduction for any Teen wanting to read horror literature, or for adults to revisit a part of their childhood. 

R.L. Stine's Fear Street

For the older teens R.L. Stine's Fear Street series is perfect!

Just like Goosebumps there are numerous smaller series within the Fear Street series.

Fear Street #1: The New Girl

The new girl is as pale as a ghost, blond, and eerily beautiful -- and she seems to need him as much as he wants her. Cory Brooks hungers for Anna Corwin's kisses, drowns in her light blue eyes. He can't get her out of his mind. He has been loosing sleep, ditching his friends...and everyone has noticed.
Then as suddenly as she came to Shadyside High, Anna disappears. To find a cure for his obsession, Cory must go to Anna's house on Fear Street -- no matter what the consequences.
Anna may be the love of his life...but finding out her secret might mean his death.

Fear Street Sagas #6: Daughters of Silence

Summoning the dark powers of their family to bring back their dead daughters, Angelica and Simon Fear unflinchingly begin an act of black magic that calls for the sacrifice of two innocent girls. 

Fear Street Super Chillers #12: High Tide

Adam Malfitano still has nightmares about the night his girlfriend, Mitzi, died. He sees the blood. He sees her in the water. He is a lifeguard, and he can't save her. He wakes up screaming. Even worse, he has begun to see Mitzi while he is awake. He knows it is impossible, but she looks so real. What does she want from him?

 Fear Street Cheerleaders #3: The Third Evil

Did the evil spirit really leave Kimmy's body? The cheerleaders of Shadyside High can still feel its dark presence, and Corky knows that it is out there, somewhere close. And getting closer.
Corky is tormented night after night by dreams of her dead sister, Bobbi. What terrifying message is Bobbi trying to tell her? When the evil begins again - more horrible, more gruesome than ever - Corky knows it is up to her to learn the century-old secrets and destroy the evil spirit's power for good. But so many have died already - will Corky be next?

Fear Street Saga #2: The Burning

In this terrifying new trilogy, R.L. Stine takes readers back in time, telling them finally the awful truth of what happened to the cursed Fear family . . . and why their evil lives on. Simon Fier meets an old gypsy who tells him his family will all die in a terrible fire. Terrified, he changes the family name to Fear, but he can't escape the curse.

New Fear Street #2: Camp Out

Although persuaded by her two best friends, Beth and Ellen, to go on a camp out, Maria is extremely nervous, and her fears are confirmed when strange accidents begin to occur.

With so many fearful adventures on Fear Street you are sure to find new frights and fears you never knew you had! And of course amazing fun!!

Have you read any Fear Street lately?

Want to share your thoughts?

Send your comments, reviews, and thoughts to

teensread@tucsonfestivalofbooks.org

to have them published on the site!!

R.L. Stine's Goosebumps

R.L. Stine's Goosebumps series is a series many of us grow up with.

Goosebumps is perfect for every generation!

With over 60 books to choose from and many different Goosebumps series, thrills and scares are guaranteed!!

 Goosebumps Classic #1: Welcome to Dead House

Just when you thought it was safe....the 25 top-selling titles in the series that revolutionized horror for kids are back w/ a fresh new look. The updated design will make you scream. The original artwork will give you nightmares. And the classic bone-chilling stories from the master of horror will just kill you. This spine-tingling series sparked a licensing phenomenon & made R.L. the #1 author in the U.S.--and it's STILL the "must have" collection for true horror fans. Now a whole new generation will discover the thrill of reading ...and they'll never be the same again.

 Give Yourself Goosebumps #8: The Curse of the Creeping Coffin

Goosebumps fans will return to this adventure time and again to choose among the 20 spooky outcomes. When the tombstones behind Grandmother's house move closer and closer, the reader can stay and battle the ghosts or run away--with ghostly company!

Goosebumps HorrorLand #19: The Horror at Chiller House

Take a little Horror home with you!
Jonathan Chiller has called the kids from books #13-18 back to HorrorLand to collect payment. The only way for the kids to get back home is for them to win at a HorrorLand-style scavenger hunt. They each must find a red chest. Inside, the miniature Horror will act as a portal to send them back home.
They'll be competing against Murder the Clown, Chef Belcher, Mondo the Magical, and three other unsavory characters from the previous six books. Little do they know that all six adversaries are actually Chiller in disguise. And Chiller will lie and cheat his way to victory. 

 Goosebumps Hall of Horrors #4: Why I Quit Zombie School

Welcome to the Hall of Horrors, HorrorLand's Hall of Fame for the truly terrifying.
Matt was never a superstar in school, but he's definitely the most energetic and quick-witted student here. But what's up with the others? His suspicions are finally confirmed when Franny, his new friend asks, "How long have you been dead?" To his horror, Matt realizes his parents have unknowingly enrolled him in a zombie school. When Matt overhears the zombie plans to march and claim the whole city for the undead, he has to make a frightening choice- protect himself and continue his charade-or reveal his aliveness and try to save the unsuspecting alive people in the town.

Goosebumps Series 2000 #13: Return to Horrorland

Lizzy and Luke have returned to HorrorLand with television reporters to show the world the deadly dangers of the park, including such all-new attractions as Torture Mountain, Dungeon of No Return, and Buzzard Beach.

Have you read any Goosebumps lately?

Want to share your thoughts?

Send your comments, reviews, and thoughts to

teensread@tucsonfestivalofbooks.org

to have them published on the site!!

Author's Corner: R.L. Stine

 "My job is to give kids the CREEPS!"

(Source)

While R.L. Stine (Robert Lawrence Stine) didn't grow up in a life of horror and thrills he loved reading the comic books Tales from the Crypt and The Vault of Horror.  R.L. Stine's imagination was sparked at the age of 9! The products of such an imagination are some of the most memorable books and series that still live on today.

"When I write, I try to think back to what I was afraid of or what was scary to me, and try to put those feelings into books."  (Source)


Before R.L. Stine published his infamous Goosebumps and Fear Street series, he focused on humor in 101 Silly Monster Jokes and was even an editor for Bananas magazine (under the name of Jovial Bob Stine).  In 1968 R.L. Stine started add in his scary-side into his writing.

R.L. Stine's first 'scary' novel was Blind Date (Point Horror Series #1) where a blind date turns into a nightmare!!

From there it was downhill to success for R.L. Stine, with no end in sight.  Today, R.L. Stine is still creating numerous thrills and scares.  His words and imagination have been noticed and awarded by many - Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards and the Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards.


Find R.L. Stine at his WebSite | Scholastic | Twitter | Facebook

Author's Corner Schedule

Every week a participating YA Author will be highlighted.  As each week passes they will be directly linked under the Author's Corner Page.  Make sure come back each week to find about more about your favorite authors!

November 27th - December 3rd: R.L. Stine

December 4th-10th: Jewell Parker Rhodes

December 11th-17th: Will Hobbs

 

December 18th-24th: Jessi Kirby

December 25th-31st: Robin Brande

January 1st-7th: T.A. Barron

January 8th-14th: Amy Fellner Dominy

January 15th-21st: Aprilynne Pike

January 22nd-28th: Cynthia Leitich Smith

January 29th - February 4th: Janni Lee Simner

February 5th-11th: Ellen Hopkins

February 12th-18th: Courtney Rene

February 19th-25th: Adam Rex

February 26th - March 3rd: Joshua C. Cohen

March 4th-8th: James A. Owen

Tucson's Teens Read is Live!

Welcome to the 1st ever Tucson Festival of Books Teen Blog, completely devoted to Teens, Young Adult Literature, and Teen events as related to the 2012 Tucson Festival of Books, given to you by the Teen Committee.

Goals & Purpose

You might be asking what the purpose of this Blog is? Through this Blog our goal is connect Teens to Authors, their books, important topics, and to share the love of reading with others.

How This Blog Works

Every week an attending Festival YA Author will be highlighted.  This means their books, topics and events will be focused on.

Also, every week we will have a "Poet of the Week" where aspiring poets will have the opportunity to have their poetry works published.  

More information on both weekly events will be given shortly.

Most importantly, this Blog is a place to share your thoughts, ideas, questions, and passion for books and the written word.

Make sure to come back tomorrow to see a full schedule of what is to come on

Tucson's Teens Read

You can send all questions to the Teen Committee at teensread@tucsonfestivalofbooks.org