Give Me a K-I-L-L

March 1, 2017

Gr 7 Up-Gretchen Page has just transferred to Shadyside High School. Seeking a fresh start after her parents' recent divorce but missing her best friend, Gretchen finds it hard to make friends. The cocaptain of the cheerleader squad at her former school, Gretchen is looking forward to trying out for a spot on the Shadyside team and hopefully befriending the squad members in the process. Unfortunately, Devra Dalby, last year's cheerleading alternate, also has her eye on the open place in the group. And when the two girls go head-to-head, Gretchen realizes that Devra may be much more than the rich, spoiled high school girl she seems-she may even be deadly. A new book in Stine's revival of the "Fear Street" series, this murder mystery is told from Gretchen's point of view; the third-person narration sometimes calls into question the reliability of the protagonist, especially when it presents the reactions of secondary characters, such as Gretchen's mother and Devra. While this is not as layered as many modern young adult works, rapid twists and turns in the plot will keep teens guessing, and generous foreshadowing and suspense will have them on the edge of their seats. VERDICT With more violence and sexual tension than in the original series, as well as a classic Stine ending, this is a worthy addition to the chronicles of the Shadyside cheerleaders, for new readers and longtime lovers alike.-Maggie Mason Smith, Clemson University, SC

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2017
Grades 7-10 In this sixth entry in the rebooted Fear Street series, troubled Gretchen's transfer to Shadyside High instigates a fierce competition for the last spot on the cheerleading squad. Gretchen was a star cheerleader at her old school, but spoiled rival Devra is equally determined to secure the open spot. The competition is, in a word, fierce: one student is doused in flaming kerosene, while another's throat is eaten away by acid. Though Devra eventually wins, thanks to pressure applied by her wealthy donor dad, threatening texts and outright sabotage convince Gretchen that she is out for revenge. But how to prove it? Along with the aforementioned atrocities, this features sudden grabs and screams, some borderline bad boyfriend behavior, ghostly knocking, phone calls with the dead, and other discomfiting elements. The finale comes complete with flashing knives at a country retreat for cheerleaders, and (predictably) madness and villainy flying in from unexpected quarters. Another reliable chiller from the king of formula horror.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2018
When Gretchen moves to a new school, her unwitting rivalry with another cheerleader quickly turns sinister, as dangerous--and ultimately deadly--pranks start to dog the team. Many red herrings and sudden twists (including revelations about Gretchen's past that undermine her narrative reliability) keep the pace taut, but readers will likely have difficulty investing in the thinly drawn, typecast characters.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)