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A review by manwithanagenda
What Holly Heard by R.L. Stine
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-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 # 58
This week, on a Very Special Episode of Fear Street....
Holly Silva is the Gossip Queen of Shadyside High. She always seems to overhear the juiciest bits of information and shares it with her two best friends Miriam Maryles and Ruth Carver. Lately, however, she's been going after a certain story for personal reasons. She has a big crush on bad-boy Noah Brennan, but he's already dating Mei Kamata. Rumor has it that Mei's parents are pressuring Mei to give up her boyfriend. Holly hears that Mei will do whatever it takes to get her parents off of her case about Noah....Anything. Meanwhile, Miriam is having problems with her boyfriend Jed Holman. He's become moody and secretive and he's becoming more and more violent. Holly says she's going to look into it, but, naturally, things escalate quickly.
This is a classic Fear Street whodunnit. An astute reader will figure out what's up right away with both storylines, but it is still fun to follow along as these kooky kids try to figure out which of their friends is a killer before they end up as the next victim. This would still put it at below average, but 'What Holly Heard' gets extra points for being the first Fear Street to deal with a "Very Special" problem that teens today are facing. The books have used beer and other alcohol to signal who the bad kids are, but they've never addressed alcoholism or any other substance abuse at all. Stine handles this issue with his usual level of sensitivity.
I should also warn you that the pets get it, again.
Fear Street in Publication Order
Next #59: 'Nightmare in 3-D', Ghosts of Fear Street #4
Previous #57: 'The New Year's Party', Super Chiller #9
This week, on a Very Special Episode of Fear Street....
Holly Silva is the Gossip Queen of Shadyside High. She always seems to overhear the juiciest bits of information and shares it with her two best friends Miriam Maryles and Ruth Carver. Lately, however, she's been going after a certain story for personal reasons. She has a big crush on bad-boy Noah Brennan, but he's already dating Mei Kamata. Rumor has it that Mei's parents are pressuring Mei to give up her boyfriend. Holly hears that Mei will do whatever it takes to get her parents off of her case about Noah....Anything. Meanwhile, Miriam is having problems with her boyfriend Jed Holman. He's become moody and secretive and he's becoming more and more violent. Holly says she's going to look into it, but, naturally, things escalate quickly.
This is a classic Fear Street whodunnit. An astute reader will figure out what's up right away with both storylines, but it is still fun to follow along as these kooky kids try to figure out which of their friends is a killer before they end up as the next victim. This would still put it at below average, but 'What Holly Heard' gets extra points for being the first Fear Street to deal with a "Very Special" problem that teens today are facing. The books have used beer and other alcohol to signal who the bad kids are, but they've never addressed alcoholism or any other substance abuse at all. Stine handles this issue with his usual level of sensitivity.
I should also warn you that the pets get it, again.
Fear Street in Publication Order
Next #59: 'Nightmare in 3-D', Ghosts of Fear Street #4
Previous #57: 'The New Year's Party', Super Chiller #9