Scan barcode
mjayl's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
tyrannosaurus_reads's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
academianut's review
4.0
Strong writing, gripping
I wasn't expecting to like a book based on a kids ' horror game, but I wanted to understand what my students were so excited about when they talked about the game and this drew me in. The writing is so well done, the characters' full dynamic range of emotions and the uncertainty and fear not just of a spooky plot, but of the realities of life as a middle schooler - Nick is unsure of himself, lonely, worried about making friends as his family moves constantly, feeling lonely, but at the same time he's funny, enjoying fast jokes and misadventures with his new best friend, smart, figuring out lock picking and gadgets with ease, and a true friend to his troubled neighbor Aaron, determined to investigate what's wrong no matter how confusing everything gets. There's a lot of nuance in this book, a lot to explore. The end is a cliffhanger, and I can't help myself - I want to read more!
I wasn't expecting to like a book based on a kids ' horror game, but I wanted to understand what my students were so excited about when they talked about the game and this drew me in. The writing is so well done, the characters' full dynamic range of emotions and the uncertainty and fear not just of a spooky plot, but of the realities of life as a middle schooler - Nick is unsure of himself, lonely, worried about making friends as his family moves constantly, feeling lonely, but at the same time he's funny, enjoying fast jokes and misadventures with his new best friend, smart, figuring out lock picking and gadgets with ease, and a true friend to his troubled neighbor Aaron, determined to investigate what's wrong no matter how confusing everything gets. There's a lot of nuance in this book, a lot to explore. The end is a cliffhanger, and I can't help myself - I want to read more!
missknown's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
When Hello Neighbor was in development there was a lot of theorizing about the story of the game. In each version, the developers released more confusing and exciting the story was becoming. I got disappointed when they released the final version and there wasn't exactly a big story to tell. All that excitement and theories were over and I was kind of sad. Discovering this book was to bring back all those Youtube videos I've watched but this time there was a full story, some sort of explanation to all that crazy story the game have throughout the different stages of development.
The only thing I was concerned about was how much it would diverge from the actual game but since this is a prequel there isn't much that can be "wrong". And for me, this book got everything right.
The atmosphere was as creepy as the game, Nicky's dreams were like in the game, and the locks, the basement door, the labyrinth house, the golden apple... IT. WAS. AMAZING! I loved this experience! I was reading about two characters I already knew about how everything started. How they got to know each other and most importantly, what secrets Mr Peterson hides? I just want to get to the answers!!
This is only the first book in a series that I'll be continuing for sure. My brain decided to give up right now, and I don't know what to make of anything I read. I don't know how dark the story might get (since it's a middle-grade book), how serious it's going to get or if the Neighbor will turn out to be "good" after all. I'm confusion!
If you also are a fellow gamer and loved all the theories about Hello Neighbor give this book a try because the story is just getting juicier by the minute. I know it's a MG book but the story is so awesome.
I really need to buy the next one.
The only thing I was concerned about was how much it would diverge from the actual game but since this is a prequel there isn't much that can be "wrong". And for me, this book got everything right.
The atmosphere was as creepy as the game, Nicky's dreams were like in the game, and the locks, the basement door, the labyrinth house, the golden apple... IT. WAS. AMAZING! I loved this experience! I was reading about two characters I already knew about how everything started. How they got to know each other and most importantly, what secrets Mr Peterson hides? I just want to get to the answers!!
This is only the first book in a series that I'll be continuing for sure. My brain decided to give up right now, and I don't know what to make of anything I read. I don't know how dark the story might get (since it's a middle-grade book), how serious it's going to get or if the Neighbor will turn out to be "good" after all. I'm confusion!
If you also are a fellow gamer and loved all the theories about Hello Neighbor give this book a try because the story is just getting juicier by the minute. I know it's a MG book but the story is so awesome.
I really need to buy the next one.
suspensethrill's review
5.0
This was so good? Definitely the best middle grade mystery I've ever read. I was so engrossed that the remaining copies in the series on en route to my house as we speak! Creepy, yet age appropriate, and highly recommended from my family!
iceangel9's review
3.0
i got this book free from Librofm. The first realistic fiction installment in the Hello Neighbor series - based on the children's video game. Nick is 12; his father is a newspaper publisher and his mother is a university professor. They move to a new town when Nick's father gets a new job at the local paper. Nick meets the strange family across the street, the Peterson's. Their son Aaron seems to be just the friend Nick needs right now, but Aaron's mother and sister are a little strange and his father is down right scary. "The Burbs" for kids. A cute children's book for young readers.
More...