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samantha_randolph's review against another edition
4.0
After reading Justina Ireland's YA, Dread Nation, which has a solid amount of scare, I was ecstatic to pick up her latest MG, Scream Site. There has been a micro-trend of horror MG lately, and this is absolutely up my alley.
Sabrina Sebastian dreams of being an investigative reporter and knows the right internship can help her become one. While she struggles to pick just the right story for her application, her best friend suggests she write about the Scream Site disappearances. Scream Site is a place people can post homemade scary videos, and the best, most successful videos could mean serious attention for the videographer and actors. When Sabrina looks through some of the most popular videos, she notices a few specific ones that seem just a little too real...and when the stars of those videos aren't heard from for days, eventually including her sister, she knows something dark is afoot.
While the biggest twists of the plot weren't as surprising as they could have been, the atmosphere makes this book a quick and exciting read. Even when I had strong guesses about what would happen next, the writing and characters, especially Sabrina, had me fully invested. Though Sabrina (understandably) scares easily, she is nonetheless brave and dedicated to finding her sister, making her easily relatable. I loved the depiction of her and Faith's relationship beyond the Scream Site as well. They used to be close, but they have drifted apart, and Sabrina doesn't quite understand why. I enjoyed their development immensely.
All in all, Scream Site is a fun thriller with heaps of heart.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfiction/23785-scream-site
Sabrina Sebastian dreams of being an investigative reporter and knows the right internship can help her become one. While she struggles to pick just the right story for her application, her best friend suggests she write about the Scream Site disappearances. Scream Site is a place people can post homemade scary videos, and the best, most successful videos could mean serious attention for the videographer and actors. When Sabrina looks through some of the most popular videos, she notices a few specific ones that seem just a little too real...and when the stars of those videos aren't heard from for days, eventually including her sister, she knows something dark is afoot.
While the biggest twists of the plot weren't as surprising as they could have been, the atmosphere makes this book a quick and exciting read. Even when I had strong guesses about what would happen next, the writing and characters, especially Sabrina, had me fully invested. Though Sabrina (understandably) scares easily, she is nonetheless brave and dedicated to finding her sister, making her easily relatable. I loved the depiction of her and Faith's relationship beyond the Scream Site as well. They used to be close, but they have drifted apart, and Sabrina doesn't quite understand why. I enjoyed their development immensely.
All in all, Scream Site is a fun thriller with heaps of heart.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfiction/23785-scream-site
bookishgeek's review against another edition
3.0
Take two parts Blair Witch Project, and mix it with one part "nobody believes me, I'm just a kid" trope; mix in a rocks glass, salt the rim, and what we have here is Justina Ireland's Scream Site.
Rating:
How I'd Describe This Book to a Friend
Our main star of this little mysterious ditty is Sabrina Sebastian, a high school freshman who wants more than anything in the world to become an investigative journalist. Sabrina lost her father almost a year ago, and is coping with that loss. Combined with her overprotective nurse mom who is always working long hours and an older sister named Faith who plays the traditional role of "older sister" and can't stand 95% of what Sabrina does, we have a fairly bog standard recipe for impending doom.
Honorable mention goes to Sabrina's best friend Evelyn, who bucks all gender norms and stereotypes of her Asian upbringing and spends all of her free time when not working at her grandparents' grocery store dying her hair, eating pizza, and trying to figure out how to get the school's requisite hottie - Asher - to notice her. Evelyn is a force to be reckoned with, and I appreciated her a lot.
Trouble begins when Sabrina decides to investigate this website that has recently popped up called Scream Site - a popular YouTube clone run by two famous horror film director brothers. Contestants upload homebrewed scary movies and short films - they are then rated, and presumably at some point the directors will take notice of who actually has a modicum of talent, and invite this person to come work with them. In an attempt to get into a prestigious journalism camp, Sabrina is eager to write an expose more intriguing than one questioning the composition of the taco meat at school - but then she hears a spicy rumor: girls are going missing. Girls that were once number one on the Scream Site board. Well, that beats the hell out of the taco meat paper ...
It takes off from there, Sabrina desperately trying to unravel the truth as it becomes more and more obvious to her that something is really going wrong here - unfortunately for her, she's a young kid and nobody really believes her. She races against time to try to put a stop to these kidnappings, and to bring these girls home.
The Bottom Line
I enjoyed this book. To its credit, I had no idea what the hell the answer was until near the end, and when it came out it was 50% "oh, what?!" and 50% "... seriously?" - it felt a bit hamfisted in its wrapping the story up in a neat little bow. If we didn't find out on the back summary panel that Sabrina's sister Faith was going to be kidnapped, that might have come as quite a shock to us and made it even more enjoyable! I actually did not read the summary panel, so I didn't know Faith was going to be taken from her family - that was a jolt I think that I needed, and if I had read the summary I wouldn't have received said jolt.
Sabrina's family is diverse and loving, if flawed. I enjoyed seeing a young woman of color as a main character in a book that does not focus solely on race - it's merely a backdrop, a conversation piece. Overall, Ireland's ride through Scream Site is an enjoyable one, and if you can suspend disbelief for its near-300 page jaunt, it is one worth taking.
(I received this ARC via NetGalley, but this in no way shapes my opinions and ratings).
Rating:
How I'd Describe This Book to a Friend
Our main star of this little mysterious ditty is Sabrina Sebastian, a high school freshman who wants more than anything in the world to become an investigative journalist. Sabrina lost her father almost a year ago, and is coping with that loss. Combined with her overprotective nurse mom who is always working long hours and an older sister named Faith who plays the traditional role of "older sister" and can't stand 95% of what Sabrina does, we have a fairly bog standard recipe for impending doom.
Honorable mention goes to Sabrina's best friend Evelyn, who bucks all gender norms and stereotypes of her Asian upbringing and spends all of her free time when not working at her grandparents' grocery store dying her hair, eating pizza, and trying to figure out how to get the school's requisite hottie - Asher - to notice her. Evelyn is a force to be reckoned with, and I appreciated her a lot.
Trouble begins when Sabrina decides to investigate this website that has recently popped up called Scream Site - a popular YouTube clone run by two famous horror film director brothers. Contestants upload homebrewed scary movies and short films - they are then rated, and presumably at some point the directors will take notice of who actually has a modicum of talent, and invite this person to come work with them. In an attempt to get into a prestigious journalism camp, Sabrina is eager to write an expose more intriguing than one questioning the composition of the taco meat at school - but then she hears a spicy rumor: girls are going missing. Girls that were once number one on the Scream Site board. Well, that beats the hell out of the taco meat paper ...
It takes off from there, Sabrina desperately trying to unravel the truth as it becomes more and more obvious to her that something is really going wrong here - unfortunately for her, she's a young kid and nobody really believes her. She races against time to try to put a stop to these kidnappings, and to bring these girls home.
The Bottom Line
I enjoyed this book. To its credit, I had no idea what the hell the answer was until near the end, and when it came out it was 50% "oh, what?!" and 50% "... seriously?" - it felt a bit hamfisted in its wrapping the story up in a neat little bow. If we didn't find out on the back summary panel that Sabrina's sister Faith was going to be kidnapped, that might have come as quite a shock to us and made it even more enjoyable! I actually did not read the summary panel, so I didn't know Faith was going to be taken from her family - that was a jolt I think that I needed, and if I had read the summary I wouldn't have received said jolt.
Sabrina's family is diverse and loving, if flawed. I enjoyed seeing a young woman of color as a main character in a book that does not focus solely on race - it's merely a backdrop, a conversation piece. Overall, Ireland's ride through Scream Site is an enjoyable one, and if you can suspend disbelief for its near-300 page jaunt, it is one worth taking.
(I received this ARC via NetGalley, but this in no way shapes my opinions and ratings).
jaydinrainn77's review against another edition
2.0
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows a young girl named Sabrina, who is working on her next big story to score an internship with a popular newspaper, as well as an article for her school newspaper. She stumbles across a website, Scream Site, where users post their home made videos to compete for money.
After reading the synopsis, this book sounded very interesting and unique. I sped read through the first half of the book, only to come to a screeching halt at the end. The ending to this story was rushed and messy. I would have like this book to be a true horror story; instead of the ending the way it was (I won't give away spoilers).
I also was pretty unimpressed that it took so long for Sabrina to figure out where the missing girls were, despite having several clues. Also, the part of the English teacher/newspaper editor was weird and the book probably didn't need.
Overall, while I did enjoy this read, I would probably not recommend it to friends.
This book follows a young girl named Sabrina, who is working on her next big story to score an internship with a popular newspaper, as well as an article for her school newspaper. She stumbles across a website, Scream Site, where users post their home made videos to compete for money.
After reading the synopsis, this book sounded very interesting and unique. I sped read through the first half of the book, only to come to a screeching halt at the end. The ending to this story was rushed and messy. I would have like this book to be a true horror story; instead of the ending the way it was (I won't give away spoilers).
I also was pretty unimpressed that it took so long for Sabrina to figure out where the missing girls were, despite having several clues. Also, the part of the English teacher/newspaper editor was weird and the book probably didn't need.
Overall, while I did enjoy this read, I would probably not recommend it to friends.
astraeal's review against another edition
2.0
The concept of this book was really interesting (it was why I wanted to read it) but the story itself was just... Not that great. I couldn't really get into the story, or care for the main character. For most of the book, Sabrina is always thinking about writing her story for the newspaper even though she researches about missing girls. I know she's only 14 but a case of missing girls should be more important than the story it can be written about it after.
And the whole thing doesn't really make sense. I mean, how wasn't the police investigating more? Even when Sabrina talked with her uncle, a cop, it just "oh well, thank you for telling me, nothing I can do about it". And when the menace around her gets very real, she doesn't tell anybody?? I didn't understand her. At all.
The end felt rushed and it was kind of disappointing.
But the thing I really liked in this book was Sabrina's relationship with her mom and sister. They're not the closest ever, but they're loving, and it shows.
And the whole thing doesn't really make sense. I mean, how wasn't the police investigating more? Even when Sabrina talked with her uncle, a cop, it just "oh well, thank you for telling me, nothing I can do about it". And when the menace around her gets very real, she doesn't tell anybody?? I didn't understand her. At all.
The end felt rushed and it was kind of disappointing.
But the thing I really liked in this book was Sabrina's relationship with her mom and sister. They're not the closest ever, but they're loving, and it shows.
ayyymonie's review against another edition
2.0
This cover really got me and the idea was really interesting so I thought 'why not?' I could tell from the first chapter that I wasn't vibing with the book but it's spooky season and I wanted to give it a chance. So, I finished and -sigh- it was okay. It wasn't scary or really creepy and it was predictable. So, eh.
kamjam's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
nefeli's review against another edition
3.0
Fun, but I'm not sure I'd recommend it to anyone older than 15 years old.
Also, can we find the person who wrote the blurb for this and get them fired? Because there is a huge spoiler there. It mentions an event () that one would logically assume happens fairly early in the book but no, it happens on page 223 out of 261. This isn't Ireland's fault, of course. But I really hate spoiler-y book blurbs and movie trailers.
Also, can we find the person who wrote the blurb for this and get them fired? Because there is a huge spoiler there. It mentions an event (
Spoiler
Faith's disappearencealannajaye's review against another edition
2.0
I found Scream Site to be very lackluster. In the synopsis, it tells you Sabrina's sister gets kidnapped, but that doesn't happen until the story is almost finished. So that automatically makes it a spoiler. Faith didn't even go missing until after 200 pages. That's at like 80%. There is nothing more annoying in a mystery/thriller when the synopsis says this person goes missing or is kidnapped, and that doesn't even happen until you are almost done.
Don't even get me started on the resolution. I want to say I skimmed at least 50% of it because, at this point, I'm over the entire story. The person who was behind everything was so predictable. The book tried to push you towards another character, and from the jump, you know it isn't them. I've been told I have an analytical mind, so I could've come across this conclusion more than others might have. But I feel if you read a lot of YA thrillers, then you'll be able to figure it out yourself.
I feel like the book tried to introduce topics of grieving a father and building a stronger relationship with a sibling, but those weren't fulfilled at all. The book would be stronger if it had more time to develop those themes.
I decided to give this book a two-star because I was just left with feelings of disappointment rather than hatred over the things happening.
Don't even get me started on the resolution. I want to say I skimmed at least 50% of it because, at this point, I'm over the entire story. The person who was behind everything was so predictable. The book tried to push you towards another character, and from the jump, you know it isn't them.
Spoiler
There is only one factor in common with every element, and that is Funland. That leaves the owner. I was so sure because halfway through, there was no mention of him.I feel like the book tried to introduce topics of grieving a father and building a stronger relationship with a sibling, but those weren't fulfilled at all. The book would be stronger if it had more time to develop those themes.
I decided to give this book a two-star because I was just left with feelings of disappointment rather than hatred over the things happening.
fizah's review against another edition
3.0
Description of the book sounds different than the book. The story around Sabrina, 14 who is working on her story for the internship when she found out about Scream site and uncovered some horrible things behind it.
If I talk about story only story, the concept was good and interesting, the mystery was well kept and the pace was good, but writing style didn’t impress me after 50 pages I skim read it, and I am happy I did instead of DNFing it. I lost my counting how many times Sabrina’s name was used it was irritating, some other things were so repeated like how little is sabrina she is just a kid…and after her father died before his father died, I couldn’t say why it was so important to clear it again and again…Sabrina’s mother is irritating, how a mother can’t believe her daughter….The ending was too quick and could be better…Most of the people were silly and heartless.
I don’t get when every character is named in the book even if it gets a little part in the story…I am not a fan of naming every character.
If I talk about story only story, the concept was good and interesting, the mystery was well kept and the pace was good, but writing style didn’t impress me after 50 pages I skim read it, and I am happy I did instead of DNFing it. I lost my counting how many times Sabrina’s name was used it was irritating, some other things were so repeated like how little is sabrina she is just a kid…and after her father died before his father died, I couldn’t say why it was so important to clear it again and again…Sabrina’s mother is irritating, how a mother can’t believe her daughter….The ending was too quick and could be better…Most of the people were silly and heartless.
I don’t get when every character is named in the book even if it gets a little part in the story…I am not a fan of naming every character.
tahlz's review against another edition
3.0
Scream Site is a horror-style Youtube site where users battle it out to get to the top - based on the scare factor of their videos.
Interestingly enough, Sabrina's town has experienced a few missing persons since the site was established. Are the videos posted on the site just for fun or are they actually cries for help?
Sabrina decides to investigate the site and write an article about it for her college application. Note - Sabrina is 14 and I have many qualms about this but it does add to the "I'm a kid, noone will believe me!!" trait. Yeah.
I did enjoy this book but SPOILERS!!! i hated the ending and how everything wrapped up. So disappointing.
But, worth the read.
This book would make for a great B-Grade teenage horror flick.
Interestingly enough, Sabrina's town has experienced a few missing persons since the site was established. Are the videos posted on the site just for fun or are they actually cries for help?
Sabrina decides to investigate the site and write an article about it for her college application. Note - Sabrina is 14 and I have many qualms about this but it does add to the "I'm a kid, noone will believe me!!" trait. Yeah.
I did enjoy this book but SPOILERS!!! i hated the ending and how everything wrapped up. So disappointing.
But, worth the read.
This book would make for a great B-Grade teenage horror flick.