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clindberg157's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
modernzorker's review against another edition
3.0
Maggie Travers is having a rough life, no two ways about it: her father's death has left a hole in the family that neither her mother nor her colossally bitchy, I-am-actively-rooting-for-your-demise-as-a-reader sister Andrea can fill. Worse still, after his stroke, the family was no longer able to afford their old home. Budget cuts, as it were. They got a great deal on a house though. 23 Fear Street sold for a song. The previous owners took everything with them, of course. Everything but a beautiful canopy bed which just so happens to be in the bedroom Maggie requested.
It's a gorgeous antique, worth at least a thousand dollars (those are 1994 dollars, so you know you're talking real money today). The mattress is incredible. The pink canopy is perfect, promising a calm and restful sleep for anyone stretched out beneath it. That's a good thing, because Maggie's on the swim team and she's going to need all the rest she can get to make sure she has enough energy to compete in the All-State swimming championships coming up soon. Mrs. Travers has no idea why anyone would leave such a remarkable piece of furniture behind, but maybe it's a sign their luck is about to change.
The nightmares Maggie has while sleeping in it, however, tell a different story. Every night it's the same dream: a young blonde girl, tangled up in the sheets, head slammed against the solid wooden headboard, stabbed over and over again. Maggie always awakens with a scream, gasping for breath, before the dream ends, but now she's seeing things: a ghostly figure who appears out of the corner of her eye. But is this apparition a menace or a warning?
Slowly but surely, Maggie's convinced she's losing her mind. Her best friend and closest competitor on the swim team is roughly pushed down the school stairs, falling hard and breaking her arm. Another team mate, and rival for one of two positions at the All-State championships is stabbed after practice one day. Their injuries have insured Andrea a place right beside her sister at the big meet. Could Maggie's younger sibling be behind all this, or are too many sleepless nights taking their toll on her sanity? One thing's for sure...if Maggie doesn't solve the mystery soon, she may enter her own nightmare from which she can never awaken.
Up until the ending reveal, this book was well on its way to a solid five stars. It's got great atmosphere, a protagonist who you can't help but feel sorry for, a terrifying premise, and any number of plausible scenarios that could explain what's causing all the bad luck in Maggie's life. Since this is Fear Street, you have to suspect the supernatural as well, and I'm OK with that even if I think it can be a cop-out Stine used when he wrote himself into a corner. I prefer when Stine comes up with a mundane explanation that fits all the evidence he's laid out so far, but despite this being what he delivers with Bad Dreams, I found it terribly unsatisfying. I'm talking to the point where I wish he'd stuck with something supernatural. It's that disappointing. There were other plausible explanations he could have gone with I would have accepted as well without batting an eyelash, but I'm sorry, the ending of Bad Dreams is the cop-out to end all cop-outs. I'm open-minded as a reader, so if I'm calling B.S. on a plot twist, it has to be for a reason. No spoilers, but man, talk about a disappointment. This isn't like "The Overnight" where the whole thing seems average from the get-go, this is some next-level pain Stine laid on me with this one.
That hurt, Bob. That really hurt. Promise me you won't do it again?
It's a gorgeous antique, worth at least a thousand dollars (those are 1994 dollars, so you know you're talking real money today). The mattress is incredible. The pink canopy is perfect, promising a calm and restful sleep for anyone stretched out beneath it. That's a good thing, because Maggie's on the swim team and she's going to need all the rest she can get to make sure she has enough energy to compete in the All-State swimming championships coming up soon. Mrs. Travers has no idea why anyone would leave such a remarkable piece of furniture behind, but maybe it's a sign their luck is about to change.
The nightmares Maggie has while sleeping in it, however, tell a different story. Every night it's the same dream: a young blonde girl, tangled up in the sheets, head slammed against the solid wooden headboard, stabbed over and over again. Maggie always awakens with a scream, gasping for breath, before the dream ends, but now she's seeing things: a ghostly figure who appears out of the corner of her eye. But is this apparition a menace or a warning?
Slowly but surely, Maggie's convinced she's losing her mind. Her best friend and closest competitor on the swim team is roughly pushed down the school stairs, falling hard and breaking her arm. Another team mate, and rival for one of two positions at the All-State championships is stabbed after practice one day. Their injuries have insured Andrea a place right beside her sister at the big meet. Could Maggie's younger sibling be behind all this, or are too many sleepless nights taking their toll on her sanity? One thing's for sure...if Maggie doesn't solve the mystery soon, she may enter her own nightmare from which she can never awaken.
Up until the ending reveal, this book was well on its way to a solid five stars. It's got great atmosphere, a protagonist who you can't help but feel sorry for, a terrifying premise, and any number of plausible scenarios that could explain what's causing all the bad luck in Maggie's life. Since this is Fear Street, you have to suspect the supernatural as well, and I'm OK with that even if I think it can be a cop-out Stine used when he wrote himself into a corner. I prefer when Stine comes up with a mundane explanation that fits all the evidence he's laid out so far, but despite this being what he delivers with Bad Dreams, I found it terribly unsatisfying. I'm talking to the point where I wish he'd stuck with something supernatural. It's that disappointing. There were other plausible explanations he could have gone with I would have accepted as well without batting an eyelash, but I'm sorry, the ending of Bad Dreams is the cop-out to end all cop-outs. I'm open-minded as a reader, so if I'm calling B.S. on a plot twist, it has to be for a reason. No spoilers, but man, talk about a disappointment. This isn't like "The Overnight" where the whole thing seems average from the get-go, this is some next-level pain Stine laid on me with this one.
That hurt, Bob. That really hurt. Promise me you won't do it again?
situationnormal's review against another edition
3.0
This one was a *teensy* bit infuriating because the teens have such dumb arguments and I wasn't quite convinced of the conclusion--but it was a lot of fun.
tablife's review against another edition
3.0
After moving to a new house, Maggie seems to be haunted by a girl who had died in her bed. I was hoping for another supernatural Fear Street book (of which there have been surprisingly few so far), but this one leaves it somewhat ambiguous as to what was causing her bad dreams.
stukie's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
onlyfictionsworld's review against another edition
2.0
Despite my love of fear street, I found this book to be slow and not exceptionally exciting. The book mostly revolved around the girl’s bad dreams.
The only enjoyable part of the book was the end, where almost all the action took place. The book's conclusion explained the friends' injuries and Andrea's gain.
The story needed more events, not just at the end. There was a touch of supernatural in the air. Her dream literally had her running through a cave out of nowhere... This book is pointless and boring. Stine did not fully exploit the potential of the bad dream. The book had little horror or excitement, as it was mostly about her swimming and fighting with her sister. The antagonist's motive was also unclear.
There is nothing special about the Bad Dream. The book has certain parts that can make you so annoyed that you may want to kill Andrea. Do I suggest it? No, not really.
The only enjoyable part of the book was the end, where almost all the action took place. The book's conclusion explained the friends' injuries and Andrea's gain.
The story needed more events, not just at the end. There was a touch of supernatural in the air. Her dream literally had her running through a cave out of nowhere... This book is pointless and boring. Stine did not fully exploit the potential of the bad dream. The book had little horror or excitement, as it was mostly about her swimming and fighting with her sister. The antagonist's motive was also unclear.
There is nothing special about the Bad Dream. The book has certain parts that can make you so annoyed that you may want to kill Andrea. Do I suggest it? No, not really.
jadedyogi's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I am on a journey to re-read Fear Street books now as an adult who learn to retain her dyslexia. On a journey to truly enjoy book I deeply wanted to as a kid.
I really enjoyed this quick read. It was spooky, yet had the best twist.
I really enjoyed this quick read. It was spooky, yet had the best twist.