Welcome To The Dark House

Original author: Laurie Faria Stolarz
Welcome to the Dark House

SYNOPSIS:
What’s your worst nightmare?

For Ivy Jensen, it’s the eyes of a killer that haunt her nights. For Parker Bradley, it’s bloodthirsty sea serpents that slither in his dreams.

And for seven essay contestants, it’s their worst nightmares that win them an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at director Justin Blake’s latest, confidential project. Ivy doesn’t even like scary movies, but she’s ready to face her real-world fears. Parker’s sympathetic words and perfect smile help keep her spirits up. . . at least for now.

Not everyone is so charming, though. Horror-film fanatic Garth Vader wants to stir up trouble. It’s bad enough he has to stay in the middle of nowhere with this group—the girl who locks herself in her room; the know-it-all roommate; “Mister Sensitive”; and the one who’s too cheery for her own good. Someone has to make things interesting.

Except, things are already a little weird. The hostess is a serial-killer look-alike, the dream-stealing Nightmare Elf is lurking about, and the seventh member of the group is missing.

By the time Ivy and Parker realize what’s really at stake, it’s too late to wake up and run.

WHY SHOULD YOU CHECK IT OUT?
If you’ve read the mid-grade tale ONE DAY AT HORRORLAND by R.L. Stine (who’s getting a movie, btw, with Jack Black starring as the horror novelist), then you know where this one is going just by looking at it: no where good for the teens inside! We appreciate the nod to Freddy Krueger in the “Nightmare Elf”, and hope that it does him justice, as his are pretty big dream-deaths to fill.

The title looks almost as though it were scraped into a wall by one of the victims–until you see that behind it is a carousel and a lone figure approaching the ride. Which, frankly, makes it even creepier. The light is on, because it’s night, but no one else is around… so why do those horses look ready to take someone for a midnight ride? It evokes SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES chills.

Author Laurie Faria Stolarz is probably on your shelf already! She is the genius behind the Blue is for Nightmares series and the recently wrapped-up Touch series.

EARLY REVIEWS SAY…
The suspense starts pounding when the teens enter the park and doesn’t stop until readers are ready for the sequel. Stephen King would love it. (Kirkus Reviews)

A fun, scary ride. … [A] wonderfully eerie story, one that will appeal to readers looking to graduate from R. L. Stine. (School Library Journal)

NECESSARY DETAILS
YA Horror
Hardcover & ebook, 368 pages
Published on July 22nd 2014 by Disney-Hyperion (ISBN 1423181727) 


 

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