Book Review: Missing Since Monday by Ann M. Martin

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Missing Since Monday by Ann M. Martin follows Maggie and her older brother when their father and stepmother leave on a long-delayed honeymoon, trusting the siblings to care for their four-year-old half sister, Courtenay. When Courtenay fails to come home from daycare one Monday afternoon, Maggie and her brother are thrust into a frightening mystery. With no adults around to help, they must piece together what happened and find a way to alert their parents before it’s too late. This standalone novel for readers ages eight to twelve was one I completely missed as a kid, but as an adult and a longtime fan of Ann M. Martin’s The Baby-Sitters Club  series, I couldn’t resist picking it up. The first chapter or two felt a bit choppy to me at first, but once the story found its footing, everything began to come together nicely . Because this is a short children’s book, the characters aren’t deeply developed, which is to be expected. That said, Martin does an excellent job conveying Maggie’...
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Book Review: April Fools by Richie Tankersley Cusick

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young adult point horror book review april fools by richie tankersley cusick

April Fools by Richie Tankersley Cusick tells a story about three friends - Belinda, Hildy, and Frank - who attend an out of town party that none of them were supposed to be at. On their way home, they are involved in a horrific car accident. They leave the scene and vow never to speak of it again, but then, Belinda starts receiving disturbing pranks, and she is on a mission to find out who is the culprit.

This is another book I decided to read on my way rediscovery of my childhood. April Fools is one of the first books I read by Richie Tankersley Cusick and was one of the reasons she was my go to author for young adult horror novels. In rereading this novel as an adult, it has stood the test of time and should be a must read for any kid who loves books in the horror genre. The only references that they may not completely get is the mention of a tape deck in the car and a facsimile, or fax for short. And, although this book falls into the horror genre, it does have some romance elements to it. Don't worry though; it's all very chaste.

I know my middle school self didn't guess who was behind all the pranks and remember being blown away by the ending. Even though I remembered most of the storyline before I reread the novel as an adult, it still gave me the creepy crawlies, which goes to tell you how talented Richie Tankersley Cusick is as an author. I loved the fact that there were twists and turns throughout the book to keep the reader guessing.

The character development is what is to be expected for young adult books of the time better. Some of roles are more developed than others, but it doesn't take away from the story. I definitely could relate to some of the characters and became attached to some of them. Others, I couldn't stand.

I gave April Fools by Richie Tankersley Cusick five out five stars and definitely recommend it to all horror fans and is the perfect read for April Fool's Day. If you enjoyed this book, I'd recommend Temptation (Secret Diaries, #1) by Janice Harrell.

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