Book Review: Dear Pen Pal (The Mother-Daughter Book Club, #3) by Heather Vogel Frederick

-
Image
Dear Pen Pal (The Mother-Daughter Book Club, #3)  by Heather Vogel Frederick  is the third book in a middle grade book series that is being rereleased. Chaos erupts in this third installment as the daughters in the book club get themselves into trouble. Each of the girls have big changes in their lives:  Jess is going to boarding school; Megan's grandmother comes to live with her; Emma starts a campaign against school uniforms; Cassidy has a lot of unexpected change coming to her family. Will the mother daughter book club stay together? I'd like to thank NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Dear Pen Pal  by Heather Vogel Frederick with it's upcoming rerelease to the public. I always love a good book that involves books, even if its target audience is children between the ages of eight and twelve. It wasn't until I reached the end of the book that I realized that it...
Post a Comment

Book Review: The Photographer by Barbara Steiner

-
Vintage YA Horror Novel The Photographer by Barbara Steiner
The Photographer by Barbara Steiner is a Young Adult horror novel that was originally published in 1989 and follows a new student named Derrick who joins the school photography club and the student newspaper. Megan, who is already a member of both groups, begins having unsettling and vivid dreams shortly after Derrick arrives. As Derrick starts taking photographs of the prettiest girls in school for the newspaper, Megan realizes that her disturbing dreams are beginning to come true. As events escalate, she becomes convinced that Derrick is somehow connected and feels compelled to prove that he is responsible before more damage is done.

On Friday, September 13, 2024, I was in the mood for a short, spooky book and came across The Photographer while researching other books written by Barbara Steiner. It immediately caught my attention, and I decided to give it a try. It definitely delivered the eerie atmosphere I was hoping for and made for a quick and creepy read that fit the season perfectly.

Different Editions of The Photographer by Barbara Steiner
As I continued reading, the story started to feel very familiar, leading me to believe that I may have read The Photographer before. The book blends horror with light science fiction elements, which adds an interesting layer to the overall story. It truly feels like a classic example of 1980s YA Horror, complete with teenage angst, supernatural undertones, and a sense of creeping dread that slowly builds throughout the novel.

That being said, I did find myself a bit disappointed with the overall execution of the story. I went in expecting more, especially since I remember really enjoying another book by Barbara Steiner in the past. While the premise is intriguing and the nostalgic 1980s vibe is strong, the story did not fully live up to my expectations. I ultimately rated The Photographer by Barbara Steiner three out of five stars. Despite my mixed feelings, I still think this YA horror novel would be an enjoyable read for kids ages 11 and up, particularly for readers who enjoy classic spooky stories with a vintage feel.

Follow The Running Bibliophile On Social Media

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Book Review: The Dare by Natasha Preston

-
Image
The Dare by Natasha Preston is a young adult horror novel centered on Marley and her friends Atlas, Lucia, and Jesse, all seniors in high school. What begins as harmless, lighthearted senior pranks quickly takes a dark turn when Rhett starts assigning dares that are far more serious and dangerous. As the stakes rise, the question becomes whether Marley and her friends will survive the consequences of playing along. A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced readers copy of The Dare by Natasha Preston. The last book I read by this author was well written and engaging, so I was excited to dive into her latest young adult horror story. From the start, the novel feels reminiscent of R.L. Stine’s Fear Street series, which instantly brought back a wave of childhood nostalgia. Unfortunately, that initial excitement didn’t last. Before long, the plot shifts into territory that felt eerily similar to the movie I Know What You Did Last Summer . At that point, my interest started ...
Read more

Book Review: The Writer by James Patterson and J.D. Barker

-
Image
The Writer by James Patterson and J.D. Barker  was published on March 17, 2025. It opens with Detective Declan Shaw at a closed subway station trying to work up the nerve to commit suicide when he receives a call from his partner about a break in and homicide at the home of a true crime author. Shaw makes his way to the crime scene to work the case, and in a turn of events, Declan comes under scrutiny in another case loosely connected to this new case. I received an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Writer  from NetGalley and Little , Brown, and Company for free in exchange for my honest review. I'm appreciative that my request for this book was approved. With this story opening with the main character trying to commit suicide, I almost didn't go any further with the book. However, I am glad I stuck with it as it took me on a fantastic ride and had my emotions all over the place. There were so many twists and turns that just when I thought I had it all figured out, there was ...
Read more

Book Review: Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum, #30) by Janet Evanovich

-
Image
Book Review: Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum, #30) by Janet Evanovich Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum, #30) by Janet Evanovich is the latest installment in the long-running and beloved Stephanie Plum series, and it opens with Joe Morelli asking Stephanie to dog-sit his famously quirky dog, Bob, while he’s out of town testifying at a trial. As expected, things quickly spiral into chaos when Stephanie has to bring Bob along while attempting to apprehend her usual lineup of FTAs. Between chasing fugitives, dodging danger, and juggling her complicated personal life, Stephanie also finds herself seriously questioning whether marriage is something she truly wants. Each book in the Stephanie Plum series tends to follow a familiar and comforting formula, with everything wrapped up in a neat, tidy bow by the end. That predictability is actually one of the main reasons I keep coming back to these books. I always know Stephanie will get herself into trouble, Ranger or Morelli will step in to help,...
Read more