Welcome to the Dark House - Softcover

Laurie Faria Stolarz is the author of the Touch series, as well as Project 17; Bleed; and the highly popular Blue Is for Nightmares; White Is for Magic; Silver Is for Secrets; Red Is for Remembrance; and Black Is for Beginnings. Born and raised in Salem, Massachusetts, Stolarz attended Merrimack College and received an MFA in creative writing from Emerson College in Boston. For more information, please visit her Web site at www.LaurieStolarz.com.

Gr 6–9—A fun, scary ride. Readers are introduced to seven teen "superfans" of the horror film director, Justin Blake. They have all won tickets to meet the director and preview his new film, and as if that isn't enough, all of their expenses are included. The teens are also promised "special fun" based on the nightmares that they submitted as their entries to the contest. Once they arrive, they find that all of Justin Blake's horror films are being reenacted; especially the Nightmare Elf (a Freddie Krueger—esque character who forces victims to live their worst nightmares). Pretty quickly, creepy things begin to happen, and the teens start to disappear one by one. Stolarz writes a wonderfully eerie story, one that will appeal to readers looking to graduate from R. L. Stine. The characters are nicely drawn, and the plot is a great big campy mix of "don't go in there!" anxiety, alternating with groans of reluctant laughter as comic relief is interspersed. The unreliable narrative, which switches between six of the seven viewpoints, makes readers as confused as the protagonists, but it works. Savvy readers will pick up on the clues much faster than the characters, but won't be able to stop until the final page. Unfortunately, the ending is a bit rushed and without a completely satisfying resolution. Still, this title will have huge teen appeal and is terrifying enough without being overly bloodthirsty. Perfect for middle schoolers looking for a quick, thrilling read.—Saleena L. Davidson, South Brunswick Public Library, Monmouth Junction, NJ