Teachers Pet- Richie Tankersley Cusick
Publisher: Point Horror.
First Published in UK in 1991
Kate loves to be thrilled and is fascinated by horror. But she get more than she bargained for when she goes on a week-long writing conference. First, her teacher, William Drewe goes missing. Then someone tries to frighten her in the woods.
Another little flash back to my teens when I used to gobble up Point Horror novels quicker than an anteater swallows ants! This is a fairly typical one that I read in the earlier 90s originally but little sticks out in my mind about it. Re-reading all these years later, I was amused by the setting – a wooden camp near a lake surrounded by forest – perfect for isolation and screaming at shadows! Still, it’s not a bad story with a few twists and turns along the way. There are few red herrings which do make you wonder what is going on. The banter between Kate and her new friends is fun – I love Tawny’s innocence.
What I didn’t like was how every guy seems to fall for Kate straight away – she didn’t seem all that exciting or attractive. But then again this happens all the time in teen books where some unassuming teen manages to snare every guy in town…I guess my main complaint is that this story is not that original. It takes well worn horror tropes and uses them well, but I missed any originality. It’s not a long book – just over 200 pages and I managed to read it in one train journey. This is a light, fun thriller – perhaps more suited for pre-teens than teenagers.
Recommended for fans of Chris Priestly and Caroline B Cooney. 6 out of 10
The Book Vixen's YA of the 80s and 90s Reading Challenge Book 12/12
I loved Point Horror!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would want to read any of them again, just in case I discovered that they are actually very bad (like I did with Sweet Valley High).
You know that is true. I've seen beautiful teens who tend to get lots of guys, but not every guy or in the way it seems to be in books. *shrugs* Maybe that is a fantasy authors think we all share? lol
ReplyDeleteI love this challenge of yours. :)
Wow- blast from the past! I used to read Point Horror books all the time in the 90s! I now remember so few of them.
ReplyDeleteOh Mel!
ReplyDeleteI remember signing up for this challenge, being super excited about it, but I have yet to start it! Gah!!
So, an unassuming teen who manages to snare every guy in town, huh. When you said that it reminded me of the movie Vampires Suck? Have you seen it. So stupid funny.
Lol, I am sure I read something similar to these stories when I was a kid too
ReplyDeleteI used to love the Point horror books in my teens too. I dont think I read this one as it was a little early for me but maybe!
ReplyDelete