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The Tale of the Deadly Diary
Revenge!
It's bound in black leather with a gold lock and key, a beautiful new diary to replace the one that Elizabeth's snoopy little sister Karen read. . .and Elizabeth destroyed in a fit of anger. This time, Karen will sneak a peek at her peril. Elizabeth has poured out a spiteful message on its gold-edged pages. "Karen, beware. This is a magic diary, and if you read it, the goblins will come to punish you."
Curious, Karen reads the diary. . .and believes Elizabeth's warning. There are thumps and screams in the night. Karen has seen the goblins. . .has felt their evil breath. They are coming to get her.
Elizabeth has had her revenge. Of course, there are no goblins.
Or are there?
It's bound in black leather with a gold lock and key, a beautiful new diary to replace the one that Elizabeth's snoopy little sister Karen read. . .and Elizabeth destroyed in a fit of anger. This time, Karen will sneak a peek at her peril. Elizabeth has poured out a spiteful message on its gold-edged pages. "Karen, beware. This is a magic diary, and if you read it, the goblins will come to punish you."
Curious, Karen reads the diary. . .and believes Elizabeth's warning. There are thumps and screams in the night. Karen has seen the goblins. . .has felt their evil breath. They are coming to get her.
Elizabeth has had her revenge. Of course, there are no goblins.
Or are there?
- GenresHorror
130 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 1996
3 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Brad Strickland
136 books107 followersWilliam Bradley Strickland (b. 1947) is the author (or co-author) of over 60 novels and over 60 pieces of short fiction and poetry.
Born in New Hollard, Strickland earned his Ph.D. in American literature from the University of Georgia. He has taught English courses at the University of Georgia, Oglethorpe University, Truett-McConnell College, and, since 1987, at Gainesville State College.
His first novel was 1986's To Stand Beneath the Sun, followed quickly by the books in the Jeremy Moon trilogy.
Strickland has shared co-author credit on many of his books: with his wife, Barbara, on stories in the Star Trek and Are You Afraid of the Dark? properties; and with the late author Thomas Fuller, books in the Wishbone series, involving the popular Jack Russell Terrier from the Public Television series of the same name. Strickland and Fuller also collaborated on numerous original works, including the Pirate Hunter series, the Mars: Year One series, and the comedic mystery for adults, The Ghost Finds a Body.
After the death of John Bellairs, Strickland was approached by John’s son, Frank, to complete the two books his father had already started; these unfinished manuscripts became The Ghost in the Mirror and The Vengeance of the Witch-Finder. Strickland also wrote two books based on brief plot outlines left by Bellairs: The Drum, the Doll and the Zombie and The Doom of the Haunted Opera. Beginning in 1996, Strickland has kept Bellairs' legacy alive by writing the further adventures of Johnny Dixon and Lewis Barnavelt. Books in the corpus include The Hand of the Necromancer (1996); The Tower at the End of the World (2001); The House Where Nobody Lived (2006); and his most recent title, The Sign of the Sinister Sorcerer (2008).
In 2001, Strickland won received the Georgia Author of the Year Award, Children's/Young Adult Division, for When Mack Came Back, set in WWII-era Georgia. Strickland says the story "is based on the farm owned by [his] grandfather, where [I] often visited when [I] was a child." Kong: King of Skull Island was released in 2005, an illustrated tale by Strickland, author John Michlig, and fantasy artist Joe DeVito that serves as both a prequel and sequel to the epic story of the legendary ape.
Strickland is an active member of the Atlanta Radio Theatre Company, where he writes and performs in numerous audio drama projects. He was awarded the ARTC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. He is married to the former Barabara Justus and has two grown children.
Born in New Hollard, Strickland earned his Ph.D. in American literature from the University of Georgia. He has taught English courses at the University of Georgia, Oglethorpe University, Truett-McConnell College, and, since 1987, at Gainesville State College.
His first novel was 1986's To Stand Beneath the Sun, followed quickly by the books in the Jeremy Moon trilogy.
Strickland has shared co-author credit on many of his books: with his wife, Barbara, on stories in the Star Trek and Are You Afraid of the Dark? properties; and with the late author Thomas Fuller, books in the Wishbone series, involving the popular Jack Russell Terrier from the Public Television series of the same name. Strickland and Fuller also collaborated on numerous original works, including the Pirate Hunter series, the Mars: Year One series, and the comedic mystery for adults, The Ghost Finds a Body.
After the death of John Bellairs, Strickland was approached by John’s son, Frank, to complete the two books his father had already started; these unfinished manuscripts became The Ghost in the Mirror and The Vengeance of the Witch-Finder. Strickland also wrote two books based on brief plot outlines left by Bellairs: The Drum, the Doll and the Zombie and The Doom of the Haunted Opera. Beginning in 1996, Strickland has kept Bellairs' legacy alive by writing the further adventures of Johnny Dixon and Lewis Barnavelt. Books in the corpus include The Hand of the Necromancer (1996); The Tower at the End of the World (2001); The House Where Nobody Lived (2006); and his most recent title, The Sign of the Sinister Sorcerer (2008).
In 2001, Strickland won received the Georgia Author of the Year Award, Children's/Young Adult Division, for When Mack Came Back, set in WWII-era Georgia. Strickland says the story "is based on the farm owned by [his] grandfather, where [I] often visited when [I] was a child." Kong: King of Skull Island was released in 2005, an illustrated tale by Strickland, author John Michlig, and fantasy artist Joe DeVito that serves as both a prequel and sequel to the epic story of the legendary ape.
Strickland is an active member of the Atlanta Radio Theatre Company, where he writes and performs in numerous audio drama projects. He was awarded the ARTC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. He is married to the former Barabara Justus and has two grown children.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 2, 2024
This was similar to the other Are You Afraid of the Dark? book I read except this one was better in pretty much every way. Rather than a creepy comic book, this one had a creepy diary, and this one seemed to fit in with the TV episodes so much more. Also having Dr. Vink in this is kinda a cheat code. I didn't care too much for our annoying main character and her even more annoying sister, but this was really cool for the most part. I look forward to reading more of this husband-and-wife duo's work and I plan on checking out more books in this series. This gets a 4/5 for being slightly above average (in comparison to other 90's middle-grade horror books) the entire way through.
December 27, 2023
2.5 rounded down.
This was my first AYAOTD book, and I was a bit frustrated and let down by the pacing. This book is extremely slow and not much happens until the last 20 pages. It was well written, though, and I liked the concept, it was just a shame the climax and ending had to be so rushed.
I'm sure I will check out other books in the series in the future.
This was my first AYAOTD book, and I was a bit frustrated and let down by the pacing. This book is extremely slow and not much happens until the last 20 pages. It was well written, though, and I liked the concept, it was just a shame the climax and ending had to be so rushed.
I'm sure I will check out other books in the series in the future.
June 2, 2022
I really enjoyed this Are You Afraid of the Dark book. I feel like it definitely captured the vibe and tone of the show, and it even featured a recurring character that appeared in a few episodes. If you are a fan of the show and/or a fan of middle grade reads, then this deadly delight is one you should check out if given the chance!
May 18, 2023
It's only been a weak since my last read but it feels longer for some reason? Anyway, I wanted something easy that I had been wanting to get to and I figured I'd go back to the Are You Afraid of the Dark books. I found some in the wild recently, with one being a camp book candidate. This other one I had been wanting to read when I heard about it. I usually don't wanna read too much of a series but there's enough of these that I can pop one in sometimes and not get through them too quickly.
This one is by Brad and Barbara Strickland, a husband and wife team that has done plenty of works, including some tie ins. The plot concerns Elizbaeth/Beth Yardley, who is annoyed by her sister Karen. She's always messing with her stuff and is a general pest. Mom of course doesn't do too much about this and this gets Beth hungry for revenge. The final straw has Karen reading Beth's diary and blabbing some secrets to everyone.
One day she stumbles upon a little shop that wasn't there yesterday called Odds and Endings, which happens to be run by, drumroll please, Dr. Vink. He can tell what she wants and gives her a new diary, as tore apart the old one out of anger. He's all mysterious and stuff but she takes it. She knows Karen will find it eventually so she writes a warning saying goblins will get her, knowing it'll get to her.
This works but of course these goblins may end being all too real. So this was good, but it couldn't been better. First, yes this has good ol' Dr. Vink. He's in top form here, being fun and cryptic. Yes, they do the nutbag routine. He's a more direct threat at times but otherwise it's more like he's in a teamup with the real threat.
The writing is sort of mixed but mostly good. There's some solid sentences and descriptions, like with Vink's store. There's a few weak bit but otherwise it's good. There's vocab words don't worry. Beth is a bit weird. She's on the whiny side but I do get it, as Karen is pretty bad. Mom thankfully isn't too mean, she feels more balanced and just simply doesn't punish Karen enough. This isn't a Cuckoo Clock of Doom situation.
Beth does stay likable enough cuz of Karen being bad and she has her fun bits. I love her friend Valley (real name Valerie) who just says this weird things and fits right with other odd supporting characters the show would have. In general this has the feel of the show, even more so than Bad Tempered Ghost.
You got your combo of moral/character stuff and scares, and it could have been an episode at least conceptually. There's a fine moral about not bottling up your feelings and how revenge is bad, add this to the "Better Revenge R Us" pile.
However, there are some deeper elements ignored here. We're told the parents are divorced after they started arguing a lot, and it happened after Karen was born and Beth blames Karen for this happening and Mom acting a bit different. This isn't really followed up on, we don't get much info there. Even at the end after Beth learns her lesson we don't get a moment of her talking to Mom or Karen.
The whole moral is to talk through your feelings with others but we don't get that. If someone does a bad thing, we gotta see them do the right and not just promise to do so. While we're on flaws, it can be a slow burn with it taking a while to get to the goblins. It takes longer for them to pop up but I can forgive that as I like the build up to them., There's a psychological element, including a dream, which is interesting.
Logic wise you can question how everything connects but Vink at least clearly explains it so it's not a huge deal for me. I like the idea the goblins bring and there is some fun/creepy stuff there. Climax is kinda weak tho, the resolution works as it is foreshadowed but it so rather sudden..
Ending itself works fine though with a decent twist ending. It's a book that is certainly enjoyable, it has drawbacks that prevent from being as into it as I could have been. You could done down Beth a bit early on and fleshed out certain things more. There could be more of the goblin stuff as well, even if the angle isn't wrong per say.
I guess "I wanted more" is the phrase of the day here. At 130 pages it flows well but it could have been tighter. As it it, it's good as it has enough of a balance to makes it a fun time, as well as the use of Vink and some amusing side bites. There could be more to it but it was a solid read all things consided.
I have a couple loose notes. Vink is usually Frank's but Betty Ann tells this story and says he is letting her borrow him. The funny thing, this came out in 1996. Frank left after Season 4 but here is being mentioned here under the assumption he hasn't left and I checked, he tells one of these books, the last one even. Neat. My other note is they mention a fast food "Jolly Meal". Strange Matter can shill for them but I guess this can't.
Anyway that's it. Next will likely be a random one but we'll see, May is ticking down so Summer will be here before we know it. See ya then.
This one is by Brad and Barbara Strickland, a husband and wife team that has done plenty of works, including some tie ins. The plot concerns Elizbaeth/Beth Yardley, who is annoyed by her sister Karen. She's always messing with her stuff and is a general pest. Mom of course doesn't do too much about this and this gets Beth hungry for revenge. The final straw has Karen reading Beth's diary and blabbing some secrets to everyone.
One day she stumbles upon a little shop that wasn't there yesterday called Odds and Endings, which happens to be run by, drumroll please, Dr. Vink. He can tell what she wants and gives her a new diary, as tore apart the old one out of anger. He's all mysterious and stuff but she takes it. She knows Karen will find it eventually so she writes a warning saying goblins will get her, knowing it'll get to her.
This works but of course these goblins may end being all too real. So this was good, but it couldn't been better. First, yes this has good ol' Dr. Vink. He's in top form here, being fun and cryptic. Yes, they do the nutbag routine. He's a more direct threat at times but otherwise it's more like he's in a teamup with the real threat.
The writing is sort of mixed but mostly good. There's some solid sentences and descriptions, like with Vink's store. There's a few weak bit but otherwise it's good. There's vocab words don't worry. Beth is a bit weird. She's on the whiny side but I do get it, as Karen is pretty bad. Mom thankfully isn't too mean, she feels more balanced and just simply doesn't punish Karen enough. This isn't a Cuckoo Clock of Doom situation.
Beth does stay likable enough cuz of Karen being bad and she has her fun bits. I love her friend Valley (real name Valerie) who just says this weird things and fits right with other odd supporting characters the show would have. In general this has the feel of the show, even more so than Bad Tempered Ghost.
You got your combo of moral/character stuff and scares, and it could have been an episode at least conceptually. There's a fine moral about not bottling up your feelings and how revenge is bad, add this to the "Better Revenge R Us" pile.
However, there are some deeper elements ignored here. We're told the parents are divorced after they started arguing a lot, and it happened after Karen was born and Beth blames Karen for this happening and Mom acting a bit different. This isn't really followed up on, we don't get much info there. Even at the end after Beth learns her lesson we don't get a moment of her talking to Mom or Karen.
The whole moral is to talk through your feelings with others but we don't get that. If someone does a bad thing, we gotta see them do the right and not just promise to do so. While we're on flaws, it can be a slow burn with it taking a while to get to the goblins. It takes longer for them to pop up but I can forgive that as I like the build up to them., There's a psychological element, including a dream, which is interesting.
Logic wise you can question how everything connects but Vink at least clearly explains it so it's not a huge deal for me. I like the idea the goblins bring and there is some fun/creepy stuff there. Climax is kinda weak tho, the resolution works as it is foreshadowed but it so rather sudden..
Ending itself works fine though with a decent twist ending. It's a book that is certainly enjoyable, it has drawbacks that prevent from being as into it as I could have been. You could done down Beth a bit early on and fleshed out certain things more. There could be more of the goblin stuff as well, even if the angle isn't wrong per say.
I guess "I wanted more" is the phrase of the day here. At 130 pages it flows well but it could have been tighter. As it it, it's good as it has enough of a balance to makes it a fun time, as well as the use of Vink and some amusing side bites. There could be more to it but it was a solid read all things consided.
I have a couple loose notes. Vink is usually Frank's but Betty Ann tells this story and says he is letting her borrow him. The funny thing, this came out in 1996. Frank left after Season 4 but here is being mentioned here under the assumption he hasn't left and I checked, he tells one of these books, the last one even. Neat. My other note is they mention a fast food "Jolly Meal". Strange Matter can shill for them but I guess this can't.
Anyway that's it. Next will likely be a random one but we'll see, May is ticking down so Summer will be here before we know it. See ya then.
May 21, 2019
I liked this story! It reminded me of a cross between the movies, “Labryinth” and “Gremlins.” I was SO stoked to find out that Dr. Vink was in this story! I didn’t realize they had put him into one of the books!
Beth is filled with a lot of emotions, especially anger. Her parents are split up and she blames it all on her bratty sister, Karen. She loves to tell it all to her diary, which is lamely one of her bestest friends. One day, she stumbles onto a weird shop called Odd and Endings where Dr. Vink resides. He gives her a package- a diary with her name on it! First, she begins to play a prank on Karen by writing about the restless goblins that are going to get her for being so bad but things start to get creepy! She actually starts to see shapes and hear voices. She also gets premonitions that warn her of what is to come! With the help of her bestie, Valley, she will work to stop the goblins by trying to close the door to their world....before it’s too late!
Beth is filled with a lot of emotions, especially anger. Her parents are split up and she blames it all on her bratty sister, Karen. She loves to tell it all to her diary, which is lamely one of her bestest friends. One day, she stumbles onto a weird shop called Odd and Endings where Dr. Vink resides. He gives her a package- a diary with her name on it! First, she begins to play a prank on Karen by writing about the restless goblins that are going to get her for being so bad but things start to get creepy! She actually starts to see shapes and hear voices. She also gets premonitions that warn her of what is to come! With the help of her bestie, Valley, she will work to stop the goblins by trying to close the door to their world....before it’s too late!
March 24, 2019
These "Are You Afraid of the Dark" books have been a bit hit-or-miss with me, but I legitimately loved this one. It was super fun, and it would have made an awesome TV episode!
Plus, it had Dr. Vink ("with a vuh-vuh-vuh"!), who is tied as my favorite recurring character with Sardo. ("That's SarDO!") Man, I miss this show.
Plus, it had Dr. Vink ("with a vuh-vuh-vuh"!), who is tied as my favorite recurring character with Sardo. ("That's SarDO!") Man, I miss this show.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews