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Bone Chillers #5
Strange Brew
Hating her boring school, her pain-in-the-neck little brother, and even her best friend, Tori searches for something fun and finds a mysterious notebook that contains hilariously gruesome spells
131 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
2 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
Betsy Haynes
123 books111 followersABOUT ME
Maybe it's because my feisty grandma chased tarantulas around with a broom when we lived on an oil lease property when I was a baby that made me love danger and adventure. And maybe it was my father's spending nights as a trombonist with the bands of his day and his days spent drawing sketches that sparked my artistic side. Do you suppose that because my mother stood only four feet ten inches tall that I feel like a giant at five feet? And I'm sure my FBI (Full Blooded Italian) step-father, his seven brothers and sisters and their families are responsible for my LOVE of Italian food. That's who I am. Who are you?
My First Book, Peppy The Frog That I Wrote In The 2nd Grade
I'll always be a child at heart. Whenever I close my eyes, wonderful, funny, awful, embarrassing memories of middle school/junior high come flooding back to fill the pages of my contemporary novels. My childhood friendships and rivalries with old enemies all find their way into my books. I've even spied on my own kids for story ideas.
Unlike most kids who can't wait to grow up, I've gotten younger--at least my stories have. I've stepped into the world of 7 to 10 year olds.
I and my husband, Jim, live in Texas on Lake Lewisville north of Dallas. We are owned by our greyhound, Miller. Our favorite things to do are traveling the world and boating.
Maybe it's because my feisty grandma chased tarantulas around with a broom when we lived on an oil lease property when I was a baby that made me love danger and adventure. And maybe it was my father's spending nights as a trombonist with the bands of his day and his days spent drawing sketches that sparked my artistic side. Do you suppose that because my mother stood only four feet ten inches tall that I feel like a giant at five feet? And I'm sure my FBI (Full Blooded Italian) step-father, his seven brothers and sisters and their families are responsible for my LOVE of Italian food. That's who I am. Who are you?
My First Book, Peppy The Frog That I Wrote In The 2nd Grade
I'll always be a child at heart. Whenever I close my eyes, wonderful, funny, awful, embarrassing memories of middle school/junior high come flooding back to fill the pages of my contemporary novels. My childhood friendships and rivalries with old enemies all find their way into my books. I've even spied on my own kids for story ideas.
Unlike most kids who can't wait to grow up, I've gotten younger--at least my stories have. I've stepped into the world of 7 to 10 year olds.
I and my husband, Jim, live in Texas on Lake Lewisville north of Dallas. We are owned by our greyhound, Miller. Our favorite things to do are traveling the world and boating.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 21, 2022
One day, Tori finds a red spiral notebook with her name on it, and inside is a spell to make a storm. It can't possibly work, right? But Tori just has to try it and she convinces her best friend, Heather to do it with her. Lo and behold - the spell actually works! But the problem is, it works too well; instantly there is torrential rain and flooding. The girls desperately race for the house and suddenly, all is normal again.
The next day, at school, there is a note on Tori's desk with another spell, this time, for making everyone in the lunchroom throw up. Heather hates the magic though, realizing just how dangerous this kind of power can be, and makes Tori swear she will stop before someone really gets hurt.
However, when another spell comes in the mail, this time offering for the sender to reveal themselves, the temptation is too great for Tori. Turns out the person behind the spells wants to be Tori's best... and only friend, and will stop at nothing to keep Heather away.
The next day, at school, there is a note on Tori's desk with another spell, this time, for making everyone in the lunchroom throw up. Heather hates the magic though, realizing just how dangerous this kind of power can be, and makes Tori swear she will stop before someone really gets hurt.
However, when another spell comes in the mail, this time offering for the sender to reveal themselves, the temptation is too great for Tori. Turns out the person behind the spells wants to be Tori's best... and only friend, and will stop at nothing to keep Heather away.
June 8, 2025
Such variety in the first four books of Betsy Haynes's Bone Chillers; where would she take it in Strange Brew? Young Tori Pardo feels betrayed when her best friend, Heather Hartner, says she’s leaving their hometown of Domburg, Illinois to spend summer in Florida. Tori will be stuck at home going to her brother Max's Little League baseball games while Heather enjoys Disney World. Sometimes Tori thinks she needs a new pal to hang out with; before Heather there was Celeste, her imaginary friend. Heather is a sensible, grounding influence, but on occasion Tori feels stifled by her.
The whispering voice comes from thin air, directing Tori to a notebook on the ground. She recognizes it as her notebook, a diary of sorts, but she’s surprised to see it has only one page of writing, a magic spell that claims to cause a lightning storm if the recipe is followed. Heather scoffs, but Tori collects the creepy items for the spell and convinces Heather to help. The girls are stunned when a severe storm erupts, causing damaging floods. Heather argues it was coincidence, but the truth is obvious: they concocted the storm. The power Tori felt in that moment was incredible.
When a second spell finds its way to Tori, Heather makes her promise to stop dabbling in the black arts, but temptation is strong. She tries the spell and it works perfectly; a third spell leads her to the person behind the magic, someone Tori is shocked to meet. Has she found a friend to replace Heather? This new friend promises adventures Heather would never approve of, and Tori finds herself doing spells that harm people. What is more important: her bond with the new girl, or her years of friendship with Heather, even if their relationship is on the rocks? Tori must choose before she commits an act nothing can atone for.
Bone Chillers is regarded as an imitator of R.L. Stine's Goosebumps, but is a cut above other knockoffs. Strange Brew acknowledges that relationships have ups and downs; you may get angry with a friend and want to discard what you have in favor of something more exciting, but shallow thrills can't replace a connection created over time. It takes character to fight for friendship when a cheap substitute offers immediate satisfaction. I rate Strange Brew two and a half stars and nearly rounded to three; this may be the best of the Bone Chillers so far. Betsy Haynes's blend of horror and coming-of-age is appealing.
The whispering voice comes from thin air, directing Tori to a notebook on the ground. She recognizes it as her notebook, a diary of sorts, but she’s surprised to see it has only one page of writing, a magic spell that claims to cause a lightning storm if the recipe is followed. Heather scoffs, but Tori collects the creepy items for the spell and convinces Heather to help. The girls are stunned when a severe storm erupts, causing damaging floods. Heather argues it was coincidence, but the truth is obvious: they concocted the storm. The power Tori felt in that moment was incredible.
When a second spell finds its way to Tori, Heather makes her promise to stop dabbling in the black arts, but temptation is strong. She tries the spell and it works perfectly; a third spell leads her to the person behind the magic, someone Tori is shocked to meet. Has she found a friend to replace Heather? This new friend promises adventures Heather would never approve of, and Tori finds herself doing spells that harm people. What is more important: her bond with the new girl, or her years of friendship with Heather, even if their relationship is on the rocks? Tori must choose before she commits an act nothing can atone for.
Bone Chillers is regarded as an imitator of R.L. Stine's Goosebumps, but is a cut above other knockoffs. Strange Brew acknowledges that relationships have ups and downs; you may get angry with a friend and want to discard what you have in favor of something more exciting, but shallow thrills can't replace a connection created over time. It takes character to fight for friendship when a cheap substitute offers immediate satisfaction. I rate Strange Brew two and a half stars and nearly rounded to three; this may be the best of the Bone Chillers so far. Betsy Haynes's blend of horror and coming-of-age is appealing.
September 18, 2022
This was my first Bone Chillers book, and I'm surprised by the fact I actually enjoyed it quite a bit. First off, even though this is essentially another Goosebumps knock-off series, I found this one to be written with a bit more competence than some of the other ones out there, such as the Shivers series by M.D. Spenser. Hayne's writing more closely resembles that of Stine's and the story in question here is rather straightforward but manages to express some deeper themes and a heartfelt conclusion, without a jarring twist ending that Stine is often guilty of.
The story is about our protagonist, Tori, being upset about having to move and no longer having any friends, as well as her younger brother getting all the attention from their parents. Driven by her loneliness and resentment, as well as her longing for excitement, she carries out these "strange" spells that mysteriously pop-up - the first of which is mixing together a specific list of ingredients into a cauldron, which results in manifesting a thunderstorm. Amazed by the existence of magic, she continues to seek out and participate in the spells, even though they continue to grow more dangerous...
This was a pretty enjoyable middle-grade horror book that touched on the themes of peer-pressure, addiction, and the importance of true friendship. I liked the concept of it, how dark things got with some of the magic, and how Hayne's incorporated deeper meaning to the story without it being... well, it does get just a *little cringe-worthy at the end.
I would have preferred to see Tori's brother, Max, play a bigger role in the story as he really only shows up in the beginning. I would have also liked a more drawn-out final act, as the one we got was just a bit too convenient and without enough explanation for my tastes. Though, to be fair, the source of the magic powers and the antagonist were also surrounded in ambiguity.
Overall this was a decent little book and I'm curious to check out some of the other books in the series.
2.5 / 5
The story is about our protagonist, Tori, being upset about having to move and no longer having any friends, as well as her younger brother getting all the attention from their parents. Driven by her loneliness and resentment, as well as her longing for excitement, she carries out these "strange" spells that mysteriously pop-up - the first of which is mixing together a specific list of ingredients into a cauldron, which results in manifesting a thunderstorm. Amazed by the existence of magic, she continues to seek out and participate in the spells, even though they continue to grow more dangerous...
This was a pretty enjoyable middle-grade horror book that touched on the themes of peer-pressure, addiction, and the importance of true friendship. I liked the concept of it, how dark things got with some of the magic, and how Hayne's incorporated deeper meaning to the story without it being... well, it does get just a *little cringe-worthy at the end.
I would have preferred to see Tori's brother, Max, play a bigger role in the story as he really only shows up in the beginning. I would have also liked a more drawn-out final act, as the one we got was just a bit too convenient and without enough explanation for my tastes. Though, to be fair, the source of the magic powers and the antagonist were also surrounded in ambiguity.
Overall this was a decent little book and I'm curious to check out some of the other books in the series.
2.5 / 5
October 2, 2014
When my sister and I were kids we would borrow this on audiocassette from the library and listen to it in the dark. I ordered the book from Amazon recently in a nostalgic mood, and loved it just as much - and still found it decidedly creepy.
'Strange Brew' tells the story of Tori, who faces a long and boring summer in her small Midwestern town - with her best friend going away, she'll have no one to hang out with. One day at school, Tori finds a notebook - her notebook - on the floor. In the back is written a spell to make a storm. Tori is very curious and adventurous, and gathers the ingredients and carries out the spell - and makes a real storm. As the days pass, more spells appear in the notebook, but as fun as they are, they have a dangerous edge. Then, Tori's imaginary friend Celeste from when she was a little kid turns up, apparently real. Tori is delighted at first, but it's clear that Celeste too has a dangerous side.....
'Strange Brew' tells the story of Tori, who faces a long and boring summer in her small Midwestern town - with her best friend going away, she'll have no one to hang out with. One day at school, Tori finds a notebook - her notebook - on the floor. In the back is written a spell to make a storm. Tori is very curious and adventurous, and gathers the ingredients and carries out the spell - and makes a real storm. As the days pass, more spells appear in the notebook, but as fun as they are, they have a dangerous edge. Then, Tori's imaginary friend Celeste from when she was a little kid turns up, apparently real. Tori is delighted at first, but it's clear that Celeste too has a dangerous side.....
July 13, 2023
Seemingly inspired by Point Horror entries Dream Date and The Accident, this follows a girl named Tori who receives handwritten recipes for magic spells. As a result, she causes all sorts of madness to everyone around her. This had a lot going on (a protagonist who sucks, magic rituals, an imaginary friend, and life lessons for its intended audience) and wasn't boring at all, but wasn't the most fun read. There was a lot of corny stuff throughout but I enjoyed the summer vibes and I've read a lot worse. I'll give this a 3/5 but that's being kinda generous.
March 31, 2022
The Bonechillers series isn't as wildly readable as the more popular Goosebumps books (probably because they aren't as chock-full of cliffhangers), but it separates itself from other 90s kid horror by being consistently weird. This one isn't the weirdest, but it offers a great hook (a teen girl's life and friendship are slowly ruined by her addiction to casting magic spells), a truly surprising villain reveal (no spoilers, but... dang), and probably the best emotional core of any books in this series (that teen girl friendship). It all comes together so well, offering a very satisfying story with some great spells-gone-wrong scenes to keep up the pace.
And a big shout-out to the slightly shortened audiobook (on Youtube), which is well put together.
And a big shout-out to the slightly shortened audiobook (on Youtube), which is well put together.
January 6, 2012
i thought this was better than the goosebumps books. But, I have only read one.
February 9, 2023
Bone Chillers time. Today we finally go back to pure Betsy Haynes after our last couple were ghostwritten. And man her style is on full force here and I mean that in a good.
Protagonist is Tori Pardo, who is set to have a boring summer. Her brother Max's baseball league makes it so they can't vacation or they'll miss a game and her friend Heather Hartner will be on vacation. One day they discover a strange notebook that shows them some spells, sometimes. They try them out and while they work, they do cause damage but also positive outcomes for Tori. Heather thinks they shouldn't tamper with this but Tori gets tempted, as you can imagine.
I should mention that Tori had an imaginary friend named Celeste as a kid, and at first it's just a random detail but it is quite important as spoilers, Celeste shows up. I'd usually hide that but it's so big that I have to mention it for my critique.
I generally enjoyed this one a fair bit but there are a couple drawbacks. The main one is Tori. You can feel bad for her as she gets wrapped up in these spells and dangers but she can be mean and whiny early on. She complains about her brother Max when he doesn't do much wrong and she can feel a bit entitled.
I get kids can be like this and a major part of this is dealing with her little problems and how she deals with them. It's smart in that way but she could be better. They imply Celeste is manipulating her at times but they don't quite make it clear. So when you have her cheering her on one moment then being sad about her actions the next, it is jarring.
The other is the logic. I know but here it just makes no sense how the imaginary friend came to life and ends up having these powers. Maybe Tori has weird powers herself but it's not explained. I don't know how I'd fix it but as it is, it does feel wonky.
That said, it mostly works. Pacing and structure is solid here as there's not too much filler and they get started quickly. There's fun to be had with the spells and how high stakes things get. They cause a storm which were told hurts some people and the final one before the climax is pretty wild. There's one that's gross and just like a scene in Dog ate my homework. Betsy has problems.
But there is a solid heart with Tori and Heather. I keep going on how about Betsy tends to focus on relationship stuff and so far that's been minor in these Bone Chillers but it's on full display here. Their friendship mostly feels genuine and I do like their bond. I like how it gets tested as she falls temptation to Celeste, who is clearly on the toxic side.
There's a bit more they could have done on the Celeste side what we get works. The ending is very cheesy here, I kinda dig it but it won't be for everyone. No twist here which works. Wish there was more of a wrap up but the climax is solid and wild this time at least.
Overall, Strange Brew is a strange book. It could have been my new favorite and while there are notable drawbacks, there ends up being enough to enjoy. The spells, Celeste (probably the best villain of the series so far), and the nice friendship stuff helps this one better than average after a mixed start. Writing is fair here too which at least one vocab word, Nice to have those.
So yeah, it's a good one. Next time, we wrap this round up already with a Galaxy of Fear that is the end of the first arc. Fitting. See ya then.
(The book is dedciated to "my friend Tori Pardo and her brother Max and all my other friends in the American school of Madrid, Spain". Nice. )
Protagonist is Tori Pardo, who is set to have a boring summer. Her brother Max's baseball league makes it so they can't vacation or they'll miss a game and her friend Heather Hartner will be on vacation. One day they discover a strange notebook that shows them some spells, sometimes. They try them out and while they work, they do cause damage but also positive outcomes for Tori. Heather thinks they shouldn't tamper with this but Tori gets tempted, as you can imagine.
I should mention that Tori had an imaginary friend named Celeste as a kid, and at first it's just a random detail but it is quite important as spoilers, Celeste shows up. I'd usually hide that but it's so big that I have to mention it for my critique.
I generally enjoyed this one a fair bit but there are a couple drawbacks. The main one is Tori. You can feel bad for her as she gets wrapped up in these spells and dangers but she can be mean and whiny early on. She complains about her brother Max when he doesn't do much wrong and she can feel a bit entitled.
I get kids can be like this and a major part of this is dealing with her little problems and how she deals with them. It's smart in that way but she could be better. They imply Celeste is manipulating her at times but they don't quite make it clear. So when you have her cheering her on one moment then being sad about her actions the next, it is jarring.
The other is the logic. I know but here it just makes no sense how the imaginary friend came to life and ends up having these powers. Maybe Tori has weird powers herself but it's not explained. I don't know how I'd fix it but as it is, it does feel wonky.
That said, it mostly works. Pacing and structure is solid here as there's not too much filler and they get started quickly. There's fun to be had with the spells and how high stakes things get. They cause a storm which were told hurts some people and the final one before the climax is pretty wild. There's one that's gross and just like a scene in Dog ate my homework. Betsy has problems.
But there is a solid heart with Tori and Heather. I keep going on how about Betsy tends to focus on relationship stuff and so far that's been minor in these Bone Chillers but it's on full display here. Their friendship mostly feels genuine and I do like their bond. I like how it gets tested as she falls temptation to Celeste, who is clearly on the toxic side.
There's a bit more they could have done on the Celeste side what we get works. The ending is very cheesy here, I kinda dig it but it won't be for everyone. No twist here which works. Wish there was more of a wrap up but the climax is solid and wild this time at least.
Overall, Strange Brew is a strange book. It could have been my new favorite and while there are notable drawbacks, there ends up being enough to enjoy. The spells, Celeste (probably the best villain of the series so far), and the nice friendship stuff helps this one better than average after a mixed start. Writing is fair here too which at least one vocab word, Nice to have those.
So yeah, it's a good one. Next time, we wrap this round up already with a Galaxy of Fear that is the end of the first arc. Fitting. See ya then.
(The book is dedciated to "my friend Tori Pardo and her brother Max and all my other friends in the American school of Madrid, Spain". Nice. )
June 8, 2025
Reseña de Recetas terroríficas (Strange Brew, 1995)
Recetas terroríficas es una novelilla de bolsillo que describiría como un "thriller escolar sobrenatural de dulce seducción wiccana" xDDDDDD. Conjuga los ingredientes clásicos del horror juvenil noventero heredero de R.L. Stine con una sorprendente mirada particular sobre el poder femenino, el deseo y la identidad. Esta obra es un ejemplo singular de cómo el terror infantil se mezcla con el despertar adolescente, la brujería y el conflicto interior.
Me ha llamado la atención que tras décadas leyendo libros de éste "estilo Pesadillas" éste sea el primero protagonizado por 3 chicas: la protagonista, su mejor amiga y la amiga imaginaria que cobra entidad propia (una suerte de Sombra de la protagonista que es reflejo de la adolescencia punk que lucha por salir a la superficie). Este trío es el verdadero corazón del libro: su dinámica está cargada de deseo, envidias, dependencia emocional y lucha por cierto liderazgo. Explora de puntillas los límites de la amistad juvenil, el poder y el deseo no verbalizado.
Recetas terroríficas es una novelucha juvenil de terror que mezcla el coming-of-age femenino con la transgresión oculta de la brujería, presentando a sus lectoras (y lectores) una historia donde la magia no salva, pero transforma una amistad de ESAS que uno sólo tiene con 14 años.
El final con muñecas vudú es un detalle de traca que por desgracia la autora no llega a aprovechar del todo.
Recetas terroríficas es una novelilla de bolsillo que describiría como un "thriller escolar sobrenatural de dulce seducción wiccana" xDDDDDD. Conjuga los ingredientes clásicos del horror juvenil noventero heredero de R.L. Stine con una sorprendente mirada particular sobre el poder femenino, el deseo y la identidad. Esta obra es un ejemplo singular de cómo el terror infantil se mezcla con el despertar adolescente, la brujería y el conflicto interior.
Me ha llamado la atención que tras décadas leyendo libros de éste "estilo Pesadillas" éste sea el primero protagonizado por 3 chicas: la protagonista, su mejor amiga y la amiga imaginaria que cobra entidad propia (una suerte de Sombra de la protagonista que es reflejo de la adolescencia punk que lucha por salir a la superficie). Este trío es el verdadero corazón del libro: su dinámica está cargada de deseo, envidias, dependencia emocional y lucha por cierto liderazgo. Explora de puntillas los límites de la amistad juvenil, el poder y el deseo no verbalizado.
Recetas terroríficas es una novelucha juvenil de terror que mezcla el coming-of-age femenino con la transgresión oculta de la brujería, presentando a sus lectoras (y lectores) una historia donde la magia no salva, pero transforma una amistad de ESAS que uno sólo tiene con 14 años.
El final con muñecas vudú es un detalle de traca que por desgracia la autora no llega a aprovechar del todo.
May 20, 2023
Book quote: “Stirring up big trouble…”
“If I were a kid now, I would cook up something so I could stay a kid forever! ~ Chen Pink, reviewer of ‘Strange Brew’
I loved exploring alone as a kid, inside or outside my home. The curiosity in me was just like Tori in this story. She and her best friend followed a spell from a secret notebook and cooked up the weather. Tori had so much fun, but she started to realize the power of the spell was too much to handle. Who gave Tori the power to brew up things so strangely, and why? Pick up this book now!
“If I were a kid now, I would cook up something so I could stay a kid forever! ~ Chen Pink, reviewer of ‘Strange Brew’
I loved exploring alone as a kid, inside or outside my home. The curiosity in me was just like Tori in this story. She and her best friend followed a spell from a secret notebook and cooked up the weather. Tori had so much fun, but she started to realize the power of the spell was too much to handle. Who gave Tori the power to brew up things so strangely, and why? Pick up this book now!
September 17, 2019
The main character in this story continues, time and time again, to make rebellious choices, each knowingly worse than the last, and with absolutely no motivation to do so. That’s the extent of the story as well, with constant reminders how she’s breaking promises to cease her actions. Overall, this book is completely implausible, even for its intended audience.
May 23, 2021
Amusant :)
October 23, 2023
This one was really fun!
December 15, 2023
I wouldn't read this again, but it was full of entertainment for sure. But I'm not a fan of the book personally. Thought it was too repetitive at times. 3/5 is all I'll give.
October 27, 2024
I saw it going in a different direction, so the ending was a real surprise.
November 1, 2025
A fun book from my childhood involving a lonely girl looking for more fun and excitement in her life as a summer without her best friend looms closer.
I didn't remember this one at all, though I remembered loving it growing up. The plot is fun and it's easy to see how our main character, Tori, gets sucked into this situation.
Those spells certainly escalated quickly!
I didn't remember this one at all, though I remembered loving it growing up. The plot is fun and it's easy to see how our main character, Tori, gets sucked into this situation.
Those spells certainly escalated quickly!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews