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Fear Street #19
Sunburn
You could get burned…
The perfect suntan. Soaking up the rays. Fun on the beach. That’s what Claudia Walker had in mind when she accepted her friend Marla’s invitation to spend the weekend at her cliffside beach house. Little did she know that horrible accidents—fatal accidents—would occur on the beach and in the house.
But Claudia knows they’re not “accidents.” She’s sure somebody is out to get them…out to kill them. The week of “fun in the sun” has turned dark and deadly!
The perfect suntan. Soaking up the rays. Fun on the beach. That’s what Claudia Walker had in mind when she accepted her friend Marla’s invitation to spend the weekend at her cliffside beach house. Little did she know that horrible accidents—fatal accidents—would occur on the beach and in the house.
But Claudia knows they’re not “accidents.” She’s sure somebody is out to get them…out to kill them. The week of “fun in the sun” has turned dark and deadly!
150 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1993
70 people are currently reading
3724 people want to read
About the author
R.L. Stine
1,679 books18.7k followersRobert Lawrence Stine known as R. L. Stine and Jovial Bob Stine, is an American novelist and writer, well known for targeting younger audiences. Stine, who is often called the Stephen King of children's literature, is the author of dozens of popular horror fiction novellas, including the books in the Goosebumps, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, The Nightmare Room and Fear Street series.
R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.
Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.
http://us.macmillan.com/itsthefirstda...
R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.
Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.
http://us.macmillan.com/itsthefirstda...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
January 17, 2018
Sunburn was an absolute blast to read, and without a doubt has to be one of R.L. Stine’s best books in the Fear Street series for teenagers. Once upon a time R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike almost cornered the reading market for both elementary school age children and older teenagers. Now these seem kind of retro cool, and this one in particular is a real gem!
It begins with a bang when Claudia Walker wakes up to discover she’s buried in the sand on the beach. Where are her friends, Marla, Sophie and Joy? She’s discovered just in time by a mysterious boy named Daniel, before the tide takes her. But she’s nearly burned to a crisp, and her friends, though obviously shaken, have a weak explanation regarding why they didn’t come back. Then more “accidents” occur to the girls who are visiting Marla for what should be a fun time at her parent’s beach house. Why does Claudia feel like Marla is hiding something?
It all goes back to the accidental death of Marla’s sister at Camp Full Moon a year earlier, which is slowly revealed in this page-turner. Stine does a terrific job of giving each girl a distinct personality, and making the obvious answer a bit too obvious, leading readers to wonder if one of the red herrings is not a red herring at all. What about the boy named Daniel who Marla teases is just a ghost? And what about Carl and Dean, the pushy boys the girls meet on the beach? Are they real trouble, or just good boys a little rough around the edges? Why does Marla seem so unfriendly to them, and what’s the deal with the butler?
This is a fun premise, with four friends tied to a past tragedy, brought together at a luxurious yet isolated beach house. Claudia likes the handsome “ghost boy” Daniel, despite his vague answers to everything, and Joy and Sophie are very into Carl and Dean. But picnics, water skiing and Ferris wheels are not safe when someone, or something, is trying to kill the girls. The death of Marla’s sister, Alison, at Camp Full Moon hangs over the sunny beach house like a fog. But Marla seems genuinely disturbed by all the “accidents” and is unable to explain them.
There are some exciting moments, some rescues, some menace, and a shocking reveal. Okay, if you’re an adult reader maybe it isn’t so shocking, and the twist is wildly implausible, but it’s just so much fun in a Scream/I Know What You Did Last Summer kind of way, that it’s irresistible. Highly recommended!
It begins with a bang when Claudia Walker wakes up to discover she’s buried in the sand on the beach. Where are her friends, Marla, Sophie and Joy? She’s discovered just in time by a mysterious boy named Daniel, before the tide takes her. But she’s nearly burned to a crisp, and her friends, though obviously shaken, have a weak explanation regarding why they didn’t come back. Then more “accidents” occur to the girls who are visiting Marla for what should be a fun time at her parent’s beach house. Why does Claudia feel like Marla is hiding something?
It all goes back to the accidental death of Marla’s sister at Camp Full Moon a year earlier, which is slowly revealed in this page-turner. Stine does a terrific job of giving each girl a distinct personality, and making the obvious answer a bit too obvious, leading readers to wonder if one of the red herrings is not a red herring at all. What about the boy named Daniel who Marla teases is just a ghost? And what about Carl and Dean, the pushy boys the girls meet on the beach? Are they real trouble, or just good boys a little rough around the edges? Why does Marla seem so unfriendly to them, and what’s the deal with the butler?
This is a fun premise, with four friends tied to a past tragedy, brought together at a luxurious yet isolated beach house. Claudia likes the handsome “ghost boy” Daniel, despite his vague answers to everything, and Joy and Sophie are very into Carl and Dean. But picnics, water skiing and Ferris wheels are not safe when someone, or something, is trying to kill the girls. The death of Marla’s sister, Alison, at Camp Full Moon hangs over the sunny beach house like a fog. But Marla seems genuinely disturbed by all the “accidents” and is unable to explain them.
There are some exciting moments, some rescues, some menace, and a shocking reveal. Okay, if you’re an adult reader maybe it isn’t so shocking, and the twist is wildly implausible, but it’s just so much fun in a Scream/I Know What You Did Last Summer kind of way, that it’s irresistible. Highly recommended!
November 25, 2017
Una historia con una trama entretenida como todas las de esta colección, a mi parecer todos los libros que conforman la calle del terror son los que mantienen una estela de misterio y onda paranormal más fuerte que las otras colecciones, (que también me gustan claro) Esta en particular me gustó e incluso me sorprendió, es de los que tienen un giro en la trama, algo más o menos utilizado por Stine pero fue de los que me gustó un poco más.
July 2, 2025
I know it’s a 90s horror novel and it’s set in that era, but pleaseee, why were the main girls so dumb 😭😭
June 9, 2018
Another great instalment in the popular 90’s YA Horror Fear Street series.
Claudia is invited along to her friend Maria’s beach house for the weekend, they are joined by Joy and Sophie - the four of them having spent the previous summer at camp together.
But after a series of events that are initially felt like accidents; Claudia, Joy and Sophie start to suspect that Maria might be planning on killing them.
It’s a fun Horror/Mystery with plenty of red herrings, the revelation of what happened at the camp the previous year adds depth to the story.
Which ties up nicely with an amazing plot twist at the end!
One of the best in the series!
Claudia is invited along to her friend Maria’s beach house for the weekend, they are joined by Joy and Sophie - the four of them having spent the previous summer at camp together.
But after a series of events that are initially felt like accidents; Claudia, Joy and Sophie start to suspect that Maria might be planning on killing them.
It’s a fun Horror/Mystery with plenty of red herrings, the revelation of what happened at the camp the previous year adds depth to the story.
Which ties up nicely with an amazing plot twist at the end!
One of the best in the series!
June 5, 2024
Spannender Thriller für Jugendliche
In dem Buch die Todesklippe: Eine Mutprobe zu viel ... (Fear Street) von R. L. Stine, geht es um die Freunde Claudia Walker, Sophie, Joy und Marla Drexell. Claudia, Joy und Sophie wurden von Marla in ihr Strandhaus eingeladen um dort eine Woche der Sommerferien zu verbringen. Claudia wacht vergraben und mit Sonnenbrand im Sand auf und kann sich nicht befreien, ein Junge namens Daniel hört ihre Schreie und hilft ihr aus dem Sand. Am nächsten Tag bekommt Sophie einen Stromschlag an der Tür, obwohl der Strom doch eigentlich ausgeschaltet sein sollte. In der Nacht erwacht Joy und bemerkt auf ihrem Arm Blutegel, obwohl sie vorher nicht im Bett waren und im Meer gibt es sie auch nicht. Wieso passiert das alles und wer versucht die Mädchen zu quälen ? Kommen sie dahinter bevor alles zu spät ist ?
Die Geschichte ist spannend geschrieben und flüssig zu lesen. Jedes Kapitel endet spannend, sodass ich immer weiter lesen wollte. Die Charaktere handeln zum Großteil nachvollziehbar und logisch. Es hat großen Spaß gemacht das Buch zu lesen. Ich kann es nur empfehlen.
In dem Buch die Todesklippe: Eine Mutprobe zu viel ... (Fear Street) von R. L. Stine, geht es um die Freunde Claudia Walker, Sophie, Joy und Marla Drexell. Claudia, Joy und Sophie wurden von Marla in ihr Strandhaus eingeladen um dort eine Woche der Sommerferien zu verbringen. Claudia wacht vergraben und mit Sonnenbrand im Sand auf und kann sich nicht befreien, ein Junge namens Daniel hört ihre Schreie und hilft ihr aus dem Sand. Am nächsten Tag bekommt Sophie einen Stromschlag an der Tür, obwohl der Strom doch eigentlich ausgeschaltet sein sollte. In der Nacht erwacht Joy und bemerkt auf ihrem Arm Blutegel, obwohl sie vorher nicht im Bett waren und im Meer gibt es sie auch nicht. Wieso passiert das alles und wer versucht die Mädchen zu quälen ? Kommen sie dahinter bevor alles zu spät ist ?
Die Geschichte ist spannend geschrieben und flüssig zu lesen. Jedes Kapitel endet spannend, sodass ich immer weiter lesen wollte. Die Charaktere handeln zum Großteil nachvollziehbar und logisch. Es hat großen Spaß gemacht das Buch zu lesen. Ich kann es nur empfehlen.
September 5, 2021
OKAY a dog attack, a shark attack, and a death by electrocution?? Fun times, sign me up!!
But seriously, if you dare your friend's annoying ass kid sister to walk across a log over a gorge and the roaring rapids below (at NIGHT under the full moon, nonetheless), maybe you should make sure she comes back across safely?? Just saying?? Otherwise she will FALL but miraculously survive, come back a year later, impersonate her sister and lure you out to the family Summer house and try to MURDER YOU. You've been warned.
Wild, wacky and sooo dramatic. 5 out of 5 explosive zaps from the electric security fence!
But seriously, if you dare your friend's annoying ass kid sister to walk across a log over a gorge and the roaring rapids below (at NIGHT under the full moon, nonetheless), maybe you should make sure she comes back across safely?? Just saying?? Otherwise she will FALL but miraculously survive, come back a year later, impersonate her sister and lure you out to the family Summer house and try to MURDER YOU. You've been warned.
Wild, wacky and sooo dramatic. 5 out of 5 explosive zaps from the electric security fence!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2011
I have always loved the Fear Street novels by RL Stine. I think they were the beginning of my love for YA novels, I mean, they were practically the only YA novels in the early 90's right? Save for Chris Pike and LJ Smith of course, but these started the entire YA genre really.
Anyways, this novel follows four girls, who met at summer camp in the past and are now reuniting for the summer at Marlas house. Claudia, the MC is from shadyside, so that is where you get the fear street link. I love how these novels have recurring characters and I mean, seriously is there really that many twisted people in one town? Anyways, off track, again.
Soooo Marla, Claudia, Joy and Sophie are having fun on the beach and than the accidents start happening. After Claudia joy and Sophie each have an accident, they all start to suspect Marla, since they all remember what happened last summer with Marlas sister. And there is also a boy popping up everywhere like a ghost.
Anyways, this novel follows four girls, who met at summer camp in the past and are now reuniting for the summer at Marlas house. Claudia, the MC is from shadyside, so that is where you get the fear street link. I love how these novels have recurring characters and I mean, seriously is there really that many twisted people in one town? Anyways, off track, again.
Soooo Marla, Claudia, Joy and Sophie are having fun on the beach and than the accidents start happening. After Claudia joy and Sophie each have an accident, they all start to suspect Marla, since they all remember what happened last summer with Marlas sister. And there is also a boy popping up everywhere like a ghost.
February 22, 2018
Sorry, I'm too busy driving a truck through the plotholes.
August 17, 2016
Moral of the Story: Wear sunscreen. Also, watch Pretty Little Liars. It will help you detect when someone's not who they say they are.
Body Count: 2
The Usual Suspect(s): Marla and "Ghost Boy" aka Daniel
Tagline: The Perfect Tan... or the Perfect Murder?
Plot: So please forgive me if I forget what happens to whom. It's all so quick (146 pages!) and also there's not a lot of room for character development in that time.
We open with our protagonist, Claudia, buried alive. She's a redhead and the sun is killing her, zapping her energy where she can't move. She vaguely recalls where she is and why she's there. She was having a reunion with Camp Full Moon pals Sophie, Jill, and Marla. They are all at Marla's estate in Summerhaven. But if they all came to meet up, then why is Claudia being left for dead? And now the tide is coming in... Claudia says her goodbyes but, come on, it's page 5 or whatever so we know this isn't the end for her (though what a nice twist if it was!). All at once a boy named Daniel comes to her rescue and walks her back to Marla's house. He also seems to know the code to get into the estate. But just as she tries to introduce him to her friends, Daniel disappears.
Marla tells them all that he was a ghost. She weaves a fabulous story about a ghost in the guest house, and all three girls are enraptured by her tale. Then Marla breaks the magic and tells them it was all a joke! But Claudia is confused... who IS Daniel then? Dinner arrives and with it the sound of Joy screaming. There is a worm on her lettuce leaf. Basically the only thing we learn about Joy is that she is the drama queen of the group, and she REALLY hates bugs.
So far these couple of weird incidents don't spark alarm, but things get weirder. As they are leaving to head out one night (or day? who knows) Sophie goes to open the fence but gets an electrical shock. She is very badly shaken but insists that she is all right. The girls head out anyway and go to the local carnival. There they run into Carl and Dean, (whom they met previously on Marla's beach) and whom Sophie and Joy immediately snuggle up to. Marla is having none of it, however. She cannot stand the idea of getting close to them. Weird much, Marla? Claudia decides it would be better if she goes off on her own instead of getting involved in that mess, so she wanders near the ferris wheel and... lo and behold! It's Ghost Boy! Daniel shows up and suggests they ride the ferris wheel together. He hears Claudia call him a ghost and thinks it's hilarious and plays it up for all its worth (he runs it into the ground, to be honest). As they get to the top of the ferris wheel, it stops (why I won't ride them!), and they take in the view. But, suddenly, Daniel jokingly reaches out to grab the moon, rocking the car and plunging to his death!
No, he doesn't. But way to make absolutely sure I never ever again consider the ferris wheel a viable ride option, RL Stine. Instead Claudia flashes back in her head to the previous summer at Camp Full Moon and the cryptic situation with Marla's sister, Alison, that she and Sophie and Joy have been alluding to. Marla hated Alison, and it seems Alison was quite the jerk. What is it with girls named Alison, anyway? Alison comes in to bother the girls, and Marla tells her to leave them alone. But she won't, so Marla gives Alison a Truth or Dare, and Alison picks dare. Marla dares Alison to cross Grizzly Gorge at night... knowing full well that Alison is afraid of heights. It's a log stretching across a river, but Alison agrees to do it. When they go out to watch her, Marla gets stopped by the head counselor, Caroline, but the other girls carry on. When they arrive they plead and plead with Alison not to do it, but she won't be swayed. Their little game of Dare is interrupted, however, when they see flashlights and hear voices. The girls scatter, knowing that Alison is about to fall but doing nothing to help her. They assume (probably rightfully) that Alison plunged to her death that night, as her bloody t-shirt is found the next day.
The next crazy incident to happen at Marla's estate involves Joy again. She wakes everyone up in the middle of the night with her screaming about leeches on her arm (this is possibly the grossest thing ever). The girls, at this point, are convinced that someone broke in and is after them, but Marla isn't so sure. She's positive there's no way anyone could get in... but Claudia knows that Daniel knows the gate code. Everyone else still thinks he's a ghost, so they pay Claudia no mind.
Despite all these goings on, the girls decide the next day it would be a grand idea to go waterskiing. Every time they go outside Claudia has to slather herself in sunscreen because of her massive burn from being "buried alive." Sophie decides to try waterskiing first. Massive, massive idiots these girls are. Of course everything is fine... for a millisecond. Then Sophie gets pulled into the riptide but doesn't raise her right arm to signal that she's okay. Meanwhile, Marla's boat stalls, because of course it does. Claudia is a better friend than Joy or Marla, because she quickly dives into the water to save Sophie. She tries to avoid the riptide but gets caught in it anyway, and she convinces herself, once again, that she's going to die. What a stressful weekend this is! But along come Carl and Dean - again! They have already saved Sophie and quickly pull Claudia out of the water. Back on the shore, Marla is begrudgingly grateful to them. But as they go away Claudia notices something odd about the rope attached to the boat. It's been cut! Marla thinks Carl and Dean are to blame. But Sophie, Joy, and Claudia have other ideas.
They all congregate back at Marla's estate, and while Marla is away the girls begin whispering. Joy (or Sophie?) thinks Marla must be behind all of this. As she points out, it's possible that Marla knows they could have saved Alison but did nothing to help her. Thus, she is out for revenge. It seems likely, but by this point I already knew the real twist (because I watch Pretty Little Liars, natch). The girls know they need to leave, but their parents can't come until the day after. That leaves one more day filled with "accidents" and boy, hot damn!, RL Stine does not disappoint.
Claudia goes for a run the next morning (I've given up asking why at this point) in the bird sanctuary. But halfway through her run, she notices that there aren't any... well... birds. No sounds. Nothing. Something must have scared them off. Something like... an irish wolfhound? Yes, because that's the dog that's after her now. Claudia runs towards the water, because what else can she do? She's underestimating the fact that dogs don't really hate water like cats do, though, and the wolfhound keeps pursuing her. It bites into her leg which begins stinging like crazy because she's in saltwater. I mean, all this is quite enough shenanigans for one book or a lifetime, really, but we aren't done yet! Because now Claudia sees a shark. Yes. I'm not joking. The only thing she can think is to move her arms in smooth motions so as not to attract too much attention (though I'm sure the gaping wound in her leg will do the job just fine). Not to worry, though, Claud! The shark bites into the dog, turning the ocean red around her. Then, in what is perhaps the most sick-fuck piece of writing he's ever given us, RL describes how a piece of the dog floats up around Claudia. So if Jaws didn't officially fuck you up for life...
Marla rescues Claudia from the water. Claudia tries to explain everything, but it doesn't matter because I don't think God himself would believe her. Also, Marla doesn't really care about anyone, so there's that. Once Claudia gets back, all she can do is tell Sophie that they must escape, like, now! But Joy has gone out with Dean (or Carl) and isn't home. They wait for her because they don't really have a choice and once she gets back Claudia tells them that they HAVE to leave Summerhaven. She is positive now that Marla IS trying to kill them (the Irish wolfhound was hers). They go to the fence but Claudia reminds them it is electrified. So they decide to go around to the guest house, even though a storm is brewing and they know they don't really have a way out. When they come to the shed, they notice an odor permeating the air. The odor belongs to a human body. The body of... Marla! What?
Strange, isn't it then, that Marla soon after comes up behind them. The girls are baffled AF, but I wasn't. Because Pretty Little Liars taught me that no one is ever really dead. Especially not people named Alison. And surprise, bitches! That's who it is. Of course she faked dead to everyone else and went to live with the family that rescued her because she hated her own family. She saw Marla laughing at her on the log, and she never forgave the girls for not trying to save her. So she invited the girls to the estate to get her revenge, and she killed Marla as soon as she showed up. Chaos and fighting ensue, but Alison flees to the electrical fence. Claudia tries to tell her that it's electrified, but Alison won't listen. She touches it and fries to death... not escaping like lucky Sophie. Just then Daniel aka "Ghost Boy" shows up AGAIN and proves to Joy and Sophie that he's real. Turns out he's the butler's son but didn't want to cost his dad his job, so he had to be vague. All's well that ends well... except for Marla and Alison, I suppose, who seemed to have a family about as fucked up as the DiLaurentises.
Gaping Plot Holes: Would a shark really eat a dog but spare the girl whose leg is bleeding everywhere?
The Actual Suspect(s): Alison, Marla's not-so-dead little sister
Body Count: 2
The Usual Suspect(s): Marla and "Ghost Boy" aka Daniel
Tagline: The Perfect Tan... or the Perfect Murder?
Plot: So please forgive me if I forget what happens to whom. It's all so quick (146 pages!) and also there's not a lot of room for character development in that time.
We open with our protagonist, Claudia, buried alive. She's a redhead and the sun is killing her, zapping her energy where she can't move. She vaguely recalls where she is and why she's there. She was having a reunion with Camp Full Moon pals Sophie, Jill, and Marla. They are all at Marla's estate in Summerhaven. But if they all came to meet up, then why is Claudia being left for dead? And now the tide is coming in... Claudia says her goodbyes but, come on, it's page 5 or whatever so we know this isn't the end for her (though what a nice twist if it was!). All at once a boy named Daniel comes to her rescue and walks her back to Marla's house. He also seems to know the code to get into the estate. But just as she tries to introduce him to her friends, Daniel disappears.
Marla tells them all that he was a ghost. She weaves a fabulous story about a ghost in the guest house, and all three girls are enraptured by her tale. Then Marla breaks the magic and tells them it was all a joke! But Claudia is confused... who IS Daniel then? Dinner arrives and with it the sound of Joy screaming. There is a worm on her lettuce leaf. Basically the only thing we learn about Joy is that she is the drama queen of the group, and she REALLY hates bugs.
So far these couple of weird incidents don't spark alarm, but things get weirder. As they are leaving to head out one night (or day? who knows) Sophie goes to open the fence but gets an electrical shock. She is very badly shaken but insists that she is all right. The girls head out anyway and go to the local carnival. There they run into Carl and Dean, (whom they met previously on Marla's beach) and whom Sophie and Joy immediately snuggle up to. Marla is having none of it, however. She cannot stand the idea of getting close to them. Weird much, Marla? Claudia decides it would be better if she goes off on her own instead of getting involved in that mess, so she wanders near the ferris wheel and... lo and behold! It's Ghost Boy! Daniel shows up and suggests they ride the ferris wheel together. He hears Claudia call him a ghost and thinks it's hilarious and plays it up for all its worth (he runs it into the ground, to be honest). As they get to the top of the ferris wheel, it stops (why I won't ride them!), and they take in the view. But, suddenly, Daniel jokingly reaches out to grab the moon, rocking the car and plunging to his death!
No, he doesn't. But way to make absolutely sure I never ever again consider the ferris wheel a viable ride option, RL Stine. Instead Claudia flashes back in her head to the previous summer at Camp Full Moon and the cryptic situation with Marla's sister, Alison, that she and Sophie and Joy have been alluding to. Marla hated Alison, and it seems Alison was quite the jerk. What is it with girls named Alison, anyway? Alison comes in to bother the girls, and Marla tells her to leave them alone. But she won't, so Marla gives Alison a Truth or Dare, and Alison picks dare. Marla dares Alison to cross Grizzly Gorge at night... knowing full well that Alison is afraid of heights. It's a log stretching across a river, but Alison agrees to do it. When they go out to watch her, Marla gets stopped by the head counselor, Caroline, but the other girls carry on. When they arrive they plead and plead with Alison not to do it, but she won't be swayed. Their little game of Dare is interrupted, however, when they see flashlights and hear voices. The girls scatter, knowing that Alison is about to fall but doing nothing to help her. They assume (probably rightfully) that Alison plunged to her death that night, as her bloody t-shirt is found the next day.
The next crazy incident to happen at Marla's estate involves Joy again. She wakes everyone up in the middle of the night with her screaming about leeches on her arm (this is possibly the grossest thing ever). The girls, at this point, are convinced that someone broke in and is after them, but Marla isn't so sure. She's positive there's no way anyone could get in... but Claudia knows that Daniel knows the gate code. Everyone else still thinks he's a ghost, so they pay Claudia no mind.
Despite all these goings on, the girls decide the next day it would be a grand idea to go waterskiing. Every time they go outside Claudia has to slather herself in sunscreen because of her massive burn from being "buried alive." Sophie decides to try waterskiing first. Massive, massive idiots these girls are. Of course everything is fine... for a millisecond. Then Sophie gets pulled into the riptide but doesn't raise her right arm to signal that she's okay. Meanwhile, Marla's boat stalls, because of course it does. Claudia is a better friend than Joy or Marla, because she quickly dives into the water to save Sophie. She tries to avoid the riptide but gets caught in it anyway, and she convinces herself, once again, that she's going to die. What a stressful weekend this is! But along come Carl and Dean - again! They have already saved Sophie and quickly pull Claudia out of the water. Back on the shore, Marla is begrudgingly grateful to them. But as they go away Claudia notices something odd about the rope attached to the boat. It's been cut! Marla thinks Carl and Dean are to blame. But Sophie, Joy, and Claudia have other ideas.
They all congregate back at Marla's estate, and while Marla is away the girls begin whispering. Joy (or Sophie?) thinks Marla must be behind all of this. As she points out, it's possible that Marla knows they could have saved Alison but did nothing to help her. Thus, she is out for revenge. It seems likely, but by this point I already knew the real twist (because I watch Pretty Little Liars, natch). The girls know they need to leave, but their parents can't come until the day after. That leaves one more day filled with "accidents" and boy, hot damn!, RL Stine does not disappoint.
Claudia goes for a run the next morning (I've given up asking why at this point) in the bird sanctuary. But halfway through her run, she notices that there aren't any... well... birds. No sounds. Nothing. Something must have scared them off. Something like... an irish wolfhound? Yes, because that's the dog that's after her now. Claudia runs towards the water, because what else can she do? She's underestimating the fact that dogs don't really hate water like cats do, though, and the wolfhound keeps pursuing her. It bites into her leg which begins stinging like crazy because she's in saltwater. I mean, all this is quite enough shenanigans for one book or a lifetime, really, but we aren't done yet! Because now Claudia sees a shark. Yes. I'm not joking. The only thing she can think is to move her arms in smooth motions so as not to attract too much attention (though I'm sure the gaping wound in her leg will do the job just fine). Not to worry, though, Claud! The shark bites into the dog, turning the ocean red around her. Then, in what is perhaps the most sick-fuck piece of writing he's ever given us, RL describes how a piece of the dog floats up around Claudia. So if Jaws didn't officially fuck you up for life...
Marla rescues Claudia from the water. Claudia tries to explain everything, but it doesn't matter because I don't think God himself would believe her. Also, Marla doesn't really care about anyone, so there's that. Once Claudia gets back, all she can do is tell Sophie that they must escape, like, now! But Joy has gone out with Dean (or Carl) and isn't home. They wait for her because they don't really have a choice and once she gets back Claudia tells them that they HAVE to leave Summerhaven. She is positive now that Marla IS trying to kill them (the Irish wolfhound was hers). They go to the fence but Claudia reminds them it is electrified. So they decide to go around to the guest house, even though a storm is brewing and they know they don't really have a way out. When they come to the shed, they notice an odor permeating the air. The odor belongs to a human body. The body of... Marla! What?
Strange, isn't it then, that Marla soon after comes up behind them. The girls are baffled AF, but I wasn't. Because Pretty Little Liars taught me that no one is ever really dead. Especially not people named Alison. And surprise, bitches! That's who it is. Of course she faked dead to everyone else and went to live with the family that rescued her because she hated her own family. She saw Marla laughing at her on the log, and she never forgave the girls for not trying to save her. So she invited the girls to the estate to get her revenge, and she killed Marla as soon as she showed up. Chaos and fighting ensue, but Alison flees to the electrical fence. Claudia tries to tell her that it's electrified, but Alison won't listen. She touches it and fries to death... not escaping like lucky Sophie. Just then Daniel aka "Ghost Boy" shows up AGAIN and proves to Joy and Sophie that he's real. Turns out he's the butler's son but didn't want to cost his dad his job, so he had to be vague. All's well that ends well... except for Marla and Alison, I suppose, who seemed to have a family about as fucked up as the DiLaurentises.
Gaping Plot Holes: Would a shark really eat a dog but spare the girl whose leg is bleeding everywhere?
The Actual Suspect(s): Alison, Marla's not-so-dead little sister
March 11, 2018
Reviewed on Lili Lost in a Book
Claudia is invited to go on vacation with some friends from a camp she went to the previous summer. Claudia thought she was going to have the time of her life, just her and her friends alone, enjoying the seaside mansion with a private beach all to themselves. Just summer fun, right?
It all starts with Claudia being left out in the sun sleeping, buried in sand... deliberately? But that’s only the first of many “accidents” to come to the girls. Is it possible that their host is trying to kill them for what happened at camp last year? Or is it the stranger they Claudia keeps running into? They don’t think so, but all these accidents... why? What’s going on?!
I loved Sunburn! The f*cking plot twist at the end of the book...
It was AMAZING! I did not see it coming! This is exactly why I love Fear Street! The mystery was amazing, it was very thrilling and suspenseful, plus there was also a bit of nostalgia there ;)
The first time I read this (‘cause I’ve read this twice now) I found it really interesting that this book didn’t actually take place on Fear Street. However, Claudia actually lives on Fear Street, so that’s the connection. I guess that Fear Street curse follows you even when you leave the street...
The characters themselves I liked well enough (really liked Claudia’s love interest by the end of the book!) But, look, the only downside to these books is that they are so short I don’t have time to really connect with the characters. But on the other hand, it’s so short you can finish it in one sitting! Lol.
When it comes to Fear Street books, they can sometimes be a bit of a hit or miss, but Sunburn is definitely one of the best ones in the series that I have read! I highly recommend this one if you’re looking for a creepy summer read! Or, you know what, just read it whenever! Who cares! It’s great!
The Fear Street connection: Even though the book doesn't take place on Shadyside, the main character Claudia lives on Fear Street!
Claudia is invited to go on vacation with some friends from a camp she went to the previous summer. Claudia thought she was going to have the time of her life, just her and her friends alone, enjoying the seaside mansion with a private beach all to themselves. Just summer fun, right?
It all starts with Claudia being left out in the sun sleeping, buried in sand... deliberately? But that’s only the first of many “accidents” to come to the girls. Is it possible that their host is trying to kill them for what happened at camp last year? Or is it the stranger they Claudia keeps running into? They don’t think so, but all these accidents... why? What’s going on?!
I loved Sunburn! The f*cking plot twist at the end of the book...
It was AMAZING! I did not see it coming! This is exactly why I love Fear Street! The mystery was amazing, it was very thrilling and suspenseful, plus there was also a bit of nostalgia there ;)
The first time I read this (‘cause I’ve read this twice now) I found it really interesting that this book didn’t actually take place on Fear Street. However, Claudia actually lives on Fear Street, so that’s the connection. I guess that Fear Street curse follows you even when you leave the street...
The characters themselves I liked well enough (really liked Claudia’s love interest by the end of the book!) But, look, the only downside to these books is that they are so short I don’t have time to really connect with the characters. But on the other hand, it’s so short you can finish it in one sitting! Lol.
When it comes to Fear Street books, they can sometimes be a bit of a hit or miss, but Sunburn is definitely one of the best ones in the series that I have read! I highly recommend this one if you’re looking for a creepy summer read! Or, you know what, just read it whenever! Who cares! It’s great!
The Fear Street connection: Even though the book doesn't take place on Shadyside, the main character Claudia lives on Fear Street!
March 17, 2013
I really don’t have much to say about this book. Anyone who knows me can tell that I’m obsessed with Fear Street books, but this wasn’t that good at all. Mostly, it was just okay. The plot was kind of boring. There weren’t really any moments where I was scared or creeped out. There was one scene involving an Irish wolfhound and a shark. I felt like it was supposed to be super suspenseful. However, it wasn’t exciting at all and as pages and pages went by, I kept wishing that this part of the story would be over already. The thing with Daniel was stupid. The explanation made sense, but I thought the reveal seemed kind of like it was just thrown in at the end as an afterthought. I also didn’t understand why Marla and the others weren’t more concerned when Claudia said that this strange boy knew the code to the gate. You would’ve thought something like that would be a big deal, but everyone just ignored her. The ending was so anti-climactic! There’s the big twist and I’ll admit that I was more interested in the story after , but then the book seemed to wrap up too quickly. I wished it had been drawn out a bit longer because you found out who was causing all these bad things to happen and then a couple pages later the book was over.
January 7, 2015
This -- now, reinvigorated my interest in the series, which before I had only read in passing, with mild amusement. Sunburn is fun, atmospheric, and has a truly glorious death towards the end. Better still it's unpredictable -- Stine has built his name on his plot twists, after all -- though perhaps that more due to my ingenuity in the mystery genre than any special prowess on Stine's part.
Stine is just entertaining. Haters will hate, but there's no getting around the fact.
Stine is just entertaining. Haters will hate, but there's no getting around the fact.
January 18, 2015
I was surprised by the ending.
November 5, 2015
Pretty intense with a nice twist near the end. More lengthy review to follow.
February 7, 2017
An oldie but a goodie!
September 15, 2017
Super exciting. I loved the flashbacks and it was completely the opposite of what I expected!
June 22, 2023
A dark and fast paced Fear Street book perfect for a hot summer day!
July 6, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up. This was fun, but I wouldn't recommend starting with this book if you're just getting into Fear Street like me. It felt very removed, but I liked the beach vibes.
I wish I was joking, but I read this at the beach and, yes, I literally got a sunburn while reading Sunburn. Now, it is killing me...so painful! Haha, I guess I didn't put enough sunscreen on. So if you read this at the beach, try not to get burned like the character in the book does (or like me, haha).
There was a ridiculous scene with a shark and a dog, and that's all I'm going to say! So wild! I had such a good time with this one. I would recommend it for a simple beach read that is perfect for summertime. And as long as you go in knowing that it isn't a masterpiece (which it isn't meant to be), you will have a wonderful time like I did 🌞
I wish I was joking, but I read this at the beach and, yes, I literally got a sunburn while reading Sunburn. Now, it is killing me...so painful! Haha, I guess I didn't put enough sunscreen on. So if you read this at the beach, try not to get burned like the character in the book does (or like me, haha).
There was a ridiculous scene with a shark and a dog, and that's all I'm going to say! So wild! I had such a good time with this one. I would recommend it for a simple beach read that is perfect for summertime. And as long as you go in knowing that it isn't a masterpiece (which it isn't meant to be), you will have a wonderful time like I did 🌞
July 6, 2020
This was my go-to book when I was 11 years old. An R.L. Stine classic and sure to thrill and entertain you. Highly recommend this for teens and kids who are interested in thrillers. The drama in this book is amazing and I read it over and over again without growing bored.
March 20, 2018
This one was hilarious and not in a good way. I felt nothing close to excitement and that final plot twist was totally absurd. Two stars just for the laughs I've had over its lack of sense.
April 4, 2019
Reread this as an adult after being captivated by these books as a kid. Pretty scary!
July 3, 2021
I enjoyed it. A bit twist at the end.
July 11, 2021
WHAT a journey that was!
June 20, 2024
Holy crap! I can't believe I've written a hundred and one reviews already!
(You could get burned…
The perfect suntan. Soaking up the rays. Fun on the beach. That’s what Claudia Walker had in mind when she accepted her friend Marla’s invitation to spend the weekend at her cliffside beach house. Little did she know that horrible accidents—fatal accidents—would occur on the beach and in the house.
But Claudia knows they’re not “accidents.” She’s sure somebody is out to get them…out to kill them. The week of “fun in the sun” has turned dark and deadly!) ~ Blurb from Goodreads
The first chapter is really, really good. Here, Claudia is trapped beneath a pile of heavy sand, unable to move, baking in the sun, wondering where everyone is and crying out in vein for help. Despite it being quite short, it accomplishes so much. It gets the reader to care about Claudia and it gets them wondering how she got into this situation and how she's gonna get out of it.
There were some legitimately funny moments, like this one in chapter four for example, ""You hallucinate this Daniel," Marla told her. "Hallucinate one for me!" Sophie joked." Like, Sophie is so blunt yet so clever about wanting a guy, I can't help but burst into laughter.
Daniel is honestly my favorite character. The novel goes back and forth on whether or not he's an actual ghost. He's also a goofball that's able to take things in stride pretty well, like when Claudia asks if he's a ghost or not and he's just like, "Yup, I'm a ghost." Out of all the characters, he's the most fun and intriguing.
The mystery was uh... Let me explain. Basically, it can best be described as, "Whose torturing Claudia, Joy, and Sophie? Is it Marla? "Ghost Boy" Daniel? Or maybe " On the surface, it doesn't sound all that bad. In fact, for the majority of the time, I was legitimately invested, as it actually kept me guessing as to who was responsible, which is more than I can say for other YA mysteries I've read. But then in chapter twenty-four, it's revealed that Marla's sister Alison is alive and that she killed Marla because Marla smiled as she watched her fall and Alison feigned amnesia to start over and live with a family she thought was better. As a result, Alison killed Marla and posed as her to get revenge on Marla and the girls who let her fall. Yeah, if you couldn't tell already, this was too stupid for me to waste spoiler tags on it. Even putting aside the question of how the hell Alison even survived that fall, this is still a really dumb twist. Like, how was everyone fooled into believing Alison's facade? Yes, she has strawberry hair like her sister, but to my knowledge, that's the only thing they have in common and she didn't seem to put that much effort into disguising herself either, so everyone just comes off as uncharacteristically dumb. Had Alison put just a little more effort into disguising herself, I would actually be more okay with it.
Aside from Daniel, the characters were super underdeveloped. Like, at most, they get one or two minor character traits and even then, these traits only show up maybe once or twice. Granted, the novel does try to give characters like Claudia and the girls extra development with the whole "They let Alison fall" incident. But it doesn't really work. Now given how the girls (especially Claudia) feel enough guilt about the incident to rewrite how it went down, you would expect that it would have much more of an impact on them. However, with Claudia and the other girls, it doesn't really seem to affect them except when it's convenient for the plot. I understand that R.L Stine isn't exactly known for writing deep and complex characters and I understand that this novel is only one hundred and fifty pages, but I still feel that they could've been given a little bit more to work with (like maybe one of the girls is afraid of seagulls and is forced to conquer her fear over the course of the story in part because she didn't want to let Marla down by declining her invitation to stay with her for the week).
Overall, Sunburn was a novel that knows how to keep the reader invested, even if it has some rough patches.
Overall Grade: B-
(You could get burned…
The perfect suntan. Soaking up the rays. Fun on the beach. That’s what Claudia Walker had in mind when she accepted her friend Marla’s invitation to spend the weekend at her cliffside beach house. Little did she know that horrible accidents—fatal accidents—would occur on the beach and in the house.
But Claudia knows they’re not “accidents.” She’s sure somebody is out to get them…out to kill them. The week of “fun in the sun” has turned dark and deadly!) ~ Blurb from Goodreads
The first chapter is really, really good. Here, Claudia is trapped beneath a pile of heavy sand, unable to move, baking in the sun, wondering where everyone is and crying out in vein for help. Despite it being quite short, it accomplishes so much. It gets the reader to care about Claudia and it gets them wondering how she got into this situation and how she's gonna get out of it.
There were some legitimately funny moments, like this one in chapter four for example, ""You hallucinate this Daniel," Marla told her. "Hallucinate one for me!" Sophie joked." Like, Sophie is so blunt yet so clever about wanting a guy, I can't help but burst into laughter.
Daniel is honestly my favorite character. The novel goes back and forth on whether or not he's an actual ghost. He's also a goofball that's able to take things in stride pretty well, like when Claudia asks if he's a ghost or not and he's just like, "Yup, I'm a ghost." Out of all the characters, he's the most fun and intriguing.
The mystery was uh... Let me explain. Basically, it can best be described as, "Whose torturing Claudia, Joy, and Sophie? Is it Marla? "Ghost Boy" Daniel? Or maybe " On the surface, it doesn't sound all that bad. In fact, for the majority of the time, I was legitimately invested, as it actually kept me guessing as to who was responsible, which is more than I can say for other YA mysteries I've read. But then in chapter twenty-four, it's revealed that Marla's sister Alison is alive and that she killed Marla because Marla smiled as she watched her fall and Alison feigned amnesia to start over and live with a family she thought was better. As a result, Alison killed Marla and posed as her to get revenge on Marla and the girls who let her fall. Yeah, if you couldn't tell already, this was too stupid for me to waste spoiler tags on it. Even putting aside the question of how the hell Alison even survived that fall, this is still a really dumb twist. Like, how was everyone fooled into believing Alison's facade? Yes, she has strawberry hair like her sister, but to my knowledge, that's the only thing they have in common and she didn't seem to put that much effort into disguising herself either, so everyone just comes off as uncharacteristically dumb. Had Alison put just a little more effort into disguising herself, I would actually be more okay with it.
Aside from Daniel, the characters were super underdeveloped. Like, at most, they get one or two minor character traits and even then, these traits only show up maybe once or twice. Granted, the novel does try to give characters like Claudia and the girls extra development with the whole "They let Alison fall" incident. But it doesn't really work. Now given how the girls (especially Claudia) feel enough guilt about the incident to rewrite how it went down, you would expect that it would have much more of an impact on them. However, with Claudia and the other girls, it doesn't really seem to affect them except when it's convenient for the plot. I understand that R.L Stine isn't exactly known for writing deep and complex characters and I understand that this novel is only one hundred and fifty pages, but I still feel that they could've been given a little bit more to work with (like maybe one of the girls is afraid of seagulls and is forced to conquer her fear over the course of the story in part because she didn't want to let Marla down by declining her invitation to stay with her for the week).
Overall, Sunburn was a novel that knows how to keep the reader invested, even if it has some rough patches.
Overall Grade: B-
October 11, 2025
claudia is chased by an irish wolfhound into the sea, and then she met a shark. tough luck, girl.
it's actually my favourite story from fear street series. what can i say, maybe i just live for the summer thrill.
it's actually my favourite story from fear street series. what can i say, maybe i just live for the summer thrill.
July 7, 2025
More plot holes than plot, and the shark scene was SO unnecessary.
July 31, 2022
Entertaining read. For me, the end was predictable but I probably wouldn't have figured it out if I read this when the book was first published. It was still very enjoyable and just the type of read I was looking for when I picked it up.
June 19, 2023
Right off the bat *SPOILER WARNING* to come but I couldn't find anyway around it...
Claudia receives a letter from her camp buddy Marla Drexler inviting her and the rest of their bunkmates to a reunion at her beach house in Summerhaven. Marla is stinking rich with a guest house and tennis courts along with a private stretch of beach and it sounds like a nice getaway from a messy breakup and the dreariness of Fear Street for Claudia.
Besides Marla and Claudia we have Joy, an exotic looking girl with black hair and Sophie, frizzy brown hair with glasses but not described as "not pretty" so basically a makeover montage away from hottie town.
Apparently the girls visited the beach and buried Claudia in the sand! They kind of forgot about her I guess and left her to not only fry in the sun by falling asleep but to then wake up screaming her head off in terror. I don't really blame her for that but it is kind of her fault as she did volunteer to be buried in the sand and her antihistamine for her allergies knocked her out.
Don't worry about Claudia she gets free from her wet, sand prison thanks to a mysterious, tall, dark and handsome boy on the beach! He introduces himself as Daniel and helps Claudia back to Marla's mansion where he mysteriously knows the security code to let her inside. The other girls race out to meet Claudia and before she can introduce him...he's vanished like a ghost! Seems it was just a little misunderstanding as Joy and Sophie were told by Marla that Claudia had already gone back to the house...oh well mistakes happen!
Over the next couple of days, a few events happen that seem to make the week of fun and sun a little strange and unsettling. The girls go for a picnic on the beach and run into a pair of really hot deep diving hunksters named Dean and Sam...I mean Carl.
Both Joy and Sophie get flirty and Claudia would too if not for her face being burned by her little "accident" the other day and having her face slathered in pink sunscreen. Marla on the other hand seems more than pissed about their arrival and tries her bitch best to get them to leave which isn't like her.
The girls go to the boardwalk later and run into Carl and Dean again but Claudia goes off on her own and runs into Daniel! The two of them go to ride the Ferris Wheel and being up so high when they stop to let other people on breaks the romance as Claudia remembers just maybe why Marla is being so...weird.
The previous year at Camp Full Moon (nice subtle name huh?) the four girls were pestered all summer by Marla's sister Alison. She was a tag-a-long that was so bratty she even got under Sophie and Claudia's skin being the nice ones.
When Alison threatened to tattletale if the older girls didn't let her participate in their Truth or Dare game, Marla dared her to cross a gorge at night. Sneaking out that night, Marla got caught but Claudia, Joy and Sophie met Alison at the gorge where she made it out halfway on a large log but got hit with vertigo.
Trying to come back, the other girls got scared off by the counselors' flashlights and the last thing Claudia heard was a scream. The next morning, only Alison's bloody shirt was found on a jagged rock jutting out from the water.
This begins to make Joy think that Marla only invited them to get back at them for letting her sister die even if it was an accident and not directly their fault (it was Marla who dared Alison remember?) when Sophie almost gets electrocuted by the security gate and Joy finds leeches in her bed!
Things come to a head when both Sophie and Claudia almost drown while water skiing but are saved by Carl and Dean. The tow rope had been cut but by whom? Is Marla really out for revenge at Alison's death or could Daniel, the boy who mysteriously vanishes be behind all of these nasty tricks?
I always enjoyed this book but you can see the ending coming from a mile away once the backstory is revealed but maybe not in the way that you think. There are some scenes that made me just as paranoid as Joy, Sophie and Claudia.
Anything horror driven involving the beach does that to me and well let's just say there is a shark involved as well as a dog and a lot of detail and leave it at that.
As I said you'll probably figure out the twist and of course you get a nice ending but it's more bittersweet then happy depending which characters you like. There's not really a reason to dislike any of the characters but again it's all up to your own opinion.
There is unfortunately a scene that still has me traumatized to this day...If you know you know.
If you have not read Sunburn, it may throw you for a loop.
Other than that Sunburn is a great Fear Street entry and perfect for the summer. So I am still keeping my five star rating for the sake of nostalgia and a decent story that still has a way to bury itself under my skin if only for one moment of pure shock value.
Claudia receives a letter from her camp buddy Marla Drexler inviting her and the rest of their bunkmates to a reunion at her beach house in Summerhaven. Marla is stinking rich with a guest house and tennis courts along with a private stretch of beach and it sounds like a nice getaway from a messy breakup and the dreariness of Fear Street for Claudia.
Besides Marla and Claudia we have Joy, an exotic looking girl with black hair and Sophie, frizzy brown hair with glasses but not described as "not pretty" so basically a makeover montage away from hottie town.
Apparently the girls visited the beach and buried Claudia in the sand! They kind of forgot about her I guess and left her to not only fry in the sun by falling asleep but to then wake up screaming her head off in terror. I don't really blame her for that but it is kind of her fault as she did volunteer to be buried in the sand and her antihistamine for her allergies knocked her out.
Don't worry about Claudia she gets free from her wet, sand prison thanks to a mysterious, tall, dark and handsome boy on the beach! He introduces himself as Daniel and helps Claudia back to Marla's mansion where he mysteriously knows the security code to let her inside. The other girls race out to meet Claudia and before she can introduce him...he's vanished like a ghost! Seems it was just a little misunderstanding as Joy and Sophie were told by Marla that Claudia had already gone back to the house...oh well mistakes happen!
Over the next couple of days, a few events happen that seem to make the week of fun and sun a little strange and unsettling. The girls go for a picnic on the beach and run into a pair of really hot deep diving hunksters named Dean and Sam...I mean Carl.
Both Joy and Sophie get flirty and Claudia would too if not for her face being burned by her little "accident" the other day and having her face slathered in pink sunscreen. Marla on the other hand seems more than pissed about their arrival and tries her bitch best to get them to leave which isn't like her.
The girls go to the boardwalk later and run into Carl and Dean again but Claudia goes off on her own and runs into Daniel! The two of them go to ride the Ferris Wheel and being up so high when they stop to let other people on breaks the romance as Claudia remembers just maybe why Marla is being so...weird.
The previous year at Camp Full Moon (nice subtle name huh?) the four girls were pestered all summer by Marla's sister Alison. She was a tag-a-long that was so bratty she even got under Sophie and Claudia's skin being the nice ones.
When Alison threatened to tattletale if the older girls didn't let her participate in their Truth or Dare game, Marla dared her to cross a gorge at night. Sneaking out that night, Marla got caught but Claudia, Joy and Sophie met Alison at the gorge where she made it out halfway on a large log but got hit with vertigo.
Trying to come back, the other girls got scared off by the counselors' flashlights and the last thing Claudia heard was a scream. The next morning, only Alison's bloody shirt was found on a jagged rock jutting out from the water.
This begins to make Joy think that Marla only invited them to get back at them for letting her sister die even if it was an accident and not directly their fault (it was Marla who dared Alison remember?) when Sophie almost gets electrocuted by the security gate and Joy finds leeches in her bed!
Things come to a head when both Sophie and Claudia almost drown while water skiing but are saved by Carl and Dean. The tow rope had been cut but by whom? Is Marla really out for revenge at Alison's death or could Daniel, the boy who mysteriously vanishes be behind all of these nasty tricks?
I always enjoyed this book but you can see the ending coming from a mile away once the backstory is revealed but maybe not in the way that you think. There are some scenes that made me just as paranoid as Joy, Sophie and Claudia.
Anything horror driven involving the beach does that to me and well let's just say there is a shark involved as well as a dog and a lot of detail and leave it at that.
As I said you'll probably figure out the twist and of course you get a nice ending but it's more bittersweet then happy depending which characters you like. There's not really a reason to dislike any of the characters but again it's all up to your own opinion.
There is unfortunately a scene that still has me traumatized to this day...If you know you know.
If you have not read Sunburn, it may throw you for a loop.
Other than that Sunburn is a great Fear Street entry and perfect for the summer. So I am still keeping my five star rating for the sake of nostalgia and a decent story that still has a way to bury itself under my skin if only for one moment of pure shock value.
November 27, 2024
I appreciated that RL Stine changed up the plot formula a little bit. Sunburn opens with a pretty intense scene right out of the gate, and then never really lets up. It made for some awkward transitions in places, but the slight variation in the Fear Street formula was a welcome change. I was hooked from page one. There was an over-reliance on rip tides as a plot device. I rolled my eyes several times during one particular scene that just became absurd. You’ll have to read my full review below the jump for the details on that. I think I may have had the ending spoiled for me because I figured out the twist fairly early on. It could have also just been predictable if you’ve read enough RL Stine. I was still entertained in spite of that because I couldn’t figure out how all of the pieces fit together. The plausibility of the whole premise was a bit of a stretch, but the overall solid characters made up the difference. The book could have been even stronger with a smarter and more competent villain, but at least this one delivered some hilariously incompetent gold. Overall, I think Sunburn managed to be better than your average book in the series, but it fell short of being one of the best.
Score: 3.5
For my snark-filled, spoiler-laced, deep-dive review; check out my blog:
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Score: 3.5
For my snark-filled, spoiler-laced, deep-dive review; check out my blog:
Blog Review I Instagram I Twitter
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