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The Photographer
Some people would die to have the perfect pictureDerrick, the new kid at Boulder High, seems a little strange. Maybe he’s just shy, or marches to the beat of a different drummer, but he gives Cynthia the creeps. He’s got talent with a camera, though, and quickly earns a spot in the school photography club with Megan, who has been having strange dreams ever since he arrived. When the pretty girls Derrick photographs for the school paper begin getting sick, Megan realizes his camera can do more than take spectacular photos—it can actually kill. And Megan is not immune to Derrick’s control. Can she stop him before she becomes his next victim?
157 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 10, 2018
It's not great literature and it's predictable, but it was entertaining and an easy, short read. The ending was fun.
October 1, 2022
Yes I know that there is a sequel novel to this one and I have yet to find and procure a copy to read at this moment.
That out of the way...
I find myself liking the style in which Steiner writes or wrote her books as she is deceased :(
Some supernatural element is in most of the ones I've read so far and I like that this one leaves it open ended for a sequel...you don't really know how or why all of this is going on. You get some basic outline of what is going on and who is behind it. Sometimes ambiguous endings make me furious but this one doesn't.
Megan Davidson works on the yearbook and the school paper of her high school...it's something she enjoys. She's pretty and down to earth but doesn't think she is as beautiful as the other girls in her class. Like her friend Cynthia who is blonde and the homecoming queen but is also into fashion design.
She's not as dumb as other girls like Bunny and Roxie who are members of Cynthia's court and all of the other most popular girls. Cynthia has just broken up with her boyfriend Gus and newest member of the yearbook, Derrick Ames, asks her to go to Homecoming.
Cynthia tells Megan that he gives her the creeps. Megan has nothing against Derrick even if he is a little quiet and she would kill to be able to take pictures like him...to possess even half his talent.
Derrick's in charge of taking pictures of the Homecoming court and it's pretty clear he is interested in Cynthia and detests girls like Bunny and Roxie. Cynthia soon reconciles with Gus and makes it clear to Derrick that their date never really was set in stone.
Working close with editor Robert, Megan realizes he has feelings for her and they decide to go to the dance together. Derrick is there taking pictures of Cynthia along with his assignment of covering the dance. Megan is having the time of her life...until Cynthia faints.
Doctors can't figure out what is wrong with her but Megan can't help but shake the feelings she has been having and the dreams where she saw Cynthia in a white room, pale and sick. Soon after on Halloween, Bunny faints at the Halloween celebration at the mall.
Before all is said and done, every girl on the Homecoming court has became tired, sick and weak...as if all the life is being sucked out of them. It's said in some cultures that a camera can steal a part of your soul when it takes your picture and Megan's family has traveled to enough countries for her to believe it too.
How else can she explain what is happening to her classmates and the only thing else they have in common is that Derrick was their photographer...
It is a premise I can vaguely remember happening in some sort of movie or TV show episode that I can't remember the name but I like it. Megan is a likeable protagonist who you can relate to when her best friend becomes ill and she tries to have hope Cynthia and the others will get better.
Derrick is made to be not likeable at all and I'm not sure if any backstory would make him even remotely redeemable. Megan's parents are very caring and Robert is one of those nice guy boyfriends everyone else doesn't get as much personality or memorability for me.
It's a pretty decent read and highly recommendable. Hopefully I'll get to The Photographer II eventually and see if it's just as enjoyable...
That out of the way...
I find myself liking the style in which Steiner writes or wrote her books as she is deceased :(
Some supernatural element is in most of the ones I've read so far and I like that this one leaves it open ended for a sequel...you don't really know how or why all of this is going on. You get some basic outline of what is going on and who is behind it. Sometimes ambiguous endings make me furious but this one doesn't.
Megan Davidson works on the yearbook and the school paper of her high school...it's something she enjoys. She's pretty and down to earth but doesn't think she is as beautiful as the other girls in her class. Like her friend Cynthia who is blonde and the homecoming queen but is also into fashion design.
She's not as dumb as other girls like Bunny and Roxie who are members of Cynthia's court and all of the other most popular girls. Cynthia has just broken up with her boyfriend Gus and newest member of the yearbook, Derrick Ames, asks her to go to Homecoming.
Cynthia tells Megan that he gives her the creeps. Megan has nothing against Derrick even if he is a little quiet and she would kill to be able to take pictures like him...to possess even half his talent.
Derrick's in charge of taking pictures of the Homecoming court and it's pretty clear he is interested in Cynthia and detests girls like Bunny and Roxie. Cynthia soon reconciles with Gus and makes it clear to Derrick that their date never really was set in stone.
Working close with editor Robert, Megan realizes he has feelings for her and they decide to go to the dance together. Derrick is there taking pictures of Cynthia along with his assignment of covering the dance. Megan is having the time of her life...until Cynthia faints.
Doctors can't figure out what is wrong with her but Megan can't help but shake the feelings she has been having and the dreams where she saw Cynthia in a white room, pale and sick. Soon after on Halloween, Bunny faints at the Halloween celebration at the mall.
Before all is said and done, every girl on the Homecoming court has became tired, sick and weak...as if all the life is being sucked out of them. It's said in some cultures that a camera can steal a part of your soul when it takes your picture and Megan's family has traveled to enough countries for her to believe it too.
How else can she explain what is happening to her classmates and the only thing else they have in common is that Derrick was their photographer...
It is a premise I can vaguely remember happening in some sort of movie or TV show episode that I can't remember the name but I like it. Megan is a likeable protagonist who you can relate to when her best friend becomes ill and she tries to have hope Cynthia and the others will get better.
Derrick is made to be not likeable at all and I'm not sure if any backstory would make him even remotely redeemable. Megan's parents are very caring and Robert is one of those nice guy boyfriends everyone else doesn't get as much personality or memorability for me.
It's a pretty decent read and highly recommendable. Hopefully I'll get to The Photographer II eventually and see if it's just as enjoyable...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2018
Good strange little story although I feel like I have only read half the story so need to read the next book.
February 1, 2024
This book would have been a 3 if it weren’t for the ending… the ending is what really ruined it for me.
September 8, 2024
Silly very predictable but a nice quick easy read which is sometimes better in my opinion
February 15, 2015
Actual page number: 138 pages
It's a decent book. Not something I'll reread more than once but it's alright.
I liked the concept of the book of camera sapping energy from a person as it makes the cameras in real life seemingly threatening after reading this for the readers.
The book isn't overly suspenseful which decrease my rating for the book but at there are some parts which are suspenseful that keeps he book from being boring. Just some though.
Another problem I have with the book is that some parts are unexplained. There were parts when the main character had made right predictions of what's going to happen but it's not explained where she got the power. The camera's backstory is also never explained. I guess the author wants to make it elusive but the villain never attempts to drop subtle hints about it so I don't thinks it should be cryptic and any explanation for the camera, no matter how poorly made it is, would be fine.
Main character Megan is likeable. She's more of studious and serious who have to handle school work and activities while suffering from a painful flashback involving a plane accident. I like how she try to be assertive to herself when fighting against obstacles for reaching her goal.
I wish the book was more scary or tense. The plot's interesting enough to make me read the book for the afternoon but it needs more action instead of characters worrying about the girl's conditions or Megan suspecting Derrick throughout pages. It's still worth a read for those who want to read about the supernatural.
It's a decent book. Not something I'll reread more than once but it's alright.
I liked the concept of the book of camera sapping energy from a person as it makes the cameras in real life seemingly threatening after reading this for the readers.
The book isn't overly suspenseful which decrease my rating for the book but at there are some parts which are suspenseful that keeps he book from being boring. Just some though.
Another problem I have with the book is that some parts are unexplained. There were parts when the main character had made right predictions of what's going to happen but it's not explained where she got the power. The camera's backstory is also never explained. I guess the author wants to make it elusive but the villain never attempts to drop subtle hints about it so I don't thinks it should be cryptic and any explanation for the camera, no matter how poorly made it is, would be fine.
Main character Megan is likeable. She's more of studious and serious who have to handle school work and activities while suffering from a painful flashback involving a plane accident. I like how she try to be assertive to herself when fighting against obstacles for reaching her goal.
I wish the book was more scary or tense. The plot's interesting enough to make me read the book for the afternoon but it needs more action instead of characters worrying about the girl's conditions or Megan suspecting Derrick throughout pages. It's still worth a read for those who want to read about the supernatural.
September 29, 2014
When I requested this book from netgalley I had no idea it was an old book from the early 90's reprinted, I was totally fooled by the modern cover. To me this is a good thing, I am such a huge fan of Point Horror and Fear Street books and this could have easily been a title from the Point Horror archives. (Upon googling I found out Barbara Steiner did actually write some of them back in the day.)
It has a far fetched plot about pretty girls at school who become sick after having their photograph taken by school nerd Derrick. Megan realises there is something dodgy about him but can she stop him or will she become his next victim?
These type of books were always very short and easy to read, you could easily get through one in a couple of hours so they are the perfect read for when you don't fancy plowing your way through a huge book. I will actually go and check out what other books the author has written as I always love a blast from the past with some 90's horror.
It has a far fetched plot about pretty girls at school who become sick after having their photograph taken by school nerd Derrick. Megan realises there is something dodgy about him but can she stop him or will she become his next victim?
These type of books were always very short and easy to read, you could easily get through one in a couple of hours so they are the perfect read for when you don't fancy plowing your way through a huge book. I will actually go and check out what other books the author has written as I always love a blast from the past with some 90's horror.
February 24, 2015
Sad. I liked this book but I also hated it. I hated that someone would intentionally hurt innocent people because of their own injured feelings. I guess that's the way it has always worked in this world, though. Sad.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews