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Fear Street Relaunch #6
Give Me a K-I-L-L
The cheerleading squad at Shadyside has always been strong, but now there are rumors that lack of funds may mean the end of cheerleading at Shadyside. That would be a shame for Heather Wyatt, who has just transferred from her old school, where she was a star, and is eager to join the squad. There s only one other girl who stands in her way rich, spoiled Devra Dalby, who is also trying out for the one open slot. The competition to join the squad is anything but friendly and it ends in murder. Will Heather make the squad if there's even a squad anymore or will she end up dead?
281 pages, Hardcover
First published April 4, 2017
60 people are currently reading
2379 people want to read
About the author
R.L. Stine
1,679 books18.6k 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 308 reviews
March 3, 2017
If you’re a fan of this series, a fan of R.L. Stine, or are just looking for a good mystery to read, then look no further. You need to pick up a copy of Give Me a K-I-L-L right away!
Gretchen has just moved to Fear Street and is the new kid at Shadyside High. Her mother’s messy divorce has moved them far away from her best friend and cheerleading co-captain. Settling into a new school can be hard, especially when everyone’s known each other for years. Gretchen’s best chance is to put the past behind her to try out for Shadyside’s cheerleading team. While Gretchen manages to score a tryout, she also makes an enemy, Devra, a spoiled rich girl who's used to getting her way, and will stop at nothing to win the tryout. Can Gretchen get out of this without making any enemies? Or getting herself killed in the process?
If you’ve read my review of the previous Fear Street Relaunch book called The Dead Boyfriend, you would know how much I obsess over this series. I haven't read all the books (yet), and fyi you don't need to read the books in order, so feel free to start off with this one.
Give Me a K-I-L-L was absolutely fantastic. I had to start reading the book right away, and when I started it, I finished the book in one sitting. That’s how good it was. No joke. There is tons of action and suspense throughout the whole book, and the one thing I love about the way that R.L. Stine writes books, is that no matter what theory I have about who the bad guy is, it is never who I think it is, I never come close. I’m always pleasantly surprised, and this book was no exception.
It’s very hard to talk about this book without spoiling anything, because like I said, the action starts right from the beginning. I do want to say, that the characters are absolutely amazing, the storyline is very creative, and it definitely has enough action and suspense to keep the reader engaged. You wont know what’s coming next. The only thing about this book that I would change, is the length, because I did not want this book to end. I need more!!
I highly recommend this book to all readers, whether you love young adult or adult books, I feel like everyone could find something they love about this book.
Happy Reading,
Aneta
Gretchen has just moved to Fear Street and is the new kid at Shadyside High. Her mother’s messy divorce has moved them far away from her best friend and cheerleading co-captain. Settling into a new school can be hard, especially when everyone’s known each other for years. Gretchen’s best chance is to put the past behind her to try out for Shadyside’s cheerleading team. While Gretchen manages to score a tryout, she also makes an enemy, Devra, a spoiled rich girl who's used to getting her way, and will stop at nothing to win the tryout. Can Gretchen get out of this without making any enemies? Or getting herself killed in the process?
If you’ve read my review of the previous Fear Street Relaunch book called The Dead Boyfriend, you would know how much I obsess over this series. I haven't read all the books (yet), and fyi you don't need to read the books in order, so feel free to start off with this one.
Give Me a K-I-L-L was absolutely fantastic. I had to start reading the book right away, and when I started it, I finished the book in one sitting. That’s how good it was. No joke. There is tons of action and suspense throughout the whole book, and the one thing I love about the way that R.L. Stine writes books, is that no matter what theory I have about who the bad guy is, it is never who I think it is, I never come close. I’m always pleasantly surprised, and this book was no exception.
It’s very hard to talk about this book without spoiling anything, because like I said, the action starts right from the beginning. I do want to say, that the characters are absolutely amazing, the storyline is very creative, and it definitely has enough action and suspense to keep the reader engaged. You wont know what’s coming next. The only thing about this book that I would change, is the length, because I did not want this book to end. I need more!!
I highly recommend this book to all readers, whether you love young adult or adult books, I feel like everyone could find something they love about this book.
Happy Reading,
Aneta
January 18, 2022
I felt very lucky to be approved to listen to the audio book for this one and get the chance to give my feedback. R. L. Stine was one of my favorite authors as a child and I am excited that Fear Street books are making a come back. I honestly wondered where they went since there were so many. The twists in this story were decent but not totally unpredictable in my opinion. But it definitely brought back my own teenage angst and enjoyment at finding the world of horror which created a love I still have now. In this book Gretchen is new to Shadyside and she really wants to be a cheerleader, but the only spot was already promised to rich girl Devra who was not pleased to learn there would be tryouts. Like any good Fear Street story there is violence and death tied into the teenage drama. I’m excited to read or listen to o more in this re-launch. I also loved the narrator and thought she did an excellent job creating the characters.
October 12, 2020
I wasn't expecting that ending.
August 16, 2021
This was so much fun! Listened as an audio and I have to admit, just as good as the first time I stumbled on Fear Street books. I was hooked right from the start. New girl, new town - the pranks, the weird mumblings, the door banging. I loved it all! I can't wait to see the re-boot show on Netflix and read the rest in the series!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
August 1, 2021
Gretchen Wyatt didn't expect this rocky of a start to her first days at Shadyside High -- fighting over the one open spot on the cheerleading squad. And she certainly didn't expect the competition to be murder....literally.
R.L. Stine takes teenage drama and sprinkles in just the right amount of blood and horror to make this story entertaining. The main characters are pretty much cheerleader and mean girl stereotypes, but that's expected. That's how Fear Street stories work....take the usual teen stereotypes rehashed over and over in movies and books, but add in some twisty horror. Let's face it...there's no way the Shadyside Cheerleading squad is going to stop at just normal teen angst. There will be blood and screams....
I listened to the audio version of this story. The audio is just short of 5.5 hours long and narrated by Brittany Pressley. She gives an excellent voice acting performance. The story kept my attention from start to finish. The story is definitely geared to its target YA audience, but I still enjoyed it. I didn't expect the ending -- R.L. Stine always seems to deliver a great ending!
**I voluntarily listened to a review copy of this audio book from Macmillan Audio. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
R.L. Stine takes teenage drama and sprinkles in just the right amount of blood and horror to make this story entertaining. The main characters are pretty much cheerleader and mean girl stereotypes, but that's expected. That's how Fear Street stories work....take the usual teen stereotypes rehashed over and over in movies and books, but add in some twisty horror. Let's face it...there's no way the Shadyside Cheerleading squad is going to stop at just normal teen angst. There will be blood and screams....
I listened to the audio version of this story. The audio is just short of 5.5 hours long and narrated by Brittany Pressley. She gives an excellent voice acting performance. The story kept my attention from start to finish. The story is definitely geared to its target YA audience, but I still enjoyed it. I didn't expect the ending -- R.L. Stine always seems to deliver a great ending!
**I voluntarily listened to a review copy of this audio book from Macmillan Audio. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
January 15, 2017
Release Date: April 4, 2017
Genre: Young Adult Horror
R.L. Stine is back at is again, bringing readers a teen scream that will keep you satisfied. I originally wanted to read this book for nostalgias sake (I mean, R.L. Stine's Fear Street books are what made me an avid reader in the first place). And, true to his form of writing, I was brought back to a time when these books were my calling. Now, while I think the formula he uses to write these stories are a tad out of date, I still enjoyed this novel from start to finish.
For those who have been a fan of this author, I would definitely recommend diving into this novel. It will definitely bring back memories, that's for sure! And who knows, maybe you will get a secret thrill like I did!
Genre: Young Adult Horror
R.L. Stine is back at is again, bringing readers a teen scream that will keep you satisfied. I originally wanted to read this book for nostalgias sake (I mean, R.L. Stine's Fear Street books are what made me an avid reader in the first place). And, true to his form of writing, I was brought back to a time when these books were my calling. Now, while I think the formula he uses to write these stories are a tad out of date, I still enjoyed this novel from start to finish.
For those who have been a fan of this author, I would definitely recommend diving into this novel. It will definitely bring back memories, that's for sure! And who knows, maybe you will get a secret thrill like I did!
October 8, 2021
Was this even edited?
So a girl dies. Someone applied acid to her violin, which somehow didn't manage to impact the violin in any visible way but was strong enough to burn THROUGH the skin on the girl's neck, through her "AORTA," and leave her bleeding out on the stage.
1. That's not how acid would work
2. The aorta is in the CHEST
3. The artery in the neck is the CAROTID
Clumsy and only periodically fun, but the ridiculous errors made it impossible to enjoy even ironically.
The narrator was Brittany Pressley and she was fine. I didn't love the stereotypical "vapid teen girl" voice she put on for the occasional character, but whatever.
I received a copy of this audiobook for free from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.
So a girl dies. Someone applied acid to her violin, which somehow didn't manage to impact the violin in any visible way but was strong enough to burn THROUGH the skin on the girl's neck, through her "AORTA," and leave her bleeding out on the stage.
1. That's not how acid would work
2. The aorta is in the CHEST
3. The artery in the neck is the CAROTID
Clumsy and only periodically fun, but the ridiculous errors made it impossible to enjoy even ironically.
The narrator was Brittany Pressley and she was fine. I didn't love the stereotypical "vapid teen girl" voice she put on for the occasional character, but whatever.
I received a copy of this audiobook for free from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.
October 19, 2022
Give Me A K.I.L.L., the 6th and final Fear Street relaunch book. I read this in the bind-up/collection titled Nightmares along with The Dead Boyfriend.
I'll say that overall, I think this third bind-up of newer Fear Street books was the most enjoyable, with both stories being decent/good, whereas with the previous two they both had one good story and the other sucked.
This one is about Gretchen moving to Shadyside and trying to fit in by joining the high school cheerleader squad. There's only one opening for the season and she happens to be up against Devra Dalby in the tryouts. (Relative of Reva, I presume?)
Devra is a rich, spoiled brat that tries to bribe her way into making the squad as Gretchen is the more talented athlete. A feud erupts between them and before long, "accidents" start happening and people get injured - and worse - murdered.
Who is behind these shenanigans? Is it the stuck-up and selfish Devra who is out to get Gretchen? Or is there another explanation?
This one relies much more on the mystery aspect, unlike the Dead Boyfriend, which leaned more into the thriller/horror genre. Even though I was able to (mostly) predict the outcome/reveal of the mystery, I was still thoroughly engaged in this and had a good time with it. It does follow a similar formula as the former novel, but offers a different flavor. The characters here a tad more layered and likable, and of course there are a few twists and turns along the way to keep things exciting, even if it doesn't have the level of violence and thrills as its predecessor.
It could just be because I read them back to back, but I do think the length of this one is more noticeable. These Fear Street novels are around 250-260 pages compared to the 160-180 page average of the older ones. While they're not terribly paced or unnecessarily long, this one did feel a bit padded at times. The climax/ending was also a bit rushed and I think Stine could have taken his time to capitalize on the final act a bit more.
There is one final "twist" to this one, consisting of the last sentence - and it's not needed. It's not as sinful as the twist to The Dead Boyfriend, but it's still kind of a weak attempt at integrating one last "surprise", while not adding anything to the story.
Overall I give this one a solid 3 / 5.
Not bad, not great, but another decently enjoyable Fear Street entry, complete with the usual cheese, teen melodrama, and surprise twists we've all come to love (and hate) from R.L. Stine.
I'll say that overall, I think this third bind-up of newer Fear Street books was the most enjoyable, with both stories being decent/good, whereas with the previous two they both had one good story and the other sucked.
This one is about Gretchen moving to Shadyside and trying to fit in by joining the high school cheerleader squad. There's only one opening for the season and she happens to be up against Devra Dalby in the tryouts. (Relative of Reva, I presume?)
Devra is a rich, spoiled brat that tries to bribe her way into making the squad as Gretchen is the more talented athlete. A feud erupts between them and before long, "accidents" start happening and people get injured - and worse - murdered.
Who is behind these shenanigans? Is it the stuck-up and selfish Devra who is out to get Gretchen? Or is there another explanation?
This one relies much more on the mystery aspect, unlike the Dead Boyfriend, which leaned more into the thriller/horror genre. Even though I was able to (mostly) predict the outcome/reveal of the mystery, I was still thoroughly engaged in this and had a good time with it. It does follow a similar formula as the former novel, but offers a different flavor. The characters here a tad more layered and likable, and of course there are a few twists and turns along the way to keep things exciting, even if it doesn't have the level of violence and thrills as its predecessor.
It could just be because I read them back to back, but I do think the length of this one is more noticeable. These Fear Street novels are around 250-260 pages compared to the 160-180 page average of the older ones. While they're not terribly paced or unnecessarily long, this one did feel a bit padded at times. The climax/ending was also a bit rushed and I think Stine could have taken his time to capitalize on the final act a bit more.
There is one final "twist" to this one, consisting of the last sentence - and it's not needed. It's not as sinful as the twist to The Dead Boyfriend, but it's still kind of a weak attempt at integrating one last "surprise", while not adding anything to the story.
Overall I give this one a solid 3 / 5.
Not bad, not great, but another decently enjoyable Fear Street entry, complete with the usual cheese, teen melodrama, and surprise twists we've all come to love (and hate) from R.L. Stine.
July 14, 2019
R.L. Stine is not an author I read much of growing up and that is ju st a pity. I think I would have very much enjoyed his work!
I did read a few of his books when I was younger but Christopher Pike was my "go to" for YA horror and John Sal was my "go to" for adult horror. So I am not all that familiar with Stine.
So this book..I cannot really take it all that seriously and that is NOT an insult. But it is a HORROR novel in the line of those creepy slasher flicks we all loved in our teens..and much of it does not make sense. So..a serious and introspective review will not follow.
What I can say is this was a fun read! And it was exactly what I needed last night. It was something where one does not have to think. OK..That was not an insult either. I just mean..you can read this and be creeped out while watching television or doing whatever. It does not take itself to seriously either. And sometimes, that is all one needs in a book.
I did read a few of his books when I was younger but Christopher Pike was my "go to" for YA horror and John Sal was my "go to" for adult horror. So I am not all that familiar with Stine.
So this book..I cannot really take it all that seriously and that is NOT an insult. But it is a HORROR novel in the line of those creepy slasher flicks we all loved in our teens..and much of it does not make sense. So..a serious and introspective review will not follow.
What I can say is this was a fun read! And it was exactly what I needed last night. It was something where one does not have to think. OK..That was not an insult either. I just mean..you can read this and be creeped out while watching television or doing whatever. It does not take itself to seriously either. And sometimes, that is all one needs in a book.
June 26, 2017
I AM SO STEAMED.
THIS BOOK LITERALLY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CLASSIC FEAR STREET CHEERLEADERS STORYLINE.
NOTHING.
NOT ONE FRELLING IOTA.
EDITED TO ADD 6/26/17: I just saw the comment that Stine had previously stated that he wasn't going to connect these stories to the originals. Which is fine, that's his prerogative, but the marketing/publicity team DEFINITELY didn't get that memo. All their material implied a connection.
That being said, and it being over 6 months since I read this, my anger towards this book has not actually abated. Its one thing to completely not have anything to do with the original Cheerleader Saga or the original curse. Fine. Okay. Let's take this into a new direction! That's exciting! When reading the first Cheerleader book I had no idea there was going to be like 4 sequels/prequels to it. I still enjoyed it immensely though.
As the sixth book in Stine’s Fear Street Relaunch this was an uneven mess that I can’t even snarkily comment on because that may lead someone to believe this has entertaining merit to it. Let me put those thoughts to rest – it’s not entertaining in the least. It’s not amusing, it’s not terrifying, and it’s not cheesily thrilling. Gonna hide my anger behind a spoiler cut though.
I've mentioned it before but the old school Fear Street novels were cheesy, but largely entertaining. Sometimes they even verged on the creepy. I'm not sure what the point of these new ones are. Aside from rare moments of actual creepiness/suspense these books are largely watered down versions of the tales those of us with nostalgia glasses on enjoyed. Am I disappointed that this had nothing to do with teh original Cheerleader books? Yes I really am. Was I willing to give it a chance anyway? Yes I was because Stine's writing is, as ever, engaging and kinetic. He does atmosphere well and if he didn't invent the chapter end cliffhanger that resolves itself as the most mundane thing known to mankind trope, he surely elevated it to an art form.
These books however are not the best of his showing.
THIS BOOK LITERALLY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CLASSIC FEAR STREET CHEERLEADERS STORYLINE.
NOTHING.
NOT ONE FRELLING IOTA.
EDITED TO ADD 6/26/17: I just saw the comment that Stine had previously stated that he wasn't going to connect these stories to the originals. Which is fine, that's his prerogative, but the marketing/publicity team DEFINITELY didn't get that memo. All their material implied a connection.
That being said, and it being over 6 months since I read this, my anger towards this book has not actually abated. Its one thing to completely not have anything to do with the original Cheerleader Saga or the original curse. Fine. Okay. Let's take this into a new direction! That's exciting! When reading the first Cheerleader book I had no idea there was going to be like 4 sequels/prequels to it. I still enjoyed it immensely though.
As the sixth book in Stine’s Fear Street Relaunch this was an uneven mess that I can’t even snarkily comment on because that may lead someone to believe this has entertaining merit to it. Let me put those thoughts to rest – it’s not entertaining in the least. It’s not amusing, it’s not terrifying, and it’s not cheesily thrilling. Gonna hide my anger behind a spoiler cut though.
I've mentioned it before but the old school Fear Street novels were cheesy, but largely entertaining. Sometimes they even verged on the creepy. I'm not sure what the point of these new ones are. Aside from rare moments of actual creepiness/suspense these books are largely watered down versions of the tales those of us with nostalgia glasses on enjoyed. Am I disappointed that this had nothing to do with teh original Cheerleader books? Yes I really am. Was I willing to give it a chance anyway? Yes I was because Stine's writing is, as ever, engaging and kinetic. He does atmosphere well and if he didn't invent the chapter end cliffhanger that resolves itself as the most mundane thing known to mankind trope, he surely elevated it to an art form.
These books however are not the best of his showing.
November 15, 2021
"She gave out one last shriek and, gripping her neck, fell sideways, collapsed to the floor. Bright red blood gushed up from her neck like a fountain. The blood shot up in a wave of scarlet and then splashed down on the stage floor, splashed all around her. She didn’t move."
Growing up, I was the weird kid. The one who loved spooky stories, horror movies, and haunted cemeteries. Hell, I'm still that weird spooky kid. R.L. Stine books were my safe haven.
When I saw that he was bringing back Fear Street, I think I fainted. This is what I grew up with and he knew that we needed the comfort of his books again.
Fear Street books are some of my favorite books. The high school drama is always dramatic and fun. The deaths are super unique and gory. Some things are over the top but that's what makes these so entertaining. Plus the killer is so super obvious and I love it.
Grab your pom-poms and a knife and settle down for a story that'll make your blood run cold.
Growing up, I was the weird kid. The one who loved spooky stories, horror movies, and haunted cemeteries. Hell, I'm still that weird spooky kid. R.L. Stine books were my safe haven.
When I saw that he was bringing back Fear Street, I think I fainted. This is what I grew up with and he knew that we needed the comfort of his books again.
Fear Street books are some of my favorite books. The high school drama is always dramatic and fun. The deaths are super unique and gory. Some things are over the top but that's what makes these so entertaining. Plus the killer is so super obvious and I love it.
Grab your pom-poms and a knife and settle down for a story that'll make your blood run cold.
April 5, 2017
Gretchen Page is the new girl at Shadyside High and really wants to get on to the cheerleading team, despite the last spot just being taken by spoiled rich girl Devra Dalby. However, Gretchen is really good and the coach agrees to let her try out, meaning Devra has to try out again too! Devra is pissed. Her rich father contributes a lot of money to the school, so she gets him to threaten to withdraw his money if she doesn't get the spot!
That doesn't seem to be the end of it. Gretchen is the victim of vicious pranks and incidents and it looks like Devra is the one behind it! Why does she seemingly want to kill her?
Finally! A Fear Street relaunch book that actually feels like a Fear Street book! Female protagonist, third-person narration and no supernatural elements to be found. Hooray!
However, nostalgia isn't all it's cracked up to be! Although this is by far the best book so far in the relaunch (and sadly probably the last), I can't bring myself to give it more than 3 stars (3.5 is probably more fitting). Firstly, it was just too predictable! Also, the book lays it on so thick to try and make it look like Devra is guilty that you just know something else nefarious is going on! But I didn't spot the identity of the killer, so there are still some surprises!
Secondly, we don't really have any likeable characters. Gretchen is our nominal heroine, but she's awful to her mother and actively chases after a boy that she knows is already dating somebody else. This being a Fear Street book means the secondary characters are only thinly sketched.
Oh yeah, and the stuff with lighting the batons on fire - it would never happen in real life. No school would ever let students do that!
But all in all, I had a good time with this one. It's the best one in the relaunch by far, and it actually feels like a Fear Street book! Unfortunately, I have a sinking suspicion it's the last one, too. I can't find any information about any more being released, and this one only cost me $5 when the others cost $10, leading me to believe they're possibly not selling all that well....
What a pity! Just when the series was hitting its groove.
That doesn't seem to be the end of it. Gretchen is the victim of vicious pranks and incidents and it looks like Devra is the one behind it! Why does she seemingly want to kill her?
Finally! A Fear Street relaunch book that actually feels like a Fear Street book! Female protagonist, third-person narration and no supernatural elements to be found. Hooray!
However, nostalgia isn't all it's cracked up to be! Although this is by far the best book so far in the relaunch (and sadly probably the last), I can't bring myself to give it more than 3 stars (3.5 is probably more fitting). Firstly, it was just too predictable! Also, the book lays it on so thick to try and make it look like Devra is guilty that you just know something else nefarious is going on! But I didn't spot the identity of the killer, so there are still some surprises!
Secondly, we don't really have any likeable characters. Gretchen is our nominal heroine, but she's awful to her mother and actively chases after a boy that she knows is already dating somebody else. This being a Fear Street book means the secondary characters are only thinly sketched.
Oh yeah, and the stuff with lighting the batons on fire - it would never happen in real life. No school would ever let students do that!
But all in all, I had a good time with this one. It's the best one in the relaunch by far, and it actually feels like a Fear Street book! Unfortunately, I have a sinking suspicion it's the last one, too. I can't find any information about any more being released, and this one only cost me $5 when the others cost $10, leading me to believe they're possibly not selling all that well....
What a pity! Just when the series was hitting its groove.
July 14, 2018
3.5 stars.
I grew up reading R. L. Stine, and I still find myself loving all his books—even if they are meant for children (which is debatable because I am 21 and still have a blast reading them)! Give Me a K-I-L-L is the last book in the Fear Street Relaunch series, and although I found this particular book to be predictable, I have to say that it was one of my favorite readings in the series. I liked how R. L. Stine developed the character Gretchen and Devra, because both act very immature and make impulsive decisions, but these are what helped bring the book more to life since that is how teenager are supposed to behave. In general, this was a fun read that anybody can easily kick out when they have free time in the day.
I grew up reading R. L. Stine, and I still find myself loving all his books—even if they are meant for children (which is debatable because I am 21 and still have a blast reading them)! Give Me a K-I-L-L is the last book in the Fear Street Relaunch series, and although I found this particular book to be predictable, I have to say that it was one of my favorite readings in the series. I liked how R. L. Stine developed the character Gretchen and Devra, because both act very immature and make impulsive decisions, but these are what helped bring the book more to life since that is how teenager are supposed to behave. In general, this was a fun read that anybody can easily kick out when they have free time in the day.
August 16, 2017
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Young Adult, Horror
*Rating* 3.0
*Full Review Pending*
Truth be told, I'm was a bit bored with this story. Definitely not the best works of RL Stine. The villain was pretty apparent to me. Gretchen had some twists but nothing that would put this in the category of horrific activities.
*Genre* Young Adult, Horror
*Rating* 3.0
*Full Review Pending*
Truth be told, I'm was a bit bored with this story. Definitely not the best works of RL Stine. The villain was pretty apparent to me. Gretchen had some twists but nothing that would put this in the category of horrific activities.
September 2, 2021
Naprawdę dobra młodzieżówka! 💓
Ta część podobała mi się najbardziej ze wszystkich.
Trzymająca w napięciu, zaskakująca i prosta w czytaniu, polecam.
Ta część podobała mi się najbardziej ze wszystkich.
Trzymająca w napięciu, zaskakująca i prosta w czytaniu, polecam.
August 5, 2022
3.5 stars! This was a fun teen horror.
April 2, 2025
terapeuta mi nie uwierzy
January 9, 2023
Takie średnie bardzo. Nie polecam.
March 16, 2017
(This review is cross-posted on my blog https://readingandotherrandomstuff.wo... )
*This book was provided to me for free by the publisher for review before the book's release date, but all opinions in this review are my own.*
I haven't read the rest of the books in 'Fear Street Cheerleaders' series by Stine but I was still pretty excited when I received this book in the mail from the publisher, because while I haven't loved the majority of the books I've read from the author, they are always super easy books to get through-considering I usually read the books in a day or two, at most.
Since I suck at reviews and writing out my thoughts, I'm just going to list what I liked, and what I disliked.
What I disliked
The writing- I'm going to be honest, I don't love R.L. Stine's writing. In this book, he's writing from the point of view of a 16-year-old girl, as a 73-year-old man, which is very clear throughout the book, the main protagonist, Gretchen, just didn't seem very authentic at all, even to the point where she began to seem robotic.
The characters- Usually in a book there's at least ONE character that is there for you to root for, but in this book there wasn't ANY. I felt like I was SUPPOSED to be rooting for the characters, but I just didn't CARE. These characters were arrogant, snotty, outlandish, dramatic, and EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER fell under a stereotype, we had the "mean girl of the cheerleading squad", the "overbearing mom" and worst of all, the "manic pixie dream girl".
What I liked
Ease of reading- Like I said before, Stine's books have always been easy for me to get through, and this one wasn't an exception. I started this late last night, and I was done early this afternoon. Even though it's definitely not the best book I've ever read, and I found myself rolling my eyes constantly, I couldn't help but fly through this.
The originality- This book is about killer cheerleaders, which sure isn't something I've read before.
The plot-twist- Every time I read one of Stine's books I think I have the plot-twist figured out, but I'm ALWAYS wrong, which is hard to do with me. So, virtual high-five to you, R.L.
Conclusion
While I didn't love this book, I still think it's worth the read if you are looking for a fast paced book for a readathon or a road trip or something. Make sure to pick it up when it comes out on April 4th.
Starred rating: 3 out of 5 stars.
*This book was provided to me for free by the publisher for review before the book's release date, but all opinions in this review are my own.*
I haven't read the rest of the books in 'Fear Street Cheerleaders' series by Stine but I was still pretty excited when I received this book in the mail from the publisher, because while I haven't loved the majority of the books I've read from the author, they are always super easy books to get through-considering I usually read the books in a day or two, at most.
Since I suck at reviews and writing out my thoughts, I'm just going to list what I liked, and what I disliked.
What I disliked
The writing- I'm going to be honest, I don't love R.L. Stine's writing. In this book, he's writing from the point of view of a 16-year-old girl, as a 73-year-old man, which is very clear throughout the book, the main protagonist, Gretchen, just didn't seem very authentic at all, even to the point where she began to seem robotic.
The characters- Usually in a book there's at least ONE character that is there for you to root for, but in this book there wasn't ANY. I felt like I was SUPPOSED to be rooting for the characters, but I just didn't CARE. These characters were arrogant, snotty, outlandish, dramatic, and EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER fell under a stereotype, we had the "mean girl of the cheerleading squad", the "overbearing mom" and worst of all, the "manic pixie dream girl".
What I liked
Ease of reading- Like I said before, Stine's books have always been easy for me to get through, and this one wasn't an exception. I started this late last night, and I was done early this afternoon. Even though it's definitely not the best book I've ever read, and I found myself rolling my eyes constantly, I couldn't help but fly through this.
The originality- This book is about killer cheerleaders, which sure isn't something I've read before.
The plot-twist- Every time I read one of Stine's books I think I have the plot-twist figured out, but I'm ALWAYS wrong, which is hard to do with me. So, virtual high-five to you, R.L.
Conclusion
While I didn't love this book, I still think it's worth the read if you are looking for a fast paced book for a readathon or a road trip or something. Make sure to pick it up when it comes out on April 4th.
Starred rating: 3 out of 5 stars.
July 28, 2021
Wow, this was a rollercoaster! Gretchen is the new girl in town and desperately wants to make the cheerleading squad. But is she desperate enough to start killing the other cheerleaders for a chance on the squad?
This book is very fast-paced and thrilling. Unfortunately, the twists come with very little foreshadowing. There are quite a few leaps in logic one has to make for the events in this book to make a lot of sense. Our main character Gretchen isn't always the most likable character. She snaps at her mother for seemingly no reason and has a pretty big persecution complex.
I listened to the audiobook and I think the production and quality were great! The narrator is very good. She does a fine job at doing many different voices and it was only a couple of times that I got confused by which character she was voicing.
I'd recommend this to kids who enjoyed the Goosebumps books and are ready for something a little older and edgier.
This book is very fast-paced and thrilling. Unfortunately, the twists come with very little foreshadowing. There are quite a few leaps in logic one has to make for the events in this book to make a lot of sense. Our main character Gretchen isn't always the most likable character. She snaps at her mother for seemingly no reason and has a pretty big persecution complex.
I listened to the audiobook and I think the production and quality were great! The narrator is very good. She does a fine job at doing many different voices and it was only a couple of times that I got confused by which character she was voicing.
I'd recommend this to kids who enjoyed the Goosebumps books and are ready for something a little older and edgier.
March 24, 2017
I can remember growing up reading R.L. Stine. I have read a couple books in this relaunch series. They were alright but they have not really brought back the warm fuzzes of my childhood. I thought I would try this book. It was pretty apparent right away that this book was written very childish. All of the cheerleaders annoyed me. I felt no connection with Gretchen. I tried to stick with this book in the hopes that it would get better. Yet, the more I read the more I did not like the book. After getting a third of the way into the book, I put it down and moved onto a different book. Not, sure I will be reading more books in this series.
dnf
March 25, 2019 Copy kindly received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I put this one down about 5-10% into the book. I used to love the Fear Street novels when I was in my early teens, but I think now I'm just way past that, and this writing style no longer appeals to me. That's not to say other people won't enjoy these books, I know that I certainly did in the past. Just not for me anymore.
I put this one down about 5-10% into the book. I used to love the Fear Street novels when I was in my early teens, but I think now I'm just way past that, and this writing style no longer appeals to me. That's not to say other people won't enjoy these books, I know that I certainly did in the past. Just not for me anymore.
October 13, 2022
Character - 6
Atmosphere - 5
Writing - 5
Plot - 6
Intrigue - 6
Logic - 5
Enjoyment - 7
Rating: 5.71 / 3 stars
Atmosphere - 5
Writing - 5
Plot - 6
Intrigue - 6
Logic - 5
Enjoyment - 7
Rating: 5.71 / 3 stars
November 19, 2021
I didn’t see that coming at all.
Decent story with a great end. By far the best I’ve read from the relaunch.
Decent story with a great end. By far the best I’ve read from the relaunch.
January 26, 2022
one star | 20% | ☆
i would give this zero stars if i could… everything that happened was absurd, and the characters were unbearable. originally i had a long, ranty review typed out but i just do not care enough to string together coherent thoughts ❤️ anyway glad i’m done reading this, seeing as i would have dnf’d if this wasn’t for a class
i would give this zero stars if i could… everything that happened was absurd, and the characters were unbearable. originally i had a long, ranty review typed out but i just do not care enough to string together coherent thoughts ❤️ anyway glad i’m done reading this, seeing as i would have dnf’d if this wasn’t for a class
February 27, 2020
I don't think I've ever read a Fear Street novel before and wanted to check one out since I love Goosebumps. I think I'm going to stick with Goosebumps. Too many stupid decisions by the characters in this one and too much teen angst drama for me.
April 10, 2017
The cheerleaders are back, and they are here for a K-I-L-L, what does that spell? Murder, mean girls, and much much more! *cheers*
Before I start, I first have some things I need to say. For starters I just had a laugh at the blurb that is on Goodreads and that on my book copy. Is that a pre-blurb, and did things get changed? If yes, then then I love the nod on page 15 towards the old name (Heather).
Also the blurb is pretty much incorrect even the new one that is on my book's back. Lack of funds? No more cheerleading because of that?
Whut? No. Yes funding does have a roll in the book, it isn't what the blurb makes it out to be. So I am bit disappointed at that, eh, then again I am kind of used to blurbs not being correct/not entirely correct.
I found an error on page 29, Devra calls her dad and he calls her Gretchen. What? Why would you call your daughter Gretchen, and why doesn't Devra mind considering that Gretchen is her rival?
Now for the rest! Gretchen, ah Gretchen. At times quite the favourite girl of mine, but at times I just hated her attitude. The way she treated people, like she was always better. Or how she treated her mom (though I have to say I can slightly imagine that she might get pissed, I would also get pissed if my mom was just riffling through my stuff, cleaning up, checking up on stuff, we do later find out why the mom is overprotective though, but it still frustrated me and at those times I could understand why Gretchen acted the way she did).
I also didn't like how she was cheating with Sid (no, I wouldn't call this a spoiler, come on it happens quite fast). Even later I was just screaming at her to tell Stacy, to be honest about it, but oh no, this girl just kept it all bottled up. *sighs*
But she was a great cheerleader, and I wouldn't have minded seeing her awesome tricks. See her tumble and fly around. She also did have a sweet side to her, she was pretty kind to quite a few people, including Madison.
The Polly thing?
Devra was just a terrible girl, and I disliked her from the start. Her attitude is even worse than Gretchen. Yes, I can imagine that it must hurt that you may not get a cheerleader position, and I agree that it was unfair, especially since you have been promised this, and it is your last year. But that is no need to act like this.
The gruesomeness of some events was typical Stine, and I just adored it. It was creepy, but also a bit hilarious because of how over the top it was. Of course, murder isn't good, people hurting is not good, but the way Stine writes them, wow. I am sure if people read that one scene that they will also be like me.
The whodunnit, not only who is bullying Gretchen, and what is going on with the squad? I had a lot of suspects, I was eyeing a lot of people. Closer to the end and with the revelations there I had 2 clear suspects and I was eager to find out who of the two was the real one. And then I was just squealing in delight at finding out.
The ending was perfection, of course in typical Stine fashion, we have a twist or something at the end, and sometimes I find them annoying, as for me the book is over, but this time I just didn't mind/care.
This book will keep you on your toes, toss all sorts of things at you that will make you doubt everything, and then flip it all over again. It has murder, cheerleaders, and of course lots of Fear Street and Shady Side. Highly recommended. I hope that R.L. Stine will write more books about the cheerleaders, I just love their stories.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Before I start, I first have some things I need to say. For starters I just had a laugh at the blurb that is on Goodreads and that on my book copy. Is that a pre-blurb, and did things get changed? If yes, then then I love the nod on page 15 towards the old name (Heather).
Also the blurb is pretty much incorrect even the new one that is on my book's back. Lack of funds? No more cheerleading because of that?
Whut? No. Yes funding does have a roll in the book, it isn't what the blurb makes it out to be. So I am bit disappointed at that, eh, then again I am kind of used to blurbs not being correct/not entirely correct.
I found an error on page 29, Devra calls her dad and he calls her Gretchen. What? Why would you call your daughter Gretchen, and why doesn't Devra mind considering that Gretchen is her rival?
Now for the rest! Gretchen, ah Gretchen. At times quite the favourite girl of mine, but at times I just hated her attitude. The way she treated people, like she was always better. Or how she treated her mom (though I have to say I can slightly imagine that she might get pissed, I would also get pissed if my mom was just riffling through my stuff, cleaning up, checking up on stuff, we do later find out why the mom is overprotective though, but it still frustrated me and at those times I could understand why Gretchen acted the way she did).
I also didn't like how she was cheating with Sid (no, I wouldn't call this a spoiler, come on it happens quite fast). Even later I was just screaming at her to tell Stacy, to be honest about it, but oh no, this girl just kept it all bottled up. *sighs*
But she was a great cheerleader, and I wouldn't have minded seeing her awesome tricks. See her tumble and fly around. She also did have a sweet side to her, she was pretty kind to quite a few people, including Madison.
The Polly thing?
Devra was just a terrible girl, and I disliked her from the start. Her attitude is even worse than Gretchen. Yes, I can imagine that it must hurt that you may not get a cheerleader position, and I agree that it was unfair, especially since you have been promised this, and it is your last year. But that is no need to act like this.
The gruesomeness of some events was typical Stine, and I just adored it. It was creepy, but also a bit hilarious because of how over the top it was. Of course, murder isn't good, people hurting is not good, but the way Stine writes them, wow. I am sure if people read that one scene that they will also be like me.
The whodunnit, not only who is bullying Gretchen, and what is going on with the squad? I had a lot of suspects, I was eyeing a lot of people. Closer to the end and with the revelations there I had 2 clear suspects and I was eager to find out who of the two was the real one. And then I was just squealing in delight at finding out.
The ending was perfection, of course in typical Stine fashion, we have a twist or something at the end, and sometimes I find them annoying, as for me the book is over, but this time I just didn't mind/care.
This book will keep you on your toes, toss all sorts of things at you that will make you doubt everything, and then flip it all over again. It has murder, cheerleaders, and of course lots of Fear Street and Shady Side. Highly recommended. I hope that R.L. Stine will write more books about the cheerleaders, I just love their stories.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
January 24, 2017
I would like to thank R.L. Stine, the publisher, and goodreads for the opportunity to win an arc of this book through a giveaway!
*****************SPOILER ALERTS********************
I was beyond excited to win this book for two MAJOR reasons! First, I was excited because I am a true book "nerd" and I think unedited copies of books are truly amazing. Second, when I was a little girl, I loved R.L. Stine; I read all of the Goosebumps books and transitioned to the Fear Street series and I even had a Goosebumps theme birthday party! I loved the easy to read stories, the relatable characters, and the mystery that surrounded each book in the series. I was completely excited to win this book and to give an honest review.
This newest book in the Fear Street relaunch was everything I expected from an R.L. Stine book: simple, descriptive text, interesting characters that could be actual people I know, and a mystery involving murder and suspicion. Give Me a K-I-L-L tells the story of Gretchen who recently moved to Fear Street with her mother for a new start. Gretchen's relationship with her mother is tumultuous at best and Gretchen finds a friend (and a way to escape her mother's relentless questioning) in her violin playing neighbor Madison. Gretchen also seeks a new start on the school's cheerleading squad, but is immediately met with obstacle after obstacle: the head cheerleader has a boyfriend who is crushing on Gretchen and mean girl Devra wins her way onto the team. The story that follows involves suspicion of Devra, a fiery accident, and a surprising murder. Although Gretchen's history is finally told, the ending is shocking for readers and characters alike.
While I did like the "traditional" Fear Street aspects of the story (suspicion, good characters, and an interesting plot line), I felt as though parts of the story were disconnected. Gretchen is always angry and suspicious of her mother and their interactions seem incredibly off. Gretchen starts a relationship with Sid without any initial flirting (he sees her one time, they kiss, and then they are completely consumed with one another). And the story that explains Gretchen's history is very disconnected with the rest of the story (it's mentioned and then it's not a big deal). Plus the final confrontation goes from 0 to 60 in less than a second; people are arguing and then suddenly there is a huge story explanation with Gretchen becoming the hero. I just felt like there was no transitions to connect each part of the story; it felt like the book was written out of order and a little bit at a time (not a complete story).
Sorry! I still love R.L. Stine though!
*****************SPOILER ALERTS********************
I was beyond excited to win this book for two MAJOR reasons! First, I was excited because I am a true book "nerd" and I think unedited copies of books are truly amazing. Second, when I was a little girl, I loved R.L. Stine; I read all of the Goosebumps books and transitioned to the Fear Street series and I even had a Goosebumps theme birthday party! I loved the easy to read stories, the relatable characters, and the mystery that surrounded each book in the series. I was completely excited to win this book and to give an honest review.
This newest book in the Fear Street relaunch was everything I expected from an R.L. Stine book: simple, descriptive text, interesting characters that could be actual people I know, and a mystery involving murder and suspicion. Give Me a K-I-L-L tells the story of Gretchen who recently moved to Fear Street with her mother for a new start. Gretchen's relationship with her mother is tumultuous at best and Gretchen finds a friend (and a way to escape her mother's relentless questioning) in her violin playing neighbor Madison. Gretchen also seeks a new start on the school's cheerleading squad, but is immediately met with obstacle after obstacle: the head cheerleader has a boyfriend who is crushing on Gretchen and mean girl Devra wins her way onto the team. The story that follows involves suspicion of Devra, a fiery accident, and a surprising murder. Although Gretchen's history is finally told, the ending is shocking for readers and characters alike.
While I did like the "traditional" Fear Street aspects of the story (suspicion, good characters, and an interesting plot line), I felt as though parts of the story were disconnected. Gretchen is always angry and suspicious of her mother and their interactions seem incredibly off. Gretchen starts a relationship with Sid without any initial flirting (he sees her one time, they kiss, and then they are completely consumed with one another). And the story that explains Gretchen's history is very disconnected with the rest of the story (it's mentioned and then it's not a big deal). Plus the final confrontation goes from 0 to 60 in less than a second; people are arguing and then suddenly there is a huge story explanation with Gretchen becoming the hero. I just felt like there was no transitions to connect each part of the story; it felt like the book was written out of order and a little bit at a time (not a complete story).
Sorry! I still love R.L. Stine though!
September 13, 2021
✨Kill znaczy zabić✨
W porównaniu z „Dziewczyną z nikąd” i „Zabójczymi grami”, ta książka w moim rankingu plasuje się gdzieś po środku, choć utwierdziła mnie w przekonaniu, że jest to seria dla młodszych odbiorców i ja niekoniecznie należę do jej targetu.
Nie żałuję jednak spędzonego z nią czasu, bo idealnie sprawdziła mi się w roli odmóżdżacza 😅 Dużym plusem tej książki jest to, że bardzo szybko się ją czyta. Nie jest wymagająca, ani nie skłania do głębszych refleksji, ale na jeden jesienny wieczór będzie w sam raz 🍁
O bohaterach niewiele mogę powiedzieć, oprócz tego, że część z nich była bardzo irytująca. Relacja głównej bohaterki z jej mamą też nie przypadła mi do gustu, ale później wyjaśniło się to, dlaczego była taka a nie inna i przyznam, że bardzo mi się to podobało!
Wątek samej Gretchen również mi się podobał. Totalnie nie spodziewałam się tego, co się wydarzyło, ani tego, kto ostatecznie okazał się winny!
„Kill znaczy zabił” było okej, ostatecznie przyznaję jej 3/5⭐️ i nie odradzam, ale też nie będę jej polecać wszystkim, bo wiem, że to po prostu książka nie dla każdego 🤷🏼♀️
W porównaniu z „Dziewczyną z nikąd” i „Zabójczymi grami”, ta książka w moim rankingu plasuje się gdzieś po środku, choć utwierdziła mnie w przekonaniu, że jest to seria dla młodszych odbiorców i ja niekoniecznie należę do jej targetu.
Nie żałuję jednak spędzonego z nią czasu, bo idealnie sprawdziła mi się w roli odmóżdżacza 😅 Dużym plusem tej książki jest to, że bardzo szybko się ją czyta. Nie jest wymagająca, ani nie skłania do głębszych refleksji, ale na jeden jesienny wieczór będzie w sam raz 🍁
O bohaterach niewiele mogę powiedzieć, oprócz tego, że część z nich była bardzo irytująca. Relacja głównej bohaterki z jej mamą też nie przypadła mi do gustu, ale później wyjaśniło się to, dlaczego była taka a nie inna i przyznam, że bardzo mi się to podobało!
Wątek samej Gretchen również mi się podobał. Totalnie nie spodziewałam się tego, co się wydarzyło, ani tego, kto ostatecznie okazał się winny!
„Kill znaczy zabił” było okej, ostatecznie przyznaję jej 3/5⭐️ i nie odradzam, ale też nie będę jej polecać wszystkim, bo wiem, że to po prostu książka nie dla każdego 🤷🏼♀️
September 28, 2021
4 Stars
I would like to say thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my complimentary copy of "Give Me A K-I-L-L" by R. L. Stine. I love R. L. Stine as I grew up reading his books and I still love reading his books today.
"Give Me A K-I-L-L" focuses on Gretchen and her goal to earn a place on the Shadyside High School cheerleading team after moving. There is just one problem, Shadyside doesn't necessarily look at talent. She is forced to compete against Shadyside legend Devra Dalby and at this high school anything can happen. Someone is out to get Gretchen and she is determined to take down Devra. Can they figure out what is going on before it's too late and the entire cheerleading squad ends up dead? Cheerleaders beware! Death is knocking on your doors.
This was a fun read with a few twists that I did not see coming; however I figured out really early on in the story who was behind all of the mayhem. I was still completely enthralled with the book even though I was able to figure out the main plot point. I love the Fear Street books and this book was no exception. I cannot wait to see what else R. L. Stine has in store for his Fear Street followers.
I would like to say thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my complimentary copy of "Give Me A K-I-L-L" by R. L. Stine. I love R. L. Stine as I grew up reading his books and I still love reading his books today.
"Give Me A K-I-L-L" focuses on Gretchen and her goal to earn a place on the Shadyside High School cheerleading team after moving. There is just one problem, Shadyside doesn't necessarily look at talent. She is forced to compete against Shadyside legend Devra Dalby and at this high school anything can happen. Someone is out to get Gretchen and she is determined to take down Devra. Can they figure out what is going on before it's too late and the entire cheerleading squad ends up dead? Cheerleaders beware! Death is knocking on your doors.
This was a fun read with a few twists that I did not see coming; however I figured out really early on in the story who was behind all of the mayhem. I was still completely enthralled with the book even though I was able to figure out the main plot point. I love the Fear Street books and this book was no exception. I cannot wait to see what else R. L. Stine has in store for his Fear Street followers.
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