Rollercoasters: Firestarter Reader

by Catherine Forde

This edgy, claustrophobic thriller explores the question, are people born evil? When Reece–strange, blue-haired, fire-obsessed Reece–moves in next door, Keith is worried. Not least because Annie, his three-year-old sister, really likes him. Funny boy , she calls him. Reece is clearly trouble but the problem is, Keith feels sorry for him. So he doesn't make him go away. And he doesn't tell his dad what's going on. Not even when Reece burns Annie's doll Raggy beyond recognition. Keith knows he should ignore Reece, but he's like smoke. He pervades everything, every aspect of Keith's life. Then one night Keith wakes up choking on thick black smoke . . . Dealing with issues of alienated teens and children in care, as well as themes of courage, loyalty, and responsibility, this book is sure to captivate young readers.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published February 6, 2006

About the author

Catherine Forde is the author of numerous books, including Fat Boy Swim, which won the Grampian Children’s Book Award and was short-listed for the Blue Peter Award; Firestarter; and Skarrs, which was long-listed for the Carnegie Medal.

Reviews

[Riley Blackburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was one of the first books i properly read, and it’s safe to say it’s stuck with me for years. i stole it from my english class three years ago and i’ve reread it about 4 times since. it has to be one of my favourite books

[AmbWitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book alongside Alan Gibbon’s Playing with Fire when I was in my early teens/preteens (looks like there was a bit of a theme there). This one was by far the best. I enjoyed them both when I first read them, but this one was the one that I still found really good when rereading it. I was in fact, tempted to keep it. The reasons behind why I enjoyed it this time were different than when I first read it.


Keith is left babysitting his younger sister when his Mum goes away on a course. Things seem to be going well until a new neighbour moves in. Reece is a fire obsessed disturbed teen who will have a lasting effect on their lives.


I found Reece fascinating. When I first read the book he was just the freak next door, but when I read it this time, I wondered about why he was the way he was and when we did find out about his past, I actually felt sorry for him. Now Keith’s story was interesting, but I would have loved to have read Reece’s story instead. However, I don’t think his story would have worked as well as seeing how he effected the lives of Keith and his family.


I really liked the ending, with Keith talking about his nightmares. It was better than having an ‘and they all lived happily ever after,’ ending, showing how a traumatic experience can have a lasting effect on you, though it isn’t explored in all that much detail. This was probably because it was the end of the story and it was a young teenage book. When I first read the book I just glazed over this, but now it caught my attention and make me think more about the psychological effects of the events of the book.


The book was overall a thrilling read that kept me hooked. It was fast past and always left you wanting to know what was going to happen next. I would recommend it to teenagers who want an action packed read with a bit of drama thrown in for good measure.

[Gail Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

An hour's read to while away an afternoon. Different to other books I've read and unusual to be dealing with mentally disturbed teenagers in quite that way.

[Olivia Booth Unwin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am now very sacred and are probably going to have nightmares about clowns 😁🔫

[Credence · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrific from start to finish. I don't know what sort of people this author spoke to but they clearly do not have any interest in making sure that fostered children are known in a positive light. I won't even be donating this one, it is going straight in the bin.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One sentence summary:
The story is about Keith and his sister Annie, specificly when Reece lives next door.

Why x stars?
I read it for the second time so I still knew some stuff. I still liked reading it. Reece obviously has issues but I still felt sorry for him. If his childhood had been different, he wouldn't be the person he was. I also liked the ending. I still had some questions, I would have loved to know more about Reece, Keith and Annie in the future. Though I liked the fact that it wasn't a happy ending, with a bit of information about their life after the fire.

Why recommendation (or not)?
It's an easy -short- read (though I did read it in 2 times). There's a lot of action in it and I wanted to read it in one go.

[Lunarcaustic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastically chilling and startlingly funny at some points. I really enjoyed reading this, and it's one of very few books I've been able to read more than once - in fact, I re-read it quite often. The characters and the musical references are so familiar that you feel more like you're in the story than observing from the outside, and it does take a few reads before you realise the connections between all the events. A definite favourite of mine.

[Kyra Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely attracted to this book when I saw it in a sotre as a kid; I was picking up school books so naturally I was interested in other things. This was it and I really wanted it; I ended up reading it in a single day and it was so chilling and cool that I was stunned by it. I highly recommend it for anyone really. It's a read you go into not quite expecting to love it as much as you will.

[River Frey Wood · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like it, for me it was damn boring.
Sounded to much like a true story.
And I usaully read books to get away from real life.
Plus the name gives off a supernatural idea and there is nothing of that sort in the book.

In all I can say I really, really don't like it. And like the main character in the book I feel sorry for the the kid that starts the fires.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Thought it was a great book because it's not to scary and not to boring it's defiantly one of the best books I ever read (considering I'm only ten) because it's very action packed. But I'm not a fan of the clown at the window at the start.

[Demi Spelbos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was a nice quick read. Finished it in 3 sits, while I could've done it in one. But I couldn't because the leading character, Keith, was way too frustrating to me.
But I'd recommend it if you just want to finish a book fast, I guess. And it was quite thrilling.

[Ellie Dowling · Rating 2 out of 5]

interesting and different from the books i normally read, i liked the excitement from the book but it did get a bit confusing like at the end when the next door neighbors house is on fire.

[Monique · Rating 1 out of 5]

John green once said that sometimes, as writers, we need to read bad stories to get to know the craft that some can shape so brilliant through a bunch words.