Night School

by Caroline B. Cooney

A mysterious teacher casts a spell over his class and assigns dark, evil homework in a class that Mariah wishes she had never signed up for--a class where she is trapped and can never escape. Original.

Genres: Young Adult, Horror, Fiction, Teen, Paranormal, Suspense, Mystery Thriller

176 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1995

About the author

Caroline Cooney knew in sixth grade that she wanted to be a writer when "the best teacher I ever had in my life" made writing her main focus. "He used to rip off covers from The New Yorker and pass them around and make us write a short story on whichever cover we got. I started writing then and never stopped!"
When her children were young, Caroline started writing books for young people -- with remarkable results. She began to sell stories to Seventeen magazine and soon after began writing books. Suspense novels are her favorites to read and write. "In a suspense novel, you can count on action."
To keep her stories realistic, Caroline visits many schools outside of her area, learning more about teenagers all the time. She often organizes what she calls a "plotting game," in which students work together to create plots for stories. Caroline lives in Westbrook, Connecticut and when she's not writing she volunteers at a hospital, plays piano for the school musicals and daydreams!
- Scholastic.com

Reviews

[Alex (The Bookubus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Emma Beckett · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's taken me a full week to read this tiny book because CBC's writing is so beautiful, I can't bear to hurry past a single sentence!

[Ken · Rating 2 out of 5]

When Mariah signs up for evening classes, little did she know what she was letting herself in for...

A pretty forgettable entry in the series.

[Kath · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't really enjoy this. The constant 'head hop' of the perspectives was dizzying and not really very interesting as all the characters were kind of two dimensional. Mariah's arc was probably the most interesting, but the narrative didn't really seem to get fully into her head to make the most of this.

The book reads like an elongated short story to me. The 'head hop' technique could be more of an experiment in a short story and less bothersome to the reader. I definitely thought this book was too long, particularly as the 'Prologue' is just a repeat of part of a chapter taken towards the climax of the book, which is kind of a cheat way of doing things, and is arguably just another extension of the blurb on the back even. This book could have lost at least 50 pages no sweat and be a better and fitter book as a result of it.

This is not a Point Horror I read as a teen, but I probably would have liked it more back then and enjoyed the 'head hopping' alot more as I was less exposed to different writing craft elements when I was younger.

[Tammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review is written comparing other point horror books only. This was a very low read for me, normally I dnf low reads, and don’t review them unless finished. It’s a short book, and a read for our book club, and I definitely looking forward to chatting to others about this one. This book really focused on causing people emotional pain, bullying and so forth, it focuses on popularity etc. It also has trigger warnings I feel, which is quiet deep for a point horror book written back in the 90’s. It’s touching on very important topics to do with mental health, which at the time in the 90’s perhaps we’re not talked about as much. I didn’t like the characters, and I didn’t like the author portrayed them. The author was trying to work with four, five maybe even six different prospectives, but it was all over the place, and I had a job to keep up.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not a great Point Horror installment. These teens are all pretty horrible and treat people badly. The whole thing was a mess that fell flat for me.

[Sharron Joy Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four students sign on for a night school class with no subject. The golden boy, Andrew, the popular girl, Autumn, the dreamer, Mariah and the outcast, Ned.
Normally they do not interact but are thrown together to learn about the nature of fear. Will they enjoy the power they can wield over others and will they be able to escape the darkness.

This is my favourite point horror so far, it is far more deviant and creepy, genuinely quite unnerving. The insidious way the instructor leads them to inflict harm is really well done and what these seemingly ordinary teens really think and feel is far more twisted than they care to admit.

A quick fun read, the darkest one I’ve read yet. These stories are really well written considering they are short novellas really so the plot has to move quickly and this one does not disappoint.

[Nader Nate · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very odd book, Not as I thought before reading it!
this book is more character study than ya thriller or horror, I liked the depth of each character.
the plot it's a bit bonkers, occasionally confusing and the ending was an open ending.
The heart of this book lies in its moral. As humans we have a choice between kindness and cruelty, we don’t know what’s going on in peoples minds or behind closed doors.
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#VERDICT
(6.6/10)

[Erica Leigh]

I couldn’t tell you if I liked this or not, but what I can tell you is that it’s very dark and philosophical. There are a few nightmare-worthy scenes but I wouldn’t exactly call it a horror

[Autumn H]

The book that I have read is a good, thrilling book by Caroline B. Cooney called Night School. This book could be categorized as scary and people may judge the book by its cover. Night School kind of has a cover to be judged. It has scary writing and people who are also eerie. But it has a great lesson to learn in it.

Making choices is in everyday life. You choose whether you are going to eat toast or a bagel. You choose whether you’re going to get a ride to school or walk to school. These are simple choices you decide to make. In Night School, four teenagers have to decide whether they are going to say in the horrid night classes or somehow find a way to get out fast. They have to choose whether they should scare people or get away.

Caroline Cooney writes these characters so you believe they could come to life. Cooney uses expressive words and tells it like it is. She sometimes uses sensory detail in her mystery or horror novels. Using her sensory details gives a little fright to the reader. She does this in a lot of her books like Hush Little Baby. Hush Little Baby has a story that leaves you wondering what will happen next just like Night School.

“ …Nobody cares about her.”

Nobody cares about her is their choice to scare or to not scare. Make the good or the bad choice? Choice is a decision that Mariah, the main character, has to make to save her brother. She is a dreamer and has to decide what she needs to do to get out. Her brother, Bevin, helps the teenagers get out of Night school. Mariah’s conflict with her brother helps the teens figure out how to get away.

‘“...don’t even think about touching Andrew’s old lady neighbor,” said Ned. “ Because somebody cares about her now. We care about her now.”’

They break away making a good choice to protect themselves and their victims. They learn the lesson of making good or bad choices. They aren’t scared of the evil that taught them to scare others.

“Stumble, whispered the instructor, and join the dark. Andrew stumbled.”

Andrew stumbles. He falls back into the darkness of evil. Andrew, one of the teenagers, making the wrong decision and falls once again. Showing he is scared of what he made or could of made. Cooney explains this in a way that makes the reader think what happened to him after. Cooney doesn’t have to use too much detail to show what had happen but leaves you wanting more.

Cooney’s characterization doesn’t really describe the characters but she definitely shows their reaction and emotions inside the story. She writes more wonderful books like these. Her lesson is something the world needs to think about in their daily lives. We can make the right decisions such as finding the pros and cons of situations to make the right decision, because making the wrong choice can negatively affect your life forever.

I gave Night School 3 out of 5 stars because, it wasn’t one of my favorite books but wasn’t a bad book to read. I liked the suspense and characters, but I didn’t like certains characters and the way Night School was showed. I wish it was more described and had some more detail. Cooney’s idea of the book is a good lesson to learn for every reader.

[Chelley Toy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this with my book club that I run on Instagram where we revisit Point Horror and other books from our childhood - @talespointhorrorbookclub

Tagline - A lesson in terror …

Memorable For – Unexplainable physics and tackling mental health

Some Thoughts - Night School feels a little out of place under the Point Horror banner compared to the formula we know and love. We had our usual range of characters but this time a kind of supernatural unexplained threat making the characters do questionable things. The heart of this book lies in its moral. As humans we have a choice between kindness and cruelty. We don’t know what’s going on in peoples minds or behind closed doors.

Fave quote - “It isn’t dark if someone is there with you”

Other highlights include the a weird unexplained instructor, characters love of pizza, dressing for grunge, a floating video recorder, a future Patrick Bateman and feeling as confused and as lost as the characters 😂

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely should have trusted the reviews on this one.

This… didn’t feel like it was aimed at teenagers? It felt like something the pretentious people in my creative writing seminar at uni would have come up with. Sort of floral writing that didn’t have any sort of meaning - too short to conclude things properly but long enough to be super boring.

I wish I hadn’t bothered.

[Shelly Mack · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was a fan of PT back in the day and was particularly looking forward to this one as I'd never read it.

I wasn't a fan. The characters had no redeemable qualities and it really played on the psyche. I felt it very hard to visualise what was happening and the concept was utterly wild.

Another one to tick of the tbr this year though and that's good!

[Alex · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm pretty sure I never read this one as a kid, and thank goodness for that.

This was so bad I couldn't even make it halfway through. It's definitely the worst Point Horror book I've ever tried to read.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars for the beautiful and poetic writing Caroline B Cooney always gives us but ultimately the story fell flat for me. I think this would have worked better as either a short story or a longer fleshed out idea. I don’t mind abrupt endings but this one threw me off. But such a cool concept!

[Courtney Gruenholz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two and a half rounded up to three stars.

Where do I begin with this book? Again, Cooney sometimes handles supernatural elements very clumsily and seems much better at real-life trials and tribulations.

There is some of that here trying to mesh with the latter and that is why I am left scratching my head.

Mariah Frederick is not popular but she is nice enough that people talk to her. She always has her head in the clouds, crushing on the boy of her dreams and desiring to be friends with the really popular girls.

Andrew Todd is Mariah's crush and he is the handsome boy most likely to succeed in the senior class.

He gets along with everyone and can be charming. Ambitious striving for greatness but at what?

Autumn Ivers has been friends with the same girls since the sixth and seventh grade. Beautiful girls so popular who throw the best parties and dress the best. So attached at the hip they are grouped together: Julie-Brooke-Autumn-Danielle.

Autumn is over it. They have to plan on what to wear and none of them can make a move without the others. A parasite that Autumn doesn't wish to be...she wants to be more like Mariah.

Ned Wilton: skinny and non-athletic. Not really popular but he is a nice person even if he has no friends. Being friends with anyone would be a joy.

These four teenagers sign-up for Night Class, the ominous announcement on the board morbidly hypnotic. They are the only ones before the mysterious instructor writes

CLASS CLOSED

There is no textbook, no idea about the subject matter or who is teaching it.

They all show up and the first lesson is one of horror, terror and cruelty. They can not drop out once the first class is over. Even thinking about it, their instructor can read their minds.

The only one who has anything to lose is Mariah. Her secrets are not the only ones in danger.

Her own brother, a substitute teacher, an old lady alone...there is always someone in danger.

Night School is in session...but for how long? How far do you have to go to pass this course?

We do get a lot of character development and get to see the real versions of the four main characters so there is that. Some go in a positive direction and some don't.

We also get some focus on Mariah's brother Bevin and Autumn's "friend" Julie, who go through some character arcs as well. Bevin is the most heartbreaking of any of them. I can relate to him, a sophomore in high school with very low self-esteem.

The instructor of the class...we never get any real definition. It's up to the reader I suppose to decide and to me, it sounds like a certain character from a past Cooney work.

If you know you know...

There really aren't any big reveals or twists but there is a sort of anti-climax. It is important and powerful but by no means the end of the book.

Characters just filter out and we end on an ominous yet ambiguous note with a hint that nothing is really over.

There is a lesson to learn but that would be telling...

If you have never read Night School by Caroline B. Cooney, it is worth a read. I would think of it more as a character study than some gory thriller and there is nothing wrong with that, I suppose.

If you have read it but not in a very long time, giving it a re-read as an adult instead of middle school/junior high/high schooler may give you a new opinion.

[Paula Brandon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Back in the 90s, as a pre-teen and teen reading Point Horror and other YA horror, I was never a big fan of Caroline B. Cooney. Her stories were vague and not really creepy. I preferred the flesh-and-blood stalkers, the threatening notes and the creepy phone calls. As an older reader, I understand what Cooney is doing, but other than the terrific Freeze Tag, in which she nailed the concept, I'm still really not a fan of her work.

Yes, she has a whimsical, kooky writing style that is perhaps lost on younger readers, but does it make her work any better? As an adult reader, flowery and descriptive writing really doesn't get you far if you don't have interesting characters interacting in a cohesive plot. And Cooney just returns to the same well again and again and again, offering up the same-old same-old good Samaritan metaphor about characters choosing to do the right thing or not.

It's the same thing, every bloody book!

This time, four students sign up for a mysterious night class that doesn't even have a subject. They are asked by the mysterious ethereal Instructor to provide a Scare Choice, so that they can all scare a person. And thus we get the usual Cooney standby of making choices. Do they choose to participate or not? Do they choose to stand by and let something happen, or intervene and stop it? Do they choose to be good or bad? Basically, swap the vampire from her last trilogy with this book's Instructor, and you've got exactly the same damn book!

Even worse, this settles on being preachy, instead of letting the book's theme speak for itself. Instead, the characters are verbalising the moral of the story out loud, just in case you don't get it.

There's no reason to read this book, because it's a slower, more boring replica of all the Point Horror books she's written before. Stick with the wonderful Freeze Tag and skip this class, because the only thing you'll learn here is how to be bored.

[TheGardenerRevives · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am actually very happy with this one, and I may not be able to look at a slice of restaurant pizza quite the same way again. I liked that Cooney did something unexpected (for me, at least) with characters who aren't fully introduced until a bit later. I like a twist and when I can't quite tell which characters are going to be front and center during the climax.

Granted, that can be also be frustrating, but I enjoyed these characters and that we got to see inside the heads of both the socially invisible kids and some of the girls in the clique. I can definitely identify with feeling very socially isolated and depression. However, just a quick warning, there is some dwelling upon suicide, so this may not be for everyone, especially when combined with a story about a (mostly vague) sinister being, and a somewhat abrupt ending. Cooney stays mostly on the uplifting side of things, and I felt this was overall a breezy enjoyable thriller, but still.

I can understand why this isn't among Cooney's most popular books. I'm sure the ending left some readers annoyed and unsatisfied, but I didn't necessarily need more. The hints she ended with were enough for me. I would place this among the author's best, though I would say that about most of the eight other Cooney titles that I've read.

I prefer the rereleased cover with an image of a red apple as opposed to the color tones of the earlier cover.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

What an odd book! The story revolves around 4 high school students who sign up to a mysterious night class run by an unseen shadowy figure. As usual with Point Horror, it's a bit bonkers, occasionally confusing, and has some fantastic character names. My favourite name this time is Bevin! Bizarre and unusual, this is a good addition to the Point Horror collection.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

When four very different teenagers sign up for the mysterious 'Night Class' they had no idea what they were getting themselves into!

Unable to drop out, they are very reluctant to complete their 'homework' for the creepy instructor, but if they don't...

Bit of an odd one this! I don't remember reading this one back in the day and I think I am glad about that!

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mariah and Bevin are portrayed very well, I was very similar to Mariah as a child and I imagine Cooney was too.

I really liked the idea behind this entry, but I don't think it hangs together that well. It's quite a slow burn character study and I would have liked more development from a few of the characters.

[Sonia Critchlow]

So it took me less than a day to read the entire book. I do like the horror point series, but sometimes the endings are a little disappointing. I found this one just so. Overall it was a good story but the ending was flat.

[Amy Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m not a book quitter, but this one I did not finish. I love Caroline B Cooney’s books, and have used them in my classroom with my 6th graders for years. When I happened upon this book, I was so excited. Anyway, so disappointing.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

She's so weird, I love that about her.

[Georgina Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to rate this one, doesn't feel like a classic point horror but keeps you thinking and reflecting on it after you've finished.

[Jethro99 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! Made an official super fan of CBC! What more!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

idk why i liked it.

[Books_inthe_Batcave · Rating 2 out of 5]

‘Tommy's smile was once re-moved, like a rarely encountered cousin.’

Even a bad Point Horror book, is still a trip haha

CW for depression, talk of suicide & bullying.

[Vera Viselli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Andrew, Autumn, Mariah e Ned sono quattro giovani alquanto diversi tra loro ma che frequentano la stessa scuola superiore. Un giorno, trovano in una bacheca un avviso di un nuovo corso serale e decidono di partecipare, senza però sapere di cosa si tratti. In realtà, la materia insegnata travalica i confini di ogni tipo di scuola esistente: si tratta, infatti, di un corso sulla paura e i nostri quattro protagonisti arriveranno a capire come padroneggiare le ombre, a tirare le fila della disperazione altrui, non senza lasciarsi dietro gravi conseguenze. Una storia molto interessante su cosa voglia dire causare paura e subirla, e su come le persone possano o meno lasciarsi irretire da un potere oscuro.

[Varsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this book in its scholastic version/edition.

It has suspense and some daunting moments. But it also unexpectedly has a great lesson to learn in it.

In Night School, four teenagers have to choice an SC. This gets them thinking as to if they are an ETS, TTS or an ITS. They have to decide whether they are going to say in the horrid night classes or somehow find a way to get out fast.

What connected me more to it was the fact that it was a scholastic book. An initiative for kids and teenagers alike to develop a reading habit.The joy of reading a book and learning or gaining something useful from it are clubbed together to give the young readers an interesting and worthwhile book to read.

Its been a 9 to 10 years since i came across a scholastic book. And when i did.. i couldnt stop myself from giving it a read..

I gave it 4 stars as it brought back memories of mine as a kid + it had a well organised plot to which people can easily connect to.