Book Review of #2 The Secret by R.L Stine
Author Name: R.L Stine
ISBN: 0-671-86832-2
Publisher: Archway Paperback, Parachute Inc
Type of book: Kid to young adult, attempt at being historical, horror
Year it was published: September 1993
Part of the series: The Fear Street Saga
Summary:
What is the secret of Fear Street?
Why has its horror lasted for so long?
Ezra Fier wants to find out. He searches for the answer among the rotting bones in the ghostly town of Wickham. But he finds only betrayal and death.
Elizabeth and Kate are in love with the same boy. How can they know that they too are caught by the evil that will haunt this family forever?
Characters: The characters are a little far more unique and entertaining; in beginning two sections of the book you have Jonathan who is good and doesn't desire or want the father's power; then you have the mother who confuses her youngest daughter for her eldest, (the sisters don't even resemble each other, etc.) in a way, character-wise, this is good when compared to The Betrayal.
Theme: I am not sure of what the theme should be for this book. I certainly didn't learn anything from reading it, except that evil never really does die.
Plot: (By the way, the summary is very misleading...) This is yet again told in flashback. Nora's surroundings are a little more clear now and she doesn't appear often in the book. The years 1737, 1743 and 1843 are covered. I am not certain of the title though; The Secret. What does it relate to? What is the secret? If there is a secret, then its not mentioned in the book. Also, while the characters improved a little more, the plot really suffered and I would have wished to know more about the Goode side of the family. (At least in beginning so to speak...) And when reading the last book, The Burning, some events don't match. (I will mention that in the next review. By the way, at the start, Ezra goes back to Wickham not discover why horror lasted so long at Fear Street, but to get his revenge on the Goode family.)
Author Information: R.L Stine was born on October 8th 1943 and is most famous for other Fear Street series along with Goosebumps series and Nightmare Room. Goosebumps and Nightmare Room were made into TV series ages ago.
Opinion: While this is a much more entertaining book than The Betrayal, the plot suffered as well, and I think its best to read The Betrayal before reading this novel. (Although the author does fill you in on some details of the previous book.)
2 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)
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