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Summary: Lois Duncan--Summer of Fear
Review: This book was really good. When I was reading it I could imagine what was happening in it. There were so many details. The ending came as a surprise to me. I really enjoyed it and it would be neat ifshe made another book like it.
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Summary: Summer of Fear - a brilliant novel for young teens
Review: I'm now 25 years old and i've never forgotten the first book which really inspired me to read more. I read this novel when i was about 12 and it has stuck in my memory as one which i really enjoyed. It is well worth reading, enjoyable and will make you want to read more suspense and thriller novels.
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Summary: Good Book much better than the tv movie
Review: I read this when i was a teen and really like it. I saw recently the old movie with linda blair based on the book and it wasn't really good. The book is much more interesting.
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Summary: A great thriller
Review: I loved this book. Its 5 stars all the way. Every time you think its gonna end it twist. Julia always has a way to spoil Rae's plan to expose her until she faces the one thing she can't defeat love. From the first few chapters to the suprise twist ending this thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat and begging for more.
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Summary: Fantastic Book - Forgetable Ending
Review: Wiccaphobia overcame Rachel in the book Summer of Fear. Although Summer of Fear takes place in modern times, witchcraft is a main point in this book. One has to be careful who one trusts, because some people will do anything to get their way. This fiction book by Lois Duncan incorporates Lois Duncan's style of writing including twists and turns in the plot and a surprising ending. Summer of Fear did not meet up to other books by Lois Duncan because of its missing ending, but was also thrilling because of vividly portrayed characters, a plot that leaves the reader guessing what will happen next, the inclusion of oneself in the story, and an original story line. When three people including Rachel's uncle and aunt die in a car crash, Rachel's cousin Julia comes to live with her. Rachel is the only one in her family who can see past Julia's beauty into her evil thoughts - witchcraft. Because of this, Rachel is the only one who can stop Julia's plot from working. Lois Duncan has written many other books which all qualify as "scary" genre. Books that she has written include the bestseller "I Know What You Did Last Summer," "Don't Look Behind You," "Down a Dark Hall," "A Gift of Magic," "Killing Mr. Griffin," "Locked In Time," "Ransom," and "Stranger With My Face." Her books grab the reader's interest and do not lose it through out the entire book. Even though all of Lois Duncan's books are in the same genre, they do have different plots. An example of the opposite would be Jane Austin who had a fairly similar plot in each of her books. A good book needs to have drama, adventure, frightening moments, a satisfactory ending, and unexpected scenes. Most of Lois Duncan's books have each of those characteristics, but Summer of Fear does not have a satisfactory ending. A book is a jigsaw puzzle, and if you are missing pieces it does not fit together. The last puzzle piece of Summer of Fear was missing creating an unfinished image in the reader's mind. An ending to a book is essential both because it is one of the three major parts, and because when a thrilling story is not completed the reader is disappointed. In Summer of Fear the ending started out as a vivid part that one could clearly picture in one's mind. When it left off at a certain point and did not explain what happened to all of the main and important characters, it was almost like falling off a cliff. One just falls, just as the story just stopped. Summer of Fear is like a movie playing in one's mind. One of the fantastic elements that creates this imagery is the descriptive writing about characters. In this book, it is easy to visualize the characters and feel certain ways about them. If Lois Duncan was trying to gain sympathy from the reader for one of the characters, it was easy for her to do so. The reader knows exactly what a main character looks like, and can infer from that information whether this is a good or evil person. Lois Duncan does not hesitate to express a certain feeling about a character. An example of a vividly portrayed character in Summer of Fear is Julia. "She was a plain, thin girl with long, black hair that hung halfway to her waist. Her brows were heavy, her face narrow and shallow, but her eyes - even now, thinking back upon that moment, I cannot begin to describe my first impression of her eyes. They were deep and dark and filled with secrets. Haunted eyes. They were the strangest eyes I have ever seen." Until the ending of Summer of Fear, Rachel is trying desperately to prove to her parents and friends that Julia is not the perfect, beautiful girl they see. These happenings lead up to the end, where Rachel thinks she has Julia in a corner to reveal that she is really a witch. This is one of the things that makes Summer of Fear so thrilling and breath taking. One thinks one knows what is going to happen next, but one does not. This is also the problem with fairy tales and other stories; the reader knows that the end is going to say six predictable words. "And they lived happily ever after." Books do need good endings, but sometimes they seem good from a different perspective than the reader's. An original plot is essential to a good story. All interest is lost if the story is familiar to the reader. Summer of Fear has a story line that is not seen in other books. A cousin who is coming to live with her aunt, uncle, and cousins has been used many times before. It is the following events that make this story so unique. Originality creates suspense, interest, and excitement, all of which greatly contribute to Summer if Fear's enjoyment and pleasure. All of these positive elements would not create as much of an effect if the reader could not feel as if they are in the story while it is taking place. Summer of Fear has this important quality making it more enjoyable to the reader. Yet another great thing about Lois Duncan's writing is that the reader feels as if the book has sucked oneself in and oneself is witnessing the scene. One of the things that triggers this feeling is descriptive writing. In Summer of Fear, descriptive writing is also used to make the reader have sympathy for Rachel. This way, the description is killing two birds with one stone. It sways the reader's opinion and makes the reader feel as if they are experiencing the same thing the main character did. Many scenes from Summer of Fear are memorable in one's mind. Lois Duncan makes these scenes memorable by her style of writing. Her style is detailed, and also is different in this particular book because a character is telling the story. There is a transition in the book, from the beginning into the middle, which sticks vividly in the reader's mind. This section is one of the places where Rachel is starting to learn that Julia is a witch. Rachel finds a clay figure that resembles her dog, in Julia's drawer. Rachel later finds out that this was killing her dog. Another part towards the middle of Summer of Fear dictates Julia's wickedness by her making Rachel become ill with hives. Consequently, Rachel cannot go to a certain dance, and is forced to let Julia borrow the dress which she herself had made. The major feeling when reading these sections is sympathy. The reader is made sympathetic to Rachel because of the provocative writing. Summer of Fear is a wonderfully told story that portrays a teenager looking back on a major event of her life. This book is excellent, but would be even more enjoyable if the ending would be complete. Reading this book can equal the enjoyment of riding a roller coaster or a different theme park ride. The main differences between the two are that reading Summer of Fear is free and lasts longer. The original plot makes the story more interesting and appealing to readers. Summer of Fear tells readers an interesting message. One needs to be careful whom one trusts, because people are willing to go to great lengths to reach their goal.
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Summary: Summer of Fear
Review: This book was wonmderful. This novel really shows how talented that Lois Duncan really is. This suspenseful and dramatic novel really shows you how some people may not be who you think they are. This book was next to "A Gift of Magic" one of her best books. The only thing I don't like is that I can't rate this book six or even seven.
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Summary: This is THE best book ever!
Review: "Summer of Fear" is the greatest book I have ever read. I started reading Lois Duncan books with "I Know What You Did Last Summer" because I saw the movie. I now own all the Lois Duncan books, but I got this one first from the library. It had a funky cover, with a girl in a bikini with this monster face (Julia.) It's about this girl named Rachel, who is fifteen. She lives with two brothers and her parents. One morning they find out that Uncle Ryan and Aunt Marge have been killed in a car crash. Their daughter, seventeen year old Julia, is still at her home, all alone. Rachel's parents decide that they must go get Julia. Julia comes to live with the family, and lots of weird stuff starts happening. Rachel's older brother Peter, who has never been really interested in girls, falls in love with her. Rachel's boyfriend also seems to be enchanted by Julia. I won't tell you anymore, other than this is the BEST book I have ever read, and I've read along the lines of Stephen King, who's writing I detest. This book is great for anyone, any age. DON'T WAIT, YOU MUST BUY THIS BOOK NOW!
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Summary: Review of Fear (Hahahaha)
Review: Lois Duncan's book, Summer of Fear, is suspenseful and mysterious. The book begins when Rachel's family hears of the death of Aunt Marge and Uncle Ryan. The relative's daughter, Julia, was going to come live with them. Rachel, who likes to be called Rae, is excited to hear that there will be another girl in the family besides her mother- so she takes it lightly. When Julia first comes, she seemed perfectly normal- she had a pretty figure and was very quiet. She hared a room with Rae, and they started to become friends. But, wehen Rae's life began to twist with not normal acidents- such as her boyfriend dumping her abruptly- she began to wonder..... and found out the horrifying secret of her cousin...... This book deserves four stars and is a good choice for the teenager who enjoys thrill and horror.
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Summary: Great
Review: This is a great book. It is really interesting to read too. It is a great mystery book. I think this book is interesting and freaky at sometimes because you never know what's going to happen. Their are always surprises. If you like great mysterys and love suprising books where stuff happens that you were not expecting at all read this book NOW.
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Summary: A REAL PAGE TURNER!!!!!!! Rachele
Review: This is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE Lois Duncan book!!!!!! It's impossible to put down! If you're a Lois Duncan fan like me, you won't be disappointed with this one!! From the moment I first opened this book, I was hooked! The emotions Rachel goes through are described so vividly, it's like you are standing right next to her the whole time!!! Julia and all of the other characters seemed so real, the setting was described so well it seemed as though it was actually my life written on those pages! If you like books that are jam-packed with mystery, suspense, romance, and adventure, then you're in for a real treat! This is one awesome book!
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