Playmates

Rating:
Summary: Average horror novel
Review: "Playmates", one of the mass produced horror novels under the Zebra line, is an average horror novel at best. The authors, Dan and Lynda Trent writing under the pseudonym "Abigail McDaniels", had four novels published under the Zebra line. This one is on par with the majority of horror novels in the line.

The story involves a family moving into a house built at the turn of the century. A playhouse is located on the property and the little girl in the family instantly falls in love with it. She finds some older toys in the playhouse, the most prominent one being a doll named Ara. Ara soon starts talking to the little girl, making the girl cater to her every need and desire. When the girl starts to resist, Ara takes matters into her own hands and starts to torture the girl and her family.

While there are no real shock moments in the novel, an element of the unknown still exists. What is the history of the doll? What happened to the previous families that lived in the house? It's a quick read due to it being a short novel (250 pages) and written on a low reading level. At times, the writing is very simplistic and becomes annoying. There is little to no detail regarding the surroundings. Normally there is just back and forth chattering amongst the characters. Had the writing level been better and there been some shock value, the book would have garnered a higher rating.

Rating:
Summary: Average horror novel
Review: "Playmates", one of the mass produced horror novels under the Zebra line, is an average horror novel at best. The authors, Dan and Lynda Trent writing under the pseudonym "Abigail McDaniels", had four novels published under the Zebra line. This one is on par with the majority of horror novels in the line.

The story involves a family moving into a house built at the turn of the century. A playhouse is located on the property and the little girl in the family instantly falls in love with it. She finds some older toys in the playhouse, the most prominent one being a doll named Ara. Ara soon starts talking to the little girl, making the girl cater to her every need and desire. When the girl starts to resist, Ara takes matters into her own hands and starts to torture the girl and her family.

While there are no real shock moments in the novel, an element of the unknown still exists. What is the history of the doll? What happened to the previous families that lived in the house? It's a quick read due to it being a short novel (250 pages) and written on a low reading level. At times, the writing is very simplistic and becomes annoying. There is little to no detail regarding the surroundings. Normally there is just back and forth chattering amongst the characters. Had the writing level been better and there been some shock value, the book would have garnered a higher rating.

Rating:
Summary: Spooky
Review: I have always been attracted to stories about evil living dolls. This book, isn't really scary, you've seen the plot probably twenty different times on tv, but it still makes a good read.

When Cassie finds Ara she thinks the doll will be the perfect friend to combat her lonliness upon moving. Soon Ara, takes on a life of her own and begins to threaten Cassie. Cassie gets weak and sick, causing her parents and teacher to worry about her, but they are unable to help her because they don't believe in a doll coming to life....