REVIEWS+

Bloody Horowitz

by Anthony Horowitz
327p. 978-0-39925-451-2.
COPY ISBN
Gr 7 Up—These 12 stories are not for the squeamish as they include shudder-inducing scenes of burning flesh, dismembered bodies, electrocution, and death by squeezing in a massage chair. The terror strikes good and bad individuals equally, whether it's a teen whiz kid in "Bet Your Life," a do-gooder in "Plugged In," or a spoiled brat in "The Cobra." If there is a theme that runs through the anthology it's that you can't outsmart a haunting end and if you try, that may just be your downfall. The selections offer clever twists on pop-culture trends such as reality television and MP3 players. One story gives a nod to fellow horror writer Darren Shan. The book starts and ends with fictionalized arguments against publishing horror stories for children. Fans of the morbid will appreciate Horowitz's seemingly unending imagination for the horrific, but alert readers may clue in to some plot twists early on. Teens looking for gruesome tales won't be disappointed.—Shawna Sherman, Hayward Public Library, CA
This volume presents a collection of horror stories, with an emphasis on the gory; the characters' unfortunate demises are related in intricate, bloody detail. Though not all of the stories are particularly inspired, a few feature some refreshing humor amidst all of the entrails ("Why Horror Has No Place in Children's Books," "The Man Who Killed Darren Shan").
Reviewed by Shawna Sherman , Dec 01, 2010

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?