Losing Christina: Fog, by Caroline B. CooneyReason for Reading: I had hit a reading slump and wanted to perk myself up by reading something "exciting." I was browsing through the ebooks at my library, and found this. I remembered how much I loved it when I was a child and thought "I wonder how bad it could be?" So I borrowed it. :) I'm rather glad I did!
Review
Christina is excited because this year she is 13 and she gets to leave the island she grew up on and attend junior high on the mainland in Maine. Despite her excitement, she is torn by worry about whether she'll be bullied by the mainland kids, who think islanders are stupid and poor. But those worries soon take second place when she realizes that the owners of the bed and breakfast where she and her islander friends lodge are using psychological torment to suck the souls out of girls. She's terrified as she watches the beautiful and brilliant senior Anya fade away. And soon the psychopaths are after her own mind.
When I was pre-junior high I used to gobble up these Point Horror books like a turkey dinner. (haha. ok, I know that wasn't funny. Just work with it.) There are very few of those books that I actually remember liking though. This is one that has really stuck with me through the years. When I found it in the library recently I thought: "I wonder..." And I'm glad I did, because I found this book terrifying. When I was a teenager, I think I found the spooky psychological aspects of going insane scary. Now, the book is even more terrifying, but for a different reason. Those psychopath adults who have FULL control over those poor children were horrible! They were charming, and fantastic liars, and those kids' parents weren't around to see what was going on. They just believed whatever the adults told them rather than believing their own children. And the things those psychopaths said to the kids! Ohhhhh shudder. Yes, the book lacked subtlety. But the fact that it terrified me even now gets it four stars in my blog! My only complaint (besides the lack of subtlety - which is really due to its target audience) is that it ended in a cliffhanger. This is a trilogy of short books. It really should be one longer book. Even combined, I think the book would still be reasonably short. But it WAS Point Horror, after all. They had to be short.
I've read this one recently and really enjoyed it. I've been meaning to get to the next books in the series, because I really want to find out how Christina will beat those Shevingtons! Great review!
ReplyDeleteI read the whole series years ago and I sort of remember how it ends...at least I remember feeling satisfied by the end. :) I'll read the next two soon, too.
DeleteThis is the first time I've heard of the Point Horror genre. Thanks for enlightening me :) I can see how this is just the bite size book to read when the mood strikes!
ReplyDelete:) The Point Horror books are kind of like Harlequin Romances for children's horror fans. They are bite-sized, but rarely complex or unique. But sometimes all you need is something to entertain you without making you think, right? :)
DeleteOo, that does sound spooky, especially because I dun wanna get my soul sucked out D: Thanks for joining in the review hop this week :D
ReplyDeleteI'm rather fond of my soul.
DeleteThis sounds really good!
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned that the book was not all too subtle. Based upon your commentary it does sound like there are some interesting underlying ideas here about losing one's soul and spirit.
:) Yes, that's exactly why I liked the book. The psychological aspects were rather unique for the children's horror genre - and I can hardly expect subtlety in a book written for 12-year-olds.
DeleteI also thought the issue of lack-of-communication between Christina and her parents is very timely. It's terrifying that the best-intentioned parents can communicate only with adults and not really concentrate on what their children say. I think that this sort of mistake can exacerbate soul-sucking depression and budding sociopathic behaviors.
Sometimes you just need a blast from the past to reinvigorate your reading habits. Sounds like an interesting read.
ReplyDeleteWorked for me! :)
DeleteCan I assume from your review that this is a YA book? Like you, I often have trouble with the lack of subtlety often found in books for that audience. Still, you make it sound so enticing with its ability to recapture your interest and shock. May need to stretch my wings a bit further and check it out!
ReplyDeleteI'd even say that it's a children's book, rather than YA. Its appropriate for pre-teens - maybe 11-13 range. Books for kids lack subtlety...kids need things a little more cut and dry, after all.
DeleteWow... sounds like a very interesting book. And to have an even stronger impact after some time makes it even more chilling. You have to wonder if the younger you missed the lack of subtlety as well as some of the nuances I am sure you caught during the second reading. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm sure I missed the lack of subtlety when I was a kid. And as an adult I'm too frightened by the idea of other adults preying on MY kids...I mean, it can happen! (Well, I'd have to have kids, first, but psychopaths preying on the innocent is just darned scary!)
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