D E Athkins - The Cemetery

Off we go again, this time with a D.E Athkins. Given the first five letters of the name spell death, I have to wonder if this is a ghost writer with one funky pseudonym. If not, this is one cool name for a Point Horror writer!

I recognised the title and thought that I'd read this one before. On reading it, all I can say is that if I have, I must have forgotten every single event in it. And I'm not surprised – I got to the end of the book not really have understood what the hell had just happened.

So, I shall break with what I said about no blow by blow reviews for this one, because seeing as I am going to have to read “The Cemetery” again in order to review it, I may as well explain what is happening. I can't be the only one not to understand this book! I have an A Level in English Literature, so if it's beaten me, it must be a right literary muddle.

The book opens on “All Hallows Eve” (specifically called this as opposed to Hallowe'en) in the town of Point Harbor, which used to be called Cemetery Point, but events in the past caused the towns people to rename the place. Out to sea, is a group of rocks known as Devil's Teeth. Sometimes lights have been seen out at sea, and these are believed to be lights from ships wrecked in years gone by.... spooky!

The cemetery is indeed on a point of land, that juts out into the sea. Here we join Cyndi, Lara, Dade, Wills, Georgie, Foy, Jane, Charity and Rick for some scary All Hallows Eve high jinks at the graveyard.

I can't say I remember anything about these people nor really caring. There's just too many of them to really get attached to.

Everyone is all poshed up in suitably scary and spooky attire and is off to a school dance, and thence to the graveyard. As everyone leaves their houses, already you get the idea that this will not be any type of normal party at a graveyard. If any party at a graveyard can be remotely considered normal.

Cyndi is going with Dade. Cyndi just seems to have a grudge against everyone somehow.

Lara right from the off comes across as sexually aware and bit of a player. She is going to the party with Wills.

Georgie is planning on gatecrashing the party to get even with Cyndi, who she hates. Georgie has a date who when Cyndi sees them is not going to be happy, apparently.

Foy and Jane appear to be on the verge of breaking up because things aren't really turning up boyfriend/girlfriend.

Jane wants some action with Cyndi, because Cyndi insulted her to Charity once upon a time.

Rick is bit of an ill omen. His father is a funeral director and Rick cannot stand still or move slowly as to him, slow and still mean death and he's been surrounded by it all his life. But to everyone else, Rick appears a jokester and THE man to have at a party.

Wills is mad with himself because he's agreed to double date with Dade and Cyndi. Wills is already mad at Dade because Dade has upstaged him in his outfit.

Ah, blow this. They're all off to the party and everyone has a bone to pick with someone else. See, there's just too many of them to actually care. Right, there's that done!

Chapter 2 and we are finally off to Cemetery Point. The road at some point has been shut off due to landslides and getting to the Point, a sign reading “DANGER. TRESPASSING. GO BACK.” greets the partiers. Suddenly an axe comes crashing down onto Jones' head but opening into chapter 3 it's just Rick with a plastic axe. Right.

Coolers and blankets are unloaded from the car and the party starts. A bit of drinking, a bit of dancing... Jones and Charity tear themselves apart and go for a walk in the graveyard. Several of the tombstones have strange inscriptions like “Believed taken by the sea. May God have mercy on his soul”, “Borne on the tides up to heaven” and “Asleep but not at rest. May death bring her peace” and Charity thinks the last person must have been turned into a zombie.

Back to the party, and Cyndi is dancing on a marble crypt, which the others think is not a good idea. But Cyndi thinks the dead are just having the best time in ages! Hmmm... making enough noise to wake the dead?

Chapter 4 and Georgie arrives and the date that will make Cyndi mad turns out to be her brother Dorian. Weird name... they tell a few ghost stories ncluding one about a vampire than ran out of living bodies and had to suck on corpses. Midnight comes around they link hands and try to contact the dead. Jones breaks the circle out of fear and Charity feels the Point tip fractionally and an earth tremor and Jones decides it's time to get the hell outta there.

The Point continues to have earth tremors and as everyone plays a game of hide and seek among the tombstones, Something is unleashed and shortly Wills is found brutally killed.

(Written down like this, the story makes a bit more sense. There's just something about the way the story is written that makes it confusing).

Presumably it's a couple of days later and Char is in the library. Char thinks that there may be a pattern with this murder and by going through old newspapers she will find the answer. Jones sees Char in the library and confronts her over looking at his diary and it turns out that they are both thinking along the same lines but Jones has got further in his enquiries and refuses to let Char in on what he knows.

Georgie and Dorian decide to head back to the cemetery and look for clues. Apart from the painted white outline of Wills' body, they don't really find much. But the Something comes after them and just before getting back into Dorian's car, Georgie falls to the ground.

In Chapter 10, it turns out that Lara knows who killed Wills and is scared for her life. Charity finds an old journal belonging to a whaler on her desk and in it are references to hauntings on Cemetery Point and monsters in the sea from England that devour human flesh. This thing can also change form, fly and suck from the heart. Sounds like a vampire alright! All I need is the earth coffins and then it's a dead cert baby!

It then starts becoming apparent that Cyndi has a past of weird pranks with her brother, Dorian. One went wrong when Dorian was locked up in a cupboard and then a fire started. Dorian believes that Cyndi started the fire and deduces from this that Cyndi is capable of murder. Cyndi however says she saved his life because she told the fire brigade where Dorian was. Ooh... is creepy Cyndi our culprit? Dorian however is convinced that this is all Cyndi's doing and then.... Georgie walks into the garage!

Cue twist, Georgie's father is at the emergency room and receives the news that Georgie has gone the same way as Wills. Which is real? Is Georgie alive or dead? Or even a combination of both?

The Georgie in the garage has a “dead smell” and the more Dorian talks to Georgie, it becomes obvious that she is possessed by Something. This Something also admits to killing Wills and wants to be known as Jack, after Jack The Ripper. Jack throws a match and the whole garage with Dorian in it, goes up in flames.

Dorian doesn't survive the fire. Now, three are dead, Wills, Georgie and Dorian. Georgie is confirmed dead at the A&E. Cyndi has seen the hook on the side of the car and tells everyone that it is just like the story Rick told back at the graveyard.

This is starting to remind me of “It” now. Pennywise comes back over the years and takes the form of whatever scares the individual most. Given the whaling journal mentions the Something can fly and take whatever form, it probably feeds on your fears. Whatever you fear most, is the form it will take. Rick told the story of the vampire who sucked on corpses and we have Something in the form of a vampire.

Charity tells the group of the strange book Jones left her, and the realization hits that they have woken something up during their party in the cemetery.

Cyndi suddenly runs away from the group, takes Dade's car and heads out the the cemetery to stop the Something. It dawns on Charity that Cyndi at the graveyard may not be Cyndi at all! Thinking about it, they realize that they weren't with her when Dorian died and as Dorian had been talking to Jack, it is possible that Cyndi came into contact with Jack too.

They form a chain through the graveyard and go after Cyndi. Rick panics and tried to break away – Foy socks him one on the jaw to stop him running and he's out cold.

Chapter 12 opens with Charity discovering a tombstone with her name on it, a date of birth but no date of death: Charity Webster 1888 – reads the inscription. She shows Jones who doesn't appear to be surprised by the discovery. The ground rocks again as Charity feels a surge of power standing next to her namesake's grave. She has a vision of a strange woman appears, standing at the edge of the sea. The sea boils around her.

The vision becomes true (presumably as the Something takes on a form relevant to Charity) and the woman tells Charity to turn around and she sees a river of fire heading towards her. The woman overpowers Charity and Charity chooses to go with this woman.

Lara appears from the shadows, but of course, it is not Lara. Lara knocks Jones out – damn, who will save Charity now?

Charity grabs Lara and sees the faces of her dead friends flicker through. Wills. Georgie. Dorian, Charity summons up all the mental power she has and refuses to accept the possession and pushes the Something out.
Charity feels herself in a grave. She kicks and struggles and slowly the grave soil becomes twisted bedding. She wakes up in her own bed, free from the something.

It is winter now and after the events at the cemetery, the ground has given way and the graveyard has fallen into the sea. Charity says that Jones saved her when he pulled her from her grave by her ankles – Jones must have come round in time. Hooray!

Thinking, Charity works out that the Something was actually 1888 Charity all along. Somehow 1888 Charity wasn't buried in the graveyard and needed Charity to come along and help be buried inside the grave, The owner of the whaling journal had a grave marked just in case Charity ever got inside.

It also turns out that Lara never died. She must have seen the Something enough to scare her out of her wits, but it really was a trick on the Something's part.

Dade, Jane, Cyndi, Foy and Rick turn up on their way to a party. All's well that ends well! Jones and Charity appear to be getting closer and the story ends.

I have to say, I didn't really initially or like this story. Having to write it out as a recap was the only way I could understand it. The events just happen and I think more dialogue amongst the characters to explain their thoughts and what is going on would have helped. Things just happen and it's too quick to understand.

It's rather bullet pointed in some ways and not connected. It's hard to explain but when you read other Point Horrors, it is more apparent. I think the best example of this would be the Nancy Drew series – the editing has really ruined the flow of the story. In one paragraph, they are at the cinema. Next, at home. Next, at a party and then ON WITH THE MYSTERY!

I suppose it is all wrapped up, but I would have liked to have known where the Something came from. I suppose the answer lies in Stephen King's “It” - it has always been there as a life force since the creation of the universe. Also, was there any significance in the strange inscriptions on the other graves?

There were just too many characters for me to like and makes the tale confusing. I think you could easily have cut Foy and Jane, and possibly even Rick. It really doesn't matter who tells the story that makes the Something take it's shape. These people just aren't needed.

Given the current interest in vampires and the undead what with shows like “Twilight” this story is contemporary, but I have to say, I don't think it would compare to these shows and books.

And finally – weird references! Why was Rick singing “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”? Seems an odd choice to me.

Bobbsey Twins and Keystone Cops?

I googled Bobbsey Twins and my comment about Nancy Drew was a bit weird in hindsight. The Bobbsey Twins were a series of books from around the early 1900s and are adventure series for children. Edward Stratemeyer wrote these under the pseudonym Laura Lee Hope. The Stratemeyer Syndicate also wrote the Nancy Drew series. I wonder if D.E. Athkins is somehow part of this syndicate given the similar narration style? And why the outdated reference? Would a child in 1992 (publishing date) have a clue as to WHO the Bobbsey Twins were? I read Enid Blyton and other old authors and this one had passed me by, even in hearsay. Is this book out of the Stratemeyer Syndicate and it's a bad bit of self advertising?

Lastly, Keystone Cops. These were comedic characters in silent films in the 1910s. Again, a very weird reference and same for Bobbsey Twins – would a 1990s kid have heard of them? Or have I just not heard of them being English?

In some ways, I feel that this story could have been written way before the 1990s with these references. Maybe it's just copyright and Bobbsey Twins and Keystone Cops were the only similes they could use. Maybe it is an old story that has been Point Horror-ified and severely edited down and released under a pseudonym. There's something not right about this story at all.

So, to round off I can't say I enjoyed the story what with the narration issues. However, I do like the fact that this story leaves a mystery as to why it is the way it is and what may have happened to the story in the editing and publishing process. Sorry, D.E Athkins, you didn't rock my world!

Diane Hoh - The Invitation

Okay! Off I kick with my first look at a Diane Hoh, one of the Point Horror stalwarts. I have read some of hers before, but I am pretty sure that this one, “The Invitation”, I have never read before. I know of at least one other, but in an attempt at suspense, I am not going to tell you what that one is! Take a guess?

At least in initial concept, “The Invitation” is rather a like the classic horror movie, “House On Haunted Hill” (1959). It is probably like the 1999 remake as well, but unless I am a glutton for punishment on that particular day, I tend to stay well clear of classic remakes.


The party to which the invitations refer, is held by Cass Rockham, a rich attendee at Greenhaven High. Cass comes across as a nasty piece of work, with probably far too much power than is good for her. She can have staff fired! Presumably, no solicitors exist in Greenhaven nor unions! In typical “Point Horror” fashion, the parents are out the country and Cass and her pals are left to party in peace with caterer's who “know better than to show up with trays of quiche or pate or watercress sandwiches”. Man, I guess Cass has them already whipped into line!

Cass also has “cool parents” who don't believe in acting as chaperone to teen parties. Although between you and me, I think after this party, they're gonna rethink this position!

The similarity betwee the film I mention and this book, is that the host invites people along to a party to play nasty games with them. “House On Haunted Hill” is a bit more macabre, whereas in “The Invitation” we settle for Shane, Ellie, Sarah, Donald and Maggie (and a partridge in a pear tree!) being locked up in a game of hide and seek with a twist. The piece de resistance is that someone is playing a game with the hostess' game. Initially, you think it is all Cass' game but soon enough it becomes clear that the game has gone wrong.

Okay, it's not truly terrifying, unless you are claustrophobic or you are being locked in a room being forced to listen to Michael Bolton, but have you ever wondered why YOU were invited somewhere by someone who doesn't like you? Wouldn't it be a mind boggler? A real what the blazes are they up to? I think we probably have all experienced humiliation along these lines somewhere. Being set up to be the butt of the joke.

Along with the “what's going on?” scenario at Cass Rockham's party, there is also the secondary plot line over Shane and her past in Rockport. I have to admit that Shane stealing a ring from a jewellers' was bit of a let down. I was expecting something a bit more racy. After all, Point Horrors are about horror! But, given Shane is supposed to be on the “good side” anything too criminal would probably have turned us against her. We are not supposed to side with a murderer.

The usual clever plot twists carry the story along and keeping interest. I actually dared to formulate a hypothesis as to what was going on. And was wrong! I actually thought it was George the chauffeur, taking revenge on the rich Rockhams for mistreating him. After all, he was given the night off and could have easily crept back in. However, the culprit is not actually one of the party and is Shane's former friend Lynn from Rockport with a grudge.

Kind of like the whole “Who Shot JR?” mystery. It wasn't actually anybody you knew about! A simple device and keeps wannabe clever clogs like me from guessing the ending! Although, Shane's ex friend Lynn from Rockport was a second guess – honestly!

In Riley, we have an anti-Cass. He is also the love interest for Sarah. Two familiar concepts therefore are in this book, the rich bitch and the school hunk. But as ever, this adds a bit of light relief and means Cass has a challenge to her evil plans.

Usually I can feel some sort of pity for the “bad guys” in Point Horrors or at least understand the motive, but Cass just seems an evil cow. Too much power and too big an opinion of herself if you ask me! Even if her crowd is a bit snobby, it is clear right at the beginning of the party that there is dissent in the Rockham Massive ranks. People are disgusted by Cass' idea, so I think Cass has lost the plot big time. Crazy Cass!

I actually enjoyed this “Point Horror” for it's storyline. Much more than “Mother's Helper” and “Beach Party”. Will I remember this one by the time I have done reviewing every single “Point Horror”? I don't know yet, but I think I might!

A Bates - Mother's Helper

Now this is one I have a dim memory of reading when younger, but not actually understanding the story. Heaven only knows why as it seems perfectly logical as an adult!

In this book, we are set on the isolated Sebastian Island, off the coast of Oregon. Our leading lady is Becky who is hired as mother's help to Mrs. Nelson to help care for her son Devon. Our leading man and love interest for our lady is Cleve (Cleave? Cleaver?), who rents the cabin out that the three are staying in.

Isolation is the key in this story – the island is surrounded by sea and the cabin is surrounded by woodland and Becky is isolated from other people by Mrs Nelson's rules.

We also have the typical device of the leading lady being off familiar territory and absent parents. Do any parents actually stay at home in these books?!?!

This is a story that comes into the “what's going on?” category. Up to chapter 23 it is not clear why Devon must be hidden, nor why Mrs Nelson is so odd and incapable with Devon. However, in true Point Horror style, when the action starts it is wrapped up quickly.

At 37 chapters long, this initially seems to be a behemoth, but some of the chapters are only a page long. I think this is unusual for Point Horror, but in a book where the action takes a long time to get going, it does break the narrative up and gives mini cliff hangers all the way through.

The story also takes a typical job an average teenager may take for the summer and turns it into a nightmare. This is a link to the reader's reality as it is possible that something like this could happen. As opposed to time travelling beach huts, perfumes that awake the dead and such like which are in current scientific thought, impossible. Although if this blog is still extant in 200 years time, you could be sniggering at the ignorance of those in 2010 :D

Approaching chapter 33 we have the action beginning as the danger gets closer to Becky and Mrs Nelson. Cleverly, by chapter 35 the whole story is spun around and those who we (and Becky) think are on our side are not and those who we thought were danger are actually our good guys. All these twists back to back confuse the reader probably as well as it does Becky!

Cleve is the only character apart from Becky who doesn't change. We have moments of doubt where Cleve is concerned when he asks odd questions. Despite his “odd” questions, I don't feel that there is any point where we think Cleve is the bad guy. Just a weird guy. Maybe you read different?

Cleve serves the purpose of Becky's link to the outside world and that of love interest. It's a nice separate arc to the main plot of the story. It makes for a typical ending girl gets the boy, but then, this is teenage fiction and a bit of romance never really hurts in this genre.

One criticism I have is of Becky's naivety in letting Mrs Nelson escape. This is a woman who has attempted to kill and has kidnapped a baby and yet Becky lets her go thinking Mrs Nelson will be able to work her issues out.

As a literary device, I can see the point of this as at the start of the story Becky has issues over her ex boyfriend and ex best friend Jason and Sarah so as Becky lets go of her past and falls for Cleve, Mrs Nelson also gets another chance at life and letting go of her relationship issues. But really! It is naïve and bordering on the irresponsible.

I doubt Mrs Nelson got far anyway in all honesty as Sebastian Island is small and chances are Mr Nelson would have wanted to press charges. Would you let an ex partner get away with snatching your baby and trying to kill you? Mmmm.... I can't see this happening in reality, but I forget – THIS IS POINT HORROR!!

Looking back, I can't see why I didn't understand this story when younger. Maybe it's the Americanization I keep finding in these books. Or maybe I just read the book backwards! Either way, that doesn't hold true for adulthood.

The names Devon and Cleve are odd, at least to someone who is English. I wonder how A. Bates picked these names? And come to think of it, what does the A stand for? Ah-ha! Now that is a mystery!

R L Stine - Beach Party

Well, here is my first actual “Point Horror” review. For any of my reviews, I'm not really going to go through the story explaining it all. What happens and who says what and why. I'm just going to comment and respond. You can read the book if you want to know exactly what happens!

“Beach Party” is one of the Point Horrors I read in my early 20s. I think a visit back to your childhood is essential every so often! Although, I never read this at the “correct” age, so maybe a childhood revisit is bit of a misnomer in this case. Then again, so is the title of the book. No real “Beach Party” takes place! Karen and Ann Marie are planning a summer of beach parties but they never happen.

I suppose this is a kind of half sister book to “Beach House” as they both have beach in the title and are by R L Stine. Or is that too far fetched a link?!

I have to admit, that as an adult, I had a hard time finding the horror initially in this book. The horror is stereotypical. The bad guys are the bikers around Venice Beach. Bikes, black and leather equal bad here. Mind you, in the summer temperatures of California, you would probably need a screw loose to be wearing black leathers! It reminds me of the good old Aussie soap “Home and Away” where all the weird male characters would wear lots of black and usually leather and their colouring would often be dark hair and pale complexion, tending to the gothic. You just knew trouble was afoot!

Thinking about it a bit more, it is a valid horror. I remember being a child and seeing gangs of older children standing on street corners was pretty scary and intimidating. There always were the intimidating groups wearing subversive clothing. In the 50s, it was the mods and rockers. In the 1990s when this book was written, it was bikers. In the noughties, it's hoodies. If you were in the proper age group, being whisked off on a bike at fast speeds probably is terrifying. Now at my ripe age of 31, I'd love something odd like that to happen! I have rather a penchant for long haired bikers.

The book takes a long time to get to the action and when it does arrive it is all wrapped up very quickly. You have the leading up events – Karen nearly drowning, jellyfish in Karen's bed – but the top notch horror action comes close to the end. Along the way, there are many decoys and sub plots – Renee who is dating Jerry and is threatened by Karen. Ann Marie who has changed since moving to New York and could have carried out the tricks on Karen. Vince, one of the bad boys who has a reputation and probably would kill for a joke. Ooooooooooooooh!

Gradually each are eliminated from suspicion and the actual culprit turns out to be the one you thought was a good guy all along – our Jerry. “Poor crazy Jerry.” I'm kind of baffled – if Jerry had been showing odd signs all along, why did his parents not get him help? Surely he would have exhibited the double Todd/Jerry personality and sister denial way before killing Renee? Oops, spoiler!

The characterization is a bit thin on the ground but I don't think this detracts from the story. It isn't really about the characters, apart from Jerry who does have the strongest characterization. Karen is probably your typical American teenager – wants to be on the beach all summer and par-tay! Renee is the jealous girlfriend. Jerry is the bad boy that you feel a strange attraction to even though you know it's probably not a good idea. Ann Marie – well, what can I say about Ann Marie? I suppose she is the girl who moved away and changed in the meantime. She really does seem to be outside the story for the most part and not much more than a method to get the story going and a pal for Karen.

Being English, “Beach Party” is actually a reasonably interesting look at being a teenager in Los Angeles and actually, being a US teenager. The characters drive – in the UK, although you can start driving at 17, you don't learn in school like you do in the USA. Well, maybe driver's ed has crossed the pond by now like proms. When I was at school you had discos not proms!

Diners feature heavily and therefore eating out. As a teenager here, it would be a burger van in the town centre or McDonalds on Saturday when shopping with your mates. We didn't really use cafes and/or restaurants. There certainly wasn't designated hangouts based on which school you went to. Again, maybe this has changed since I was a teenager. Or maybe it was just where I grew up.

In many ways, it's hard to know what to say about “Beach Party”. In 10 years, it's probably not one of the Point Horrors I'll remember immediately, but it's not one of the worst. The story is plausible, unlike many Point Horror plots which are impossible or border on the barking mad.

All questions are answered and the story is wrapped up well. Apart from why did no-one do anything about Jerry's mental health previously? Could this whole situation have been avoided with proper medical and psychological care? Maybe this is the unintended horror of the story: that without the proper care and support after an incident we could end up like poor crazy Jerry. And maybe in the USA where healthcare is primarily private, perhaps this sort of horror is more plausible to an American.

Caroline B Cooney - Flight 116 Is Down

As I mentioned previously in my post, the first “Point Horror” book I am going to look at is “Flight 116 Is Down” by Caroline B Cooney who is one of the more prolific Point writers. Admittedly, “Flight 116” is not a Point Horror, but it is in the Point canon and being Cabin Crew myself, I was intrigued by this book.

And it was well worth it! A very engrossing and realistic read with interesting characters like Heidi: who feels trapped, Darienne: who cares for no-one but herself and Patrick, a young man who is waiting to prove himself.

Bizarrely, the plane crash whilst trapping many people in the wreckage frees many of our characters from their mundane routines or emotional difficulties. Patrick even acknowledges it by realizing that he wished for this to happen. Of course, none of the characters wanted a plane crash to happen, but they all wished for Something To Happen. Patrick's father backs this up later, realistically adding that because they are all Ambulance volunteers, if something does occur, there is a strong desire to Be There!

Heidi was freed from her exile because she found a purpose for a short while. The plane came in and Heidi was let out.

Patrick was freed as he finally had a chance to show he was also capable of dealing with an emergency and put his EMT skills to the test.

Daniel wished for something to happen to prevent his having to attend his father's wedding and actually considers a plane crash a useful diversion.

Ty was bored at the party and wished for some action.

Accuracy and Realism

The responses of the passengers after impact are realistic suggesting that Cooney has researched her book well. People may often say pointless things and do apparently pointless and useless things after a traumatic event. Post impact we can see both positive and negative responses to a crisis.

The reactions of the airport staff and the bewilderment of the waiting families when no information comes through is also accurate. Cooney doesn't spend an awful lot of time on this part of the story but what is written suffices to convey the agonising wait and shock of people in New York.

It is questionable over Patrick being an EMT at seventeen years of age. Brief research doesn't hold a definitive answer but it is a point of consideration. Patrick is later pushed away from the crash site as more experienced EMTs come on the scene. This is possibly an example of poor resource management, because even though Patrick is seventeen, he is an EMT and has valuable skills to offer.

Foreshadowing

Cooney uses a lot of foreshadowing and imagery to describe the plane crash before the event happens.

Early on, on page 34 we have examples of the environment to show us the plane crash . “Sharp, stabbing stems” of the trees, “misshapen circle” of the moon and the trees clanking in the wind are all suggestive of metal and the misshapen circle of the moon clearly represents what the circle of the aircraft fuselage will become after impact.

The wind attacks Heidi and Tally's legs and rips them with the cold and this represents what the plane will do to the environment when it lands.

Tally also has a feeling that something will happen as she remains close to Heidi with a need to protect her.

A macabre piece of foreshadowing comes with Teddies' bear which shows how Teddie will be post impact. We are told that the bear can be squashed into small spaces and when released his arms and legs spring out. Post crash, Teddie herself is found wedged in a small space, and her leg does spring out, as the broken bone protrudes through the skin.

Page 63 describes the former peacocks at Heidi's place as having “dying wails” and people would rush to the woods thinking a child was injured. Flight 116 crashes in the wood and the sound of people injured and dying mimic the idea of peacock “dying wail” calls.

Unanswered Questions

By the end of “Flight 116”, there are a few unanswered questions and the most interesting and debatable is probably the question of: does Heidi join the Ambulance? Obviously I, hope she does and hopefully you do too, but looking through the book, there are clues as to her future, albeit ambiguous.

Heidi's Future

Early in the book, Patrick's father states that the rich, upper class backgrounds are generally rescued, rather than being rescuers and that volunteers from this section of society are non-existent. Heidi's background would appear to be of this type, so historically Heidi would not volunteer.

From what Heidi's father says on the 'phone after the crash, we get an idea that Heidi may have been brought up to pride beauty and appearances over actions. There are mentions of slim ankles which would add weight to the appearance theory and possibly also that maybe Heidi's parents plans are for her to marry well, over a good career.

However, Heidi herself does help and tells her father that she felt useful during the emergency which would suggest that Heidi has got the bug for this type of work.

Heidi's relationship with reality up close also appear to have changed. Early in the book, we are told how she found the sheep “disgustingly close” which suggests at that time, a closeted reality. Sheep are alright but not too close. This potentially isn't a good sign as the crash is going to be up close and personal and not at all closeted. To be credit, Heidi does deal with the situation including the stark reality of body bags in the barn. Naturally, she probably isn't happy with this, but she does deal with the very real reality of Flight 116s' crash.

In “Flight 116”, Heidi has a particular dislike for two of the dogs – namely Winnie and Clemmie. At first, this seems like a pointless piece of characterization and almost completely heartless as Heidi believes Winnie and Clemmie to have worthless lives. However, this does hold a clue to Heidi's nature. She dislikes Winnie and Clemmie because they are “yippy” yet Heidi loves Tally-Ho because of her sensibility and usefulness. Looking at these three dogs as possible futures for Heidi – Winnie and Clemmie representing beauty and appearance and Tally representing practical and useful skills, we can see that Heidi prides usefulness over appearance and beauty and possibly considers a life based on appearance to be worthless.

Heidi and Patrick

There is also the unanswered question over Heidi and Patrick's relationship. We cannot know for sure, but it would be a fitting ending to the book for the couple to be together. It is interesting to consider how this will impact on Heidi's decision to join the Ambulance and vice versa.

Darienne – Does She Ever Get Her Just Desserts?

Again, this will always remain and unanswered question and it can be reasonably assumed that Darienne never changes. Throughout the book, she remains self centered, judgemental and superior. Although it is a documented fact that post-crisis people may focus on pointless things in this case blood on the antique rugs in Heidi's house, but given Darienne is constantly in her superior mode ie: judging the cardiologist' salary, planning to sue the airline for loss of her watch and never once showing the slightest piece of compassion for other – not allowing the fire fighters to use the phone – this behaviour is probably Darienne through and through.

At the beginning, the plane crash is a bizarre piece of wish fulfilment for many characters in the book, Darienne is one who does not get her wish fulfilled. She just wanted to get to London on time!

And In Conclusion...

“Flight 116” is a well written and well researched book. Cooney does not shy away from the realistic details, yet does not go into excessive gore for shock factor. There are questions as to the accuracy of the legal age to be an EMT, but the accuracy in the rest of “Flight 116” suggests thorough research.

The characters are well thought out and although leaving unanswered questions is unsatisfactory, there are clues and suggestions as to the main characters future.

Foreshadowing is well used here and builds the drama. The crash is well described and brought in. The suddenness and not knowing what has happened is realistic. The book rapidly changes from scene setting and character development to one of action. Rescue and survival.

Although not at all in the Point Horror canon, I am glad I read this book and is one of the best books Caroline B Cooney has produced!

Just a little teaser...

The first of my eBay purchases have arrived :) The first book isn't actually going to be a Point Horror, however it is in the Point series and I think it deserves a mention all the same.

The first review will be on Caroline B Cooney's "Flight 116 Is Down". Check back in about a week as I have a busy schedule at work!