Diane HohCritiques

I read this book while I was in grade/junior high. I liked it and wanted to see what I remembered of it, or if it was as good as I thought as a young teenager.

Well so far (1/3rd of the way in) we have a more than obvious rehash of the film Titanic. Rose .. I mean Elizabeth is rebelling against her upcoming marriage to the boring Alan (who isn't on the ship), her overbearing mother, the wealthy lifestyle (she'd rather be free to do whatever - but with money please), and etc. Enter Jack .. oops Max. Having spent time penniless in Paris pursuing a penniless artist lifestyle. (unlike Jack he's actually wealthy and headed home to New York now - oh and staying in 1st class) Representing the poor/3rd class we have Kathleen and her neighbors and (brothers) Brian and Patrick; who are all off to America to seek their fortunes.

Hopefully there will be some originality to this plot SOON. (continued) But sadly such was not the case. There was excessive overshadowing and beating the reader over the head with plot points or Titanic experiences already well stated on previous pages. Then after nearly drowning Max(Jack) does survive and returns to Elizabeth(Rose) and they look forward to their future. Kathleen (Katie for short) and her romantic interest (Paddy) also survive. In the epilogue everyone gets a happily ever after. (Oh and money.. Paddy becomes wealthy too)

I notice Ms. Hoh seems to be prolific in other series (by other authors) While I won't be reading any of her work again (yep, I'm avoiding it), I sincerely hope she pens a better story elsewhere.

I will not be recommending this as a worthwhile read for young adults. (which is why I was reading it..)

I enjoyed this 90's teen horror. It was a fast read that kept me guessing. My only complaint is that there are so many characters that we really don't get to know any of them that well to help figure out who the killer is. I did like that we had POV chapters from the killer and the diary in the attic was a nice touch. A good amusement park horror book.

Not very popular Sarah and four of her classmates are invited to popular Cass Rockham’s annual Fall party. Sarah isn’t interested in going, but her friends persuade her to change her mind. Once they get to Cass’s party, they wish they had listened to Sarah.

A fast, easy-to-read book for young-adults and teens. It had some exciting moments. An enjoyable Point Horror story from the 90’s.

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I enjoyed this 90's teen horror. It was a fast read that kept me guessing. My only complaint is that there are so many characters that we really don't get to know any of them that well to help figure out who the killer is. I did like that we had POV chapters from the killer and the diary in the attic was a nice touch. A good amusement park horror book.

Alex doesn't like the Wizard machine at Vinnie's restaurant with its icy blue cold stare. Her friends had all wished on it and in a twisted way, they'd been granted. How?!

Jess Vogt arrives at her off-campus dorm which overlooks Salem University, eager to begin college. The dorm is old, dark, and dreary. Jess's room seems to have a cold draft and is always chilly. She finds out from her fellow residents at the dorm that a young and pretty student named Giselle had previously stayed in her room and committed suicide in it by hanging herself. This gives Jess the creeps. Strange things are also happening at the dorm---rooms are being broken into, doors slam and windows shatter for no reason... Jess is also getting clues that maybe Giselle didn't commit suicide and could possibly have been murdered. But by who? Jess can't see her fellow residents at the dorm doing anything like this. The more she investigates, the more she is convinced Giselle was murdered...

This was a fun old read from the 90's. It was meant for teens/young adults but I also enjoyed it. It was fast paced and provided a few chills. I really liked the creepy dorm setting. It had an interesting cast of characters. A very entertaining read.

At one point, in grade nine, I watched Titanic. This spearheaded two things: my obsession with Leo DiCaprio (yeah I know, join the club Erin) and my obsession with Titanic. I will literally read anything about this disaster. It might honestly truly be the way to my heart. That being said, after this life altering event (the watching of the movie, not the actual sinking) there was a period of about six months where I did not read anything that was not related to Titanic. Novels, non-fiction, Wikipedia pages, you name it. If it had a link or a page, I read it. This was one of the lucky selections.

Duffy Quinn was admitted into the hospital two days ago by her parents for a very high fever. One night, in her hospital room, she hears strange noises---metal rattling, a cry for help... Is she imagining this or is it real? Many of her schoolmates are volunteer workers at the hospital and they don't believe her when she tells them about this. They think it's the fever making her delirious. Duffy decides to take a look around the hospital (even though her doctor told her to stay in bed because her body is wracked with fever). One night, when she leaves her room, she almost walks into an empty elevator shaft. Another day, the brake is released on her wheelchair while she is outside on a hill (getting some fresh air) and she rapidly rolls down the steep slope, almost seriously injuring herself. When Duffy foolishly doesn't listen to doctor's orders (again) and she goes off to take a shower down the hall she is attacked in the shower room. She is also convinced someone is switching her medication.

Duffy's friends think she's paranoid. But Duffy really believes someone is out to do her harm. She desperately wants to leave the hospital, but she is still too sick with fever.

Duffy wasn't a very likable character. She complained endlessly and had snide thoughts about mostly everyone. Obviously, no one likes being sick, and no one likes to be in the hostpital, but she was a total whiner at times. Duffy also did a lot of stupid things, she never listened to doctor's orders. If she just stayed in bed and followed instructions she probably would have been released from the hospital. But with everything she was putting herself through, she kept making her fever rise. Even though, as the story progressed, her character improved slightly and I started to get caught up in the story, and I was curious to find out what was going to happen.

The setting of the hospital was different. It was old and creepy. (I wouldn't want to stay at this hospital---empty elevator shafts, mixed medications, old wooden creaky wheelchairs... The hospital seemed like it was falling apart and the hospital staff seemed to consist of teenage volunteers.) The story improved in the second half of the book, Duffy was more bearable and quit whining, and the suspense picked up towards the end. This was an okay young-adult Point Horror from the 90's.

After a horrible accident, the main character must learn to deal with the fact she may never walk again. While trying to heal, someone attempts to kidnap her as she is home when he breaks in to steal wedding gifts. In a fight for her life, she has to either decide to give up and give in or fight for the second time to survive and live.
Again, the author does a great job drawing the reader in and showing us just what is taking place both inside and outside her mind.

This was a bit of a freaky book and I don't recommend it for those who are already nervous about hospitals.
After the girl becomes sick and winds up in the hospital, she has to figure out if she really saw/heard a murder or was just so ill she imagined it. The anticipation of waiting to find out what is real from an unreliable narrator and knowing that the consequences could be deadly if what she thought she witnessed was in fact real is amazing. The author once again delivers a great medical drama mystery!

This was one of six books in the series and I loved them as a teen; I still pick them up off my shelf and read them. They fascinated me with the medical drama going on with those my age and that teens were able to do procedures that in real life, it wouldn't be allowed. I feel in love with these books and sought them out. If you can suspend your concept of reality, you'll find drama, excitement, romance and more. It is even more enjoyable if you like medical fiction.

This was one of six books in the series and I loved them as a teen; I still pick them up off my shelf and read them. They fascinated me with the medical drama going on with those my age and that teens were able to do procedures that in real life, it wouldn't be allowed. I feel in love with these books and sought them out. If you can suspend your concept of reality, you'll find drama, excitement, romance and more. It is even more enjoyable if you like medical fiction.

This was one of six books in the series and I loved them as a teen; I still pick them up off my shelf and read them. They fascinated me with the medical drama going on with those my age and that teens were able to do procedures that in real life, it wouldn't be allowed. I feel in love with these books and sought them out. If you can suspend your concept of reality, you'll find drama, excitement, romance and more. It is even more enjoyable if you like medical fiction.

This was one of six books in the series and I loved them as a teen; I still pick them up off my shelf and read them. They fascinated me with the medical drama going on with those my age and that teens were able to do procedures that in real life, it wouldn't be allowed. I feel in love with these books and sought them out. If you can suspend your concept of reality, you'll find drama, excitement, romance and more. It is even more enjoyable if you like medical fiction.

This was one of six books in the series and I loved them as a teen; I still pick them up off my shelf and read them. They fascinated me with the medical drama going on with those my age and that teens were able to do procedures that in real life, it wouldn't be allowed. I feel in love with these books and sought them out. If you can suspend your concept of reality, you'll find drama, excitement, romance and more. It is even more enjoyable if you like medical fiction.

This was one of six books in the series and I loved them as a teen; I still pick them up off my shelf and read them. They fascinated me with the medical drama going on with those my age and that teens were able to do procedures that in real life, it wouldn't be allowed. I feel in love with these books and sought them out. If you can suspend your concept of reality, you'll find drama, excitement, romance and more. It is even more enjoyable if you like medical fiction.