Mini Review - Midsummer Night's Scream

This week on #FearStreetFriday we take a shallow dive into the pages of R.L. Stine's mash-up of Shakespeare and Slasher movies, A Midsummer Night's Scream. 

Were there masks in this book?

60 years ago three teens died in horrifying accidents while filming Mayhem Manor. Now Claire and her friends have been cast in the remake being produced by Claire’s father’s studio (talk about nepotism).

It’s not long before the teens find themselves having the same accidents as the cast from 60 years ago! And because that’s not strange enough, there’s a creepy troll named Benny in a mysterious trailer filled with magic potions.

This book was bonkers! Part Fear Street in LA and part that one episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark with the leprechaun and the troll, but all ridiculous fun.

Full disclosure, I have this weird eye strain thing right now so I listened to the audio book version and fell asleep for like 40 minutes during the climax, BUT that did not stop my enjoyment of this romp through Stine’s weird brain.

First of all, I love how Claire and her friends are kind of shallow and terribly spoiled, but none of them are complete wastes of space. They’re just teenagers and they’re a lot of fun even when they do or say something that deserves a slap (which is often). Just don’t expect anyone to mature or learn a lesson in this book. These kids give Reva Dalby a run for her money in the lack of self-awareness department.

Then there’s the way Stine doesn’t mess around with his kills. Don’t expect a fake out cliffhanger on every chapter. Even though he had the perfect stage for pranks and fake outs, every broken neck and melted face counts. No take-backs in this book.

And my favorite part of this book is how Stine seems to be completely unaware that some genres shouldn’t mix. Are we having a fun romp full of magic potion mix-ups and teenaged pining or is this a slasher movie that knocks off it’s cast (pun intended) one by one until it’s just the final girl against the killer? Stine doesn’t think he needs to choose. He gives us the “best” of both worlds.

And if anyone wants to tell me what Bad Guy McBaderson's motivations were, I would be much obliged. I slept through that part.

I give this one 3/5 aging potions.

-Mia