Creepover: Truth or Dare

Creepover:Truth or Dare

by P. J. Night

Simon & Schuster, 2011

142 Pages

Middle Grade (8-12)

The Creepover collection is similar to other kids’ horror series written in the same vein… but these are marketed to girls! The books are scheduled for release every other month, and this August (2013), we will see the fourteenth book. Written for kids between the ages of 8 and 12, I found them to be appropriate for the younger end of the spectrum. Character interaction revolves around cute boys, texting, and makeovers. The fear factor is enough to be chilling, but not enough to scar you for life. Some of the stories are far scarier than others.
 

To check out the Creep-O-Meter’s readings on the books:
You’re invited to a Creepover!
 
Abby Miller has a crush on Jake Chilson. And why not? He’s good looking, charismatic, and his circle of friends are popular. When Abby decides to have a sleepover with a handful of her close friends, she plays Truth or Dare and chooses a truth. Big mistake. Now the whole world knows how she feels about Jake. Including someone she didn’t expect.

Frightening things start happening. Abby starts receiving threatening text messages a la Are You in the House Alone (or Scream.) As if that wasn’t bad enough, the source Email is from Sara, a girl who used to go with Jake. But who died in a car accident a year ago.

Can a ghost text? According to Abby’s research, they can, and they can be jealous and vengeful as well. When Jake asks her to the school dance, Abby finds her new blue top (the one with the cute little black belt on the bottom,) torn to shreds in her closet.

Her best friend Leah doesn’t believe in ghosts, but when the argument gets too convincing, and the texts more evil, she agrees to help hold a séance. In the dark. During a thunderstorm. (Jeez– why don’t you just go see what that bump in the cellar was… come on!)

Abby had been ready to do the séance by herself. This shows a lot of courage, because you know what they say about playing with spirit-boards when you’re alone…

Abby draped a dark cloth over the mirror. Whatever it might reflect in the next hour, she didn’t want to see it– not when she was all alone. With the lights off and the door closed, her room suddenly felt as dark and cramped as a crypt.

Jake does take Abby to the Riverdale Middle School Dance. But there they receive the final ultimatum:

I’m @ St. Raymond’s Cemetery. Come see me if you dare!

Just when you think it’s all been resolved and Sara is laid to rest, there is a heartily fulfilling surprise at the end.

It struck me as strange that the author included Abby’s parents in the story, an unavoidable part of a kid’s life to be sure, yet they are always only referred to as “Mr. and Mrs. Miller,” and never named.

An even bigger mystery than the ghostly text messages is the author’s identity. I can find no pictures or information about P.J. Night anywhere on the Internet. Not at Goodreads, not Facebook, not even on the publisher’s website…

These books are like candy. They’re quick and fun, scary-but-not-too-scary, and well written. Highly recommended for girls who like their sleepovers with just a pinch of nightmare.