Review of 'Scream Site'
Scream Site
By Justina Ireland, 2018
Capstone
Thriller, Mystery, Horror
Rating: 👻👻👻 (3 out of 4 boos)
“Sabrina Sebastian's goal in life is to be an investigative reporter. For her first big story, she researches a popular website called Scream Site, where people post scary videos and compete for the most ‘screams.’ While Sabrina's friends and her sister, Faith, talk nonstop about the creepy viral videos, Sabrina just hopes that covering this trend will get her the internship she's wishing for. But as she digs into the truth behind the website, she begins to suspect that these aren't only aspiring actors and videographers at work. Some clips seem a little too real. And when Faith goes missing, Sabrina must race against time to save her sister from becoming the next video ‘star.’
What’s the main character like?
Unlike her bestie, Sabrina Sebastian is focused on journalism, not boys. She is a hard-boiled ninth-grade reporter, so ambitious she’s willing to put herself in danger to get her scoop. Likable for her intelligence, keen observations, and concern for people she doesn’t even know, Sabrina still manages to drive the reader insane (in a completely fun way) as she sacrifices everything to solve the mystery of Scream Site.
How scary is it?
The premise of this book is rather disturbing. Creepy horror clips on the Internet that seem too real? Eep! But while Ireland keeps the stakes and tension high throughout Sabrina’s hunt for answers, the book is rather digestible, even for late-night reading. I imagine this was intentional on Ireland’s part. With a freshman protagonist, Scream Site is probably intended for readers of the same age or slightly younger, and Ireland didn’t want to scare them silly.
Who might like this book?
Middle-school Me would be all over this book. It’s a more mature and modern Goosebumps. Readers who like horror without the gruesome factor will also appreciate this book.
What did I like best?
I love the creepy setting of Funland, an abandoned amusement park that keeps sneaking its way into Sabrina’s radar as she investigates Scream Site.
What wasn’t my favorite?
Personally, I like my books a tad creepier. For some reason, I was expecting Night Film, which is silly on my part, since that’s a book for a different demographic. But again, Middle-School Me and even an early High-School Me would have loved Scream Site.
What was my personal experience reading this book?
Like The Dead and Buried, I sped through this one. It’s fun, and as mentioned, very digestible.