Ready for a good old-fashioned summer-camp horror flick?

Good mystery and quick read. I plan on reading more books by Joan Lowery Nixon. ( )

Joan Lowery Nixon' Nightmare is the story of Emily Wood, a 16-year old underachiever who is sent to a special camp in Texas by her parents. Emily has been haunted by a recurring dream of a dead body since she was around eight years old, and her dreams affect her waking life by making her a loner and a bit strange to others. When she is sent to Camp Excel (a camp that specializes in the treatment of troubled youth), she meets Maxwell, Haley, Taylor. Maxwell is interested in writing plays; Haley is interested in the occult (fortune-telling and runes); and Taylor is just different on many levels. One day in class, Emily sees a picture of a woman, and realizes it is the picture of the corpse from her nightmares. After this, she, along with her friends, has to fight to solve the mystery of the murder, as well as stay alive when she becomes the target of the killer.

This book is definitely a book for young adult readers. The reader is left wondering about the identity of the killer, who is represented through random chapters and is plotting to kill Emily. The reading goes by quickly, which will keep the young adult reader interested. As for me, I thought it was a little trite - -for example, the characters were the stereotypical "weird" teens; however, it would appeal to younger teens because of the mystery.

This would be a good read for middle school/young high school readers. It would also be a great choice for reluctant or weak readers, as well. Because it is relatively short, it could easily be incorporated into any curriculum with ease. Students could possibly study it during a unit on plot or how an author builds suspense. It could also be compared with traditional, older mystery stories such as Sherlock Holmes stories. ( )

Good short, compelling mystery. Many readers will see through it but it's so short, they won't have time. ( )

Nightmare is a thrilling mystery. It is suspenseful right up to the last few pages. Nixon reveals clues and relevant information as the story unravels and keeps the reader interested and intrigued. There are twists to keep the reader guessing. The characters are easy to relate to and would appeal to young adult readers. It is sufficiently scary without being gory. The mystery is believable. Nixon creates great visual images. The tactic of changing narrators from Emily to the stalker is effective and adds to the suspense. The story is quick paced and hard to put down. The underachieving character may appeal to reluctant readers. ( )