Christopher Pike’s young adult books were hugely popular in the ’90s. They were attractive, “coming-of-age” stories with twisting plots, creepy flashbacks and beautiful youths running amok from page to page.
As one who grew up on Jane Austin and Arthur Golden, I was unprepared for the impact left on my impressionable mind after reading my first Pike, Fall into Darkness. Comparing Pride and Prejudice or Memoirs of a Geisha to this book would be like having to choose between Lakmé, The Betrayal and 90210! Different genres, varying outlooks – and yet all so very educational.
I finished Slumber Party in three days, not a record, but an impressive testimony to the strength of the plot; this story has it all. The haunting house with the innumerable collection of rooms, is set against a chilly white backdrop of a snowbound ski resort. The setting alone invoked traditional horror motifs, which contradicted the cool realism of the late ’80s. The protagonist: an angelically sweet teenage girl with outstandingly whacky 20th century notions. A love interest makes an appearance. As does that age-old issue of the “other girl”, the competitive one, the stunning one, the one with the posse. This dilemma would be enough for any teenager to handle, without the intrusion of a blood-thirsty murderer with possible SHC (Spontaneous Human Combusting) skills. What next?!
Clearly I found this book an enjoyable, easy read. It may be a book ideal for someone used to Pike’s voice, which swings between the easy-going dialect of fun-loving American teenagers to the more authoritative interjections of the narrator (and back again). An interesting juxtaposition, albeit slightly off-putting, as it takes the reader time to adjust to both styles. Moreover, I found Pike’s introduction of the hott male character somewhat formulaic, as though he was conforming to the notions of the stereotypical teen, even though it did stir the plot pot a little more vigorously. My biggest issue, (nit-pickish though it may be, but it will be stated) was the pace at which the storyline moved: fast, which was welcome in the story’s outset, but much less so in the denouement! Overall, it was an intriguing ride, although it may be best to put off reading it to a time when there’ll be not much else to get on with…
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Trish, L6