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Book Reviews of Dread Locks (Dark Fusion No 1)

Dread Locks (Dark Fusion No 1)
Dread Locks - Dark Fusion No 1
Author: Neal Shusterman
PBS Market Price: $8.09 or $4.19+1 credit
ISBN-13: 9780142405994
ISBN-10: 014240599X
Publication Date: 8/3/2006
Pages: 176
Edition: Reprint
Reading Level: Young Adult
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 6

4 stars, based on 6 ratings
Publisher: Puffin
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

2 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed Dread Locks (Dark Fusion No 1) on + 14 more book reviews
I don't normally read these types of books, but a friend of my daughter gave it to me because she thought I might enjoy. I read it in one day! It is a fast read. Creepy, strange and one you don't want to put down. This is take off of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears", I won't say more then that. I don't want to spoil it for you. I am looking forward to reading more of the Dark Fusion collection by Neal Shusterman.
GeniusJen avatar reviewed Dread Locks (Dark Fusion No 1) on + 5322 more book reviews
Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com

In Neal Shusterman's new DARK FUSION Series, the author takes myths, legends, and fairy tales, mixes them up with modern-day tales of teen angst and horror, and comes up with an entertaining read. In DREAD LOCKS, we get a whole stew pot full of retold stories--GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS, MEDUSA, KING MIDAS. They're all there, and the finished product is a quick, fun, and sometimes depressing read.

Parker Baer is the type of fifteen-year old I both love and hate. He's always been given everything he's ever wanted, due to the fact that his parents are wealthy. He has an obnoxious older brother, Garrett, and an irritable little sister, Katrina. For his birthday, his brother bought him a motocross bike, and his parents gave him a statue. Yes, the teenaged Parker is now memorialized in bronze.

Then Parker meets his new next-door neighbor, Tara Herpecheveux, in the most surprising way--she's sleeping in his bed. But Tara's strangeness, and undeniable attractability, is a hodge-podge of attributes--she's exotically beautiful, has the strangest blond dread locks, always wears mirrored sunglasses, and has an aversion to the belief of personal property.

As Parker gets more and more entangled in the strangeness that is Tara, he begins to notice the ever-increasing weird behavior of the students in his school. Odd cravings, incessantly strange behavior, and a general weirdness pervade the halls of the private school for the rich. Once Parker finally accepts the truth of what's happening, it's too late.

The ending, although slightly predictable in some ways, was a surprise overall. It left me feeling sad, but then again, most fairy tales have one or more tear-inducing scenes in them. DREAD LOCKS is an interesting retelling of some notable myths, and if you're into horror stories, this one should definitely do the trick!