Blue is for Nightmares (Stolarz Series) [Kindle Edition]

Laurie Faria Stolarz (Author)

Book Description

"I Know Your Secret . . ."

Boarding school junior Stacey Brown has nightmares too real to ignore.  Her nightmares come true. This time they're about Drea, her best friend who's become the target of one seriously psycho stalker. To  try and protect her, Stacey's working with what she knows-candles, cards, incantations, and spells...

In this Deluxe Spellbook Edition you'll find:

Spells created by You and other keepers of secrets-poems, spells and meditations contributed by fans of this popular series. Extras also include an interview with the author.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-10-Stacey's nightmares have proven to tell the future in the past, and now they have returned. The person who is in danger in the teen's dreams is her roommate. Determined to discover who is out to kill Drea, the protagonist performs a series of spells taught to her by her grandmother to ferret out the murderer. Seemingly, all of the girls' friends and acquaintances are suspects. This mystery will initially attract readers who are into Wicca and spells, but may not be successful in keeping their interest. Stacey's bedwetting (at age 16) is a troublesome plot point that remains mostly unresolved at the end. The girls' adventures are unfettered by adults for the most part, and since the story takes place at a boarding school, it is hard to believe that so much could go on unnoticed. Stolarz's first novel is an admirable attempt, but falls short when compared to the works of other mystery-writing greats such as Nancy Werlin and Carol Plum-Ucci.
Kimberly L. Paone, Elizabeth Public Library, NJ
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"A 2007 YALSA Popular Paperback" "A 2005 YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers" "A 2004 YALSA Teens' Top Ten nominee" -- YALSA Committee "American Library Association"

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 1737 KB
• Print Length: 289 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0738703915
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (November 1, 2003)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B001XCW5CK
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #187,982 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Edge-Of-Your-Seat Thriller January 23, 2005

By Jarrod T Thompson VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The target audience for a book like this is teenage girls, but this book breaks all stereotypical boundaries. I am not interested in wicca or he said she said girl fight drama; however, this book has all of the aforementioned elements and it can still draw in ANY reader of any age.

This book is full of suspense and can not be put down.

Laurie Faria Stolarz weaves a story of great interest and takes her knowledge of wicca and fortune telling to draw readers in to this unpredictable tale of mystery.

The author makes you want to grab Stacey(main character) and have her conjure up answers to the mysterious happenings RIGHT NOW because the book INVOLVES the reader--you really feel like part of the action.

I felt for Stacey's enormous responsibility of knowing what might happen in the future and trying to avoid a repeat of knowing and not changing the course of the future a few years prior.

Anyway, this is a great book from start to finish! It is so refreshing to continue to find so many different types of riveting Young Adult literature out there.

I hope this author replicates this type of writing with each new book!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Great for a rainy day, but don't go out of your way May 9, 2011

By Mdesmondobrien

Format:Paperback

So far, there's nothing pretty about Stacey Brown's junior year at boarding school--not only does she have a crush on her best friend's boyfriend, she's started wetting the bed--always after having a terrifying nightmare that she can't quite remember. The last time she had nightmares, a little girl died. And this time, she's dreaming about Drea, her best friend who's the target of one seriously psycho stalker. A Wiccan through her grandmother, gifted with magic powers she doesn't fully understand, Stacey soon discovers that it's up to her to decide whether her best friend lives...or dies.

This book was a bizarre fusion of mystery, fantasy and chick lit that I wasn't quite sure whether I loved or hated. And speaking as someone who's dabbled in Wicca herself and known quite a few self-professed Wiccans, blending a real-life religion with fantasy is a risky move that rubbed me the wrong way. But if you're not Wiccan and you like a good time, then Blue is for Nightmares might just be for you.

An engrossing, good-time page-turner, I was with this book till the finish, though an annoying plot twist at the end ruined the ride a little. Even so, Stacey made for an interesting protagonist, and while her supporting characters were certainly stereotyped, they were all a lot of fun to hang out with for a few hours (which is about how long it took me to finish, almost entirely in one sitting). The boarding school was suitably bland and the subplots suitably cliched, leaving you with a mysterious fantastical piece of chick lit that isn't anything special, but is certainly entertaining.

My biggest problem with this novel, unfortunately, was that nothing ever really happens, not even in the final, nerve-wracking forty pages. While the suspense level never slackened, I put it down feeling slightly disappointed, like (to use a food metaphor) being given tofu when I thought I was getting a nice, spicy curry. I wasn't expecting high literature, but it would have been nice to get something a little more satisfying. Do I feel like picking up the rest of the series? Maybe, but not really.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Witty and Witchy August 11, 2006

By Lindsay Pearce

Format:Paperback

I was walking through my local Barnes & Noble and decided to peruse the teens section. There wasn't really anything there that I hadn't seen before, until I saw "Blue is for Nightmares". I was SO right to go with my intuition and buy this book. I really enjoyed it.

The book is filled with magic and wonderful suspense. I love how you never really can guess who's behind everything till the end. I also love the characters. Laurie Faria Stolarz is and amazing author for this being one of her first works.

I can't write too much about the book itself, because its all mystery and fun, so you'll have to take a chance and buy it. Enjoy!

More About the Author

Laurie Faria Stolarz (Massachusetts) has a great interest in young adult culture, and admires young adults for their passion, energy, and creativity. Blue is for Nightmares is the product of her desire to write a novel that would have appealed to herself at that age, namely one that has a blending of suspense, romance, and the art of keeping secrets.
Stolarz has an MFA in Creative Writing with a concentration in Young Adult Literature and a graduate certificate in Screenwriting, both from Emerson College in Boston. She currently teaches writing and is a member of the SCBWI as well as several professional writing groups. She has also written and edited numerous middle school and high schools texts.