A Fate Totally Worse Than Death [Paperback]

Paul Fleischman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 4, 1997

In a horror-novel parody, three self-centered members of Cliffside High School's ruling clique begin to age rapidly and are convinced that the new exchange student is the ghost of a girl whose death they had caused the year before. Reprint. AB. SLJ. "

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The versatile Newbery Medalist sets off on a different-and wacky-tack with this spoof of young adult horror novels. Lavishly dosed with comic hyperbole, his plot is good for some chuckles-and many groans. Here goes: physically flawless Danielle, thoroughly vacuous Tiffany and their lumpy sidekick, Brook are all "Huns," those privileged students at Cliffside High whose parents have struck it rich enough to reside in Hundred Palms Estates. The ruthless trio has already dispatched one outsider: the year before, Charity Chase (a non-Hun) cozied up to Drew (a hunky Hun on whom Danielle has designs), and sent her scurrying off a cliff... to her death. Now Helga, an ethereal exchange student from Norway, has the misfortune to catch Drew's eye. Meanwhile, the three vain girls are experiencing horrifying symptoms of accelerated physical aging. Is Helga the ghost of Charity, returned to avenge herself? What could explain the girls' deterioration? Fleischman's take-off is clever, but its humor is strictly one-note. Ages 14-17.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up?This takeoff on teen-horror novels is funny, mocking, and a surefire hit. Cliffs, murder, ghosts, and revenge form the core of the plot as three teen girls at Cliffside High draw a bead on Helga, the ravishing Norwegian exchange student who has captivated Drew, a boy whose father is a millionaire. Danielle, Tiffany, and Brooke are convinced that Helga is the avenging ghost of a girl whose death they caused the previous year. As their efforts to dispatch her escalate, the girls of the ruling clique suddenly find themselves rapidly aging with all of the common debilities of arthritis, liver spots, gray hair, hearing loss, and sagging breasts?hence the title. A clever twist at the end delivers a befitting resolution. The fun is in the vapid thinking of the girls, the trendy teen scenes, and the parody of YA actions and dialogue. This hilarious farce should have teen-horror fans screaming with laughter.?Julie Cummins, New York Public Library
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (August 4, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763602426
• ISBN-13: 978-0763602420
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,529,344 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Paul Fleischman grew up in Santa Monica, California, the son of children's book author Sid Fleischman. Drawing on history, music, art, and theater, his books have often experimented with multiple viewpoints and performance. He received the Newbery Medal in 1989 for JOYFUL NOISE: POEMS FOR TWO VOICES, a Newbery Honor Award for GRAVEN IMAGES, the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction for BULL RUN, and was a National Book Award finalist for BREAKOUT. He lives on the central coast of California.

For more information, visit paulfleischman.net.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Totally Awesome, September 25, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: A Fate Totally Worse Than Death (Paperback)

"A Fate Totally Worse Than Death" is a horror parody about three high school Valley girls: Danielle, Brooke, and Tiffany. Their popularity status is threatened when Norwegian exchange student Helga comes to Cliffside High School and attracts all the boys in school--including the three girls' boyfriends.

The girls immediately let Helga know to stay away from their boyfriends--or else Helga will end up like Charity Chase, one unlucky girl who risked going after the guy Danielle was (and still is) interested in.

But Helga seems immune to their threats and tricks. In fact, when she defeats their hair-cutting ambush in the girls' bathroom, Danielle, Brooke, and Tiffany are certain Helga's luck is otherworldly. "She's a ghost," Danielle states. "The ghost of Charity Chase."

With this discovery, the three girls decide there's no other choice but to get rid of "Charity" once and for all. However, it's not easy for them since they've begun to age rapidly, a curse they believe "Charity" has bestowed on them as revenge.

"A Fate Totally Worse Than Death" is a fun and witty book to read, and the ending will probably surprise you. (At least I was surprised.) I would recommend this book to anyone who likes parodies or just wants to kill a few hours with a good teen horror book.

The book was supposed to be made into a movie last year, but from what I heard, it's not going to happen. So, it might still be done, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book, April 30, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Fate Totally Worse Than Death (Library Binding)

I think this book is the best. I read it once and I want to read it again. I think its really interesting. I could never stop reading that book. It was so interesting I just kept on going and going. It has an awesome ending. I would never thought it would end that way. I can't belive they did that to the girl. Because she was going out with one of the "hun" boys. I really liked this book because it was a mystery book. I recomend this book to anyone that loves to read mystery's. I liked that book so much I couldn't stop reading it. It makes u feel like ur in that story and u are there when everything is happening. You can just picture it in your head. Its so easy to understand. I think this book is the BEST!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book Totally Better Than Most, February 10, 2000

By 

Lauren A. (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Fate Totally Worse Than Death (Paperback)

This book rocks! I've read it a couple times. In fact a year after I read it I wanted to read it again. I forgot the title, but I searched through every single book on the library shelves. That's how good it was. This book is a really cool little soap opera set in high school.