Summer of Fear (Paperback)

by Lois Duncan (Author) "It's summer. Summer-again..." (more)
Key Phrases: Professor Jarvis, Aunt Marge, Pine Crest (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Soon after the arrival of cousin Julia, insidious occurrences begin that convince Rachel that Julia is a witch and must be stopped before her total monstrous plan can be effected.

From the Publisher
Why is Rachel the only one to sense the evil that surrounds Julia?

From the moment Rachel's cousin Julia arrives that summer, she seems to seep into Rachel's life like a poison. Everyone else is enchanted by her--including Rachel's boyfriend. But what does Julia really want?

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf (October 15, 1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 044098324X
• ISBN-13: 978-0440983248
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (72 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #88,081 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cousin of Fear, February 4, 2003

By	Daniela (Ravensdale, WA) - See all my reviews

A reader's first impression of Summer of Fear will more then likely be a story of horror and murder. But they may find out that the book is more then horror, it is a suspenseful thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The book also contains a type of love that over powers everything and could save the lives of your loved ones.

Rachel Bryant had a normal life with loving family and friends and the perfect boyfriend, but once her aunt and uncle die in a car crash her cousin Julia, that she hasn't seen since she was 3, comes to lives with them. Rachel is excited about having another girl in the house but once she finally meets Julia her feelings change toward her. She feels some type of magic that surrounds her but it isn't pleasant magic, it's sort of like black magic. Things start changing around Rachel and her family and Rachel is getting suspicious; her family starts to surround Julia with ever lasting love and is very protective about her feelings. Her mom and dad say that they need to help Julia (her cousin) with this awful tragedy, but it doesn't seem to be affecting her in any way at all. She doesn't really care that her mom and dad died a horrible death. When she first got there Julia seemed ok about the event that occurred, like she never cried. When her parent's things arrived from their house she didn't want to look at them at all, like she didn't care that they were actually gone. She never seemed to cry or feel any guilt when someone mentioned her parents. She never ever talked about them! Then when she got a letter from a friend she seemed to ignore it and not care about what was in it or about the sender.

More weird things change around her; her brother Peter gets googol eyes for Julia and becomes this sensitive guy towards girls that he has never shown before. Rachel's best friend Carolyn starts being best friends with Julia and leaves Rachel out in everything. Her boyfriend Mike falls madly in love with Julia like she is this beautiful girl that can only appear in dreams. Her dog trickle starts growling at Julia, which is a very unusual behavior he has never shown before, sort of like he knows that there is something wrong with Julia and is just protecting his family. Rachel can't help getting annoyed and suspicious for all these weird exotic changes, because they all changed the night Julia arrived at their house

Rachel one day finds this odd shape wax figure in Julia's drawer; it has four legs, a body and a head and white hair sticking out of it. Rachel thinks it looks like a dog, but no it couldn't be for only witches use and make things like that. Could Julia be a witch? No, not Rachel's cousin! Or is she? Rachel knows that there is something more to her cousin then everyone thinks, and since they are blinded by her she will prove to them that Julia isn't who they think she is.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great book from Lois Duncan!, December 24, 1999

By A Customer

I have read many other Lois Duncan books. I was not planning on reading "Summer of fear" until my friend recommended it to me. She said that it was really good, so I took her suggestion and read it. I agree with her. It is a wonderful book about a 15 year-old girl named Rachel who lives in Albuquerque with her parents and her 2 brothers when her aunt and uncle and a buisness associate drive off the side of a cliff in the Ozarks. Her parents go to pick up Rachel's aunt and uncle's daughter Julia. Strange things start happening and Rachel is convinced that Julia is somehow connected to them. The rest of the family thinks she's crazy. Lois Duncan is an amazing writer and this book is surely one of her best books. So buy "Summer of Fear" and start reading!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lois Duncan has done it again with the book Summer Of Fear, April 25, 2003

A Kid's Review

The author, Lois Duncan, has brought out the characters in this book, giving each of them unique traits. Lois Duncan has written yet another mystery novel that is filled with suspense and excitement. The story opens up with Rachel a seventeen-year-old girl remembering a summer when a strange incident happens. Her cousin Julia comes to live with them. Julia ruins Rachel's life and plans to take over. Julia starts by stealing her boyfriends and her girlfriends. During this story Rachel tries to convince her family and friends that Julia is bad. But of course her family does not believe her.
As Duncan travels the characters through the book she brings them through all of her troubles. I thought this book was great and I hope you will want to read it too.