An absolutely perfect read for fans of Goosebumps, The Old Person Curse definitely delivers on that slightly spooky, something sinister front. I read this quite late at night before I turned the lights off and I have to admit, it left me with a slight chill!
The craftsmanship of the author is evident, if a little predictable at times, with clues littered throughout the text all leading up to the the grand finale. Azie, after moving to a new state, finds herself living in a cursed house, one where children from years gone by have found themselves suddenly ageing and then dying a few days later. Despite her parents insisting otherwise, Azie herself finds she is victim to these strange circumstances. As with all well-written suspense and horror books, the book delivers several situations where everything is not as it seems alongside a nice helping of red herrings; initially I was a little skeptical of these situations believing some to be a little far fetched and others quite obvious but actually, the author cleverly knitted them all together in a way that strengthened the entire plot and proved me wrong. My only real criticism is that I felt the novel was a little on the short side, and that some of the elements of the plot could have been expanded upon for reader enjoyment.
What I particularly enjoyed was the first person narrative, written in a way that was very apt for a teenager, and one which 11+ year olds will definitely relate to. The style transports you to the heart of the novel and Azie’s personality is clearly portrayed with parts of it crucial to the plot line. She displays the typical gullible innocence of childhood that leads her into bother! I do think the character of Carol Willougby was a little obvious but as an adult reader, I possibly would be in more of a position to see through her.
The Book Dragon had the pleasure of reviewing The Old Person Curse on behalf of Chris von Halle and is really excited to have discovered an RL Stine of the future. With its relatable characters and interesting plot line, I’d recommend this book for young readers who like a thrill, or reluctant readers who need something short and snappy to sink their teeth into (or possibly adults wanting to relive their earlier goosebumps days). This book is definitely worthy of 4 stars.
Not Available to Buy at The Book Dragon