The Girl (age 11) is really enjoying her 6th grade reading class because her teacher believes in letting the kids choose what books they want to read so they will enjoy reading. Every weeknight for homework, she has to read for 30 minutes, log the number of pages she read, and get my signature. So this is the first of many books she hopes to share here during the school year.
She recently finished Hit and Run by R.L. Stine, reading the same tattered copy I had when I was around her age. I’d forgotten it was in a box of books I’d passed on to her and was surprised when she pulled it out of her (massive) R.L. Stine collection. She wanted me to ask her questions, rather than write up a review.
First, here’s the back-of-the book summary:
Eddie, Scott, Winks, and Cassie. They went out for a drive one night. Just to practice, so Eddie would be sure and get his license.
Then Eddie had a little accident. Now four friends share a terrible secret.
Because Eddie hit someone and killed him.
Didn’t he?
Tell us about Hit and Run in 5 sentences or less.
Hit and Run is about four very close friends, who are all getting ready to take their driver’s tests. Eddie is the most scared about the test, so one night they use his parents’ car to practice driving. A man is standing in the road in front of them, frozen in fear, caught in the headlights. They feel a bump; they hit him. They don’t want to get caught by the police, but they don’t want to leave the body in the road.
What drew your attention to this book?
It’s by R.L. Stine, who is one of my favorite authors. The back cover sounded interesting. And the blood stain on the front cover is cool.
Tell us something interesting about the main character(s).
My favorite of the characters was Winks because he always played funny practical jokes on Eddie. One time, he got an eyeball from Eddie’s cousin, who works at the morgue. Winks pretends that his eyeball falls out and holds it in his hand.
How did this book compare to those in the Goosebumps series? Was it scarier?
I didn’t think the book was scarier, but I thought it was one of the best R.L. Stine books I’ve read so far. It’s definitely for an older audience than the Goosebumps books.
Did you like the book? Would you recommend it to your friends? Would you recommend it to adults?
I did like it. I’d give it 4 out of 5 stars. I would recommend it to readers who like thrillers with a twist. Some adults might enjoy it, too.
Have any of you read the book? What did you think?
Disclosure: The Girl read my old copy of Hit and Run, which I purchased so long ago I didn’t even remember I owned it. I am an IndieBound affiliate and an Amazon associate.
© 2011 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
I haven’t read this one. But sounds good. Glad her teacher is so flexible about the reading.
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Me, too. The teacher has bookcases all along the back wall with books for them to choose.
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Great job on the review questions! This sounds like a good suspenseful read! I love that your teacher has you reading every night. I look forward to seeing more of your reviews during the year!
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Thanks, Beth! She’s almost done with another book. 😉
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Yay, another great review by The Girl!
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Thanks, Jill!
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It sounds like The Girl has a great reading teacher! As a parent, this book sounds rather scary!
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I think R.L. Stine’s books always sound scarier than they are.
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Fun! I read this book when I was growing up, too. I had a massive RL Stine collection and was especially fond of the Fear Street backstory novels. I do remember this one, too. Especially the eyeball bit. Ack!
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The Girl has more R.L. Stine books than I ever did! Sometimes I wonder if she’s more in to collecting them than reading them?
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I giggled when she mentioned that she thought the blood on the front was cool! I love her teacer’s attitude about reading. My school uses the Accelerated Reader program which is fine but I stress to kids to find something to read that interests them first and foremost. I want my students to LOVE to read and be lifelong readers, which sounds like what The Girl will be for sure!
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Her teacher sent home a questionnaire the first day of school asking about her reading tastes and what my goals are for her reading. The only goal I had was to cultivate a lifelong love of reading. 🙂
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Oooh, this sounds scary and good, or good and scary. Terrific review! 🙂
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Thanks, Suko!
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I wish I had homework that required me to read for 30 minutes each night! And what a wise teacher to let them read what they want.
This does sound like it is for an older audience. Great review … I think she might have a book blogging career ahead of her.
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She’s been begging me for her own blog, but I still think she’s too young. I never had such enjoyable homework!
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For my shame, I have not heard of this author, but seems very interesting! I will look for his books!
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He’s very prolific, so you won’t have trouble finding one!
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This is the cutest review EVER! I read a couple books by R.L. Stine but they have me nightmares when I was younger. I really enjoyed this post.
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Thanks, Alexis! I never had nightmares from R.L. Stine books but they were the only thriller books I could find at my age level. I’m still having a hard time finding a book that will scare me. The Girl says she hasn’t found a truly scary book yet either.
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Nice post ladies, this one sounds good. I used to like reading R.L. Stine. Now my daughter, 6th grade also, likes reading Goosebumps books too. She does the same thing, with the reading log for school 🙂
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I think the reading log is cool! The Goosebumps books definitely have a big following.
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Your daughter is obviously very smart and self motivated. I am sure it is because the wonderful example you have set through your love of books. Tell her – great job for me!
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Thanks, Diane! I certainly try.
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Love the review! I hope my children will pick up my reading habits like your daughter did yours!
Funny, I too have a box in the attic that I saved from my childhood for the kids when they get older. I have probably 20 R.L Stine books in there and if they want to read them, more power to them. I am all for whatever it takes to get them reading! 🙂 Oh, and I vaguely remember reading this one, but that was about 17 years ago. Wow, I sound old! 😉
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I read R.L. Stine when I was a kid. When The Girl and I met him last year, I told him that I passed my books on to my daughter, and he said I made him feel old. My bad. 😉
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I loved these books and this author when I was a kid. And reading this review made me want to go back and reread some of these. I have all of my old ones saved for my kids when they get older and hopefully they will enjoy them as well. Thanks for sharing!
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I didn’t have too many of Stine’s books still in my possession. Well, not nearly as many as my daughter has collected from library sales. She has over 100 when you count the Goosebumps, Fear Street, and other books he’s written.
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