R.L Stine: The New Girl

I have just finished reading the novel, The New Girl, by R.L Stine and I love it just like all of his other books. I first wanted to read this book because R.L Stine was one of my favorite authors when growing up and it was one that I haven't read before. The book is set in present time around fall time in the high school Shadyside High. When Cory Brooks, the main character, lays eyes on the new girl for the first time he is lost in her light blue eyes and can't get her out of his mind. Cory Brooks finally finds out who the new girl is and her name is Anna Corwin. Anna has light blonde hair, pale as a ghost skin, beautiful light blue eyes and always wears dresses. Cory just can't get over how much she likes this girl. Later, he finds out that she lives on Fear Street. That's a street that is said to be really scary and dangerous and Cory is surprised that she lives there. Anna for some reason keeps disappearing, and Cory finds out she is dead. It is up to Cory and his friends to find out the secret behind Anna.





The thing that I love about R.L Stine is his writing style. First he develops two or three main characters and several secondary characters. Then, he keeps the plot moving at a steady pace and he knows his audience so he knows whats interesting and what's not. He will make the reader think one thing will happen and then do something else to trick us. Then, he outlines the book so that the plot makes sense. Finally, he always has an exciting and satisfying ending.

How he writes (quote by R.L Stine):

"I think of the titles first. I think I work backwards from most authors. Most authors get an idea for a story and they start to write it, and then later they think of a title. But I think of the title first and then the title sort of leads me to the story. ...I know the ending, so then I know I can always get there. I plan out every book first before I write a word. I do a chapter-by-chapter outline of every book. So before I start to write, I know everything that’s going to happen in the book. I have it all planned, and then I can just enjoy the writing. I’ve done all the hard part. I’ve done the thinking before I start to write." - from an interview with The Author Hour.