Fright Night by Maren Stoffels: a review

I’m not sure what drew me to this book while trawling the Y/A section for some of the books on the Bad Reputation Book Club list, but it certainly looked like a lot of fun, and sometimes I just want something I can sit and read in one or two sittings.

            Fright Night by Maren Stoffels follows a trio of friends as they gear up for and participate in in the annual Fright Night. Sofia is relatively new to the area, and is trying to make a good impression on Dylan. He’s got a past that he has to keep to himself and has led to him living with his old friend Niko. He knows a little of Dylan’s past, but wants his friend to be able to open up to him more.

            Niko gave me big ADHD energy from the outset. It wasn’t outright stated, but I don’t think it has to be. It’s an honest and accurate portrayal from what I could see. It isn’t played for laughs or as a quirky character trait. I’m really pleased with the way Stoffels handled this.

            Similarly, the exploration of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy is done with real tact. My knowledge of it doesn’t stretch much further from the Gypsy Rose Blanchard case, so I can’t say whether or not this is an accurate representation. However, in the afterword, Stoffels does say that Dylan’s story is formed by the real case of a girl in Stoffels’ real life called Nina. It’s certainly a fascinating exploration, and I appreciate the time and effort put into creating a realistic story with something that is deeply traumatic for all involved.

            Silly as it might sound, I was really happy reading a Y/A novel where the lead trio is one girl two guys where there isn’t a love triangle. It’s not even hinted at. I know the bar is low, but I can appreciate it all the same.

            While I’m not sure that I’ll be reading this again any time soon, it was a lot of fun, and I can certainly recommend this if it sounds like something you’d be interested in. This is also available at Burnley Library.