Sabrina Sebastian’s goal in life is to be an investigative reporter. For her first big 
story, she researches a popular website called Scream Site, where people post scary videos and compete for the most “screams.” While Sabrina’s friends and her sister, Faith, talk nonstop about the creepy viral videos, Sabrina just hopes that covering this trend will get her the internship she’s wishing for. But as she digs into the truth behind the website, she begins to suspect that these aren’t only aspiring actors and videographers at work. Some clips seem a little too real. And when Faith goes missing, Sabrina must race against time to save her sister from becoming the next video “star.”
This is categorized as a YA novel on NetGalley, but I have to wonder if that was a mistake, because it reads very much like a middle grade book. Fourteen-year-old protagonist Sabrina is a likable main character. She’s very goal-oriented, and her tenacity and love of her family are admirable. Best friend Evelyn is a hoot, and steals nearly every scene.
The mystery is intriguing, but requires a massive suspension of disbelief from the reader. The details overlooked by investigating detectives and the reactions from Sabrina’s family members over certain events are just a bit too unbelievable, and the wrap-up comes about quickly and has distinct ‘Scooby-Doo’ overtones. All of this makes me feel like Scream Site is geared more toward middle grade, or at least the lower end of the YA spectrum.
I felt like this book did an excellent job with warning teens not to trust everything they read on the internet, never giving out personal information to strangers, and the dangers of people misrepresenting themselves online. You can never be sure who you’re talking to.
I’d recommend this book for middle grade or lower age range YA readers, but doubt it would hold much appeal for the older YA crowd.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
That’s an important point about the suggested age group, Teri. I was thinking Scooby-Doo, and then you said it. 😀 Thanks for your mindful review. Hugs.
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I was always a Scooby-Doo fan – but doubt that type of book would appear the older YA crowd. Thanks, Teagan!
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I’m a huge Scooby-Doo fan. Too bad about the mis-categorization. I bet the story would do well with the right age group.
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I think so too, Staci A few other reviewers on Goodreads mentioned the same about the age group.
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Good to know. I was going to check into this one.
Despite the fact I always loved Scooby-Doo, I’ll pass on this. My TBR is overflowing as it is!
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Yep – overflowing, toppling, crashing and burning here also.
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😀
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The blurb has a great premise, this would make for one spooky thriller!
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It had some pretty eerie moments, Jacquie.
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This is the first time I heard about this one. I’ve seen books with fourteen-year-old protagonists geared toward MG and YA, it’s kind of that in between age. Despite its flaws, this one might be good for a quick read.
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It’s a fun, quick read, Alicia, and with the warnings about not trusting everything and everyone online are wonderful for the younger crowd – some older readers also!
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Sounds like a good book for the right reader level!
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It would absolutely make a fun read for the right age group, Barbara – thanks for dropping by!
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I was interested to read your views on the age group for this book, Teri. I feel our youth is so much more advanced that a lot of books I read as a teenager would now be middle school. It is a challenge getting this right.
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They really are more advanced, Robbie. When it was my turn to present the selection for book club, I was the only one who’d read YA in recent years – the others thought it was mostly high school drama, crushes, etc. They were quite surprised to see what teens were reading these days – much more in depth that they’d believed.
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Yes, you are right. Our teens are very knowledgeable and worldly.
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