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Overview
Dread Locks is the first entry in the Dark Fusion series from master storyteller Neal Shusterman. He cleverly weaves together familiar parts of fairy tales and Greek mythology to tell the story of fourteen-year-old Parker Bear, rich and utterly bored with life—until a new girl arrives in town. Tara's eyes are always hidden behind designer sunglasses, and her hair, blond with glimmering spirals, seems almost alive. Parker watches, fascinated, as one by one Tara chooses high school students to befriend; he even helps her by making the necessary introductions. Over time, her “friends” develop strange quirks, such as drinking gallons of milk, eating dirt, and becoming lethargic. By the time Parker realizes what Tara is doing, he is too embroiled to stop her. In fact, she has endowed him with certain cravings of his own. . . .To say more would spoil the spooky fun of this wild thriller—let the twist speak for itself and leave you still as a statue.
Accustomed to a carefree existence, fourteen-year-old Parker Baer meets the girl next door and finds his life taking a menacing turn as he begins to absorb some of her terrible powers.
Synopsis
Fifteen-year-old Parker Baer is bored with his entire perfect life. But when Parker finds Tara, a strange but beautiful girl sleeping in his bed, his life turns upside down. Exotic-looking, with long, glimmering spirals of golden hair that seem almost alive and eyes that are always hidden behind sunglasses, Tara lives by herself in a house full of statues. Parker watches, fascinated, as the charismatic Tara picks students at the high school to befriend and wraps them around her little finger. As her "friends" start developing strange quirks, like drinking gallons of milk at a time and eating dirt, only Parker realizes what Tara is up to. But she s endowed him with certain cravings of his own. . . . Can he stop her destructive game in time, or is he doomed to be under her spell forever?
Author Biography: Neal Shusterman lives in Rancho Santa Margarita, California.
Paula Rohrlick - KLIATT
A spoiled-rotten 14-year-old named Parker Baer (bear, get it?) finds his life changed forever when a mysterious new neighbor shows up in his bed (even though he's not in it at the time). Tara has strange blond curls and always wears mirrored sunglasses, and Parker finds that he is irresistibly drawn to her, even when he realizes that she just toys with people—and worse. He becomes her lackey and introduces people at their fancy private school to her, and then watches them develop strange cravings and grayish skin tones, then slowly become petrified and die. Parker sees the upside, of course, as Tara is a great weapon to turn on his enemies. But when his brother and sister become her victims, and he realizes that he himself is becoming a monster like Tara, Parker knows that he must stop her. But how, and what must he sacrifice? This updated melding of the tales of "Goldilocks" and Medusa, from the author of many other novels for YAs in various genres, is a fast-moving, spine-chilling story that horror and fantasy lovers will relish. Upcoming titles in Shusterman's new Dark Fusion series include Red Rider's Hood and Duckling Ugly. (Dark Fusion). KLIATT Codes: JS—Recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2005, Penguin, Dutton, 176p., Ages 12 to 18.
Editorials
KLIATT
A spoiled-rotten 14-year-old named Parker Baer (bear, get it?) finds his life changed forever when a mysterious new neighbor shows up in his bed (even though he's not in it at the time). Tara has strange blond curls and always wears mirrored sunglasses, and Parker finds that he is irresistibly drawn to her, even when he realizes that she just toys with people—and worse. He becomes her lackey and introduces people at their fancy private school to her, and then watches them develop strange cravings and grayish skin tones, then slowly become petrified and die. Parker sees the upside, of course, as Tara is a great weapon to turn on his enemies. But when his brother and sister become her victims, and he realizes that he himself is becoming a monster like Tara, Parker knows that he must stop her. But how, and what must he sacrifice? This updated melding of the tales of "Goldilocks" and Medusa, from the author of many other novels for YAs in various genres, is a fast-moving, spine-chilling story that horror and fantasy lovers will relish. Upcoming titles in Shusterman's new Dark Fusion series include Red Rider's Hood and Duckling Ugly. (Dark Fusion). KLIATT Codes: JS—Recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2005, Penguin, Dutton, 176p., Ages 12 to 18.—Paula Rohrlick
Children's Literature
Hang on tightly to your Brothers Grimm! Goldilocks morphs into Medusa—the hip teen variety—in Neal Shusterman's latest addition to his "Dark Fusion" series of updated fairytales. On his fifteenth birthday, Parker (aka "Baby Baer") finds his new neighbor Tara sleeping in his bed. After also wrecking the calibrations on his father's ergonomic chair and eating his little sister's favorite cereal, the connection is obvious— too bad this Goldilocks's tresses are closer to writhing snakes. With the aplomb of a teenage goddess, Tara soon takes over Parker and his private school. When kids begin turning into statues, Parker has to take a stand. Shusterman has a gothic-quirky, Stephen Kingish-sort of mindset that he lets loose with glee. He delivers, too, creating genuine chills up the spine for all those young readers who cut their eye-teeth on R.L. Stine. 2005, Dutton Children's Books, Ages 10 to 14.—Kathleen Karr
From The Critics
A modern day telling of the medusa myth, this fantasy thriller is sure to engage readers and leave them with an unfamiliar, unforeseen ending. As the protagonist Parker Baer dredges through upper class suburban life, he meets a mysterious new neighbor—Tara—in his bedroom, uninvited, one afternoon. The two become fast friends, but something doesn't add up for Parker. Several people who have come in contact with Tara seem to be dying as noted by their pale, almost gray, complexions and physical rigidity. Parker begins a detective style search for the truth but is he too late? Readers from seventh grade and up will happily read this page-turning book and make connections to the medusa myth and common fairytales. 2005, Penguin Putnam, 176 pp., Ages young adult.—Chris Goering