Summer of Fear (novel)
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
Summer of Fear is a 1976 American horror novel authored by Lois Duncan. The narrative centers on a teenage girl who grows suspicious that her newly orphaned cousin is involved in witchcraft. This novel was later transformed into a 1978 film directed by Wes Craven.
Plot
After the sudden death of her aunt in a car crash in the Ozarks, fifteen-year-old Rachel 'Rae' Bryant welcomes her 17-year-old cousin Julia Grant, who has just returned from boarding school in Boston, to live with her family in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Initially reserved and modest in appearance, Julia soon reveals a rapidly changing demeanor. She pursues Rae's brother, Peter, and adopts an attitude that seems far beyond her years.
Rae faces a series of strange incidents, such as developing hives before a school dance and the unexplained demise of her dog. A local academic informs her that Julia’s hometown in the Ozarks is notorious for witchcraft and secret covens. Growing increasingly doubtful, Rae confronts Julia and uncovers that she is actually Sarah Blane, a 22-year-old housekeeper responsible for the accident that killed the real Julia and her parents, having taken on Julia’s identity.
Following a confrontation, Rae confines Sarah in her mother’s darkroom. Together with her boyfriend Mike, she hurries to Santa Fe to stop Sarah from orchestrating a car crash aimed at Rae’s mother. Their efforts succeed, although Rae’s parents remain skeptical of her concerns. Upon their return, Sarah/Julia has disappeared. The story ends with Rae as a college sophomore reflecting on the past events.
Reception
In a later critique, Sarah Weinman of The New Republic referred to the book as "a chilling portrait of borderline personality disorder."
External links
- Summer of Fear at Scholastic.com