Doncaster Book Award - Read Reviews

Doncaster: Discover the Spirit

Scared to Death
by Alan Gibbons

So far we have received 30 reviews of Scared to Death. You can read them below - or why not add your own review?

Megan from Year 7, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

I liked this book because I liked it when he introduced the
fact that if you were scared of somthing like spiders, you got
killed by spiders. and when Jack the Ripper came in that was
very grusome and scary and was very dramatic.

Marks out of 10: 8

Jessica from Year 8, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

I didnt understand this book at the start but when I got into
it I loved it. It was so well thought out. I really like how
the character Redman was connected with Jack the Ripper. It was
incredibly hard to put it down! I gave it a nine because I
didnt understand it at the start. I would recommend it to
everyone!!! It was fantastic!!!

Marks out of 10: 9

amber from Year 6, Northcliffe School:

i think in this book i was scared to death instead ... but it
was still good because ...it is nearly halloween
...YEAH IT WAS SO SO
...BRILL

Marks out of 10: 10

Abbie from Year 7, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

I have given this book a 2 out of 10 because I didn't
understand it properly. THe begining of the story was ok to
read, but further in I just couldn't read it. I was very
unimpressed with this book, and give it a thumbs down.

Marks out of 10: 2

Abie from Year 7, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

The book started with an older brother locking his younger
brother in the cellar, his younger brother was very scared!
The older brother was called 'Redman' and the beginning of the
book was very scary, but it was only a brother war. 'Redman'
acted very mysterious and strange.
I couldn't quite get to understand the full story-line in the
book, but I did enjoy it as it was quite scary and mysterious.

Marks out of 10: 6

Hannah from Year 10, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

At the start this book is very confusing and I didn't
understand some of it but in the end it is all brought
together. I like the way the book works and I think that the
idea that someone can be taken back to the time of Jack The
Ripper is really good.

Marks out of 10: 7

Callum from Year 7, Ridgewood School:

This book is about Jack the Rippers past reapeating itself,
but this time these crimes are know being comited by a dead
boy called Redman.
I liked the part when Paul found out about his powers.
My favorite charector was Redman because he was deadly and
he really got your adrenelim pumping.
I disliked absoulutly nothing in the book.
I would recomend this book to people who want to know about
Jack the Ripper and for people who like gorey stuff.

Marks out of 10: 9

Sean from Year 11, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

If I'm gripped with fantastic book that I can barely put down
and rave about for entire book award I usually give it a nine
out of ten. I very rarely find a book good enough to get all
ten points. But "Scared to Death" is definatley worth this high
score as perhaps the best horror book I have ever read (even
above the "Demonata" series which I love)! I read it all in one
sitting and felt empty for days after I had finished. I'm one
hundred percent backing this horrifically wonderous book to win
and can't understand why some of my frinds who have read
aren't!
The murders and ways they are done are gripping and I really
liked the way Jack the Ripper was involved with the story. It
was a wonderful idea and got my imagination going brilliantly.
All in all, if you want to read a top class book I would
advise this to you. Though I would recommend that perhaps a key
stage four audience since they would probabely better
understand the complexity of the plot.

Marks out of 10: 10

jade from Year 6, Dunsville Primary School:

this book was fab it was amazing fast pacing it was about a boy
who thought he had something to do with jack the ripper. i
would say it is more of a teenager book than a junior so you
would most probly find it the teenage section. the thickness
makes up the hight. the first sentence is really powerful it
all is.

Marks out of 10: 9

Kirsty from Year 7, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

Ths book was really hard to get into and I didnt really think
it was that scary. I just got bored half way through and there
was only a couple of parts that were scary. It was just too
long and confusing. I wouldnt read this book again.

Marks out of 10: 5

Simon from Year 6, Owston Primary School:

Year 5/6 teacher
Some of the writing in this book was of a much higher standard
to many of the adult books that I have read. The metaphors used
were very graphic and you could clearly picture what Alan
Gibbons was attempting to describe. The story was brilliant and
at t

Marks out of 10: 9

Simon from Year 6, Owston Primary School:

Marks out of 10: 9

Eric from Year 6, Owston Primary School:

It was excellent.

Marks out of 10: 9

Ryan from Year 5, Owston Primary School:

Scared to Death is a incredibly thrilling/horror story of a boy
called Paul who is stuck down in a very dark cellar. And it
seems that he thinks that there's a thing that is called
Redman.Then a couple of days his mind turns all weird full of
death and gore.

Marks out of 10: 7

Natasha from Year 6, Edlington Victoria Primary School:

This book was...well...ABSOLOUTLY FABULOUS. It was soooooo
descriptive. I t was amazing and it was a bit historic. I
understood it all and this book I think has a good chance of
winning!!!

Marks out of 10: 9

Natasha from Year 9, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

i thought this book was good because of the intro - the way
that he was scared of stuff like the dark. I also like the bit
where the redman was conected to Jack the Ripper. I could't but
it down. I also though the book was very well thought out. I
would recomend it to anyone

Marks out of 10: 10

Sian from Year 9, Ridgewood School:

Scared to Death is one of my favirote DBA book because when i
was reading it, it sent shivers down my spine and goosebums on
my arms. I thought it was very clever how the writer brought
back Jack the ripper but not him actually commiting the crimes
but a boy called Redman.I would say it is more of a teenage
book than a junior book because at times it is hard to
follow.Overall great book highly highly recommended !

Marks out of 10: 9

Jessica from Year 5, Owston Primary School:

WOW!!!!
This book is gross, which makes it awesome!!!!
I love it, so you will too!!!
I recommend it to adventure and excitement seekers.
Keep on reading, guys!!

Marks out of 10: 10

Heather from Year 6, Sunnyfields Primary School:

The main characters in this story are Paul and Readman.
I like the characters in this story because they were brilliant
sorts of people for this sort of story.
the setting in this story wqas scary most of the time, but was
a good place for this to be.
It was a good story as it was set perfectly and you would enjoy
reading it.
I loved this story because it was interesting and wild!

Marks out of 10: 10

Rebecca from Year 10, Balby Carr Community Sports College:

Paul Rector once knew his elder brother 'Red'. One day Red died
in mysterious circumstances and Paul can never remember what
really happened. When he meets Redman he begins to discover a
different life, a life where good grades and manners get you
nowhere. Paul begins to find out more about his mysterious past
and the true identity of Redman and himself. He experiences
some disturbing things and someone begins to notice a pattern
with the events he witnesses and those of the Jack the Ripper
murders of the past.

I would recommend this book to people who've read and enjoyed
Alan Gibbons books before. It's a fantasy horror with a good
storyline. Despite this, I didn't enjoy the book as much as I
had hoped but it was a decent read all the same.

Marks out of 10: 6

from Year 9, Ridgewood School:

I found this book interesting. I think that it should
definitely be a teen title because of the gruesome factor. I
hated it. I usually like gruesome books but this was too much
for me. So if you want a book that will freak you out... read
this one.

Marks out of 10: 5

ABBEY from Year 9, Bentley High Street Primary School:

This is a great book is is full of shivering monents i only
like scary book and this filled my satisfaction read it!!!!!!!

Marks out of 10: 9

ABBEY from Year 9:

This is a great book is is full of shivering monents i only
like scary book and this filled my satisfaction read it!!!!!!!

Marks out of 10: 9

Jody from Year 6, Bessacarr Primary School:

absolutely BRILL jack the ripper is sooooooooo freaky i really
want this book to win the donny book awds i recommend it to any
o those cool dudes out there so just blummin read it now

Marks out of 10: 10

Karla from Year 5, Adwick Park Junior School:

I really liked this book, it was a one off book that you cant
stop reading it just constontly draws you in and how a simple
but effective little person like red man can take you through
your own personal HELL.

Marks out of 10: 9

from Year 7, Ridgewood School:

i really enjoyed this book as it started with a cliff hanger
and i would recamend it to all my friends.

Marks out of 10: 10

holly from Year 6, Kingfisher Primary School:

The reason i gave full marks is because this book was all about
jack the ripper my favourite character if you gave a seven
year old this book they would have nightmares even in broad day
light

Marks out of 10: 10

Rory from Year 8:

I realy liked scared to death. It was a good book, I enjoyed it
and I would reconmend it to other people. the age for this book
would be teenage or younger

Marks out of 10: 10

Benjamin from Year 6, Saltersgate Primary School:

This book is PUKKA!!! it is also good. I like the bit when
paul fights red man and paul loses ,only joking! It was ok, no
it was huge as big as an elephant the whole hugeness of this
book could take over the earth I give this a 9/10
I do not recomend this to babies they could not read it!

Marks out of 10: 10

Corey from Year 9, Rossington All Saints School:

Good not amazing though a bit boring.

Marks out of 10: 7