The Valentine That Ate My Teacher

The Valentine That Ate My Teacher

By Dean Marney

Published by Scholastic Inc. (1998)

Reading Level: Ages 8-11 years

Pages: 100

Genre: Modern Fantasy

Summary: Lizzie hates Valentines Day. And she hates the new girl, Sybil. And every time a guy named Gus shows up weird things happen, but she never remembers that she has seen him she sees him again. Lizzie also thinks her teacher, Mr. Bernstein, is cute and also a few other boys. Lizzie starts seeing Ralph. In class she passes out because as the class is watching a documentary on a heart surgery she sees herself being operated on. Another day she sees a crack in the back of the class and green stuff oozing out of it until it fills the class room. Lizzie tries to warn the class and gets sent to the hall and the loud speaker tells her to go to the basement but she hates basements so she tries to go to the office but everywhere she turns and runs leads her to a door marked basement even though the school has none. She finally opens the basement door and finds herself in the office and she gets in trouble for being in the bathroom to long. On Valentines day she sees the green ooze again and falls into a valentine mailbox with Sybil, one of the boys from her class, and her teacher. The valentine box eats them and they wind up in a haunted carnival. They have to find each other and find the center of the carnival before dark to get out. Lizzie learns to like Sybil and they all have to go through a tunnel of love ride because that is the center. They appear in the valentine mailbox and push their way out and no one but Lizzie remembers anything, but she learns love is at the center.

My Reaction: This book is weird, and a little confusing. Not my favorite in the slightest.

Potential Problems: The Carnival is a little scary because it has a very haunted feel to it. Rides work on their own.

Recommendations: I don't think I would stop anyone from reading this book, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, unless I know they like really bizarre stuff.