Parents' Guide to

Prom Dates from Hell

By Matt Berman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Humorous high school horror; some edgy material.

Book Rosemary Clement-Moore Horror 2007
Prom Dates from Hell Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all
age 15+

Based on 1 parent review

TBF
TBF Parent of 5, 7 and 13-year-old
June 13, 2009
age 15+

good

my son jason loved it
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Nerd outcast Stanley Dozer appears to be wreaking supernatural revenge on the bullies who humiliated him, and it's up to Maggie, a sardonic yearbook photographer who has a touch of the Sight, to figure out what's happening and stop it. Even if that means she has to do the one thing she really doesn't want to do: face down the center of Evil in high-school -- the prom.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (2 ):

Cross Buffy the Vampire Slayer with Ghostbusters, and you'll have a good sense of the tone and fun of PROM DATES FROM HELL. Fans of those movies will enjoy the many references to them scattered throughout the book. Maggie has many of Buffy's characteristics: a reluctant talent with the supernatural; a sarcastic wit when dealing with demons, bullies, and her own fears; and a way of comparing high school with Hell that provides much of the book's humor.

In the second half, the story turns darker, as the action and horror move toward their climax at the prom, and the humor gives way to suspense. Not all of the plotting makes complete sense, but it's all in good fun, and Maggie's sardonic voice keeps it light and entertaining. As with Buffy and Ghostbusters, it's best not to scrutinize the details -- just sit back and enjoy the wacky ride.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the popularity of fantasy right now. Why are teens taking to titles like Twilight that feature vampires, etc.? What is fun about these stories? Why do they make for good coming-of-age stories?

  • Talk about scary books and movies. What's fun about being scared?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended book lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate