Double Date: Double Trouble or a Trouble to Read?
Double Date (1994) is the 23rd book in the original Fear Street series, written by R. L. Stine. This story gives another meaning to a double date – brimming with hormones and PG-friendly make-out scenes. Whilst very much making use of the tropes in the teen horror genre, it often goes against the grain.
Wanna know more? Read on.
Blurb
Nobody in their right mind would turn down a meeting with Bobby Newkirk. Not with that amazing jaw-line, easy charm, and incredible guitar skills. He is the ultimate Chad. Of course, some believe he’s arrogant. Bobby hasn’t slowed down one iota when it comes to breaking hearts.
At least not until the lovely Wade siblings moved to Shadyside. Bobby boasts to his pals that they will both fall for him.
You guessed it, of course they will. Unfortunately for Bobby, the siblings don’t share. One of them is murderously envious of the other. Is it the timid, quiet Bree? Or the bold troublemaker Samantha?
Soon, more information about the sisters emerges, and Bobby is bombarded with contradictory accounts from all parties; he has no idea what to believe and is going insane trying to work out the truth. Which he should do quickly – before it’s too late.
Themes in Double Date
YA/ Teen Horror
Double Date uses many of the tropes commonly used within YA horror, most notably the ‘love triangle’. Yet, it does buck the trend with others.
The love triangle in the story (Bobby, Bree and Samantha) is not forced and is integral to the story. There were times when I was frustrated by the main character, as all he was really getting from the Wade twins was street cred and make-out sessions. Of course, there are also hormones. But, with all the drama from the twins, wouldn’t you just call it off? Of course, this is my own humble opinion.
Stine goes completely against the trope that the protagonist cannot see their own beauty/ handsomeness. Bobby is completely aware of his good looks. He uses this to his advantage in the local dating scene of Shadyside. He definitely loves himself too much!
Bobby as a protagonist defiantly also is not used as the ‘misunderstood-nobody-gets-me’ trope, a tired and overused trope in teen novels. He seems like he is not just popular with the ladies, but also gets on with other kids at the school as friends. Albeit, it does not seem that Bobby has any close friends, or even a best friend as such.
Revenge
The theme of revenge permeates this book. It seems that Bobby gives many the motive to cause him trouble. Someone is tampering with his property, leaving disgusting things in his locker… But who is doing this to him? Believe me, you will not know who it is until the end, and neither will Bobby!
Summary
Double Date is a book that keeps the reader guessing. Very often in these kinds of books, you can see what’s coming from a mile off. Whilst this is why I kept reading the book, between the main story arcs the narrative feels repetitive. Bobby’s time with the sisters gets very samey due to the 1-dimensional nature of the characters.
