Lois Duncan Criticism
Lois Duncan, also known as Lois Kerry, is a renowned American novelist and journalist celebrated for her suspenseful storytelling that captivates young adult audiences. Her works frequently explore themes of murder, witchcraft, treason, and supernatural phenomena. Notable novels like A Gift of Magic, where a young girl discovers her psychic abilities, and Down the Dark Hall, set in a mysterious boarding school, showcase Duncan's knack for blending suspense with supernatural elements. Stranger with My Face particularly highlights her skill, featuring twins embroiled in a supernatural battle over identity through astral projection.
Despite some criticism for melodrama, Duncan's engaging plots, rich character development, and incorporation of otherworldly events have secured her a dedicated readership. Her primary aim is to entertain, believing that the most rewarding books are those with high entertainment value that rival the allure of television. As noted in Holly Sandhuber and Zena Sutherland, her works like Stranger with My Face skillfully combine fantasy and reality while resonating with adolescent experiences. Duncan's narratives often assure the triumph of good over evil, underscoring her commitment to engaging and morally resonant storytelling.
Contents
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Widening Horizons: 'Debutante Hill'
(summary)
In the following essay, S.B.B. appreciates Lois Duncan's ability to engage readers with her characters in "Debutante Hill," while also noting some issues with character plausibility, particularly regarding Paul's depiction.
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Ruth Hill Viguers
(summary)
In the following essay, Ruth Hill Viguers commends Lois Duncan's "The Middle Sister" for its engaging character portrayal and its adept handling of a familiar theme, despite the predictability of the plot.
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Best Sellers
(summary)
The critic highlights how "Season of the Two-Heart" adeptly addresses racial prejudice and cultural misunderstanding, emphasizing that genuine effort and willingness can overcome such barriers, while also praising the story's realistic characters and thorough research into Indian customs.
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Season of the Two-Heart
(summary)
In the following essay, Ethna Sheehan analyzes Lois Duncan's "Season of the Two-Heart," highlighting the protagonist Martha Weekoty's cultural dilemmas and the nuanced portrayal of her choices between her Pueblo heritage and a new life in a white family, leaving readers to contemplate the complexities of her future.
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Ruth Hill Viguers
(summary)
In the following essay, Ruth Hill Viguers examines the compelling narrative of Martha Weekoty in Lois Duncan's "Season of the Two-Heart," highlighting her struggle to balance her Pueblo Indian heritage with the demands of the wider American society and her ultimate realization of the importance of personal education for serving her community.
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Ransom
(summary)
In her review, Dorothy M. Broderick highlights "Ransom" for its unique portrayal of Glenn Kirtland, an amoral and egocentric character who remains unchanged despite the typical character growth seen in his peers, thereby distinguishing the novel from other mystery books.
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Ransom
(summary)
In the following essay, Zena Sutherland examines "Ransom" as a suspenseful tale of kidnapping, noting that while the numerous characters and subplots may detract slightly from the plot's impact, the character interactions enrich the narrative.
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They Never Came Home
(summary)
The critic characterizes Lois Duncan's They Never Came Home as a "shallow, slick, sick" narrative centered on the morally corrupt protagonist Larry, who schemes and manipulates his way into presumed freedom, only to face poetic justice in a tale marked by themes of deception, survival, and retribution.
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They Never Came Home
(summary)
In the following essay, Sullivan critiques Lois Duncan's They Never Came Home for its convoluted plot and reliance on coincidences, while acknowledging the author's skill in character development and dialogue, suggesting potential for improved storytelling in future works.
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They Never Came Home
(summary)
In the following essay, Zena Sutherland argues that Lois Duncan's They Never Came Home skillfully develops doubts about a character's integrity, culminating in a suspenseful and action-packed plot with a compelling ending, despite some contrived elements.
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Richard F. Shepard
(summary)
In the following essay, Richard F. Shepard praises Lois Duncan for her compelling psychological suspense in "They Never Came Home," highlighting her ability to depict mature themes such as mental illness, self-discovery, and familial relationships through engaging narrative hooks and well-drawn characters.
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Major Andre: Brave Enemy
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In the following essay, the critic examines how Major Andre: Brave Enemy uses dramatized inner thoughts and relationships to portray John Andre, but notes that readers may find the espionage aspects less prominent than expected.
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Major André: Brave Enemy
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In the following essay, Muriel Kolb evaluates the biography Major André: Brave Enemy as an engaging and well-written portrayal of the British officer, noting slight fictionalization but no factual distortion, while comparing it favorably to Adele Nathan's less comprehensive and scholarly work.
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Peggy
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The critic argues that "Peggy" offers a sensationalized and exploitative portrayal of Peggy Shippen, focusing on her manipulative and unsympathetic traits rather than providing a historically accurate depiction.
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Mary M. Burns
(summary)
In the following essay, Mary M. Burns examines the portrayal of Peggy Shippen as an influential and self-centered figure in a fictionalized biography, drawing parallels to characters like Becky Sharp and Scarlett O'Hara, while exploring her role in Benedict Arnold's treachery and her impact on Major André.
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A Gift of Magic
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In the following review, Peggy Sullivan discusses Lois Duncan's "A Gift of Magic," focusing on the theme of extrasensory perception and its impact on the protagonist Nancy, highlighting both the challenges and advantages of her psychic abilities within the dynamics of her family and school life.
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I Know What You Did Last Summer
(summary)
The critic reviews Lois Duncan's "I Know What You Did Last Summer," highlighting its suspenseful narrative and intricate plot twists, while critiquing the shallow character development of its protagonists amid the novel's underlying themes of guilt and revenge.
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I Know What You Did Last Summer
(summary)
In the following essay, Zena Sutherland argues that "I Know What You Did Last Summer" by Lois Duncan successfully creates suspense and excitement through its vivid characterization and an ominous sense of impending danger, as the protagonists face the consequences of a fatal accident they sought to conceal.
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I Know What You Did Last Summer
(summary)
In the following review, Linda Silver critiques Lois Duncan's I Know What You Did Last Summer as a suspenseful but stylistically ordinary novel, highlighting its engaging plot yet expressing disappointment in the lack of depth in character development.
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Down a Dark Hall
(summary)
In the following essay, Kirkus Reviews critiques Lois Duncan's Down a Dark Hall as a chilling yet slick narrative about a group of psychic girls at a boarding school exploited by spirits for artistic gain, highlighting its suspenseful plot and supernatural elements without delving deeply into its darker nuances.
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Haunts and Hunts
(summary)
In the following essay, Gloria Levitas contrasts Lois Duncan's "Down A Dark Hall" with David Severn's "The Girl in the Grove," praising Duncan for her original treatment of gothic themes, focusing on education over romance, which provides a fresh perspective within the gothic novel genre.
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Down a Dark Hall
(summary)
In the following review, Sarah Law Kennerly argues that Lois Duncan's Down a Dark Hall transforms from a juvenile Gothic romance into a disturbing fantasy, centered on the theme of a sensitive human mind being invaded by an alien intelligence.
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Summer of Fear
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The essay highlights that "Summer of Fear" by Lois Duncan effectively uses supernatural elements and psychological tension to create a gripping narrative, focusing on themes of jealousy, deceit, and the sinister transformation of the protagonist's cousin Julia into a malevolent witch-like figure.
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Summer of Fear
(summary)
In the following essay, Sarah Law Kennerly argues that Lois Duncan's novel "Summer of Fear" creates a compelling narrative through the character of Julia, a young witch whose arrival disrupts a family, highlighting themes of suspicion, familial bonds, and the supernatural.
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Witches and Werewolves
(summary)
In the following essay, Julia Whedon examines Lois Duncan's "Summer of Fear," highlighting its suspenseful narrative about a teenage witch's disruptive influence on a suburban family and commends Duncan's skill in crafting a captivating story for young readers.
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Summer of Fear
(summary)
In the following essay, Ethel L. Heins evaluates Lois Duncan's "Summer of Fear," highlighting the novel's effective use of vigorous characterization, a tightly woven plot, and an intensifying atmosphere of suspense, as it explores themes of familial bonds and supernatural influences.
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Teaching Teacher a Lesson
(summary)
In the following essay, Richard Peck argues that Lois Duncan's novel "Killing Mr. Griffin" breaks new ground in adolescent literature by exploring the dangerous rebellion of permissively reared teenagers against authority, resulting in a chillingly realistic narrative that critiques both youthful entitlement and societal negligence.
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Killing Mr. Griffin
(summary)
In the following essay, Drew Stevenson reviews Lois Duncan's Killing Mr. Griffin, highlighting the novel's skillful plotting and tension-building that draws readers into the conflict, and commending its ending for providing relief while maintaining its chilling implications.
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Killing Mr. Griffin
(summary)
The critic discusses how "Killing Mr. Griffin" illustrates themes of group guilt and moral reckoning, comparing it to Duncan's earlier work "I Know What You Did Last Summer," and notes the novel's narrative focus on shifting viewpoints and its compelling yet somewhat facile resolution.
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Killing Mr. Griffin
(summary)
In the following essay, Hildagarde Gray critiques "Killing Mr. Griffin" for its compelling narrative and psychological depth while cautioning that its depiction of delinquent behavior might inadvertently encourage rebellious acts among young readers, despite the story's ultimate moral resolution.
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The Booklist
(summary)
In the following essay, the critic examines how Lois Duncan's Daughters of Eve distorts feminist themes into a narrative of vengeance, depicting a group of high school girls who, influenced by a bitter teacher, engage in violent acts against men, ultimately leading to murder, while criticizing the novel's characterization and plot structure.
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Daughters of Eve
(summary)
In the following essay, Cyrisse Jaffee criticizes Lois Duncan's "Daughters of Eve" for its portrayal of a women's liberation figure as a mentally disturbed antagonist and argues that while the novel effectively builds suspense, it ultimately presents a regressive message by depicting sisterhood as dangerously powerful.
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Daughters of Eve
(summary)
In the following review, the critic describes Lois Duncan's Daughters of Eve as a melodrama that lacks the suspense of her previous works, noting the heavy-handed portrayal of characters in a story about a teacher manipulating students into taking revenge against males.
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Daughters of Eve
(summary)
In the following essay, Zena Sutherland critiques Lois Duncan's Daughters of Eve, noting its competent style and characterization but arguing that the novel is weakened by an excessive number of characters and a pervasive tone of embittered hatred which negatively affects the portrayal of male characters and parents.
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Daughters of Eve
(summary)
In the following essay, Natalie Babbitt asserts that Lois Duncan's novel "Daughters of Eve" effectively uses a narrative of female rage and action against male chauvinism within a high school setting, paralleling the violence and horror of "Lord of the Flies," while highlighting gender equality in the portrayal of human savagery.
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Jan M. Goodman
(summary)
In the following essay, Jan M. Goodman critiques Lois Duncan's "Daughters of Eve" for its portrayal of feminist issues, arguing that the novel misrepresents legitimate problems through violent solutions and harmful stereotypes, thus distorting reality rather than addressing the complexities and challenges of feminist struggles.
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Stranger with My Face
(summary)
In the following essay, Holly Sandhuber praises Lois Duncan's Stranger with My Face for its natural incorporation of the supernatural and its suspenseful narrative, despite some obvious symbolism and sketchy character portrayals, highlighting the book's finely crafted story and its ironic surprise ending.
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Stranger with My Face
(summary)
The critic views Lois Duncan's Stranger with My Face as a skillfully executed supernatural thriller that, despite its sensational elements, successfully engages readers with its suspenseful narrative involving astral projection, twin intrigue, and a climactic battle for identity.
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Ann A. Flowers
(summary)
In the following essay, Ann A. Flowers examines the supernatural elements and realistic character relationships in Lois Duncan's Stranger with My Face, focusing on the sinister astral projection used by Laurie's malevolent twin Lia to attempt a hostile takeover of Laurie's life.
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Chapters: My Growth As a Writer
(summary)
In the following essay, Terry Lawhead describes Lois Duncan's autobiography as a compelling personal narrative that reads like her novels, emphasizing her authentic teenage perspective and the lack of need for fictional plots due to her own eventful life experiences.
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Chapters: My Growth As a Writer
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In the following essay, Stephanie Zvirin explores Lois Duncan's autobiographical work "Chapters: My Growth As a Writer," highlighting Duncan's journey from a young writer to a professional and noting the book's emphasis on personal experiences over in-depth analysis of her popular juvenile novels.
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The Onset of Maturity
(summary)
In the following essay, Jennifer Moody evaluates Lois Duncan's I Know What You Did Last Summer as a skillfully suspenseful thriller with complex character relationships and moral themes, but notes that its 1970s setting and cultural references may now appear outdated to contemporary readers.
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Chapters: My Growth As a Writer
(summary)
In the following essay, Leigh Dean argues that Lois Duncan's early works, as presented in Chapters: My Growth As a Writer, differ significantly from her later, more intriguing YA novels, potentially alienating new readers despite offering some valuable writing advice.
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Stranger with My Face
(summary)
In the following essay, Zena Sutherland commends Lois Duncan's novel "Stranger with My Face" for its successful blend of fantasy and reality, its well-developed characters, and its ability to address universal adolescent themes alongside its intriguing plot centered on the supernatural and identity discovery.