School should never be synonymous with danger, but that’s exactly what it has become. Students are violent, with each other and with the staff. Teachers and administrators have been attacked. This is nothing like the school shootings occurring on other campuses. No, this is personal. It doesn’t revolve around one child wanting revenge on the rest of the student body. It involves most of the … students wanting payback against everyone.
Something far worse than teenage rage lurks in the Darrius Sawyer High corridors. Everyone can sense it. Teachers hint about it. They speak in hushed tones, tell stories about odd occurrences in their classrooms, and travel by numbers as they make their way to their cars after school.
Evil walks the hallways and the teachers know its name: James Bender.
At DS High, the seniors are planning the ultimate Grad Night bash, and all the teachers are invited. James Bender will be there. You will be too.
Carver Pike takes ordinary circumstances, cinches them tight with razor wire, and then saws back and forth. Gasp for air, holler for help, and pray for an end to the madness.
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This book was freaking twisted!
A small backstory:
Grad Night has arrived for the teenagers at DS High and they all decide to throw a party to celebrate. They decide to invite their teachers that have been with them for few years as they think their teachers should be invited to the party. There is one student that stands out from the crowd but the teachers do not seem to know him really and his name is James Bender, but it seems Bender is the leader of the some of the teenagers as they follow him around everywhere.
The teachers think it is strange though that the students decide to have the party in a park, but they all dismiss it and think nothing else of it….until things start to get weird and the sweet innocent teens are no longer acting “innocent”. What the teens have planned for the teachers is way beyond their wildest dreams and what they have to endure is their own fight for survival as the teens with the help of their leader Bender turn into something beyond bullies as when the crap hits the fan the teachers are going to feel it!
What do the teens have planned for the teachers? Who is James Bender and how does he fit into the scheme of things? Do the teachers make it out of the park? No spoilers here as you will just need to read the book!
Thoughts:
This was a fast paced story with lots of twist and turns throughout the story as I made my way through the book. I could feel the evil deception of the students when I made it to the part in the story where the party starts in the park and from that moment on, the pace picked up and I found myself wanting to just stay within the book as I hurtled forward on a bullet train to the end of the book. There was a twist at the end of the book which I was not expecting but it ended perfect considering what happens within these pages. Five “teacher twisted” stars!
Grad Night by Carver Pike
Remember high school? For some, it was the greatest part of their adolescence. For others, not so much. Grad Night takes us into the lives of some unruly teenagers and young adults that have some severe grudges against thier teachers.
The kids invite their teachers to a graduation celebration, but what they don’t know is there are two parties. One for the teachers they like and the other for teachers they dispise. Only the students know the difference. Carver Pike takes us on a deep dive into the sadistic minds of adolescents. He shows us how their demons drive their actions to unimaginable horror. The setting of the party, a park, is described in vivid detail. I later saw pictures of the park he based this novel off of and it was right on point with how I imagined it based on his description.
There were moments that took my breath away. I found myself covering my mouth in disbeilef as I reacted to what I was reading. It is a fast read that keeps you hooked until the very end with twists and turns along the way. Everyone knows, kids today are mean, but how far will they really go? Bravo Carver Pike!
It was by the influence of the author that I picked up this book. I am partially glad that I ended up reading this story after all the “peer pressure” (it was all in my head, honestly, there wasn’t any real pressure)
Let me start with saying I do NOT do horror. In any form. So I was freaked out the entire way through this book. I even had a reading buddy to hold virtual hands with so we could lean on each other through the story.
I can’t say I liked the book it self, lol, but with that said, it was a really good story… I know it makes no sense but that is how I feel.
It had a good flow, character development was on point, the premise was a good idea, this book was so real it was scary, that is the part I have an issue with, I’m sure. If your looking for a story that will blow your mind with ideas that are beyond any that I have ever imagined happening when I was in school, this is it.
This has so many screwed up things going on in it making me think “who does that” and “really?That happened in real life?” (yes, some situations are very real things going on in high school right now), then this is the exact book you are looking for.
If you don’t want to hold your breath waiting to see what details are going to be written with great details of teachers being tormented, than you better move on along, this isn’t your story.
Thank you Carver for helping me reach way beyond my genre, I wasn’t disappointed, just a little freaked out the whole time.
Oh boy!!!
Creepy, gruesome and gory is waaayyy out of my comfort zone, but I really, really wanted to read Grad Night!!! So I did!!!
And I’m so glad I did because I absolutely loved it……even the bits I thought were horrible, resulting in forgetting to breathe and squirming while reading!!
Carver Pike’s writing style is fantastic, drawing me into the pages and making me feel I was there with the characters……which is probably why I was so unnerved at times. I love the internal conversations/debates Charlie and Lauren have with themselves, adding some light hearted humour.
Once the Grad Night party started I could not put this book down, the story becoming even more intense and engrossing. I highly recommend you read this brilliant story!!
Incredibly written tale of teenage angst and anger morphed into something that will have the hair on the back of your neck rising and your morbid curiosity propelling you forward. To say I was scared during this read would be a negative. What I was, was intrigued and compelled to move forward and see just where this twisted and quite brutal story would take me and who, if any would make it past Grad Night.
This is the second book I have read by this author and I found it to be an exceptional read that one could certainly see become a horror movie. Carver Pike spins a tale that takes you through the psyche of High School seniors of today, who have become lazy and entitled; taking a book and a hooded stranger and a group of “wronged” teenagers make the night of their graduation one that no one will forget, too soon.
A cast of many make up Grad Night and to say that this one was the lead or that one was the lead would be hard to do, however, two teachers are shown to be the romantic leads in this devious story and you will hope with all your might that you will see them when the sun rises in the morning.
If horror is your thing with a storyline that carries its weight very well in a book, then you will enjoy this book as much as I did. I highly recommend this book.
I love all genres. The horror and suspense are my favorite. It’s been a while since I was on the edge of my seat going word by word for what was around the corner. This new author to me has spooked me the likes of the Exorcist. Mine you I was a kid . It’s well written and the suspense is off the charts. Phenomenal book.
Grad Night
I truly never would have dreamed I could read this book. CP you deserve a standing ovation!!
Bravo! I will say I read parts of this book with a pillow over the bottom half of my face, I jumped, I squealed, but it was all worth it!! I am glad I am not in high school anymore!!!
Holy Cow, where has this author been all this time, I’m utterly blown away right now. If you love dark and twisted reads then this is a book for you. From the very first chapter it had me and didn’t let go until the end, even then it was still on my mind. I will absolutely be reading more from this author for sure.
Head to head throw down between teachers and the students who believe they’ve been wronged. This book paints a gruesome picture of how fast things can go wrong with a deranged mob mentality. Carver eloquently describes the sights, sounds and smells of a grad night gone horribly wrong. The reader is given insight into the characters thoughts and reasoning. I love the background information, the flash backs. There are definitely a few plot twists; things you never could have imagined coming. I love how the ending trails off and leaves the door open for more.
Amazing twisted nail biting story. Loved it!!
I normally don’t read horror. This story had me hooked from the start. I wanted, no, Needed to know what was going to happen next. When students invite teachers to a grad night party you have to wonder. Why?, what is really going on?. You won be dissapointed with this book. If you like suspense, horror, and be able to visualize then this is the book for you.
Great work!!
This book is amazing and a great example of why Carver Pike is my favorite horror author. From the very first page I was completely hooked. There was never a boring or dull moment. The scenes are explicitly detailed and you have no trouble visualizing each scene as they play out, and there are twists and turns around every corner. The storyline is gripping, and it’s definitely a creepy spine chilling read to the very last page. I would highly recommend to anyone who likes a good scare
This story will keep you turning pages. An excellent scary read.
What’s that sound in the hall?After reading this book you won’t want to go find out!It’s everything a horror story should be.Scary and thought provoking at the same time. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves spooky stories.
I never read a horror book before and desire to try this one. I was not disappointed. Lol I was scared, and intrigued and I didn’t want to stop reading it once i started. I screamed out loud in a couple parts lol. I would read this authors work again anytime.
I’m sitting here at my computer, as I have just finished this book, trying to think about what to say and all I can think of is: Incredible. Simply Incredible.
It’s been a long time since a book has actually scared me. Creeped me out, sure, but not scared me. Imagine, if you will, reading this book in the pitch dark (Since you are reading on a kindle) and you suddenly hear the sound of a child giggling. Well, that’s exactly what happened to me and I nearly peed my pants. This book gave me goosebumps, caused the hair on the back of my neck to stand on end, and just gave me the chills. I can barely fall asleep in the dark now!
This book is a basically a battle royal between teachers and students who believed they had done them wrong. Students who believed the teachers had somehow failed them. It’s a fight for survival. It’s bloody, it’s gory, and it’s so vivid you can practically see, hear, taste, and smell everything that Mr. Pike is describing to you. The writing was completely captivating. It sucks you in and takes you on a journey of horror and mayhem that even you begin to wonder if you’ll make it out alive.
There are so many twists and turns, so many surprises. In this story, it seems like all is lost! Grad Night takes you on a ride that you will never forget!
Definitely 5 out of 5 well deserved stars!
I was amazed how great this book was! I wasn’t really expecting much, since horror books are getting lame lately. However.. I jumped, got scared and it had a fantastic ending!! I will never look at high school kids the same ever again! Thank you Carver Pike for this amazing book! 5 stars!
Grad Night epitomizes the true terror of a teenage rebellion gone wild! I loved the way the stage was set for the teachers of DS High! This had all the scary feels of a freaky horror movie, where you’re biting your nails waiting for the ax to fall! The visuals kept flitting through my mind as each new victim found demise. Fantastic, campy and creepy to the very last page, Grad Night is horror at its bloody, messy best!
“We were created with an animalistic side, a desire to kill rather than be killed. Only when we open ourselves up to our true nature, will we really be free. The world wasn’t meant to be tamed. It’s a mad world, and we’re embracing it tonight.”
Well, what can I say about this one? Let’s start with creepy. Who is this weird kid that doesn’t show his face but seems to have the whole student body flocking to him? Why, when he makes any kind of eye contact with you, do you have the most horrific visions? What’s with the unsettling hum that seems to surround him? What is up with the book, The Maddening that all the kids are reading? High school kids don’t read on their own, right?
Next? Let’s go with gruesome. This book may have high school seniors in the starring role, but this is not for the faint of heart. The author is so skilled in his ability to paint the most terrifying, horribly gruesome scenes in such clarity that you can’t ever get the image you, yourself concocted, out of your head. I highly suggest you not eat before reading this one , or at least stay away from anything red and oozy (not sure if that’s a word, but I’m going with it). Don’t get me wrong, I love a gory scene, and I love that this author has the ability to make the reader pull up such vivid images in their mind!
Lastly, it was ingenious! This had to contain the most creative ways for these kids to exact their revenge. I can just imaging this author developing these “games”, as they’re called, giggling to himself at his laptop. Frankly, I’m a little afraid of him now. (just kidding).
I have been reading this author on a binge-run lately and let me tell you, I am more and more creeped out with every book I finish. I absolutely love it!! I’ve read many horror books, and sure, they can be creepy too, but usually when I close the book at the end, that’s it. It doesn’t stay with me long. With Carver Pike? Yeah, I think I have a renewed fear of the dark.
Thanks for scaring me over and over!
Carver Pike has just moved up to my favorite horror writer on my list. From the very first page I was taken hostage. His story telling is phenomenal and oh so intense. I’m talking about the sensation of tensing your body because you think you will know what will happen but when something does happen you were way off base and the only words to come out of your mouth is muthafudger. This story is about what the world can create with its hate, chaos, loneliness, and pain. How it molds a mindset in two completely different ways. The story was original, creative, unpredictable and honestly I will never look at the outdoors the same way again. Pike’s imagery is burned into my brain and that folks is what makes you know you found a amazing author.