Book Review: I Know What You Did Last Summer (highschool; mystery/psychological thriller/horror/suspense/slasher)(OT)

I Know What You Did Last Summer, by Lois Duncan (Little Brown, 240pp PB, ages 12+. grades 7 and up, 1973/2020, $2.50) Review by Skye Anderson

So, you missed the fuss about I Know What You Did Last Summer? But you are familiar with the title yet don't really know what it's about? 

It's Never Too Late to Read a 'Classic'! 

This reviewer finally read it and couldn't put it down. And now I hear it's a movie.* And on TV. And with sequels: "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer" and "I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer."

Generally when both a book and a movie version appear, one after the other, one prefers the version he/she saw (read) first, knowing they are two different modes and therefore cannot be entirely identical. In this case, this reviewer wholeheartedly prefers the book version - it is less horrific. The movie version is merely based loosely on the book and is more extreme. Therefore, if your favorite genre is not slasher, I would recommend the book.

The Plot Thickens

Two teenage couples are returning home one night when their car accidentally hits someone. Being teens, they are not sure what to do. Is he dead? Did anyone see the accident? After discussing, they call in the accident to the police and go home. (Being 1973, the call cannot be traced due to no cell phones yet.) The four then make a pact to never talk about the accident. They soon part ways.

(Their characters, however, are well-written. This is a book that has both a well-constructed plot and believable characters - normal teens placed in rare adult situations .)

Fast Forward a Year

One of the boys is in college athletics, one of the girls has dropped out of high school to pursue a career on TV, the other girl has been accepted to a Seven Sisters college and the fourth teen worked as a laborer several states away but has returned to their hometown.

One of the four receives a note: "I know what you did last summer." Another receives a newspaper clipping.  .  .  .

And . . . .

Now I can't wait to read Killing Mr. Griffin and other Duncan books!

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*Sarah Michelle Geller (Helen), Freddie  Prince,  Jr. (Ray),  Jennifer Love Hewitt (Julie), Ryan Phillippe (Barry)