Review of Gremlin: Never Wash It After Midnight

[Rajnee Varma]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Gremlin: Never Wash It After Midnight" by Norma Grochowski.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Gremlin: Never Wash It After Midnight by Norma Grochowski is the fantastical story of teenage love and an enchanted car. Emmet Moore hit his mean boss with his car, a 1971 Gremlin, killing him on the spot. Emmet hated his boss, but he did not kill him. The car killed him—or so Emmet was convinced. After her father’s death, Samantha and her mother were forced to sell her father’s car and leave their home in Detroit. They came to live with her grandparents on their farm, where they grew and sold fruits. Samantha, or Sam, joined the same school that their neighbor Joe’s son Zane attended. Sam fell prey to the bullying of a wealthy girl named Charlotte on her first day of school. Charlotte’s hatred for Sam escalated as Sam and Zane became more than friends. Sam’s grandfather gifted her a 1971 AMC Gremlin for her 18th birthday. The car had been lying idle for more than 30 years but looked brand new. However, she was warned that the car should never get wet or refueled after midnight or there would be serious consequences. One fateful night the rule was broken for no fault of Sam, and she did face the consequences.

Sam is a powerful character portraying a compassionate girl struggling with the loss of her father. She loves cars, has worked with her father on cars, and knows about cars, engines, and repair work more than most girls her age. She misses her father’s car and has not forgiven her mother for selling it. She enjoys the doting of her grandmother and the fatherly love and protection of her grandfather. He is the key character in the story who is a father figure, a friend, and a confidant in her life. He supports her and understands her feelings. Charlotte is strikingly beautiful and possessive towards Zane, but he loves Sam for her inner beauty. He behaves responsibly as the young lover. The author has crafted the characters remarkably well.

The story deals with many themes—bullying, dealing with the loss of a parent, uprooting from a familiar environment, and the emotions of the first love. The recklessness of teens defying the norms of society and the hidden fear and insecurity masked by boldness and often rude behavior are portrayed in Sam and her schoolmates’ characters. The concept of the mystery car lies in the word ‘gremlin’—an imaginary sprite supposedly behind the malfunctioning of a machine. Overall, it is a meaningful story of a teenager that shapes into a suspense thriller. The book does not have any negative aspects, and there is no reason to rate it as less than perfect. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

This is a fascinating book and contains a lot about cars and their features. It interestingly illustrates school life, teenagers, and familial bonds of love. I would recommend it to people who are enthusiastic about cars and love fantasy.

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Gremlin: Never Wash It After Midnight
View: on Bookshelves

[NetMassimo]

The book's title made me think about the cult movie but I see that in this case the gremlin seems to be a strange car at a center of a thriller that also addresses some important themes. Thank you for your great review!