Blair's Nightmare

Stanley Family #3

by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

The Stanley kids and their stepsister try to keep secret a dog that Blair finds, keep David out of the clutches of the school bully, and find out if some escaped convicts really are nearby. Sequel to The Famous Stanley Kidnapping Case.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Juvenile, Animals

192 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1985

About the author

Zilpha Keatley Snyder was an American author of books for children and young adults. Three of Snyder's works were named Newbery Honor books: The Egypt Game, The Headless Cupid and The Witches of Worm. She was most famous for writing adventure stories and fantasies.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids are loving the continued adventures of the Stanley family, and I have to say: So am I.

This one was really interesting because, having read it as a kid originally, what I remember is Blair and the dog. As an adult what stuck in my mind is David's struggle with bullies, with self confidence. It reminded me very much of what my 14yo has been going through. Snyder clearly knew her stuff when it came to growing up, and it's on full display here. Also, the family is pretty well blended at this point, but there are still bumps, which is realistic and reassuring. It's still a little weird and awkward for David and Amanda to see themselves as brother and sister, for instance. I'm very glad that this book is getting the new fresh cover treatment, because I really think it deserves to keep its place on the shelves with newer books.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my least favorite book in the Stanley series, and yet I'm giving it 3 stars anyway, which is saying a lot about Zilpha Keatley Snyder as an author. She really knows how to create fun and interesting characters. I just wish she'd created a plot I could get more into here.

Basically, this is a story about a dog. An enormous one, appropriately given the name Nightmare, as initially everyone believes that Blair is not telling the truth when he claims a giant dog visits him every night. Once the other kids find out, however, things change considerably.

Almost everything in the story revolves around the dog. The kids feed the dog and take care of him every time he visits. They try to hide the dog from their parents. They try to find out who his former owner is, tend to his wound when he shows up with what appears to be a gunshot wound, and care for the dog, knowing full well they're not allowed to keep him.

Even the two subplots get directly involved with the dog. One subplot involves a bully, Pete Garvey, who changes his ways, and actually ends up helping out with the dog. The other involves escaped convicts. Without giving things away, the dog ties into their story as well.

The thing is, I'm just not a fan of stories about animals. The fact that I was able to enjoy this anyway says a lot about the author's ability to write characters, because they were the main focus for me. But every scene that involved taking care of the dog just bored me while I read through, hoping that the characters would say or do something interesting. And I feel cheated regarding the subplot involving the convicts. I'd have liked to have seen more danger and more of a mystery, considering that the other 3 books in the Stanley series involve either mystery or danger.

Still, it's actually not a bad story for what it is. Might be worth checking out if you're into stories that revolve around a dog.

[Chris Lovejoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third book in the Stanley family series. The first two I have owned since junior high and read many times over the years; this one I never got my own copy of so it's been about 20 years since I read it. It's the weakest of the three, lacking supernatural elements and centering on a giant dog. If it had been about a cat, I would probably have bought it way back then. The Headless Cupid (the first book in the series) is the one to read.

Cover price of my 1987 paperback copy of The Headless Cupid: $3.50
Cover price of my 2009 paperback copy of Blair's Nightmare: $12.00

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the latest Stanley family novel, 6 year old Blair has been sleepwalking lately and talking about seeing a dog no one else can see. Also, some escaped convicts might be hiding in the woods nearby. Meanwhile, David is dealing with a bully at school. The blended family also grows closer throughout the course of this novel.
I really admire Snyder for being able to tell a tale that is interesting and plausible and, while meant for children, is also enjoyable to an adult reader.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the third installment in the Stanley family series (although I forgot this and read it second this time). The children have aged and seem to have grown out of the magic for the most part, although there is still a sense of mystery. I also thing the characters seem more one dimensional which is a shame since it seems like they would get richer the more time was spent writing about them. One nice thing about the books though are the black and white illustrations. They are nothing at all like the cover art which i think was updated in an attempt to make them more appealing to the average 80's child. But the internal pictures are much moodier and more evocative.

[Shar Patigas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay..,the title was really misleading...and very intriguing. So I did not hesitate when I purchased this book. Like I said before, I love the Stanley kids and Blair is just a darling. This book was good in a way because it dealt with several issues, and Snyder presented it in such a simple and umcomplicated way. I still wish that David would grow some backbone, though. 😋

[Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Stanley adventure, this time involving Blair and the dog everyone thinks is imaginary, escaped prisoners, and David's unlikely friendship with the school bully. Well written and funny. Out of print.

[Rochelle Sondae · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last few chapters had me laughing out loud. A refreshingly fast read with just the right number of sticky situations for the family to go through. It almost makes me want to trade my Pug for an Irish Wolfhound.

[Devon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series, even though it's fairly predictable. The cast of characters have such big personalities and they really feel more and more like a family with every book--especially as they grow and change throughout the books.

[Adrien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, love. It's a toss up between this and The Headless Cupid for being the best. I wish there were more Stanley family adventures, especially Blair.

[LobsterQuadrille · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the first adventures of the Stanley kids in The Headless Cupid, and the enjoyable personalities are carried through to this third book, I don't think Blair's Nightmare is re-read material for me. As is usual for Zilpha Keatley Snyder, the character relationships are written very nicely, and I like the unusual turn she took with the bully character. But otherwise, this mostly felt like a fairly typical kids-find-animal-and-secretly-keep-it story. There was a small supernatural element as well, but that's really all. The title and cover make this story seem much more like The Headless Cupid than it really is.

This was a pleasant kids' book, but probably doesn't have enough substance for me to want to re-read it.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book I’ve read about the Stanley family. It doesn’t have quite as much ghostly fun as The Headless Cupid, but parts of it are hilarious. I wish there were more books in this series. (Edit: there’s at least one more. Yes!)

[Dayanara Ryelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than the last, but Headless Cupid is far superior than any of the other books. (Even if I didn't love it as much on my most recent read.)

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's something about Snyder's writing. She doesn't help the reader at all. I'm simultaneously worried, excited, and amused by what kinds of messes the kids find themselves in, and what kinds of messes they make. I also appreciate that the adults are real human beings, real characters, neither infallible nor absent as in so much mg fiction.
--
Ok done. Almost worth rounding up to four stars, as it is so well-written etc., but I'm still frustrated that I don't know who Blair is, what kind of kid he is, why he bleeps out, how he's going to turn out. Is he going to need special ed. in school or not?
--
Also, apparently some editions have interior illustrations. My Athenum hardcover does not, nor does the paperback that was scanned to openlibrary.org. :(

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young 6-year-old Blair insists to older brother David that he has a giant dog as a friend. Since Blair had been sleepwalking, he thinks Blair was dreaming about the dog, until the night he actually sees it--a huge Irish wolfhound. Because they don't believe their parents will allow them to keep the dog (named Nightmare), the children manage to hide him and feed him secretly for several weeks. One night, Nightmare does not come home, nor for two nights thereafter. Finally, Blair takes off to the woods to find Nightmare, and David takes off to find Blair. David does find Blair and they do find Nightmare, but they also find two escaped convicts.

[Chicklet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in elementary school and found it good and scary.

[Enere Aits Bonite · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this book. This is the first book of Zilpha Keatley Snyder I've read.'twas amazing!
I'm looking forward to reading the rest of his books.

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again, the fear of criminals on the loose and adolescent traumas via bullies come together to make for a really solid book about handling fear and anxiety in children.

[Songita Ghosh · Rating 2 out of 5]

i didn't like it that much but i did actually like it a bit
sorry Zilpha Keatley Snyder