Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

Did you ever think you had the worst possible vacation ever? Well, pick up VACATIONS FROM HELL and realize that what you think was horrible is just icing on the cake.

Five of today's most popular paranormal young adult authors combine their talents in this collection of short stories. This is a compilation that is sure to appeal to everyone. I will admit at the beginning that I've only read works by Sarah Mlynowski and Maureen Johnson in the past, but will definitely be looking forward to reading works by the other three authors now.

This collection has something for everyone. For fans of The Blair Witch Project, check out Nowhere is Safe by Libba Bray. Four thrill-seeking teenagers on a trip around Europe stumble across scary things in a dark and dangerous forest. For anyone that hated that other girl for one reason or another and wanted to get even, check out I Don't Like Your Girlfriend by Claudia Gray. If you like those twisted ghost stories that are handed down from person to person, then The Law of Suspects by Maureen Johnson is for you. Got a hankering for a bit of dark witchcraft? The Mirror House will make you think twice about looking in mirrors again. And my personal favorite was Cruisin' by Sarah Mlynowski. It was one of those stories where I totally didn't expect the ending. You have to love when a story can do that!

The stories are all well-written and blend together perfectly. Each story is the perfect length to sit down and read in a sitting. After reading VACATIONS FROM HELL you will never again complain of a bad holiday! ( )

Vacations From Hell was a somewhat entertaining read. I liked all the stories, but Sarah Mlynowski's 'Crusin' was my favorite. It was light and funny, and I most definitely did not expect the ending. Runner up for the favorite spot would have to be Claudia Gray's story 'I Don't Like Your Girlfriend'. Stories by Maureen Johnson and Libba Bray were equal in creepiness (read: equally awesome!), and Cassandra Clare's 'The Mirror House' left me smirking with satisfaction.

Whether you like one of the authors in this anthology or all of them, you will not be disappointed. Vacations from Hell would be perfect beach reading. ( )

I like Mlynowski (see As Seen on TV), Clare (see City of Bones) and Bray (see A Great and Terrible Beauty). I've read almost all of Maureen Johnson. So I was sooooo disappointed in this short story collection. The premise was great--five short stories about teenagers on vacations from hell. Of course, the supernatural is involved. But I thought the stories were trite, predictable, and not a joy to read. It fills the need for fluff, but this isn't the kind of fluff I like. I want short stories to be gripping and suspenseful, but I thought these were cheesy and silly.

I can't believe I'm trashing anything written by these authors. I really, really like their novels. But these stories need tighter editing, and I think the collection did need an editor. No editor is listed on the title page. I'm sure it will sell because of their names and this might sooth some kids, but I think a lot of people will be disappointed.

Again, I can't believe I'm dissing the work of these authors. Ugh. ( )