50 pages • 1 hour read
Penpal
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
243
Novel • Fiction
Suburban America • 1990s
2012
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Penpal by Dathan Auerbach follows a man recounting his eerie childhood experiences that began with an elementary school penpal project and unravel into a series of unsettling events. These memories lead him to uncover disturbing truths about his past and the people involved.
Mysterious
Unnerving
Dark
Suspenseful
Melancholic
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Dathan Auerbach's Penpal received mixed reactions. Reviewers praised its eerie atmosphere and gradual buildup of suspense, making it a captivating read for horror enthusiasts. However, some criticized its fragmented narrative and occasionally confusing structure. The ending garnered divided opinions, with some finding it satisfying and others deeming it lackluster. Overall, Penpal succeeds in delivering chills despite its structural flaws.
Who Should Read Penpal?
A reader who enjoys Penpal by Dathan Auerbach would likely appreciate suspenseful psychological thrillers with an undercurrent of horror. Fans of Stephen King’s It or Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects will find similarities in the eerie atmosphere and compelling, unsettling storytelling. Suitable for readers who enjoy unraveling dark, mysterious pasts.
The Narrator's Mother
The Narrator's Mother
A supportive yet complex figure in the narrator's life, whose protective instincts lead her to withhold key information from him. Her rules and absence grant the narrator freedom, impacting his ventures into the woods.
The Pen Pal
The Pen Pal
The central antagonist, characterized by anonymity and menace, seemingly connected to the narrator's Balloon Project. He engages in surveillance and has a particular interest in both the narrator and Josh, leading to impactful events.
243
Novel • Fiction
Suburban America • 1990s
2012
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.