Goosebumps #59: The Haunted School
by R L Stine, R.L. Stine
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Book Reviews of Goosebumps #59: The Haunted School
Book Review: Mediocre
Summary: 3 Stars
Like a lot of the late-series Goosebumps books, The Haunted School seems to put being weird and bizarre as a higher priority than being scary and unsettling. Gone are the creepy atmospherics of The Ghost Next Door; instead we have insane black-and-white ghost children drinking and spewing black ink while chanting like maniacs.
The book gets off to a strong start with a nice, lengthy scene of Tommy getting lost in his new school. It's creepy, suspenseful, well-written and does a nice job of setting the scene - especially when the secrets of the Class of '47 and the whispering ghosts turn up. But almost immediately afterwards, we find ourselves stranded in "Grayworld", and the book takes a turn for the worse. As noted in my review of Full Moon Fever, the best Goosebumps books are those that allow us to get to know characters before whatever cruel fate Stine has ordained befalls them; launch into the creepiness too quickly and it's hard to really care what happens. As it is here. Stine's character development here is really lame; Tommy's friend Ben is a joker, and we know this because every other word out of his mouth is a sarcastic quip. The lack of an interesting antagonist doesn't help matters, and while the book is reasonably well-written and has some unsettling images, it's mostly pretty by-the-numbers.
Overall, The Haunted School is another fairly disposable late-series Goosebumps entry (with a misleading title, to boot). Still, at a time when Stine was churning out utter drek like I Live in Your Basement and Monster Blood IV, it's a comparative masterpiece.
Book Review: The Haunted School will give you-- goosebumps!
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Haunted School" is the first Goosebumps I ever read, even though I have gathered quite a collection of books in the Goosebumps series for the library. I am the librarian in a small elementary/middle school. The Goosebumps books are the most checked out books in our collection. Now that I have read one, I know why!
Children as young as Kindergarten and as old as middle school read Goosebumps. What appeals to both age groups? Key words: An exciting story hooks them and keeps them all the way to the end. That the story is framed with good writing is another key component. I was most pleasantly surprised with the writing quality. It's not great literature, but it is strong writing. In fact, the series is an excellent way for early readers to transcend the chapter books into regular novel reading.
The story is really a bit frightening for Kindergarten and first grade. I am amazed parents let them read these books because the story is really chilling (even for a veteran thriller reader). I'll not forget this particular story line for a long time. Even though I am giving away a bit of the story, basically here is the scary part. Two middle school children disappear from a dance into an alternate reality called the Grayworld, where everything is gray. It's what happens here that is so creepy. How the two try to get back into their world brings more goosebumps and I'm not revealing that!
Mystery solved! Now I know why children love this series! It is delicious, scary fun!
Book Review: Lost kids
Summary: 4 Stars
Tommy's family has just moved and he feels lonely. His new school is big and it turns out it has an eerie past. When he gets lost in the school building, he hears voices of kids crying for help, but he can't see anyone. By accident he comes across an incredible discovery.
The plot was very farfetched (how would mr Chameleon be able to do that and why would he bother, and why that particular class?), yet the story is a good one. The Lord of the Flies part was great, with their traditions and behaviour.
Book Review: Moss-Man's Favorite.
Summary: 4 Stars
But this kind of school is already out of control, imagine the whole thing, had a real "read" going for bathtime, and not a warm one either... I'll show you when its time to get out!
Three sided war - Cobra command has castle grey skull, trolls have the sub. Who cares about the "other" side. Didn't even get dressed, just hopped into bed, read the whole thing. Mom was worried but why even? Towels are blankets, not pants mom!
Book Review: Unique! A new style of R.L. stine!
Summary: 5 Stars
I loved it! It was very interesting, I could'nt put it down! I'm over thirteen years old but i still love it. What i like about the goosebumps series is that every age group usually loves it! This book strayed a little away from what I have known R.L. Stine to write, but it was still good. The title is deceptive though. It says "The Haunted School", but this book wasn't really about ghosts. I think a better title would be "The secret of grayworld"