Enter at your own Risk: The first ever Goosebumps. Now with creepy bonus features!11-year-old Josh and 12-year-old Amanda just moved into the oldest and weirdest house on the block–the two siblings think it might even be haunted! But of course, their parents don’t believe them. You’ll get used to it, they say. Go out and make some new friends. But the creepy kids are not like anyone Josh and … Amanda have ever met before. And when they take a shortcut through the cemetery one night, Josh and Amanda learn why.
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I gave this book four and a half stars!
What an exciting blast from the past!
I used to devour these books when I was a kid, so Halloween time was a perfect opportunity to give this another read. I’m so glad I did!
In this debut novel to the Goosebumps series we follow along with Amanda, her brother Josh, and their parents as they move to a place called Dark Falls. They inherited a house from an unknown great uncle, but soon after they move they discover that things are very odd here. It’s almost always dark around town, there’s never anyone out on the street, and Amanda keeps seeing and hearing things. Is there something more to Dark Falls, or is Amanda losing her mind?
So many things worked well in this short novel.
I enjoyed the characters. Amanda is a typical young adult, and it was easy to relate to her. Moving is never easy when you’re a kid. Amanda’s character is strong. When she sees or hears things she is vocal about it to her family, and despite them telling her it’s in her head, she shows inner strength by endeavoring to solve the mystery taking place around her and this weird town. Her little brother Josh is rambunctious and easy to like, and her parents are fairly typical but likeable.
The plot is very simple. Family moves to house, Amanda sees things, and she slowly unwraps the mystery. I liked Dark Falls and how spooky it was. Yes, as an adult this book was very predictable and somewhat cliché, but this book wasn’t made for me. It was made for younger kids, and judging it that way I can see how a kid might get creeped out by this novel and the little plot twists here and there. I liked that there wasn’t a lot of cheesy humor along with this book (as I remember some of R.L. Stine’s books were borderline goofy). It was more straightforward, and I appreciated that.
The writing style was well written and super easy to read. I really blazed through these pages!
If I had to nitpick at anything I’d say that the climax of things seemed a little farfetched. There could’ve been a simpler or more believable way to resolve the conflict, but overall I really loved this book and can’t wait to get my hands on more of these! Definitely worth a read if you’re looking for some nostalgia from the good ole days.
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It’s hard to determine if Welcome to Dead House is the best Goosebumps book I’ve ever read because there are lots of great books in this series, but I definitely recommend it! If there’s anything creepier than the old, rundown house that Amanda and Josh’s family have moved into, it’s the small town they have moved to. No matter how nice the weather might be outside, the town of Dark Falls is perpetually dark. No matter what part of town you visit or explore, there are shadows and gloom everywhere. When Amanda and Josh first meet the neighborhood kids, they don’t seem very friendly. Every night she spends in their house, Amanda has the creepy feeling of not being alone, even in her own room with the door closed. She sometimes senses the feeling she is being watched. Not long after her family moves in, she notices a boy staring down at her from a second-floor window. What is happening in this town… and in Amanda and Josh’s house?? When they finally discover the truth, they will have to find a way to save their entire family from a living nightmare! Spooky, suspenseful, original, and full of imagination, horror master R.L. Stine got his classic horror series off to a great start with this fun and creepy story! Enjoy!