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I lowered my head and started to swim slowly, steadily out to the white, floating platform. I was four or five strokes away from it when I felt something wrap around my ankle.

At first, I thought it was a piece of seaweed.

But then I felt it grip me. I thrashed the water with both hands.

"Let go—!"

But the hard, bony hand held on, tugging me, tugging me underwater.

144 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1998

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1111 people want to read

About the author

R.L. Stine

1,681 books18.7k followers
Robert Lawrence Stine known as R. L. Stine and Jovial Bob Stine, is an American novelist and writer, well known for targeting younger audiences. Stine, who is often called the Stephen King of children's literature, is the author of dozens of popular horror fiction novellas, including the books in the Goosebumps, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, The Nightmare Room and Fear Street series.

R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.

Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.

http://us.macmillan.com/itsthefirstda...

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5 stars
215 (29%)
4 stars
173 (23%)
3 stars
223 (30%)
2 stars
91 (12%)
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29 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
Profile Image for Nerdish Mum.
404 reviews34 followers
August 20, 2015
Another fun scary read with a nostalgic feel for me. In this book I actually knew exactly what was going on the whole way through. I did however feel the suspense and sense the fear that was created by things that were happening throughout the book.
Profile Image for Dylan Reay.
79 reviews1 follower
August 11, 2023
I enjoyed this one.
It had me guessing and thinking I had the right answer more than once.
While goosebumps doesn't often commit to lasting consequences for its protagonists (this novel included), I can appreciate it's sequencing and ability to develop the summer camp aesthetic.

Would definitely recommend for anyone considering a voyage into Bumpgoose 2000 series.
Profile Image for UK Goosebumps.
30 reviews4 followers
September 29, 2024
I had put this book off for a while just because the cover didn’t appeal to me 😂. So I finally got round to reading it and had a nice surprise when it was really good! The camp itself kind of felt like horroland with all the cool attractions and stuff. I overall really enjoyed the book and it kind of reminded me of camp nightmare. Of course you have stines classic twists and the ones in this book I was expecting but not in the way they presented themselves. I also enjoy twists that are genuinely enjoyable and add something to the book (unlike some book like be afraid). Would have liked to see more of the rides and maybe get to know the other characters a little more but it was good other than that. 4/5
Profile Image for Nader Nate.
325 reviews2 followers
August 21, 2023
Another summer camp book, which I consider a mixture between One day at horrorland and welcome to camp nightmare، but The downside to this book is that the plot was predictable
I Liked the character and the camp atmosphere of this book, The plot was expected, but the last 5 pages of the book were the ones that really surprised me, and I was laughing as I closed the book because of the ending. (I wish the raccoon on the cover had a bigger role than just two lines in the story!!)

Verdict:(6.8/10)
Profile Image for Austin Smith.
722 reviews66 followers
January 20, 2021
This book is what happens when you cross One Day at Horrorland with Welcome to Camp Nightmare.
This book starts off with our main characters, Andrew and Tyler, going to a place called Fright Camp, owned by a famous horror movie direction named R.B. Farraday. (I think that's his name, anyway, lol)
The two kids are in love with horror and all things spooky and so they look forward to going to the camp... only when they get there, things are a little weirder than they seem... the activities and events are a little bit scarier, more intense than they should be... but it's all just part of the act; part of the fun... right?! Right?!?!?

Classic GB setup and formula. Really hearkens back to the One Day at Horrorland structure with all the creepy horror-themed rides. Instead of things like the Doom Slide and Bat Barn, we have Lake of the Water Zombies, Mine of Lost Souls, Cave of No Return, among many others. It's always a fun time seeing what creepy and funny attractions Mr. Stine comes up with, but it does start to get a little stale after having already done it a few times.
Also, and this happens to be my main issue with this book, is the fact that the camp is owned and supervised by a famous horror movie director, and although some of the stuff that transpires in the book leads the characters to question if things are being taken too far, and if all of it isn't such innocent fun after all, we (or at least, I was) are left with the impression that it's still all part of the act, and there is never really a true sense of fear or danger for our main characters.
This, to me, really kills the suspense in this book. Even though I'd read it when I was much younger, along with all the other series 2000 books, I didn't remember the ending, and still, I saw it coming a mile away. Both plot twists, actually. There are two of them near the end of the book, and both were quite predictable.
This book isn't a bad goosebumps book by any means. I enjoyed it - it just felt a little stale, and never really scary or suspenseful. Just another recycled GB story - this time with a creepy raccoon in the recycle bin.

2.75 / 5 stars
Profile Image for Vera Maharani.
305 reviews78 followers
April 5, 2014
Krik. What do you expect? It's a horror book for middle-graders. The terror should be harmless.

I think 22-year-old me has different idea about what's scary and what's not.

The book has interesting premise that can be developed into more mature horror. A boy and his brother applied to go to a summer "horror" camp, owned by their favourite movie director, R.B. Farraday. It turns out that the horror they experienced at the camp is real. I imagined if R.B. Farraday opened this horror camp in real world, he would be jailed for child abuse and unethical treatment to his clients.

Since I'm rereading this for the sake of nostalgia, it's good enough. If you're younger than 10 yrs old, maybe this book could be entertaining. But if you're older than that, chance are you spend more time laughing at Farraday's cringe-worthy movie title than actually being scared.
Profile Image for Brandon.
315 reviews14 followers
June 11, 2021
The biggest positive thing this book had going for it was it was a Goosebumps book from the 90s that took place at a camp. Unfortunately that's where the positives stop .This wasn't a terrible book but it certainly wasn't good either .I did love the setting and some of the scares, the best one being the gorilla that enters a room where all the campers are handcuffed . Other then that this is a mediocre book from the series with no evil radioactive racoons .3 out of five stars for me.
Profile Image for Angel Torres.
Author 1 book9 followers
May 5, 2021
I loved it! The best Goosebumps books I've ever read! Terror, Horror, Greatness! Highly recommended.

¡Me encantó! El mejor libro de Escalofríos que he leído en mi vida. ¡Terror, horror, genial! Altamente recomendado.
Profile Image for Orkhiroz.
241 reviews1 follower
November 1, 2023
★ 2,5

Andrew dan Tyler adalah penggemar film-film horor buatan R.B. Farraday. Suatu hari, ayah mereka memberikan izin untuk mengikuti kamp musim panas bertajuk Kamp Horor yang baru dibuka oleh sutradara favorit mereka tersebut. Namun, kian lama di sana, mereka makin enggak bisa membedakan apakah kengerian yang mereka alami adalah bagian dari kegiatan kamp normal ala pembuat film horor ataukah ada sesuatu mencurigakan yang benar-benar terjadi.

Jalan cerita yang ada di sini mudah ditebak. Secara keseluruhan, novelnya tetap bisa dinikmati. Bacaannya mengalir begitu saja dalam sekali duduk. Penulis berhasil membuatku merasa deg-degan, ngeri, jengkel, dan marah berulang kali. Sayangnya, karisma tokoh-tokohnya biasa saja dan tidak masuk ke hatiku.

Aku puas tim baik dan tim jahat bisa saling balas di akhir novel, terutama soal sutradara yang merupakan ahli di bidang akting yang tentunya tak bisa ditipu semudah itu. Setidaknya, kelompok Andrew berusaha untuk memprotes atas hal-hal buruk yang terjadi kepada mereka—walaupun aku yakin anak-anak belum paham bahwa perbuatan tim jahat jauh lebih parah daripada dugaan mereka.

Ada yang masih mengganjal di hatiku. Terlepas dari itu cuman prank, anak-anak kamp bisa mengalami trauma. Bagaimanapun juga, penderitaan fisik dan rasa takut mereka nyata.

Menurutku, Farraday dan para panitia sudah keterlaluan banget sampai-sampai aku enggak yakin novel ini cocok buat anak-anak. Bahkan, aku setuju kalau mereka masuk penjara sebagai ganjarannya—yang aku ragu bakal bisa dituliskan di sini karena ini buku anak-anak. Apalagi mereka melakukan kekerasan terhadap anak sebagai bahan film baru. Lebih parahnya lagi, ada kemungkinan anak-anak itu tanpa sadar sudah menandatangani surat perjanjian di antara setumpuk kertas di halaman 21.

Sejujurnya, aku kurang suka rakun di kovernya karena terasa menipu pembaca. Kukira rakun bakal jadi bos akhir di sini, tapi ternyata dia cuman muncul sekilas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for FranciD.
17 reviews
April 11, 2023
Questo libro parla di due fratelli Andrew e Tyler, amanti dei film horror. Un giorno il papà torna a casa con un giornale di un centro estivo, questi due bambini decidono di andarci e poi scoprono che era diretto da una persona che si chiamava signor Farraday che era il creatore anche di quei film horror che vedevano, ed era il signore più spaventoso del mondo. È un po' pauroso succedono tante cose poi scoprono quasi alla fine che era tutto finto e che stavano girando un film e poi questi due fratelli avevano due amiche e hanno fatto uno scherzo al signor Farraday per vendicarsi e per la prima volta ha avuto molta paura.
Questo scherzo era che Andrew diceva che gli era scomparso il fratello, poi con il signor Farraday andarono nel bungalow e c'era un macello poi arrivò anche una loro amica, Meredith, che disse che gli era scomparsa la sorella e poi controllano sulla spiaggia, sulle montagne russe che stavano funzionando senza nessun passeggero e senza nessuno che le comandava e non c'era nessuno, poi arrivarono due due assistenti che dicono di aver sentito delle voci da una caverna e loro ci vanno scendono in questa caverna e trovano Taylor ed Elisabeth. Ora il signor Farraday dice che in quel posto di sera arrivavano tante mosche, api, calabroni a sciamare e sentivano dei ronzii sempre più forti poi più piano poi più forti e poi Andrew scoprì che era solo un auricolare che stava per terra.

Mi è piaciuto tantissimo!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for MT.
642 reviews84 followers
January 15, 2023
- ชอบงานR.L.Steinมากๆ ก็จริงที่แกเขียนงานสยองขวัญสำหรับเด็ก/วัยรุ่น แต่งานแกมันไม่ได้รักหรือเป็นมิตรกับเด็กขนาดนั้นนะ เพราะชะตากรรมตลคน้องๆหนูๆในเรื่องคือเราคนอ่านเดาแทบไม่ได้เลยว่า มันจะจบยังไง จบดีก็โล่งอก จบไม่ดีก็น่าหดหู่ใจมาก มากซะจนสงสัยว่าทำไมเขาถึงโหดร้ายจังนะ ความน่ากลัวจริงๆของซีรี่ย์ชุดนี้จึงอยู่ที่ตัวนักเขียนล้วนๆเลยว่าจะแลนด์ดิ้งงานตัวเองยังไง และรี้แหละที่ทำให้ชอบงานเขามากแบบมากๆ มันเหนือกาลดี และมันทำให้เราเอ็นจอยกับซีรี่ย์ชุดนี้ได้ทุกช่วงวัยในชีวิตจริงๆ
13 reviews
October 19, 2025
3.5⭐

Kisah buku ini menceritakan tentang 2 saudara yang pergi ke kamp horor buatan sutradara film horor kesukaan mereka, dan mendapati banyak kejadian-kejadian ganjil. Menurut aku ini lebih ke psychological horor ga sih? Anak-anak umur 10-13 tahun dibikin jadi paranoid😭. Walau dari segi misterinya agak bisa ditebak, tapi tetap bikin penasaran apa yang akan terjadi selanjutnya, dan bagaimana nasib ke-2 saudara dan teman-temannya ini di akhir.
Profile Image for Irham Nurrahman.
99 reviews4 followers
July 12, 2017
Saya menyukai karya-karya Goosebumps bertema "Camp",
saya telah membaca Camp Nightmare dan Camp Jellyjam dan saya sangat menyukainya.
Buku ketiga "Camp Horror" yang saya baca ini menurut saya juga menarik,disini sensasi
horrornya mengalir dengan baik dan membuat penasaran dan ditutup dengan cukup baik
menurut saya
Profile Image for Good Manticore.
246 reviews6 followers
October 19, 2022
This book was one of my very first forays into the horror genre as a child. It's very nostalgic, and I'm glad to say it holds up great! The mystery is gripping, and the spooks are thrilling. Most of the twists caught me off guard as it's been over 20 years since I last read it.
Profile Image for Dakota Foote.
102 reviews1 follower
March 18, 2025
The 5th Goosebumps story with a Summer Camp setting actually has a very fresh, fun setup. Two horror fans are going to a camp based on their favorite director's films. Unfortunately, it's predictable even by Goosebumps standards and has a really weak twist.
Profile Image for The Gooseblock Bruce.
52 reviews5 followers
July 24, 2025
This shit is an abomination. Only 8 books into a new book series for this best selling book franchise we get fright camp.

Fright camp tries at nothing but fake shit happening… the ENTIRE BOOK. Fuck this boring repetitive threat level zero ass book.

1/10
Profile Image for P.S. Winn.
Author 105 books367 followers
July 21, 2018
A summer camp can lead to all kinds of fun and terror, but one run by a movie director takes readers of all ages into a fright filled adventure.
Profile Image for Owen.
125 reviews1 follower
August 1, 2023
I thought it was ok for the rest of the story playing kinda got boring after the first part. But still recommend reading.
Profile Image for Callista.
12 reviews
August 13, 2025
même du haut de mes 21 ans je n’arrive pas toujours à deviner tout ce qui va se passer à l’avance… bravo
+ j’aime trop l’ambiance summer camp de ce numéro
Profile Image for Neophrem.
260 reviews7 followers
September 1, 2025
Un filo prevedibile, ma sorprendentemente buono.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews

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